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8-K - Victor Technologies Group, Inc.victor-8kxearningsxq22012.htm


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Debbie Bockius
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VICTOR TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC. ANNOUNCES
2012 SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

ST. LOUIS, MO - August 13, 2012 - Victor Technologies Group, Inc. (the "Company") today reported results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 as follows:
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30, 2012
 
June 30, 2011
 
% Change
Net Sales
$
132,257

 
$
129,269

 
2.3
 %
Net Income
5,986

 
6,072

 
(1.4
)%
Adjusted EBITDA
24,956

 
25,756

 
(3.1
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30, 2012
 
June 30, 2011
 
% Change
Net Sales
$
259,128

 
$
245,766

 
5.4
 %
Net Income
11,198

 
6,160

 
81.8
 %
Adjusted EBITDA
45,966

 
43,214

 
6.4
 %


Financial Review for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2012
Net sales in the second quarter of 2012 were $132.3 million, an increase of 2.3% as compared to the second quarter of 2011. Stated in local currencies, net sales increased 3.2%, with U.S. sales increasing 1.2% and international sales increasing 5.6%.

Gross margin as a percent of net sales decreased 1.4% as compared to the same period in 2011.  Under its use of the last-in first-out (“LIFO”) inventory method, the Company recorded a $0.4 million charge to cost of sales resulting from expected inflation of manufacturing costs in the second quarter of 2012.  In the second quarter of 2011, a $0.5 million charge to cost of sales was recorded for LIFO.  Excluding these items, gross margin as a percent of sales was 35.9% in the second quarter of 2012 compared to 37.4% in the second quarter of 2011. This remaining decrease is due primarily to favorable absorption in the second quarter of 2011 as a result of an intended inventory build during the three months ended June 30, 2011 to cover customer demand while we relocated certain plant and equipment in accordance with our strategic initiatives.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $27.5 million, or 20.8% of net sales, in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $27.7 million, or 21.4% of net sales, in the comparable period of 2011 as these costs were largely in line with the prior year.

Restructuring charges in the second quarter of 2012 totaled $0.8 million, consisting of employee terminations benefits and employee and equipment relocation expenses, bringing the cumulative restructuring charges recorded by the Company in connection with exit activities at manufacturing sites in West Lebanon, New





Hampshire and Pulau Indah, Selangor, Malaysia to $7.1 million. The Company expects ultimately to record aggregate pre-tax charges of approximately $8.3 million as a result of these restructuring activities and the remaining charges and substantially all of the payments for these exit activities are expected to be made during the remainder of 2012.

Interest expense, net, was $8.5 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $6.1 million in the second quarter of 2011. This increase is a result of an additional $100 million of Senior Secured Notes due 2017 (the "Additional Notes") in the second quarter of 2012.

The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2012 was 27.0%, which was lower than the federal statutory rate as U.S. operating income was offset with the release of valuation allowances. The effective tax rate in the second quarter of 2011 was 46.7%, which exceeded the federal statutory rate primarily because U.S. operating losses could not be tax effected.

For the second quarter of 2012, net income was $6.0 million compared to $6.1 million in the second quarter of 2011. 

Financial Review for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012
Net sales in the first half of 2012 were $259.1 million, an increase of 5.4% as compared to the first half of 2011. Stated in local currencies, net sales increased 5.3%, with U.S. sales increasing 5.1% and international sales increasing 5.5%.

Gross margin in the first six months of 2012 was 35.1% of net sales as compared to 33.0% of net sales in the first six months of 2011. During the first half of 2012, the Company recorded a $0.1 million charge to costs of sales related to LIFO accounting, which resulted from expected inflation of manufacturing costs in 2012. In the comparable period of 2011, a $1.5 million charge to cost of sales was recorded for LIFO. Also in the first half of 2011, the Company expensed $3.3 million to cost of sales related to fair value purchase accounting adjustments for inventory.  Excluding these items, gross margin as a percent of sales was 35.2% in the first half of 2012 compared to 34.9% in the first half of 2011. This remaining increase is due to the beneficial impact of manufacturing efficiencies arising from our total cost productivity (“TCP”) program to lower costs and improve efficiency and increased volumes of activity in 2012. 

SG&A expenses were $53.9 million, or 20.8% of net sales, in the first half of 2012 compared to $52.6 million, or 21.4% of net sales, in the comparable period of 2011. This increased dollar spend is primarily a result of increased headcount and headcount-related expenses primarily in the sales and marketing areas and one-time costs associated with the Company's name change. These cost increases were partially offset by decreased incentive compensation and depreciation expense.  Despite the additional investment in SG&A cost, SG&A as a percentage of net sales declined to 20.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2012.  The 60 basis point improvement during the first half of 2012 as compared to the first half of 2011 is a result of higher sales volumes.

