Tronox Reports Third Quarter 2012 Financial Results

STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Tronox Limited (NYSE:TROX) today reported revenue of $487.3 million in the third quarter, up 5 percent versus revenue of $465.4 million in the third quarter of 2011. The current quarter includes $216.1 million of revenue from acquired business. Adjusted EBITDA was $131.1 million in the third quarter, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $140.9 million in the year-ago quarter. The current quarter includes $106.8 million of adjusted EBITDA from acquired business. Included in current quarter earnings is $85.2 million of net amortization related to the fair value step-up of inventory and unfavorable feedstock sales contracts, primarily associated with the mineral sands acquisition. The company reported a net loss of $16.7 million, $0.14 per diluted share in the third quarter 2012. Adjusted net income in the current quarter was $25.6 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, versus $1.45 per diluted share in the third quarter 2011. Adjusted earnings per diluted share in the current quarter are based on 122.4 million fully diluted shares outstanding versus 79.2 million fully diluted shares outstanding in the year-ago quarter.

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Tom Casey, chairman and CEO of Tronox, said: "The third quarter of 2012 was our first full quarter of operating as a vertically integrated supplier of minerals sands and pigment. We made good progress on the integration during the quarter, but its advantages are not yet reflected in our financial performance as we continued to consume market-priced feedstock under legacy purchase contracts. This resulted in a higher cost of goods sold for the company this quarter compared to coming quarters as we transition to consuming our own feedstock at cost of extraction and beneficiation and selling the long portion of feedstock at market prices. Our merger has uniquely positioned us to maximize margin and cash flow in ways that no other producers can."

Casey continued: "During the quarter, we completed the repurchase of 10 percent of our total shares outstanding, or 12.6 million Class A shares, for a total cost of $326 million. Our Board declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share payable on December 3, 2012 to shareholders of record of the company's Class A and Class B common stock at the close of business on November 23, 2012. Going forward, we will continue our focus on building value for our shareholders."

Third Quarter Results

Minerals

Minerals segment revenue of $271.7 million was $227.7 million higher than revenue of $44.0 million in the year-ago quarter. The mineral sands business acquired in the second quarter contributed revenue of $207.1 million in the current quarter. Excluding the acquired business (50 percent of Tiwest), segment revenue of $64.6 million increased 47 percent versus $44.0 million in the prior-year quarter, driven by higher selling prices, particularly for synthetic rutile, natural rutile and zircon, partially offset by significantly lower zircon volumes. Segment earnings of $19.4 million increased 46 percent versus $13.3 million in the year-ago quarter, as the acquired business and increased sales of higher grade rutile feedstocks were partially offset by significantly lower volumes of high margin zircon. Included in the segment's current quarter earnings is $75.5 million of net amortization related to the fair value step-up of inventory and unfavorable feedstock sales contracts.

Mr. Casey commented: "Our Minerals segment delivered strong performance in its first full quarter of consolidation, particularly considering this performance was achieved despite high margin zircon pro forma volumes being down 74 percent versus the prior year. Moreover, with the mineral sands acquisition completed in June came legacy feedstock sales contracts priced significantly below market that will expire in 2012 and 2013. Across the next five quarters, through pricing adjustments we expect to increasingly benefit from the rising feedstock prices as these contracts expire. Contracts representing approximately 40,000 metric tons of CP titanium slag will expire at the end of 2012 and approximately 100,000 metric tons of CP titanium slag will expire at the end of 2013. We expect to implement substantial price increases as these volumes are released from contract. Going forward, we plan to realize the double benefit of higher selling prices on the long portion of feedstock we sell and eliminated margins on the portion of feedstock consumed internally by our pigment business."

Pigment

Pigment segment revenue of $279.8 million was 30 percent lower than $399.4 million in the year-ago quarter, as lower volumes across regions, particularly in Asia, and unfavorable foreign currency translation were partially offset by higher selling prices. Segment earnings moved from $111.6 million in the year-ago third quarter to a reported loss of $13.2 million in the current quarter. Included in the segment's current quarter earnings is a $9.7 million fair value step-up of inventory related to the acquisition. Excluding this inventory step-up cost, segment results were a loss of $3.5 million in the quarter. The decline in earnings was the result of lower sales volumes, increased feedstock costs and lower production rates.

Mr. Casey commented: "Our Pigment segment performance this quarter reflects two primary factors. First, our pigment operations continued to consume feedstock under third-party supply contracts that are at market price. Second, we slowed production at our pigment plants resulting in a higher cost of goods sold as we produced fewer tons to absorb fixed costs. This slowing of production also delayed the consumption of our inventory of market-priced feedstock that was purchased prior to the mineral sands acquisition. We estimate that the impact of these two factors reduced our adjusted EBITDA by $40 million in total. However, our decision to slow production enabled us to maintain finished goods inventory at the same level as it was when we started the quarter. We intend to continue to manage the utilization rates of our plants until supply-demand conditions tighten, which we see occurring in the second half of 2013."

Corporate and Other

Revenue in Corporate and Other was $38.6 million in the third quarter 2012 versus $37.5 million in the prior-year quarter. Corporate and Other includes our electrolytic manufacturing business. Electrolytic and other chemical products' net sales increased $2.6 million above last year's third quarter, primarily due to restocking programs by our customers. Corporate and Other expenses in the quarter were $64.2 million as compared to $63.2 million in the prior-year quarter.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the company for the third quarter 2012 were $59.6 million versus $53.8 million in the year ago quarter, primarily due to costs associated with the mineral sands acquisition. Interest and debt expense was $18.1 million versus $8.0 million in the year-ago quarter, mainly due to interest on the senior notes issued during the quarter and the term loan that was refinanced in February 2012. On September 30, 2012, gross consolidated debt was $1,649.1 million, and debt, net of cash, was $874.7 million. For the quarter, capital expenditures were $43.7 million and depreciation and amortization was $67.3 million.

On June 26, 2012, the company's Board authorized the repurchase of 10 percent of the company's Class A and Class B shares in open market transactions. During the third quarter, the company repurchased 12,541,400 Class A Shares at an average price of $25.85 per share, inclusive of commissions, for a total cost of $324.2 million. During the entire period following the authorization, the company repurchased 12,626,400 Class A Shares, representing 10 percent of total shares outstanding, at an average price of $25.84 per share, inclusive of commissions, for a total cost of $326.2 million. On September 27, 2012, the company announced the successful completion of the share repurchase program.

Outlook

Casey concluded: "While demand for our pigment products has been weak, we believe the fundamental conditions underlying the demand for these products have begun to recover and we believe sales will begin to increase next year. Plant utilization rates should increase approximately one quarter after demand as inventories are worked down. The effects of this continued slowness will be ameliorated for us by the increased margins produced by the expiration of some of our market mineral sands contracts priced below market and by the shift to consuming our own feedstock rather than feedstock purchased at market prices. As the market strengthens in the second half of 2013 and into 2014, we believe these advantages will contribute to a more rapid recovery and higher margins, cash flows and net income for us than other firms not similarly structured. We remain confident in the long term value creation potential of our business."

Third Quarter 2012 Conference Call and Webcast

Tronox will conduct its third quarter 2012 conference call and webcast at 8:30a.m. ET (New York) on Tuesday, November 13, 2012. The live call is open to the public via Internet broadcast and telephone:

Internet Broadcast: http://www.tronox.com/
Dial-in telephone numbers:
U.S. / Canada: (877) 831-3840
International: (253) 237-1184
Conference ID # 45254484

Conference Call Presentation Slides: will be used during the conference call and are also available on our website at http://www.tronox.com/

Webcast Conference Call Replay: Available via the Internet and telephone beginning on November 13, 2012, at 11:30am ET (New York), until December 13, 2012.
Internet replay: www.tronox.com
Dial-in telephone numbers:
U.S. / Canada: (855) 859-2056
International: (404) 537-3406
Conference ID # 45254484

About Tronox

Tronox is a global leader in the production and marketing of titanium bearing mineral sands and titanium dioxide pigment. Through the integration of its mineral sands and pigment business, the company provides its customers a dependable supply of brightening solutions for a variety of end uses. For more information, visit http://www.tronox.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based upon management's current beliefs and expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and contain words such as "believe," "intended," "expect," and "anticipate" and include statements about expectation for future results including revenues. The forward-looking statements involve risks that may affect the company's operations, markets, products, services, prices and other risk factors discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including those under the heading entitled "Risk Factors" in our registration statement on Form S-4 declared effective by the SEC on May 4, 2012. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, our ability to integrate the recently acquired mineral sands business including achieving the expected cost savings; financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal regulatory and technological factors including, our access to unrestricted cash, compliance with our bank facility covenants, the price of our shares, general market conditions, our customers potentially reducing their demand for our products due to, among other things, the economic downturn, more competitive pricing from our competitors, increased supply from our competitors; operating efficiencies and other benefits expected. Unless otherwise required by applicable laws, the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future developments.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

To provide investors and others with additional information regarding Tronox Limited's operating results, we have disclosed in this press release certain non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP financial measures are a supplement to, and not a substitute for or superior to, the company's results presented in accordance with US GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures presented by the company may be different than non-GAAP financial measures presented by other companies. The non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance the user's overall understanding of the company's operating performance. Specifically, the company believes the non-GAAP information provides useful measures to investors regarding the company's financial performance by excluding certain costs and expenses that the company believes are not indicative of its core operating results, as well as the impact of fresh-start accounting applied in 2011 and purchase accounting being applied in 2012. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results or guidance prepared and presented in accordance with US GAAP. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP results are included herein.

Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures:

• Reflect Tronox Limited's ongoing business in a manner that allows for meaningful period-to-period comparison and analysis of trends in its business, as they exclude income and expense that are not reflective of ongoing operating results;
• Provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating Tronox Limited's operating results and future prospects in the same manner as management and in comparing financial results across accounting periods;
• Provide additional view of the operating performance of the company by adding interest expenses, taxes, depreciation and amortization to the net income. Further adjustments due to fresh-start accounting, purchase accounting, and stock-based compensation charges attempt to exclude items that are either non-cash or non-recurring in nature;
• Enable investors to assess the company's compliance with financial covenants under its debt instruments. Certain debt instruments have financial covenants that use Adjusted EBITDA as part of their compliance measures, e.g., consolidated leverage ratio, which is a ratio of indebtedness to consolidated Adjusted EBITDA; and consolidated interest coverage ratio which is a ratio of consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to interest expenses; and
• In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is one of the primary measures management uses for planning and budgeting processes and to monitor and evaluate financial and operating results. Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized term under GAAP and does not purport to be an alternative to measures of our financial performance as determined in accordance with GAAP, such as net income (loss). Because other companies may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently than Tronox, EBITDA may not be, and Adjusted EBITDA as presented in this release is not, comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies

Purchase Accounting

Tronox completed the preliminary purchase accounting analysis for the mineral sands acquisition upon closing of the acquisition. Accordingly, the fixed assets, mineral rights and certain liabilities at the legacy mines and smelters in South Africa and Australia have been adjusted to their fair market value as of the closing date.

Segment Information

Prior to the mineral sands transaction, Tronox Incorporated had one reportable operating segment representing its pigment business. The Pigment segment primarily produced and marketed TiO_2, and included heavy minerals production. The heavy minerals production was integrated with its Australian pigment plant, but also had third-party sales of minerals not utilized by its pigment operations. In connection with the transaction and formation of Tronox Limited, the company acquired 74 percent of Exxaro's South African mineral sands operations, including its Namakwa and KwaZulu-Natal Sands mines, separation and slag furnaces, along with its 50 percent share of the Tiwest Joint Venture in Western Australia. As such, the company evaluated its new operations under ASC 280, Segments, and has determined that the mineral sands division qualifies as a reportable operating segment.

As of June 15, 2012, the company has two reportable operating segments, Minerals and Pigment. The Minerals segment includes the exploration, mining and beneficiation of mineral sands deposits, as well as heavy mineral production. These operations produce titanium feedstock, including ilmenite, chloride slag, slag fines, synthetic rutile and natural rutile, as well as the co-products pig iron and zircon. The heavy minerals production is integrated with the company's Australian pigment plant, but also has third-party sales of minerals not utilized by its pigment operations. The Pigment segment primarily produces and markets TiO_2, and has production facilities in the United States, Australia and the Netherlands. The company's Corporate and Other segment is comprised of corporate activities, electrolytic manufacturing and marketing operations and businesses that are no longer in operation; all are located in the United States.

Segment performance is evaluated based on segment income/(loss) from operations, which represents the results of segment operations before unallocated costs, such as general corporate expenses not identified to a specific segment, environmental provisions, net of reimbursements, related to sites no longer in operation, interest expense, other income (expense) and income tax expense or benefit.

Media Contact: Bud Grebey
Direct: 203.705.3721

Investor Contact: Brennen Arndt
Direct: 203.705.3722

 

SOURCE Tronox Limited