Gates Industrial Reports First-Quarter 2020 Results

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May 05, 2020, 16:10 ET

DENVER, May 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

First-Quarter 2020 Financial Summary

Net sales down 11.8% year-over-year to $710.1 million, representing a core revenue decline of 10.1%.
Net income attributable to shareholders of $35.6 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared to prior-year net income attributable to shareholders of $613.7 million, or $2.08 per diluted share.
Adjusted Net Income of $61.6 million, or $0.21 per diluted share.
First-quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $120.8 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.0%.
Net cash provided by operations of $31.1 million with capital expenditures of $14.9 million, resulting in free cash flow of $16.2 million.

Gates Industrial Corporation plc (NYSE:GTES), a leading global provider of application-specific fluid power and power transmission solutions, today reported results for the first quarter ended March 28, 2020.

Ivo Jurek, Gates Industrial's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "During these unprecedented times driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, our primary objective is the health and safety of our employees, as well as the communities in which we operate. The vast majority of our production facilities are currently operational and we are focused on serving our customers, many of whom operate in essential industries. We believe that we have a resilient business in a strong position to withstand the uncertainty, given the critical applications we support and our business model that is focused on replacement channels. While we continue to operate around the world, we expect the sharp reductions in economic activity and uncertain timing of the recovery will have a substantial impact on our Q2 results, as well as those for the full year. As a result, we are withdrawing our previously issued guidance for 2020 core revenue and Adjusted EBITDA."

Jurek continued, "We are navigating the current environment in a strong financial position, with over $1.0 billion of liquidity as of May 1, 2020, and no material debt principal payments until 2024. Where appropriate, we are reducing production capacity and taking actions to reduce our controllable costs and discretionary spending. Further, we have contingency plans in place for a variety of scenarios and, as this fluid situation continues to evolve, will respond accordingly. We continue to expect strong Free Cash Flow generation, which has been substantial in prior downturns. While COVID-19 is a developing situation, we believe our business is prepared for the challenges ahead and well positioned to emerge stronger as the crisis abates."

First-Quarter Financial Results

First-quarter net sales were $710.1 million, a decrease of 11.8% over the prior-year quarter net sales of $804.9 million, including a core revenue decline of 10.1%. We estimate the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted our revenues by approximately 7% on a core basis. After a solid start to the quarter, our business in China experienced significant demand deterioration as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, before beginning to show signs of recovery late in the quarter. The industrial end market weakness in Europe and North America continued, albeit to a lesser degree than expected, before demand in those regions was also negatively impacted by COVID-19 late in the quarter. Sales into replacement channels outperformed those into first-fit channels, which were negatively impacted by temporary suspensions of production by certain customers.

Net income attributable to shareholders in the first quarter of 2020 was $35.6 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared to $613.7 million, or $2.08 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2019. Adjusted Net Income for the first quarter of 2020 was $61.6 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to $82.4 million, or $0.28 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2019. The diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding in the first quarter of 2020 was 292,111,253 compared to 294,661,913 in the first quarter of 2019.

First-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $120.8 million, or 17.0% of net sales, compared to $165.5 million, or 20.6% of net sales in the prior-year quarter. The contraction in Adjusted EBITDA margin was driven by the lower sales and production volumes in the quarter.

Power Transmission Segment Results

	Three months ended
*(USD in millions)*	March 28, 2020	March 30, 2019	% Change	% Core Change
Net sales	$441.2	$499.5	(11.7%)	(9.8%)
Adjusted EBITDA	$79.5	$109.9	(27.7%)
Adjusted EBITDA margin	18.0%	22.0%	(400 bps)
Depreciation & amortization⁽¹⁾	$15.9	$16.4	(3.0%)
Amort. of intangibles from acq. of Gates	$18.2	$18.4	(1.1%)

(1)

Excludes the amortization of intangible assets arising from the 2014 acquisition of Gates.