Restructuring charges in the first half of 2012 totaled $1.7 million, consisting of employee terminations benefits and employee and equipment relocation expenses, bringing the cumulative restructuring charges recorded by the Company in connection with exit activities at manufacturing sites in West Lebanon, New Hampshire and Pulau Indah, Selangor, Malaysia to $7.1 million.

Interest expense, net, was $15.2 million in the first six months of 2012 compared to $12.4 million in the first six months of 2011. This increase reflects the effect of the issuance of the Additional Notes in March 2012, while the first half of 2011 partially included $176 million of Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 that were redeemed on February 1, 2011.  The first half of 2012 also included a 66 basis point increase in the Company’s





effective interest rate as compared to the first half of 2011.

The effective tax rate for the first half of 2012 was 30.0%. The effective tax rate in the first half of 2011 was 46.7%, which exceeded the federal statutory rate primarily because U.S. operating losses could not be tax effected. The Company’s projected 2012 income tax effective rate is approximately 30.0%, which is slightly lower than the federal statutory rate primarily due to the release of valuation allowances, partially offset by foreign earnings which are currently taxable as “deemed dividends” in the U.S.  These deemed dividends are not offset by the foreign tax credits due to uncertainty of their utilization. 

For the first half of 2012, net income was $11.2 million compared to $6.2 million in the first half of 2011.  The higher net income amount for the first half of 2012 reflects a higher net sales base over the first half of 2011 combined with the impact of the prior year $3.3 million pre-tax purchase accounting inventory charge, partially offset by higher interest expense and restructuring charges in the first half of 2012 as compared to the comparable period in the prior year.

Cash Flows and Liquidity
Cash flows from operating activities provided $6.2 million of cash in the first six months of 2012 as compared to $10.0 million of cash used in the comparable period of 2011. This comparable increase in cash provided for the six months of 2012 reflects decreased working capital needs and an $8.7 million interest payment in February 2011 in conjunction with the defeasance on the Senior Subordinated Notes. There was no comparable payment in the first half of 2012.

On March 6, 2012, the Company issued $100 million in Additional Notes at par plus accrued but unpaid interest since December 15, 2011. The Additional Notes mature on December 15, 2017.

The Company used the proceeds of the Additional Notes to pay a cash dividend of $93.5 million to the Company's parent company, which allowed it to redeem a portion of its outstanding Series A preferred stock, and to pay fees and expenses related to the offering, and a 2% consent payment to each bondholder of the original $260 million Senior Secured Notes due 2017, totaling $5.2 million, in connection with the solicitation of consents to amend the related indenture agreement.

As of June 30, 2012, combined cash and availability under the Company's Working Capital Facility was $75.4 million.

Adjusted EBITDA
In the second quarter of 2012, Adjusted EBITDA was $25.0 million, or 18.9% of net sales, compared to $25.8 million of Adjusted EBITDA, or 19.9% of net sales, in the second quarter of 2011.

In the first half of 2012, Adjusted EBITDA was $46.0 million, or 17.7% of net sales, compared to $43.2 million of Adjusted EBITDA, or 17.6% of net sales, in the first half of 2011.

Outlook for 2012
Martin Quinn, Victor Technologies' Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased to report solid financial and operational results for the second quarter of 2012. Our second quarter sales surpassed a very strong sales performance in the second quarter of 2011, which also happened to be our strongest quarter of the 2011 fiscal year. Sales within our welding equipment product line exceeded our expectations as our new product introductions have been very well received by our customers."

“On July 13, 2012, we announced the acquisition of Robotronic Oy, the parent company of ProMotion Controls, Inc., a leading maker of advanced, intelligent CNC controllers used in shape-cutting machines. We





are very excited about this acquisition as it enables us to provide end users with a fully-integrated automated plasma cutting solution to improve their productivity," Mr. Quinn said.

“As we look to the balance of 2012, it is difficult to gauge the strength of U.S. market demand, while economic conditions in both Europe and China are expected to remain challenging. We will continue to implement our strategy to drive for market share gains and EBITDA margin improvement through the continued introduction of new products and the restructuring of our manufacturing operations to increase efficiency and lower our cost base,” Mr. Quinn added.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Gross Margin, (our “Non-GAAP Measures”), as presented below, are supplemental measures of our performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). They are not measurements of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP or as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities as measures of our liquidity.

We define EBITDA as net income plus interest, net, income tax provision and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA further adjusted to eliminate the expense of certain other noteworthy events that we do not consider to relate to the operating performance of the period presented. These adjustments include other charges, including, but not limited to, LIFO adjustments, fair value purchase accounting adjustments to inventory, restructuring and other severance expenses, management fees paid to our sponsor, non-cash stock compensation expense, and one-time expenses associated with the Company's name change. We define Adjusted Gross Margin as gross margin adjusted to eliminate the effect of certain non-cash items and the effects of certain other noteworthy items that we do not consider to relate to the operating performance of the period presented including, but not limited to, LIFO and fair value purchase accounting adjustments to inventory. Investors are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, investors should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation.

