RPM Reports Fiscal 2013 First-Quarter Results

MEDINA, Ohio, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- RPM International Inc. (NYSE: RPM) today reported its financial results for its fiscal 2013 first quarter ended August 31, 2012 and raised its earnings guidance for the full fiscal year, excluding one-time adjustments.   

First-Quarter Results

Fiscal 2013 first-quarter net sales of $1.05 billion increased 6.2% over the $985.9 million reported a year ago.  Including one-time adjustments, consolidated EBIT for the fiscal 2013 first quarter was $83.5 million compared to $136.5 million a year ago.  First-quarter net income after one-time adjustments was $33.9 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to $76.8 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, in the fiscal 2012 first period.  Excluding one-time adjustments, consolidated EBIT was $139.8 million, up 2.4% from the fiscal 2012 first quarter.  Net income of $84.8 million excluding adjustments was up 10.4% from a year ago.  First-quarter diluted earnings per share, excluding adjustments was $0.64, an 8.5% increase over the $0.59 reported last year. 

During the quarter, the company incurred a one-time, non-cash charge of $45.3 million for the write-down of its investments in Kemrock Industries and Exports Limited in India, based on deteriorating local economic conditions and their impact on Kemrock's stock price and operating performance.  The company also incurred an $11.0 million charge in the roofing division at RPM's Building Solutions Group, principally associated with the strategic decision to exit certain unprofitable contracts outside of North America in order to better focus on the company's successful core roofing business in the U.S. and Canada.

"First-quarter operating results were on plan, with both our industrial and consumer segments posting increases in sales and EBIT, prior to the one-time adjustments that impacted the industrial segment. Most of our operating units are seeing growth in unit volume, pricing improvement and a stabilization of raw material prices," stated Frank C. Sullivan, chairman and chief executive officer.

First-Quarter Segment Sales and Earnings

RPM's consumer segment reported a 7.7% increase in sales to $343.4 million from $318.9 million in the fiscal 2012 first quarter. Organic sales were up 6.1%, including 5.3% in volume growth and 2.4% from pricing, partially offset by 1.6% in foreign exchange translation losses. Acquisition growth added 1.6%.  Consumer segment EBIT improved 14.2% to $58.8 million in the fiscal 2013 first quarter from $51.5 million in the same period a year ago, driven primarily by higher sales volume and improved leverage on selling, general and administrative expenses.  

"Our consumer segment performed well in the quarter, with a solid sales increase driven by higher volume resulting from continued market share gains and increased traction for newer, innovative products with higher selling prices than our conventional consumer offerings.  The segment is also benefiting from the gradual recovery of the U.S. housing market," Sullivan stated. 

The company's industrial segment sales, including adjustments, improved 5.4%, to $703.3 million from $667.0 million a year ago, with 1.0% in volume improvement, 1.8% in pricing increases, and acquisition growth of 8.1%, all of which were partially offset by 5.5% in foreign exchange losses.  Including adjustments, industrial segment EBIT declined 16.8% to $76.9 million.  Excluding one-time adjustments, first-quarter sales increased 5.9% to $706.2 million and EBIT increased 5.6% to $97.7 million from $92.5 million in the fiscal 2012 first quarter.

"We are seeing gradual improvement in North American commercial construction, which affects about 30% of our industrial segment and which is still considerably below its pre-recession peak. Other industrial businesses showing strength included Carboline corrosion control and fireproofing products, Stonhard high-performance polymer flooring and several of our North American-based RPM2 companies. Our European-based businesses are down in sales year-over-year due to general weakness in European markets, combined with unfavorable foreign exchange translation.   In contrast to our other major North American based businesses, our roofing division is also suffering year-over-year declines," stated Sullivan. 

Cash Flow and Financial Position

During the fiscal 2013 first quarter, cash from operations was $17.7 million, up from $7.5 million a year ago.  Capital expenditures were $12.7 million in the quarter, compared to $4.9 million in the year-ago period.  Depreciation was $13.3 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2013, compared to $13.0 million for the same period last year.  

Total debt at August 31, 2012 of $1.2 billion compares to $1.1 billion at May 31, 2012 and $1.1 billion at the end of last year's first quarter. Net (of cash) debt-to-total capital was 43.5%, versus 36.0% at the end of last year's first quarter and 40.3% at the end of the prior fiscal year. Liquidity, including cash, was $870.8 million, compared to $834.3 million a year ago and $813.1 million at May 31, 2012.

"RPM's strong cash and liquidity position gives us confidence to continue to support a growing cash dividend, as well as a vigorous acquisition program, which has added companies generating more than $410 million in annual sales to the RPM family of companies since the beginning of fiscal 2012," Sullivan stated. "Our debt-to-total capital ratio remains at the low end of our historic norms, and we are continuing to pursue acquisitions that complement our core competencies."  

Recent Acquisitions Boost Sales, Broaden Product Lines and Extend Geographic Reach

"During the first four months of fiscal 2013, we acquired three companies with annual sales approximating $225 million.  Moreover, through them, we added a significant product line extension to our consumer offerings, established a strong foothold in one of the world's largest geographic markets and entered an entirely new product category," Sullivan stated.  Acquisitions, all of which are expected to be accretive to earnings within one year, included:

• Synta, Inc., a producer and marketer of innovative and unique exterior wood deck and concrete restoration systems sold through leading national home centers and marketed under the brands of Deck Restore and Concrete Restore.  The company's products also include a craft coatings line.  Synta, which was acquired by RPM's Rust-Oleum Group on September 21, 2012, has annualized sales expected to exceed $40 million, and is based in Clarkston, Ga. 
• Kirker Enterprises, Inc., a leading manufacturer of nail care enamels, coatings components and related products for the personal care industry, which was acquired by the RPM2 Group on September 5, 2012. Based in Patterson, N.J., Kirker has annual sales of more than $100 million.
• Viapol Ltda., a leading Brazilian manufacturer and marketer of building materials and construction products, which was acquired  on June 19, 2012 and is operating as part of The Euclid Chemical Group, a unit of RPM's Building Solutions Group.  Viapol, with annual sales of approximately $85 million, offers products that include rolled asphalt roofing materials, waterproofing systems, concrete admixtures, industrial epoxy flooring systems, and retail paints, varnishes and stains.  From its base in Cacapava, Brazil, Viapol serves the largest economy in South America and sixth largest in the world. 

Business Outlook

"Based on our first-quarter results and outlook, we are increasing  our fiscal 2013 sales guidance issued with our fiscal 2012 year-end earnings release on July 23, 2012, which anticipated consolidated sales growth in a range of 5% to 10%, to a consolidated sales increase of 8% to 10%.  Our earnings guidance at that time was also in the range of 5% to 10%. We now expect net income and diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2013 to increase between 9% and 12%, or $1.80 to $1.85 per share, prior to one-time adjustments, as a result of continued robust growth in North America, recent acquisitions and more favorable foreign currency comparisons during the back half of this fiscal year," stated Sullivan. 

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Management will host a conference call to further discuss these results beginning at 10:00 a.m. EDT today.  The call can be accessed by dialing 800-510-0178 or 617-614-3450 for international callers.  Participants are asked to call the assigned number approximately 10 minutes before the conference call begins.  The call, which will last approximately one hour, will be open to the public, but only financial analysts will be permitted to ask questions.  The media and all other participants will be in a listen-only mode.

For those unable to listen to the live call, a replay will be available from approximately 1:00 p.m. EDT today until 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 10, 2012.  The replay can be accessed by dialing 888-286-8010 or 617-801-6888 for international callers.  The access code is 47920564.  The call also will be available both live and for replay, and as a written transcript, via the RPM web site at www.RPMinc.com.

About RPM

RPM International Inc., a holding company, owns subsidiaries that are world leaders in specialty coatings, sealants, building materials and related services serving both industrial and consumer markets.  RPM's industrial products include roofing systems, sealants, corrosion control coatings, flooring coatings and specialty chemicals.  Industrial brands include Stonhard, Tremco, illbruck, Carboline, Flowcrete, Universal Sealants and Euco. RPM's consumer products are used by professionals and do-it-yourselfers for home maintenance and improvement and by hobbyists.  Consumer brands include Zinsser, Rust-Oleum, DAP, Varathane and Testors. Additional details can be found at www.RPMinc.com and by following RPM on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RPMintl.

For more information, contact Barry M. Slifstein, vice president – investor relations and planning, at 330-273-5090 or [email protected].

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" relating to our business.  These forward-looking statements, or other statements made by us, are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting us, and are subject to uncertainties and factors (including those specified below) which are difficult to predict and, in many instances, are beyond our control.  As a result, our actual results could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any such forward-looking statements.  These uncertainties and factors include (a) global markets and general economic conditions, including uncertainties surrounding the volatility in financial markets, the availability of capital and the effect of changes in interest rates, and the viability of banks and other financial institutions; (b) the prices, supply and capacity of raw materials, including assorted pigments, resins, solvents and other natural gas- and oil-based materials; packaging, including plastic containers; and transportation services, including fuel surcharges; (c) continued growth in demand for our products; (d) legal, environmental and litigation risks inherent in our construction and chemicals businesses and risks related to the adequacy of our insurance coverage for such matters; (e) the effect of changes in interest rates; (f) the effect of fluctuations in currency exchange rates upon our foreign operations; (g) the effect of non-currency risks of investing in and conducting operations in foreign countries, including those relating to domestic and international political, social, economic and regulatory factors; (h) risks and uncertainties associated with our ongoing acquisition and divestiture activities; (i) risks related to the adequacy of our contingent liability reserves; (j) risks and uncertainties associated with the SPHC bankruptcy proceedings; and (k) other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2012, as the same may be updated from time to time.  We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.

SOURCE RPM International Inc.