Power Transmission net sales for the first-quarter of 2020 decreased 11.7% to $441.2 million, reflecting a core revenue decline of 9.8% and unfavorable foreign currency effects of 1.9%. Modest core revenue growth in Europe, driven by the automotive replacement channel, was offset by the decline in net sales into our industrial end markets in North America and significant decline of net sales in China as a result of COVID-19 and the related reductions in customer activity.

First-quarter 2020 Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted by 400 basis points over the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was primarily impacted by lower sales and production volumes.

Fluid Power Segment Results

	Three months ended
*(USD in millions)*	March 28, 2020	March 30, 2019	% Change	% Core Change
Net sales	$268.9	$305.4	(12.0%)	(10.6%)
Adjusted EBITDA	$41.3	$55.6	(25.7%)
Adjusted EBITDA margin	15.4%	18.2%	(280 bps)
Depreciation & amortization⁽¹⁾	$9.7	$10.0	(3.0%)
Amort. of intangibles from acq. of Gates	$11.1	$11.3	(1.8%)

(1)

Excludes the amortization of intangible assets arising from the 2014 acquisition of Gates.

Fluid Power net sales for the first quarter of 2020 decreased 12.0% to $268.9 million, reflecting a core revenue decline of 10.6% and unfavorable foreign currency effects of 1.4%. Core revenue was impacted by the expected weakness across industrial end markets in Europe and North America, with China impacted by reduced industrial activity related to COVID-19, primarily in the construction end market.

First-quarter Adjusted EBITDA margin declined 280 basis points over the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was primarily impacted by lower sales and production volumes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

During the first quarter of 2020, the Company generated $31.1 million of cash from operations, with lower Adjusted EBITDA offset by lower working capital levels compared to the first quarter of 2019. Capital expenditures in the first quarter of 2020 declined slightly to $14.9 million from $22.9 million in the prior-year period.

As of March 28, 2020, the Company had total cash and cash equivalents of $626.3 million and total outstanding debt of $3.0 billion. The Company had total liquidity of $1,066.6 million, which was comprised of the cash balance and $440.3 million of availability under revolving credit facilities, and no material maturities of current borrowings until 2024.

2020 Outlook

The Company is withdrawing its full-year 2020 core revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance due to an inability to predict the extent and duration of the unprecedented actions taken globally to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, which are likely to have a material impact. The Company currently expects total capital expenditures of approximately $70 million and Free Cash Flow Conversion to be greater than 100% of Adjusted Net Income.

Conference Call and Webcast

Gates Industrial Corporation plc will host a conference call today at 5:00 pm ET to discuss the Company's financial results. The live webcast of the conference call and accompanying presentation materials can be accessed through Gates Industrial's website at investors.gates.com. Due to potential extended wait times to access the conference call via dial-in, the Company encourages use of the webcast. For those unable to access the webcast, the conference call can be accessed by dialing (866) 393-4306 (domestic) or +1 (734) 385-2616 (international) and requesting the Gates Industrial Corporation First Quarter 2020 Earnings Conference Call. An audio replay of the conference call can be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 (domestic) or +1 (404) 537-3406 (international), and providing the passcode 5779379, or by accessing Gates Industrial's website at investors.gates.com.

About Gates Industrial Corporation plc

Gates is a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions. Gates offers a broad portfolio of products to diverse replacement channel customers, and to original equipment ("first-fit") manufacturers as specified components. Gates participates in many sectors of the industrial and consumer markets. Our products play essential roles in a diverse range of applications across a wide variety of end markets ranging from harsh and hazardous industries such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing and energy, to everyday consumer applications such as printers, power washers, automatic doors and vacuum cleaners and virtually every form of transportation. Our products are sold in more than 120 countries across our four commercial regions: the Americas; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Greater China; and East Asia & India.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seeks," "projects," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to expectations regarding the performance of the Company's business, financial results, liquidity and capital resources, statements regarding the future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the statements in the "2020 Outlook" section of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the uncertainties relating to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated governmental measures on the company's business, operations, employees, financial condition and results of operations, risks inherent to the manufacturing industry, macroeconomic factors beyond the Company's control, continued operation of our manufacturing facilities,our ability to forecast and meet demand, market acceptance of new products, and the significant influence of the Company's majority shareholders, investment funds affiliated with The Blackstone Group Inc. Additional factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found under the section entitled "Risk Factors" of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), as will be supplemented by the risks and uncertainties set forth in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 28, 2020, as such factors may be further updated from time to time in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in the Company's filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

Gates Industrial Corporation plc
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

	Three months ended
(USD in millions, except per share amounts)	March 28, 2020		March 30, 2019
Net sales	$	710.1	$	804.9
Cost of sales	454.3		497.6
Gross profit	255.8		307.3
Selling, general and administrative expenses	193.4		200.5
Transaction-related (income) expenses	(0.2)		0.4
Restructuring expenses	1.9		3.3
Other operating expenses	2.3		2.9
Operating income from continuing operations	58.4		100.2
Interest expense	36.7		38.1
Other income	(2.1)		(3.3)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	23.8		65.4
Income tax benefit	(16.1)		(539.7)
Net income from continuing operations	39.9		605.1
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax, respectively, of $0 and $0	—		0.3
Net income	39.9		604.8
Less: non-controlling interests	4.3		(8.9)
Net income attributable to shareholders	$	35.6	$	613.7

Earnings per share
Basic
Earnings per share from continuing operations	$	0.12	$	2.12
Earnings per share from discontinued operations	—		—
Earnings per share	$	0.12	$	2.12

Diluted
Earnings per share from continuing operations	$	0.12	$	2.08
Earnings per share from discontinued operations	—		—
Earnings per share	$	0.12	$	2.08

Gates Industrial Corporation plc
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

(USD in millions, except share numbers and per share amounts)	As of March 28, 2020		As of December 28, 2019
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	626.3	$	635.3
Trade accounts receivable	717.2		694.7
Inventories	484.4		475.1
Taxes receivable	32.5		22.1
Prepaid expenses and other assets	137.5		131.4
Total current assets	1,997.9		1,958.6
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	683.0		727.9
Goodwill	1,957.7		2,060.5
Pension surplus	36.2		38.1
Intangible assets, net	1,809.9		1,876.0
Operating lease right-of-use assets	118.3		123.0
Taxes receivable	24.1		23.0
Deferred income taxes	542.4		587.1
Other non-current assets	15.3		17.1
Total assets	$	7,184.8	$	7,411.3
Liabilities and equity
Current liabilities
Debt, current portion	$	54.9	$	46.1
Trade accounts payable	383.0		374.7
Taxes payable	26.5		48.5
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	203.3		188.8
Total current liabilities	667.7		658.1
Non-current liabilities
Debt, less current portion	2,901.9		2,912.3
Post-retirement benefit obligations	146.8		151.2
Lease liabilities	111.8		116.2
Taxes payable	104.8		108.8
Deferred income taxes	322.7		369.3
Other non-current liabilities	87.7		84.7
Total liabilities	4,343.4		4,400.6
Shareholders' equity
—Shares, par value of $0.01 each - authorized shares: 3,000,000,000 ; outstanding shares: 290,666,538 (December 28, 2019: authorized shares: 3,000,000,000; outstanding shares: 290,157,299)	2.9		2.9
—Additional paid-in capital	2,440.1		2,434.5
—Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,065.8)		(858.4)
—Retained earnings	1,107.6		1,072.0
Total shareholders' equity	2,484.8		2,651.0
Non-controlling interests	356.6		359.7
Total equity	2,841.4		3,010.7
Total liabilities and equity	$	7,184.8	$	7,411.3

Gates Industrial Corporation plc
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