Our Non-GAAP Measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. However, we believe these measures are meaningful to our investors to enhance their understanding of our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis, as well as our ability to comply with the financial covenants of our existing material debt agreements and service our indebtedness, after considering each of our identified adjustments during any given reporting period. Although EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not necessarily measures of our ability to fund our cash needs, we understand that they are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties as measures of financial performance and to compare our performance with the performance of other companies that report EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. We believe Adjusted EBITDA also facilitates readers' ability to compare current period results to other periods by isolating the income or expense of certain noteworthy events that we do not consider to relate to the operating performance of the period presented. Adjusted EBITDA is reflective of management measurements, which focus on operating spending levels and efficiencies; and focus less on non-cash and certain periodic noteworthy items. For these reasons, Adjusted EBITDA is a significant component of our annual incentive compensation program.

Our Non-GAAP Measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for an analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Other companies in our industry may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as a comparative measure. Because of these limitations, our Non-GAAP Measures should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash





available to use to invest in the growth of our business or as measures of cash that will be available to use to meet our obligations. Investors should compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using our Non-GAAP Measures for supplemental purposes only. We provide a presentation of net income as calculated under GAAP, which we believe is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, reconciled to our EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in the schedule below. We also provide reconciliations of gross margin as reported within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations to Adjusted Gross Margin.

Conference Call
Victor Technologies will hold a teleconference on August 14, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.

To participate via telephone, please dial:
U.S. and Canada: 1-888-780-9648
International: 1-210-234-0013
Conference ID: 9337583
Passcode: VICTOR

Those wishing to participate are asked to dial in ten minutes before the conference begins. For those unable to participate in the live conference call, a transcript of the call will be posted to the Victor Technologies website at www.victortechnologies.com within 24 hours following the call.

About Victor Technologies
Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Victor Technologies provides superior solutions for cutting, welding and gas control equipment under brand names that include Victor®, Tweco®, Arcair®, Thermal Dynamics®, Thermal Arc®, Stoody®, TurboTorch®, Firepower® and Cigweld®. For more information about Victor Technologies, its products and services, visit the Company’s web site at www.victortechnologies.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect management's current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from such statements due to a variety of factors that could adversely affect the Company's operating results. These risks and factors are set forth in documents the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and other reports it files from time to time.










VICTOR TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
% of
 
Three Months Ended
 
% of
 
June 30, 2012
 
Sales
 
June 30, 2011
 
Sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$
132,257

 
100.0
 %
 
$
129,269

 
100.0
 %
Cost of goods sold
85,114

 
64.4
 %
 
81,475

 
63.0
 %
Gross margin
47,143

 
35.6
 %
 
47,794

 
37.0
 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
27,459

 
20.8
 %
 
27,725

 
21.4
 %
Amortization of intangibles
1,584

 
1.2
 %
 
1,583

 
1.2
 %
Restructuring
848

 
0.6
 %
 
615

 
0.5
 %
Operating income
17,252

 
13.0
 %
 
17,871

 
13.8
 %
Other expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest, net
(8,453
)
 
(6.4
)%
 
(6,056
)
 
(4.7
)%
Amortization of deferred financing costs
(604
)
 
(0.5
)%
 
(432
)
 
(0.3
)%
Income before income tax provision
8,195

 
6.2
 %
 
11,383

 
8.8
 %
Income tax provision
2,209

 
1.7
 %
 
5,311

 
4.1
 %
Net income
$
5,986

 
4.5
 %
 
$
6,072

 
4.7
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
% of
 
Six Months Ended
 
% of
 
June 30, 2012
 
Sales
 
June 30, 2011
 
Sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$
259,128

 
100.0
 %
 
$
245,766

 
100.0
 %
Cost of goods sold
168,117

 
64.9
 %
 
164,746

 
67.0
 %
Gross margin
91,011

 
35.1
 %
 
81,020

 
33.0
 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
53,901

 
20.8
 %
 
52,555

 
21.4
 %
Amortization of intangibles
3,167

 
1.2
 %
 
3,129

 
1.3
 %
Restructuring
1,659

 
0.6
 %
 
615

 
0.3
 %
Operating income
32,284

 
12.5
 %
 
24,721

 
10.1
 %
Other expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest, net
(15,183
)
 
(5.9
)%
 
(12,353
)
 
(5.0
)%
Amortization of deferred financing costs
(1,100
)
 
(0.4
)%
 
(821
)
 
(0.3
)%
Income before income tax provision
16,001

 
6.2
 %
 
11,547

 
4.7
 %
Income tax provision
4,803

 
1.9
 %
 
5,387

 
2.2
 %
Net income
$
11,198

 
4.3
 %
 
$
6,160

 
2.5
 %







VICTOR TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
16,768

 
$
20,856

Accounts receivable, net
81,355

 
68,570

Inventories
101,239

 
96,011

Prepaid expenses and other
11,479

 
11,972

Deferred tax assets
2,823

 
2,823

Total current assets
213,664

 
200,232

Property, plant and equipment, net
73,226

 
73,861

Goodwill
182,649

 
182,429

Intangibles, net
137,387

 
140,265

Deferred financing fees
16,725

 
13,416

Other assets
503

 
502

Total assets
$
624,154

 
$
610,705

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current maturities of other long-term obligations
$
1,662

 
$
1,715

Accounts payable
37,299

 
29,705

Accrued and other liabilities
37,643

 
43,560

Accrued interest
1,480

 
1,081

Income taxes payable
1,137

 
2,875

Deferred tax liabilities
3,584

 
3,584

Total current liabilities
82,805

 
82,520

Long-term obligations, less current maturities
357,853

 
263,607

Deferred tax liabilities
81,012

 
78,927

Other long-term liabilities
17,080

 
18,081

Total stockholder's equity
85,404

 
167,570

Total liabilities and stockholder's equity
$
624,154

 
$
610,705

 
 
 
 





VICTOR TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
June 30, 2012
 
June 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
11,198

 
$
6,160

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
10,290

 
12,241

Deferred income taxes
1,980

 
1,231

Stock compensation expense
378

 
258

Amortization of debt discount
214

 

Restructuring costs, net of payments
(753
)
 
396

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable, net
(12,772
)
 
(13,599
)
Inventories
(5,219
)
 
(15,570
)
Prepaids
831

 
(3,560
)
Accounts payable
8,029

 
12,783

Accrued interest
399

 
(8,092
)
Accrued taxes
(1,776
)
 
(1,128
)
Accrued and other
(6,584
)
 
(1,099
)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
6,215

 
(9,979
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
(5,700
)
 
(7,915
)
Other
(289
)
 
(322
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(5,989
)
 
(8,237
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Issuance of Senior Secured Notes due 2017
100,000

 

Senior Secured Notes discount
(5,200
)
 

Dividend payment to Parent
(93,507
)
 

Use of Trusteed Assets for redemption of Senior Subordinated Notes

 
183,685

Repayment of Senior Subordinated Notes

 
(176,095
)
Repayments of other long-term obligations
(818
)
 
(1,394
)
Deferred financing fees
(4,409
)
 

Proceeds from exercise of stock options
31

 

Other, net
(519
)
 
(275
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(4,422
)
 
5,921

 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
108

 
562

 
 
 
 
Total decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(4,088
)
 
(11,733
)
Total cash and cash equivalents beginning of period
20,856

 
22,399

Total cash and cash equivalents end of period
$
16,768

 
$
10,666

 
 
 
 
Income taxes paid
$
4,536

 
$
5,325

Interest paid, including $8,688 for defeased Sr Subordinated Notes in 2011
$
16,919

 
$
21,713







VICTOR TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
Reconciliations of Net Income to EBITDA (1) and Adjusted EBITDA (1)
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
June 30, 2012
 
June 30, 2011
 
June 30, 2012
 
June 30, 2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
5,986

 
$
6,072

 
$
11,198

 
$
6,160

Plus:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
5,199

 
6,220

 
10,288

 
12,241

Interest expense, net
8,453

 
6,056

 
15,183

 
12,353

Income tax provision
2,209

 
5,311

 
4,803

 
5,387

EBITDA (1)
$
21,847

 
$
23,659

 
$
41,472

 
$
36,141

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIFO method charge to cost of sales
380

 
530

 
80

 
1,500

Fair value purchase accounting adjustments to inventory

 

 

 
3,344

Restructuring and other severances
1,181

 
736

 
2,103

 
774

Irving Place Capital management fees and expenses
613

 
705

 
1,189

 
1,197

Stock compensation expense
191

 
126

 
378

 
258

Company name change expenses
744

 

 
744

 

Adjusted EBITDA (1)
$
24,956

 
$
25,756

 
$
45,966

 
$
43,214

  % of Sales
18.9
%
 
19.9
%
 
17.7
%
 
17.6
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Information:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Margin, as reported
$
47,143

 
$
47,794

 
$
91,011

 
$
81,020

Plus:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIFO method charge to cost of sales
380

 
530

 
80

 
1,500

Fair value purchase accounting adjustments to inventory

 

 

 
3,344

Adjusted Gross Margin (1)
$
47,523

 
$
48,324

 
$
91,091

 
$
85,864

  % of Sales
35.9
%
 
37.4
%
 
35.2
%
 
34.9
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) A non-GAAP measure