Cooper Standard Reports Second Quarter Results and Announces Significant New Fortrex Technology Agreement

PRNewswire 1-Aug-2019 4:30 PM

NOVI, Mich., Aug. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (NYSE:CPS) today reported results for the second quarter 2019.

Second Quarter 2019 Summary

• Sales totaled $764.8 million
• Net income of $145.3 million or $8.36 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $58.1 million or 7.6 percent of sales
• Adjusted net income of $5.4 million or $0.31 per diluted share
• Contract awards related to innovation products for annualized sales of $171 million
• Significant new Fortrex™ technology agreement signed subsequent to quarter end

"Our results for the quarter were once again negatively impacted by continuing weak production volume and mix in China and Europe, as well as the slower than expected ramp up of an important new vehicle platform in North America," said Jeffrey Edwards, chairman and CEO, Cooper Standard. "Looking ahead, we expect these challenging market dynamics to continue at least through the end of the year, and we have revised our full-year outlook accordingly.

"We are working to mitigate these headwinds as much as possible by accelerating planned restructuring and further streamlining the business under our global management structure," Edwards added.  "We expect these actions will help us to improve our overall efficiency in the near-term and better position the Company for long-term profitable growth.  We remain on track with our new program launches, cost reduction initiatives and the strategic diversification of our business."

Consolidated Results

The year-over-year change in second quarter sales was primarily attributable to the sale of the Company's Anti-Vibration Systems (AVS) business, unfavorable volume and mix, and foreign exchange.

Net income for the second quarter 2019 included a $189.9 million gain on the sale of the AVS business, certain project costs related to acquisitions and divestitures, and restructuring charges related to headcount reduction actions.  Adjusted net income, which excludes these items and their related tax impact, declined in the second quarter 2019 compared to the prior year due largely to unfavorable volume and mix, general inflation, customer price adjustments and higher material costs, partially offset by operating efficiencies and other cost saving initiatives.

Adjusted net income, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per diluted share are non-GAAP measures.  Reconciliations to the most directly comparable financial measures, calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"), are provided in the attached supplemental schedules.

Notable Developments

The Company continues at a record pace for new program launches and contract awards related to recent product innovations.  During the second quarter, the Company successfully launched 84 new customer programs, an increase of 75 percent compared to the second quarter of 2018. Also during the quarter, the Company received new contract awards related to product innovations, including both new and replacement business, totaling $171 million in annualized sales.  These awards included the first production order for FlushSeal™ glass sealing technology on an all-new electric vehicle platform. In the first six months of the year, contract awards related to product innovations totaled $252 million in annualized sales.  Net new business awards received during the second quarter and in the first six months of the year totaled $53 million and $129 million in annualized sales, respectively. Cooper Standard's expanding portfolio of commercialized innovation products includes: MagAlloy™; ArmorHose™; ArmorHose™ TPV; LightHose; Gen III Posi-Lock; TP Microdense; Microdense EPDM; FlushSeal™ glass sealing technology; and Fortrex™.

Subsequent to the end of the second quarter, Cooper Standard signed a new Fortrex™ technology agreement with a multinational industrial products manufacturer based in Asia.  Under the agreement, the customer is expected to initially focus on developing three to four new product applications using Fortrex™ technology. The new agreement, which is the third the Company has signed this year, is further demonstration of the versatility of the Fortrex™ chemistry platform and the diverse market applications that it can address.

Segment Results of Operations

Sales

• The impact of foreign currency exchange primarily relates to the Euro, Chinese Renminbi, Brazilian Real and the Canadian Dollar.

Adjusted EBITDA

• The impact of foreign currency exchange is primarily driven by the Chinese Renminbi, Euro, Canadian Dollar, Mexican Peso, Polish Zloty and Czech Koruna.
• The Cost (Increases) / Decreases category above includes:
• The increase in commodity cost pressure, general inflation and tariffs;
• Launch related activity for engineering, prototypes and tooling; and
• Net operational efficiencies of $26.5 million primarily driven by our North America, Europe and Asia Pacific segments.

Liquidity and Cash Flow

At June 30, 2019, Cooper Standard had cash and cash equivalents totaling $310.8 million.  Net cash used in operating activities in the second quarter 2019 was $7.1 million and free cash flow for the quarter (defined as net cash used in/provided by operating activities minus capital expenditures) was an outflow of $43.0 million.

In addition to cash and cash equivalents, the Company had $158.8 million available under its amended senior asset-based revolving credit facility ("ABL"), inclusive of outstanding letters of credit, for total liquidity of $469.6 million at June 30, 2019.

Total debt at June 30, 2019 was $792.2 million. Net debt (defined as total debt minus cash and cash equivalents) was $481.4 million.  Cooper Standard's net leverage ratio (defined as net debt divided by trailing 12 months adjusted EBITDA) at June 30, 2019 was 1.8 times.

On April 1, 2019, the Company completed the sale of its AVS business.  The total sale price of the transaction was $265.5 million and the Company received $243.4 million in cash proceeds after adjusting for certain liabilities assumed by the purchaser. The estimated net cash proceeds after taxes and transaction-related expenses and fees are expected to be approximately $215 to $220 million.