	Three months ended
(USD in millions)	March 28, 2020		March 30, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	39.9	$	604.8
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization	54.9		56.1
Non-cash currency transaction gain on debt and hedging instruments	(5.3)		(13.6)
Other net non-cash financing costs	8.2		13.1
Share-based compensation expense	2.9		2.6
Decrease in post-employment benefit obligations, net	(1.8)		(2.4)
Deferred income taxes	3.7		(624.4)
Other operating activities	2.7		2.4
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
—Increase in accounts receivable	(42.1)		(46.1)
—Increase in inventories	(27.5)		(21.3)
—Increase (decrease) in accounts payable	19.5		(25.8)
—Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets	(6.1)		(12.4)
—(Decrease) increase in taxes payable	(38.3)		51.7
—Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	20.4		(32.4)
Net cash provided by (used in) operations	31.1		(47.7)
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(12.1)		(21.3)
Purchases of intangible assets	(2.8)		(1.6)
Cash paid under corporate-owned life insurance policies	(9.8)		(9.5)
Cash received under corporate-owned life insurance policies	—		0.7
Other investing activities	0.1		—
Net cash used in investing activities	(24.6)		(31.7)
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of shares, net of underwriting costs	2.1		1.2
Payments of long-term debt	(6.2)		(12.7)
Debt issuance costs paid	(0.3)		—
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests	—		(1.8)
Other financing activities	1.5		0.2
Net cash used in financing activities	(2.9)		(13.1)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(12.9)		2.8
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(9.3)		(89.7)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the period	636.6		424.6
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period	$	627.3	$	334.9
Supplemental schedule of cash flow information
Interest paid	$	25.5	$	51.4
Income taxes paid, net	$	18.5	$	33.0
Accrued capital expenditures	$	1.9	$	0.4

Non-GAAP Financial Statements

This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, which management believes are useful to investors, securities analysts and other interested parties. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as its key profitability measure. This is a non-GAAP measure that represents EBITDA before certain items that impact comparison of the performance of our business either period-over-period or with other businesses. We use Adjusted EBITDA as our measure of segment profitability to assess the performance of our businesses, and it is used for total Gates as well because we believe it is important to consider our total profitability on a basis that is consistent with that of our operating segments. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is Adjusted EBITDA for a particular period expressed as a percentage of revenues for that period.

Management uses Adjusted Net Income as an additional measure of profitability. Adjusted Net Income is a non-GAAP measure that represents net income attributable to shareholders before certain items that impact comparison of the performance of our business, either period-over-period or with other businesses.

Core revenue growth is a non-GAAP measure that represents net sales for the period excluding the impacts of movements in foreign currency rates and the first-year impacts of acquisitions and disposals, where applicable. We present core revenue growth because it allows for a meaningful comparison of year-over-year performance without the volatility caused by foreign currency gains or losses, or the incomparability that would be caused by the impact of an acquisition or disposal.

Management uses Free Cash Flow to measure cash generation and liquidity. Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure that represents net cash provided by operations less capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow Conversion is a measure of Free Cash Flow expressed as a percentage of Adjusted Net Income. We use this metric as a measure of the success of our business in converting Adjusted Net Income into cash.

These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered only as supplemental to, and not as superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Please see below for a reconciliation of historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis are not accessible, and reconciling information is not available without unreasonable effort, we have not provided reconciliations for forward-looking non-GAAP measures. For the same reasons, we are unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results.

Gates Industrial Corporation plc
Reconciliation of Net Income from Continuing Operations to Adjusted EBITDA
(Unaudited)

	Three months ended
(USD in millions)	March 28, 2020		March 30, 2019
Net income from continuing operations	$	39.9	$	605.1
Adjusted for:
Income tax benefit	(16.1)		(539.7)
Net interest and other expenses	34.6		34.8
Depreciation and amortization	54.9		56.1
Transaction-related (income) expenses ⁽¹⁾	(0.2)		0.4
Restructuring expenses ⁽²⁾	1.9		3.3
Share-based compensation expense	2.9		2.6
Sponsor fees (included in other operating expenses) ⁽³⁾	1.7		1.8
Severance-related expenses (included in cost of sales)	0.1		—
Severance-related expenses (benefits) (included in SG&A)	0.5		(0.2)
Other items not directly related to current operations	0.6		1.3
Adjusted EBITDA	$	120.8	$	165.5

(1)	Transaction-related (income) expenses relate primarily to advisory fees and other costs recognized in respect of major corporate transactions, including the acquisition of businesses and debt refinancings.
(2)	Restructuring expenses represent costs qualifying for recognition as such under U.S. GAAP and include costs related to the closure of lines of business, facility closures and consolidations, fundamental organizational rationalizations and non-recurring employee severance related to such actions.
(3)	Sponsor fees relate to fees paid to our private equity sponsor for monitoring, advisory and consulting services.

Gates Industrial Corporation plc
Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to Shareholders to Adjusted Net Income
(Unaudited)

	Three months ended
(USD in millions, except share numbers and per share amounts)	March 28, 2020		March 30, 2019
Net income attributable to shareholders	$	35.6	$	613.7
Adjusted for:
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations	—		0.3
Amortization of intangible assets arising from the 2014 acquisition of Gates	29.3		29.7
Transaction-related (income) expenses ⁽¹⁾	(0.2)		0.4
Restructuring expenses ⁽²⁾	1.9		3.3
Share-based compensation expense	2.9		2.6
Sponsor fees (included in other operating expenses) ⁽³⁾	1.7		1.8
Adjustments relating to post-retirement benefits	(0.5)		(1.3)
Financing-related FX losses (gains)	0.3		(0.9)
One-time net tax benefit ⁽⁴⁾	—		(541.3)
One-time non-controlling interest adjustment	—		(15.0)
Other adjustments	(0.8)		(0.9)
Estimated tax effect of the above adjustments	(8.6)		(10.0)
Adjusted Net Income	$	61.6	$	82.4

Diluted weighted-average number of shares outstanding	292,111,253		294,661,913
Adjusted Net Income per diluted share	$	0.21	$	0.28

(1)	Transaction-related (income) expenses relate primarily to advisory fees and other costs recognized in respect of major corporate transactions, including the acquisition of businesses and debt refinancings.
(2)	Restructuring expenses represent costs qualifying for recognition as such under U.S. GAAP and include costs related to the closure of lines of business, facility closures and consolidations, fundamental organizational rationalizations and non-recurring employee severance related to such actions.
(3)	Sponsor fees relate to fees paid to our private equity sponsor for monitoring, advisory and consulting services.
(4)	During the first quarter of 2019, we recognized a one-time, non-cash tax benefit related to the release of valuation allowances on net operating loss carryforwards in Europe. This benefit was offset partially by certain indirectly related unrecognized tax benefits.

Gates Industrial Corporation plc
Reconciliation of Net Sales to Core Revenue Growth
(Unaudited)

	Three months ended March 28, 2020

(USD in millions)	Power Transmission			Fluid Power			Total
Net sales for the three months ended March 28, 2020 ⁽¹⁾	$	441.2		$	268.9		$	710.1
Impact on net sales of movements in currency rates	9.5			4.2			13.7
Core revenue for the three months ended March 28, 2020	$	450.7		$	273.1		$	723.8

Net sales for the three months ended March 30, 2019	499.5			305.4			804.9
Decrease in net sales on a core basis (core revenue)	$	(48.8)		$	(32.3)		$	(81.1)

Core revenue growth	(9.8)		%	(10.6)		%	(10.1)		%

(1)

Throughout this document the terms "net sales" and "revenue" are used interchangeably in reference to the GAAP measure "net sales."

Gates Industrial Corporation plc
Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Conversion
(Unaudited)

	Three months ended				Twelve months ended
(USD in millions)	March 28, 2020		March 30, 2019		March 28, 2020		March 30, 2019
Net cash provided by (used in) operations	$	31.1	$	(47.7)	$	427.7	$	292.3
Capital expenditures ⁽¹⁾	(14.9)		(22.9)		(75.1)		(145.1)
Free Cash Flow	$	16.2	$	(70.6)	$	352.6	$	147.2

(1)

Capital expenditures represent purchases of property, plant and equipment and purchases of intangible assets.

	Twelve months ended
(USD in millions)	March 28, 2020			March 30, 2019
Free Cash Flow	$	352.6		$	147.2
Adjusted Net Income	258.5			390.0
Free Cash Flow Conversion	136.4		%	37.7		%