Innophos Holdings, Inc. Reports Second-Quarter 2017 Results

CRANBURY, N.J., Aug. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Innophos Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:  IPHS) today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017. In a separate press release, Innophos announced today that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Novel Ingredients, a New Jersey-based provider of dietary supplement ingredient solutions.

Highlights

• Q2 revenue and earnings performance exceeded expectations
• All segments showed positive year-over-year volume comparisons
• Delivered final $2 million of $16 million procurement savings pipeline from Phase 1 Operational Excellence initiatives
• H2 2017 on track to realize $5 million of the identified $13 million Phase 2 Operational Excellence cost savings in the areas of MRO, packaging and logistics
• Reiterates full year 2017 revenue and earnings guidance, excluding impact of Novel Ingredients acquisition
• The acquisition of Novel Ingredients will create a Food, Health and Nutrition (FHN) platform of nearly $0.5 billion in revenue representing 60% of total sales. The combined Company will benefit from leading, innovative technology; a broader and deeper product portfolio; and access to new market segments. Please see the Company's Novel Ingredients press release issued today for more details

"We delivered a very robust second quarter with top and bottom line results above our expectations," said Kim Ann Mink, Ph.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "By remaining focused on cost savings from performance improvement initiatives, we grew margins on a year-over-year basis despite continuing market pressure. As we transition into the second half of the year, we are encouraged by several recent developments, including improvements in sales volume. We are confident in our ability to deliver on a strong second half of the year and are reiterating our guidance, excluding the Novel Ingredients acquisition.

"Executing against our Operational Excellence and Commercial Excellence pillars remains paramount to our strategy," continued Mink. "We now have completed our Phase 1 Operational Excellence efforts and are on schedule to begin delivering Phase 2 savings in the third quarter. We continue to look at additional opportunities to achieve further productivity improvements in 2018 and beyond, including in the areas of manufacturing optimization and strategic supply chain enhancements.

"Under the Strategic Growth pillar, we took a significant step forward toward achieving our Vision 2022 goals with our announced acquisition of Novel Ingredients, which creates a $0.5 billion FHN platform," continued Mink.  "With an enhanced set of innovative products and capabilities that serve high-growth nutrition markets, we are strengthening our ability to deliver value to our customers, more closely aligning Innophos with consumer mega-trends such as health and wellness, energized aging, and clean labels, and advancing toward our goal to be a leading specialty ingredient solutions provider to attractive FHN markets." 

Second Quarter Results
Variance $ and Variance % in the following tables may not foot due to rounding

$ Millions except EPS

• Q2 earnings performance exceeded guidance due to strong sales performance. Adjusted EBITDA of $30 million yielded a margin of 17%, up 18 basis points versus prior year.
• Sales volume was 3% higher year over year, with all segments recording positive variances, and up 8% sequentially.
• Operational Excellence initiatives continued to make a strong contribution with favorable input costs more than offsetting lower selling prices.
• Net income and EPS were adversely affected by a higher effective tax rate of 34% in the quarter from a strengthened Mexican peso and general inflation.
• Cash flow was positive with continued working capital improvements and a low capital expenditure run rate. Cash flow was down year over year due to higher working capital improvements in Q2 2016.
• Capex was down versus the prior-year quarter despite the strategic investment in the Geismar deep well, which represents approximately 30% of total quarterly spend.

Q2 Segment Financials

Note: See Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation to EBITDA in the financial tables that follow

• Sales volume was up across all segments compared with the prior-year quarter, offset by price erosion in line with expectations. FHN sales represented 51% of total Company sales.
• FHN Q2 EBITDA margins were strong at 20%, and improved 138 basis points sequentially.
• IS margins declined 78 basis points versus Q2 2016 due to lower average selling prices, partially offset by improved mix from product pruning and cost controls.
• Other margins were 12%, a significant improvement compared with negative 8% for the same period last year.

Year-to-date Results
Variance $ and Variance % in the following tables may not foot due to rounding

$ Millions except EPS

• YTD Sales variance improved sequentially by 540 basis points. H1 year-over-year comparisons were adversely affected by H2 2016 pruning actions management took on lower margin, less differentiated applications.
• Adjusted EBITDA margin was up 19 basis points versus the prior-year period due to savings from Phase 1 Operational Excellence initiatives.
• Average working capital improved by $30 million, or 16% versus prior year.

YTD Quarter 2 Segment Financials

Note: See Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation to EBITDA in the financial tables that follow

• FHN YTD sales were down 5%, primarily due to lower export sales to Health end-markets, which had an adverse effect on average selling prices and segment profitability.
• IS YTD sales were primarily affected by H2 2016 pruning actions, resulting in improved adjusted EBITDA margins.
• Other sales were essentially flat year over year, benefiting at the adjusted EBITDA level from the new tolling arrangement.

Recent Trends and Outlook 

Q3 2017
Sales in Q3 are expected to be similar to the second quarter 2017, down approximately 4% year over year, but with an anticipated mix improvement towards FHN.

Earnings in the third quarter are forecast to be positively affected sequentially by reduced implementation fees and first-time cost savings from Phase 2 operational excellence. Input costs are otherwise expected to be in line with second quarter 2017.

The Company anticipates that the tax rate will be at the more normalized level of approximately 33% in the third quarter.

Full Year 2017
The Company is reiterating its revenue and earnings guidance for full year 2017, excluding the impact of the Novel Ingredients acquisition. 

On a full-year basis, overall market conditions and the competitive landscape for 2017 are expected to be similar to 2016.

The Company anticipates that the Phase 2 Operational Excellence fees incurred in the first half of the year will be more than offset by the Phase 2 savings, of which $5 million is estimated to take effect in the second half of 2017.

As a result of these factors, the Company continues to expect full-year revenues to be down by approximately 4% compared with 2016. The Company further continues to expect full-year earnings to be broadly in line with 2016, reflecting the impact of management's focus on cost actions and productivity initiatives given the challenging market conditions.

Conference Call

Innophos will host its second quarter 2017 conference call on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 9:00 am ET to discuss its earnings results and the Novel Ingredients acquisition. The call can be accessed by dialing 1-800-708-4539 (U.S.) or 1-847-619-6396 (international) and entering passcode 4532-6485. Please dial in approximately 15 minutes ahead of the start time to ensure timely entry to the call. The Q2 2017 earnings call presentation will be made available on the Company's website the morning of the call. A replay will be available between 11:30 am ET on August 1 and 11:59 pm ET on August 15, 2017. The replay is accessible by dialing 1-888-843-7419 (U.S.) or 1-630-652-3042 (international) and entering passcode 4532-6485#. Additional information on Innophos' second quarter results can also be found on the Company's website.   

About the Company

Innophos is a leading international producer of specialty ingredient solutions that deliver far-reaching, versatile benefits for the food, health, nutrition and industrial markets. We leverage our expertise in the science and technology of blending and formulating phosphate, mineral and botanical based ingredients to help our customers offer products that are tasty, healthy, nutritious and economical. Headquartered in Cranbury, New Jersey, Innophos has manufacturing operations across the United States, in Canada, Mexico and China. For more information, please visit www.innophos.com. 'IPHS-G'

Financial Tables Follow

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains or may contain 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. The Company intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for such statements. Statements made in this press release that relate to our future performance or future financial results or other future events (which may be identified by such terms as "expect", "estimate", "anticipate",  "assume", "believe", "plan", "intend', "may", "will", "should", "outlook", "guidance", "target", "opportunity", "potential" or similar terms and variations  or the negative thereof) are forward-looking statements, including the Company's expectations regarding the business environment and the Company's overall guidance regarding future performance and growth. These statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may materially differ from the expectations expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: (1) global macroeconomic conditions and trends; (2) the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in foreign currencies, interest rates and turmoil in capital markets; (3) changes in regulatory controls regarding tariffs, duties, taxes and income tax rates; (4) the Company's ability to implement and refine its Vision 2022; (5) the Company's ability to successfully identify and complete acquisitions in line with its Vision 2022 and effectively operate and integrate acquired businesses to realize the anticipated benefits of those acquisitions; (5) the Company's ability to realize expected cost savings and efficiencies from its performance improvement and other optimization initiatives; (6) the Company's ability to effectively compete in its markets, and to successfully develop new and competitive products that appeal to its customers; (7) changes in consumer preferences and demand for the Company's products or a decline in consumer confidence and spending; (8) the Company's ability to benefit from its investments in assets and human capital and the ability to complete projects successfully and on budget; (9) economic, regulatory and political risks associated with the Company's international operations, most notably Mexico and China; (10) volatility and increases in the price of raw materials, energy and transportation, and fluctuations in the quality and availability of raw materials and process aids; (11) the impact of a disruption in the Company's supply chain or its relationship with its suppliers; (12) the Company's ability to comply with, and the costs associated with compliance with, U.S. and foreign environmental protection laws; (13) the Company's ability to meet quality and regulatory standards in the various jurisdictions in which it has operations or conducts business and (14) the Company's ability to consummate the acquisition of Novel Ingredients and to achieve the benefits anticipated from such acquisition. We caution you to consider the important risks and other factors as set forth in the forward-looking statements section and in Item 1A Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. We do not undertake to update the forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that may arise after the date of the forward-looking statements.

Summary Profit & Loss Statement

Price / Volume

The Company calculates pure selling price dollar variances as the selling price for the current year to date period minus the selling price for the prior year to date period, and then multiplies the resulting selling price difference by the prior year to date period volume. The current quarter selling price dollar variance is derived from the current quarter year to date selling price dollar variance less the previous quarter year to date selling price dollar variance. The selling price dollar variance is then divided by the prior period sales dollars to calculate the percentage change. Volume variance is calculated as the total sales variance minus the selling price variance and refers to the revenue effect of changes in tons sold at the relative prices applicable to the variation in tons, otherwise known as volume/mix.

The following table illustrates the percentage changes in net sales by reportable segments compared with the same period of the prior year, including the effect of selling price and volume/mix changes upon revenue:

Summary Cash Flow Statement 

Summary Balance Sheets 

Additional Information

Net debt is a supplemental financial measure that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, US GAAP. The Company believes net debt is helpful in analyzing leverage and as a performance measure for purposes of presentation in this release. The Company defines net debt as total long-term debt (including any current portion) less cash and cash equivalents.

Free cash flow is a supplemental financial measure that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, US GAAP. The Company believes free cash flow is helpful in analyzing the cash flow generating capability of the business and as a performance measure for purposes of presentation in this release. The Company defines free cash flow as net cash provided from operating activities plus cash used for capital expenditures.

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS are supplemental financial measures that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, US GAAP. The Company believes EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are helpful in analyzing the cash flow generating capability of the business and as performance measures for purposes of presentation in this release.

Net Working Capital is a supplemental financial measure that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, US GAAP. The Company believes net working capital is helpful in analyzing the effects on the cash flow generating capability of the business and as a performance measure for purposes of presentation in this release. The Company defines net working capital as total current assets less cash less total current liabilities.  

Operating Working Capital is a supplemental financial measure that is not required by, or presented in accordance with, US GAAP. The Company believes operating working capital is helpful in analyzing the effects on the cash flow generating capability of the business and as a performance measure for purposes of presentation in this release. The Company defines operating working capital as net working capital less taxes less interest.

Innophos is not able to provide a reconciliation of its 2022 expectation for Adjusted EBITDA margin to GAAP net income due to the number of variables in the projected EBITDA margin for 2022 and because we are currently unable to quantify accurately certain amounts that would be required to be included in GAAP net income or the individual adjustments for such reconciliation. In addition, we believe such reconciliation would imply a degree of precision that would be confusing or misleading to investors.

SOURCE Innophos Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.innophos.com