In June 2018, the Company's board of directors approved a common stock repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase, in aggregate, up to $150.0 million of its outstanding common stock. In May 2019, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase ("ASR") agreement in the amount of $30.0 million. The ASR is expected to be completed no later than the third quarter of 2019.  As of June 30, 2019, approximately $98.7 million remained available under the 2018 board of directors repurchase authorization.

Outlook

Based on the results achieved in the first two quarters and the industry and economic outlook for the rest of the year, the Company has revised its guidance for the full year 2019 as summarized below:

Conference Call Details

Cooper Standard management will host a conference call and webcast on August 2, 2019 at 9 a.m. ET to discuss its second quarter 2019 results, provide a general business update and respond to investor questions.  A link to the live webcast of the call (listen only) and presentation materials will be available on Cooper Standard's Investor Relations website at www.ir.cooperstandard.com/events.cfm.

To participate by phone, callers in the United States and Canada should dial toll-free (877) 374-4041.  International callers should dial (253) 237-1156.  Provide the conference ID 8455478 or ask to be connected to the Cooper Standard conference call. Representatives of the investment community will have the opportunity to ask questions after the presentation. Callers should dial in at least five minutes prior to the start of the call.

Individuals unable to participate during the live call may visit the investors' portion of the Cooper Standard website (www.ir.cooperstandard.com) for a replay of the webcast.

About Cooper Standard

Cooper Standard, headquartered in Novi, Mich., is a leading global supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry. Products include sealing, fuel and brake delivery, and fluid transfer systems. Cooper Standard employs approximately 30,000 people globally and operates in 21 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.cooperstandard.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, and we intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor created thereby.  Our use of words "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "outlook," "guidance," "forecast," or future or conditional verbs, such as "will," "should," "could," "would," or "may," and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions. Our expectations, beliefs, and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, we cannot assure you that these expectations, beliefs and projections will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or achievements to be materially different from the future results or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Among other items, such factors may include: prolonged or material contractions in automotive sales and production volumes; our inability to realize sales represented by awarded business; escalating pricing pressures; loss of large customers or significant platforms; our ability to successfully compete in the automotive parts industry; availability and increasing volatility in costs of manufactured components and raw materials; disruption in our supply base; competitive threats and commercial risks associated with us entering new markets; possible variability of our working capital requirements; risks associated with our international operations, including changes in laws, regulations, and policies governing the terms of foreign trade such as increased trade restrictions and tariffs; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; our ability to control the operations of our joint ventures for our sole benefit; our substantial amount of indebtedness; our ability to obtain adequate financing sources in the future; operating and financial restrictions imposed on us under our debt instruments; the underfunding of our pension plans; significant changes in discount rates and the actual return on pension assets; effectiveness of continuous improvement programs and other cost savings plans; manufacturing facility closings or consolidation; our ability to execute new program launches; our ability to meet customers' needs for new and improved products; the possibility that our acquisitions and divestitures may not be successful; product liability, warranty and recall claims brought against us; laws and regulations, including environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; legal proceedings, claims or investigations against us; work stoppages or other labor disruptions; the ability of our intellectual property to withstand legal challenges; cyber-attacks, other disruptions in or the inability to implement upgrades to, our information technology systems; the possible volatility of our annual effective tax rate; changes in our assumptions as a result of IRS issuing guidance on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; the possibility of future impairment charges to our goodwill and long-lived assets; our dependence on our subsidiaries for cash to satisfy our obligations; and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.  Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except where we are expressly required to do so by law.

This press release also contains estimates and other information that is based on industry publications, surveys and forecasts.  This information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and we have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information.

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Financial statements and related notes follow:

Non-GAAP Measures

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, net debt and free cash flow are measures not recognized under U.S. GAAP and which exclude certain non-cash and special items that may obscure trends and operating performance not indicative of the Company's core financial activities. Management considers EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, net debt and free cash flow to be key indicators of the Company's operating performance and believes that these and similar measures are widely used by investors, securities analysts and other interested parties in evaluating the Company's performance. In addition, similar measures are utilized in the calculation of the financial covenants and ratios contained in the Company's financing arrangements and management uses these measures for developing internal budgets and forecasting purposes. EBITDA is defined as net income adjusted to reflect income tax expense, interest expense net of interest income, depreciation and amortization, and adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA further adjusted to reflect certain items that management does not consider to be reflective of the Company's core operating performance.  Adjusted net income is defined as net income adjusted to reflect certain items that management does not consider to be reflective of the Company's core operating performance. Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share is defined as adjusted net income divided by the weighted average number of basic and diluted shares, respectively, outstanding during the period.  Net debt is defined as total debt minus cash and cash equivalents.  Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities minus capital expenditures and is useful to both management and investors in evaluating the Company's ability to service and repay its debt.

When analyzing the Company's operating performance, investors should use EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, net debt and free cash flow as supplements to, and not as alternatives for, net income, operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and not as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of the Company's liquidity. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, net debt and free cash flow have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of the Company's results of operations as reported under U.S. GAAP. Other companies may report EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, net debt and free cash flow differently and therefore the Company's results may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. In addition, in evaluating adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income, it should be noted that in the future the Company may incur expenses similar to or in excess of the adjustments in the below presentation. This presentation of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income should not be construed as an inference that the Company's future results will be unaffected by special items.  Reconciliations of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and free cash flow follow.

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SOURCE Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc.