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8-K - 8-K - EMPIRE RESOURCES INC /NEW/v353211_8k.htm

 

 EXHIBIT 99.1

 

EMPIRE RESOURCES, INC.

 

EMPIRE RESOURCES REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2013 RESULTS

 

Fort Lee, NJ, August 14, 2013 — Empire Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERS), a distributor of value added, semi-finished metal products, announced today that net sales for the second quarter of 2013 were $110.5 million, which is 24% lower than the second quarter of 2012, and reflected the market decline in metal pricing as well as lower unit volume shipments to most geographic regions in line with soft economic conditions.

 

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2013 was $5.3 million, down 18% from the second quarter of 2012. However, gross profit as a percentage of sales improved to 4.8% from 4.4% of sales in the second quarter of 2012, as the Company continued to implement its inventory management strategy and reduced storage and processing costs in the quarter.

 

Operating income for the second quarter of 2013 was $1.8 million compared with $3.1 million in the second quarter of 2012. SG&A expenses were 6% higher versus the second quarter of 2012 due in part to the Company's investment in employee count to expand its geographic reach.

 

Interest expense of $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2013 was 20% below the second quarter of 2012. The Company's continued success in controlling inventory levels, which decreased $36.9 million or 24% from the end of the second quarter of 2012, enabled Empire to reduce bank debt by $43.8 million or 28% from the end of the prior year second quarter.

 

In the second quarter of 2013, the Company recognized a non-cash non-operating loss of $0.04 million related to the change in fair market valuation of the derivative feature of its convertible subordinated note. That compares with a non-cash non-operating gain of $0.2 million related to the derivative valuation recognized in the second quarter of 2012.

 

Before including the non-cash non-operating derivative-related amounts in both periods, pre-tax income was $0.6 million in the second quarter of 2013 versus $1.7 million in the second quarter of 2012.

 

Net income for the second quarter of 2013 was $0.4 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, including the derivative related non-cash non-operating loss. That compares with net income of $1.2 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2012, including the non-cash non-operating gain in the prior year period.

 

For the first six months of 2013, net sales were $243.9 million; pre-tax income, before including a non-cash non-operating derivative-related loss of $2.2 million, was $2.9 million; and net income was $0.5 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, including the derivative-related loss. In the first six months of 2012, net sales were $291.3 million; pre-tax income, before including a non-cash non-operating derivative-related loss of $0.05 million, was $3.3 million; and net income was $2.0 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, including the derivative-related loss.

 

 
 

 

Nathan Kahn, President and CEO, commented, “Softer than expected economic conditions in most regions of the world and the fall-off in the market pricing of both aluminum and steel made the second quarter an especially challenging period. Additionally, the drop in the value of the Brazilian real meant that many potential steel orders in that market did not meet our margin requirements and caused us to curtail volume in the second quarter. However, the rest of South America remained strong and we are continuing to expand our reach in the region, most recently through the establishment of a wholly owned subsidiary in Mexico. We also have initiatives underway in Europe to improve our market position there.”

 

“Additionally, we moved forward in the second quarter with our strategy to improve profitability, and were successful in further reducing inventory, bank debt and interest costs. That progress is also reflected in our cash flow from operations, which nearly doubled to $7.9 million for the six month period from $4.0 million in the same period of 2012.”

 

“It is generally expected that market conditions will begin to strengthen in the fourth quarter. In the meantime, we will continue to execute our plan for profitable growth with our central focus on being effective partners to our customers and suppliers.”

 

Empire Resources, Inc. is a distributor of a wide range of semi-finished metal products to customers in the transportation, automotive, housing, appliance and packaging industries in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. It maintains supply contracts with mills in various parts of the world.

 

This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Such statements may be preceded by the words “intends,” “may,” “will,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “aims,” “believes,” “hopes,” “potential” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) the loss or default of one or more suppliers; (ii) the loss or default of one or more significant customers; (iii) a default by counterparties to derivative financial instruments; (iv) changes in general, national or regional economic conditions; (v) an act of war or terrorism that disrupts international shipping; (vi) changes in laws, regulations and tariffs; (vii) the imposition of anti-dumping duties on products the Company imports; (viii) changes in the size and nature of the Company’s competition; (ix) changes in interest rates, foreign currencies or spot prices of aluminum; (x) the loss of one or more key executives; (xi) increased credit risk from customers; (xii) the Company’s failure to grow internally or by acquisition and (xiii) the Company’s failure to improve operating margins and efficiencies. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

 
 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

(In thousands except per share amounts)

 

   Three Months  Ended June 30,   Six Months  Ended June 30, 
   2013   2012   2013   2012 
Net sales  $110,468   $145,692   $243,898   $291,301 
Cost of goods sold   105,201    139,271    232,001    278,526 
Gross profit   5,267    6,421    11,897    12,775 
Selling, general and administrative expenses   3,501    3,307    6,759    6,759 
Operating income   1,766    3,114    5,138    6,016 
Other expenses                    
Change in value of derivative liability   (44)   195    (2,167)   (49)
Interest expense, net   (1,134)   (1,413)   (2,247)   (2,741)
Income before income taxes   588    1,896    724    3,226 
Income taxes   221    728    272    1,227 
Net income  $367   $1,168   $452   $1,999 
Weighted average shares outstanding:                    
Basic   8,586    9,230    8,585    9,205 
Diluted   8,871    12,117    8,860    12,096 
Earnings per share:                    
Basic  $0.04   $0.13   $0.05   $0.22 
Diluted  $0.04   $0.11   $0.05   $0.21 

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements            

 

 
 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands except share amounts)

   June 30, 2013
 (Unaudited)
   December 31, 2012 
ASSETS          
Current assets:          
Cash  $2,212   $3,136 
Trade accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $517 and $521)   58,408    53,551 
Inventories   119,585    145,547 
Deferred tax assets   4,166    3,306 
Advance to supplier, net of imputed interest of $235 and  $292   3,089    3,061 
Other current assets   10,229    3,965 
Total current assets   197,689    212,566 
Advance to supplier, net of imputed interest of $130 and $234,  net of current maturities   4,880    6,413 
Preferential supply agreement   802    962 
Long-term financing costs, net of amortization   637    862 
Property and equipment, net   3,930    3,987 
Total assets  $207,938   $224,790 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY          
Current liabilities:          
Notes payable - banks  $113,853   $124,095 
Current maturities of mortgage payable   177    171 
Trade accounts payable   27,481    36,048 
Income taxes payable   4,248    3,036 
Accrued expenses and derivative liabilities   3,003    4,783 
Dividends payable   215    - 
Total current liabilities   148,977    168,133 
           
Mortgage payable, net of current maturities   1,200    1,290 
Subordinated convertible debt net of unamortized discount of $1,651 and $1,933 respectively   10,349    10,067 
Derivative liability for embedded conversion option   4,163    1,996 
Deferred taxes payable   138    195 
Total Liabilities   164,827    181,681 
           
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 19)          
           
Stockholders' equity:          
Common stock $.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized and 11,749,651 shares issued at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012   117    117 
Additional paid-in capital   11,937    11,937 
Retained earnings   36,664    36,641 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (136)   (136)
Treasury stock, 3,165,249 and 3,158,597 shares at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively   (5,471)   (5,450)
Total stockholders' equity   43,111    43,109 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $207,938   $224,790 

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

 
 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(In thousands

   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2013   2012 
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net income  $452   $1,999 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   286    271 
Change in value of derivative liability   2,167    49 
Amortization of convertible note discount   283    283 
Imputed interest on vendor advance   (161)   (259)
Amortization of supply agreement   160    - 
Deferred income taxes   (942)   (39)
Foreign exchange loss/(gain), and other   10    35 
Loss on sale of marketable securities   31    - 
Changes in:          
Trade accounts receivable   (4,900)   (12,148)
Inventories   25,879    27,423 
Other current assets   (6,270)   (1,197)
Trade accounts payable   (8,562)   (14,905)
Income taxes payable   1,212    1,008 
Accrued expenses and derivative liabilities   (1,746)   1,476 
Net cash provided by operating activities   7,899    3,996 
Cash flows provided by/(used in) investing activities:          
Repayment/(advance) related to supply agreement   1,667    (5,000)
Net proceeds from sale of marketable securities   6    - 
Purchases of property and equipment   (4)   (20)
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities   1,669    (5,020)
Cash flows (used in)/provided by financing activities:          
(Repayments of)/proceeds from notes payable – banks   (10,169)   3,398 
Repayments - mortgage payable   (84)   (79)
Dividends paid   (215)   (461)
Deferred financing costs   -    (2)
Treasury stock purchased   (21)   (1,932)
Net cash (used in )/provided by financing activities   (10,489)   924 
Net decrease in cash   (921)   (100)
Effect of exchange rate   (3)   (15)
Cash at beginning of period   3,136    4,274 
Cash at end of the period  $2,212   $4,159 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:          
Cash paid during the period for:          
 Interest  $2,137   $2,697 
  Income taxes  $1,825   $2,221 
Non cash financing activities:          
Dividend declared but not yet paid  $215   $215 

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

 
 

 

Contacts:

Investor Relations:

Comm-Counsellors, LLC

Edward Nebb

+1 203-972-8350

enebb@optonline.net

June Filingeri

+1 203-972-0186

junefil@optonline.net

 

Shareholders:

David Kronfeld

+1 917-408-1940

dkronfeld@empireresources.com