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8-K - SPARTECH CORPa8k-2011430.htm
SPARTECH CORPORATION
SECOND QUARTER 2011 EARNINGS
PAGE 1 OF 9

Company Contacts:

Victoria M. Holt    Randy C. Martin
President and Chief Executive Officer    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer    
(314) 721-4242    (314) 721-4242

For Immediate Release Wednesday, June 8, 2011

SPARTECH ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER RESULTS
_________________________________

St. Louis, Missouri, June 8, 2011 - Spartech Corporation (NYSE:SEH), a leading producer of plastic sheet, compounds, and packaging products, announced today operating results for its 2011 second quarter.

Second Quarter 2011 Financial Results

Net sales of $282.6 million for the second quarter of 2011 increased 5% from the same period in 2010. The pass-through of higher raw material costs as selling price increases and a greater mix of higher-priced product more than offset a 3% decrease in volume which primarily occurred with one sheet customer.
Operating earnings excluding special items decreased $1.8 million to $7.6 million in the second quarter of 2011 from the prior year second quarter. This decrease was caused by the lower sales volume, continued production inefficiencies and raw material and other cost increases which more than offset a benefit from foreign currency.
Reported diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.09 in the second quarter of 2011 compared to $0.15 in the prior year second quarter. Excluding special items, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.10 compared to $0.13 in the prior year second quarter.
Cash flows from operations were $0.8 million for the second quarter of 2011 and included a $12.1 million investment in working capital reflecting seasonality and raw material cost increases. The Company ended the quarter with $178.3 million of debt.

Highlights

We made solid progress during the second quarter on our six key priorities: back to basics in operations, optimizing material usage, starting up new production lines in support of organic growth, leveraging new technology center, initiating a cross-unit business selling program, and engaging customers at multiple levels, all of which have an objective of improving profitability of the Company.
We have achieved improvements in several key performance indicators in our Color & Specialty Compounds and Packaging Technologies segments. In order to continue to drive improved operational performance and profitability in our compounds business, we recently filled our Senior Vice President of Color & Specialty Compounds leader position.
Effective June 1, 2011, Vicki Holt, President and Chief Executive Officer, assumed the responsibilities of interim Senior Vice President of the sheet business in addition to her Chief Executive Officer role to lead the turnaround of this segment. With a focus on driving revenues and profitability through expanded marketing and sales, operational efficiencies and product yields, we will re-establish our market leadership position for this business.
The Company strengthened its senior leadership team by filling its open Senior Vice President of Human Resources position.
Note: Please see the reconciliation tables and the narrative below for adjustments to GAAP and discussion of items affecting results.


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SECOND QUARTER 2011 EARNINGS
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Spartech's President and Chief Executive Officer, Vicki Holt stated, “Although I remain disappointed with our financial results compared to last year, we are making progress in the fundamentals necessary to improve profitability in 2012. We have seen recent improvements in our key metrics including on-time delivery to customers, product yield and production yield in portions of our business. A key focus for us in the next two quarters is to implement a turnaround in our Custom Sheet and Rollstock business in which we have significant opportunities to improve in the operations and customer interface areas, and I am excited about leading these efforts as the interim leader of this business.”

Additionally, Holt stated “We are realistic about the level of work and cultural change necessary for us to achieve our targeted improvement from our six key priorities and the headwinds brought by a volatile resin and inflationary environment. We remain committed to our priority initiatives that will lead to organic sales growth coupled with a more efficient cost structure to improve profitability.”

Consolidated Results
Net sales increased 5% to $282.6 million in the three month period ended April 30, 2011 over the same period in the prior year, representing an 8% increase from price/mix offset by a 3% decrease in volume. This decrease was due to a decline in sales of sheet for material handling applications caused by a considerable slowdown in orders from one of our significant customers. Mitigating this decrease were increases in sales volume of compounds and sheet to the automotive sector of the transportation market and compounds to the commercial construction and agricultural end markets from continued demand recovery, and an increase in graphic arts sales. The price/mix increase was primarily related to increases in selling prices to pass through increases in raw material costs.

For the second quarter year-over-year comparison, gross margin per pound sold declined 1.2¢ to 11.5¢ in the second quarter of 2011 due primarily to the impact of production inefficiencies that began in the second half of 2010 and cost increases.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $19.0 million in the second quarter of 2011 compared to $20.5 million in the same period of the prior year. This $1.5 million decrease reflects a $2.5 million change in foreign currency. Foreign currency gains were $0.5 million in the second quarter of 2011 and losses were $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2010 (foreign currency gains and losses are recorded in our Corporate entity). Net of foreign currency, the $1.0 million increase primarily reflects higher employee relocation costs.

Amortization of intangibles was $0.4 million in the second quarter of 2011 compared to $1.0 million in the same period of the prior year. The decrease reflects intangible assets which became fully amortized, coupled with the impact of intangible asset impairments recorded by the Company in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Restructuring and exit costs were $0.5 million in the second quarter of 2011 compared to $1.6 million in the same period of the prior year. Restructuring and exit costs are mostly comprised of employee severance, facility consolidation and shut-down costs and accelerated depreciation.

Interest expense, net of interest income, was $2.7 million in the second quarter of 2011 compared to $3.3 million in the same period of the prior year. This decrease was primarily driven by a reduction in higher interest rate debt.

Excluding special items (restructuring and exit costs, and tax benefits from restructuring of foreign operations), net earnings from continuing operations were $3.2 million or $0.10 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2011, compared to net earnings from continuing operations of $3.9 million or $0.13 per diluted share in the same period of the prior year. The fluctuation reflects the impact of items previously discussed.

Cash flows from operations in the second quarter of 2011 of $0.8 million included a $12.1 million investment in working capital reflecting seasonality and raw material cost increases. Cash flow from operations and borrowings from our credit facility were used to fund $6.2 million of capital investments for additional capacity in specialty sheet products, maintenance and cost reductions.

Segment Results

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The results of our three operating segments are discussed below. A table is presented at the end of this release to reconcile amounts excluding special items to comparable GAAP measures.

Custom Sheet & Rollstock - Net sales were $146.1 million in the three month period ended April 30, 2011, representing a 3% decrease in net sales, which consisted of a 16% decrease in volume offset by a 13% increase from price/mix changes. The decrease in underlying volume reflects a significant reduction in one customer's business activity for a material handling application. Absent this customer's decline, our sales volume was flat reflecting additional sales volume sold to the automotive sector which was offset somewhat by a decrease in volume sold of refrigeration sheet. The price/mix increase was mostly caused by increases in selling prices from the pass through of increases in raw material costs and a greater mix of higher priced products. Operating earnings excluding special items were $7.2 million for the second quarter of 2011 compared to $10.6 million for the same period of the prior year. The decrease in operating earnings reflects lower sales volume to the material handling customer and cost increases.

Packaging Technologies - Net sales were $62.4 million in the three month period ended April 30, 2011, representing a 14% increase in net sales, which consisted of a 2% increase in volume and a 12% increase in price/mix changes. Operating earnings excluding special items were $6.5 million for the three months ended April, 30, 2011 compared to $5.5 million for the three months ended May 1, 2010. The increase in operating earnings was due to lower depreciation and amortization relating to our prior year impairments, higher sales volume and an increase in mix of higher margin product.

Color & Specialty Compounds - Net sales were $74.1 million in the three month period ended April 30, 2011, representing a 17% increase in net sales, which consisted of a 13% increase in volume and a 4% increase in price/mix changes. The increase in underlying volume was due to a significant increase in sales to the commercial construction market, automotive sector of the transportation market and agricultural market from continued end market demand recovery. The price/mix increase was mostly caused by increases in selling prices to pass through increases in raw material costs. Operating earnings excluding special items were $1.3 million for the second quarter of 2011 compared to operating earnings of $3.0 million in the same period of the prior year. The decrease in operating earnings reflects continued production inefficiencies and the impact of cost increases.

Outlook
We are continuing to focus on our six key priorities which have an objective of improving our profitability, building a more customer-focused organization, and investing in capabilities to enhance growth. To date in fiscal 2011 we have managed through significant increases in raw materials and other costs and expect a volatile raw material and inflationary environment to continue through the rest of the year. Although we believe the fundamental operational changes being undertaken in each of our business segments during 2011 will lead to substantial levels of earnings improvement in fiscal 2012, we expect our fiscal 2011 earnings performance to remain at depressed levels. We expect our diluted earnings per share excluding special items to be in the range of $0.16 to $.20 in 2011. Our commitment to our shareholders is to execute on our plan to deliver significantly enhanced profitability and organic growth over the next twelve months.


Special Items and Discontinued Operations
Restructuring and exit costs totaled $0.5 million during the second quarter of 2011 compared to $1.6 million in the same period of the prior year. Restructuring and exit costs are comprised of employee severance, facility consolidation and shut-down costs and fixed asset valuation adjustments. These costs resulted from the Company's improvement initiatives, which include an objective of reducing the Company's fixed portion of its cost structure. We expect to incur approximately $0.6 million of additional restructuring expenses which mostly consist of employee severance and shutdown costs for facility consolidation initiatives previously announced.
 
In the first quarter of 2010, we recognized a $2.8 million tax benefit related to tax restructuring of foreign operations that was excluded from our presentation of net earnings from continuing operations as a special, non-recurring item.


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SECOND QUARTER 2011 EARNINGS
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Discontinued operations include our former Marine business, sheet business in Donchery, France, and toll compounding business in Arlington, Texas which were all shutdown in the 2009 and the Wheels and Profiles businesses that were divested in 2009.

During the first quarter of 2011 the Company reached agreement with Chemtura and the Bankruptcy Court approved the final settlement of the claim for the breach of a contract by Chemtura for $4.2 million in cash and equity in the newly reorganized Chemtura. The equity was subsequently sold, resulting in $4.8 million of total cash proceeds. The associated gain was recorded in discontinued operations.
**********

Spartech will hold a conference call with investors and financial analysts at 11:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, June 9, 2011, to discuss Spartech's second quarter 2011 financial results. Prior to this call, the Company will provide supplemental slides on its website at www.spartech.com (under Presentations in the Investor Relations menu). Investors can listen to the call live via a webcast by logging onto www.spartech.com, or via phone by dialing 800-642-9809 and providing the Conference ID #: 63210196. International callers may dial 706-679-7637.

Spartech Corporation is a leading producer of plastic products including polymeric compounds, concentrates, custom extruded sheet and rollstock products and packaging technologies for a wide spectrum of customers.  The Company's three business segments, which operate facilities in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and France, annually process approximately one billion pounds of plastic resins, specialty plastic alloys, and color and specialty compounds.


Cautionary Statements Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this Form 10-Q that are not purely historical, including statements that express the Company's belief, anticipation or expectation about future events, are forward-looking statements. “Forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relate to future events and expectations and include statements containing such words as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “would,” “should,” “will,” “will likely result,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “projects,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which management is unable to predict or control, that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements are as follows:
 
(a)     Adverse changes in economic or industry conditions, including global supply and demand conditions and prices for products of the types we produce
(b)     Our ability to compete effectively on product performance, quality, price, availability, product development, and customer service
(c)     Adverse changes in the markets we serve, including the packaging, transportation, building and construction, recreation and leisure, and other markets, some of which tend to be cyclical
(d)     Volatility of prices and availability of supply of energy and raw materials that are critical to the manufacture of our products, particularly plastic resins derived from oil and natural gas, including future impacts of natural disasters
(e)     Our inability to manage or pass through to customers an adequate level of increases in the costs of materials, freight, utilities, or other conversion costs
(f)     Our inability to achieve and sustain the level of cost savings, productivity improvements, gross margin enhancements, growth or other benefits anticipated from our improvement initiatives
(g)     Our inability to collect all or a portion of our receivables with large customers or a number of customers
(h)    Loss of business with a limited number of customers that represent a significant percentage of our revenues
(i)    Restrictions imposed on us by instruments governing our indebtedness, the possible inability to comply with requirements of those instruments and inability to access capital markets

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SECOND QUARTER 2011 EARNINGS
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(j)    Possible asset impairments
(k)    Our inability to predict accurately the costs to be incurred, time taken to complete, operating disruptions therefrom, potential loss of business or savings to be achieved in connection with announced production plant consolidations and line moves
(l)    Adverse findings in significant legal or environmental proceedings or our inability to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations
(m)    Our inability to develop and launch new products successfully
(n)    Possible weaknesses in internal controls

We assume no responsibility to update our forward-looking statements.



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SECOND QUARTER 2011 EARNINGS
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Spartech Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations



 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
April 30,

 
May 1,

 
April 30,

 
May 1,

(Unaudited and dollars in thousands, except per share data)
2011

 
2010

 
2011

 
2010

Net sales
$
282,551

 
$
268,524

 
$
517,334

 
$
493,687

Costs and expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
255,474

 
237,642

 
471,851

 
435,974

Selling, general and administrative expenses
19,010

 
20,452

 
37,984

 
38,868

Amortization of intangibles
422

 
963

 
845

 
1,928

Restructuring and exit costs
548

 
1,596

 
1,377

 
2,266

Total costs and expenses
275,454

 
260,653

 
512,057

 
479,036

Operating earnings
7,097

 
7,871

 
5,277

 
14,651

Interest, net of interest income
2,686

 
3,251

 
5,257

 
6,767

Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
4,411

 
4,620

 
20

 
7,884

Income tax expense (benefit)
1,564

 
80

 
(987
)
 
(1,393
)
Net earnings from continuing operations
2,847

 
4,540

 
1,007

 
9,277

Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
(225
)
 
(87
)
 
2,646

 
(80
)
Net earnings
2,622

 
4,453

 
3,653

 
9,197

Basic earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings from continuing operations
$
0.09

 
$
0.15

 
$
0.03

 
$
0.30

Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
(0.01
)
 
$
(0.01
)
 
0.09

 
$

Net earnings per share
$
0.08

 
$
0.14

 
$
0.12

 
$
0.30

Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Earnings from continuing operations
$
0.09

 
$
0.15

 
$
0.03

 
$
0.30

Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
(0.01
)
 
$
(0.01
)
 
0.09

 
$
(0.01
)
Net earnings per share
$
0.08

 
$
0.14

 
$
0.12

 
$
0.29




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SECOND QUARTER 2011 EARNINGS
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Spartech Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets



 
(Unaudited)

 
 
 
April 30,

 
October 30,

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
2011

 
2010

Assets
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
2,707

 
$
4,900

Trade receivables, net of allowances of $3,863 and $3,404, respectively
149,254

 
134,902

Inventories, net of inventory reserves of $8,312 and $6,539, respectively
99,894

 
79,691

Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net
24,966

 
35,789

Assets held for sale
3,156

 
3,256

Total current assets
279,977

 
258,538

Property, plant, and equipment, net
210,835

 
211,844

Goodwill
87,921

 
87,921

Other intangible assets, net
13,716

 
14,559

Other long-term assets
4,102

 
4,279

 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
596,551

 
$
577,141

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
$
526

 
$
880

Accounts payable
137,731

 
129,037

Accrued liabilities
32,877

 
34,112

Total current liabilities
171,134

 
164,029

 
 
 
 
Long-term debt, less current maturities
177,734

 
171,592

 
 
 
 
Other long-term liabilities:
 
 
 
Deferred taxes
41,751

 
42,648

Other long-term liabilities
6,358

 
5,866

Total liabilities
396,977

 
384,135

Shareholders’ equity
 
 
 
Preferred stock (authorized: 4,000,000 shares, par value $1.00)
Issued: None

 

Common stock (authorized: 55,000,000 shares, par value $0.75)
Issued: 33,131,846 shares; outstanding: 30,825,000 and 30,884,503 shares, respectively
24,849

 
24,849

Contributed capital
204,435

 
204,966

Retained earnings
13,689

 
10,036

Treasury stock, at cost, 2,306,846 and 2,247,343 shares, respectively
(50,952
)
 
(52,730
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
7,553

 
5,885

Total shareholders’ equity
199,574

 
193,006

 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
596,551

 
$
577,141


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SECOND QUARTER 2011 EARNINGS
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Spartech Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows




 
Six Months Ended
 
April 30,

 
May 1,

(Unaudited and dollars in thousands)
2011

 
2010

Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
3,653

 
$
9,197

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
16,137

 
19,013

Stock-based compensation expense
1,541

 
1,931

Restructuring and exit costs
299

 
152

Gain (loss) on disposition of assets, net
192

 
(884
)
Provision for bad debt expense
774

 
25

Change in current assets and liabilities
(13,434
)
 
(8,161
)
Other, net
(673
)
 
(1,703
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
8,489

 
19,570

Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
(14,201
)
 
(7,579
)
Proceeds from the disposition of assets

 
2,876

Net cash used by investing activities
(14,201
)
 
(4,703
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
Bank credit facility borrowings, net
6,000

 
11,900

Payments on notes and bank term loan
(378
)
 
(49,590
)
Payments on bonds and leases
(255
)
 
(262
)
Debt issuance costs
(1,561
)
 

Stock-based compensation exercised
(294
)
 

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities
3,512

 
(37,952
)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
7

 
18

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(2,193
)
 
(23,067
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
4,900

 
26,925

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
$
2,707

 
$
3,858




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Non-GAAP Reconciliations

Within this press release we have included operating earnings (GAAP) to operating earnings excluding special items (Non-GAAP), net (loss) earnings from continuing operations (GAAP) to net (loss) earnings from continuing operations excluding special items (Non-GAAP) and net earnings from continuing operations per diluted share (GAAP) to net earnings from continuing operations per diluted share excluding special items (Non-GAAP). Special items include restructuring and exit costs and a tax benefit on restructuring of foreign operations. We have also excluded the operations of our discontinued wheels, profiles, marine, Donchery sheet and Arlington, Texas compounding operations throughout this press release and in the presentation below.

We use these measurements to assess our ongoing operating results without the effect of these adjustments and compare such results to our historical and planned operating results. We believe these measurements are useful to help investors to compare our results to previous periods and provide an indication of underlying trends in the business. Such non-GAAP measurements are not recognized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be viewed as an alternative to GAAP measures of performance.

The following tables reconcile (GAAP) to (Non-GAAP) measures:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
April 30,

 
May 1,

 
April 30,

May 1,

(unaudited and in thousands, except per share data)
2011

 
2010

 
2011

2010

Operating earnings (GAAP)
$
7,097

 
$
7,871

 
$
5,277

$
14,651

Restructuring and exit costs
548

 
1,596

 
1,377

2,266

Operating earnings excluding special items (Non-GAAP)
$
7,645

 
$
9,467

 
$
6,654

$
16,917

Net earnings from continuing operations (GAAP)
$
2,847

 
$
4,540

 
$
1,007

$
9,277

Restructuring and exit costs, net of tax
345

 
998

 
868

1,418

Tax benefits from restructuring of foreign operations

 
(1,631
)
 

(4,401
)
Net earnings from continuing operations excluding special items (Non-GAAP)
$
3,192

 
$
3,907

 
$
1,875

$
6,294

Net earnings from continuing operations per diluted share (GAAP)
$
0.09

 
$
0.15

 
$
0.03

$
0.30

Restructuring and exit costs, net of tax
0.01

 
0.03

 
0.03

0.05

Tax benefit on restructuring of foreign operations

 
(0.05
)
 

(0.14
)
Net earnings from continuing operations per diluted share excluding special items (Non-GAAP)
$
0.10

 
$
0.13

 
$
0.06

$
0.21



The following table reconciles operating (loss) earnings (GAAP) to operating (loss) earnings excluding special items (Non-GAAP) by segment (in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
April 30, 2011
 
May 1, 2010
 
Operating
Earnings (Loss)
 (GAAP)
 
Special
Items
 
Operating Earnings
(Loss)
Excluding
(Non-GAAP)
Special Items
 
Operating
Earnings (Loss)
 (GAAP)
 
Special
Items
 
Operating Earnings
(Loss)
Excluding
(Non-GAAP)
Special Items
Segment
 
 
 
 
 
Custom Sheet and Rollstock
$
7,075

 
$
109

 
$
7,184

 
$
9,815

 
$
771

 
$
10,586

Packaging Technologies
6,358

 
131

 
6,489

 
5,467

 
10

 
5,477

Color & Specialty Compounds
961

 
308

 
1,269

 
2,191

 
787

 
2,978

Corporate
(7,297
)
 

 
(7,297
)
 
(9,602
)
 
28

 
(9,574
)
Total
$
7,097

 
$
548

 
$
7,645

 
$
7,871

 
$
1,596

 
$
9,467



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