Tronox Reports Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results

STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Tronox Limited (NYSE:TROX) today reported third quarter 2015 revenue of $575 million compared to $429 million in the third quarter 2014 and $617 million in the second quarter 2015.  Adjusted EBITDA was $86 million (excluding $5 million of net non-cash LCM charges), compared to $101 million (excluding $1 million of net non-cash LCM charges) in the year-ago quarter and $116 million (excluding $49 million of net non-cash LCM charges) in the second quarter.  Adjusted net loss attributable to Tronox Limited in the third quarter 2015 was $53 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, versus adjusted net income of $6 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter and an adjusted net loss of $81 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, in the prior quarter.

Tom Casey, chairman and CEO of Tronox, said: "Reflecting the strength and cash generating abilities of our two vertically integrated businesses under all market conditions, we again delivered a relatively high level of adjusted EBITDA and our operations generated significant cash in the third quarter.  Our TiO₂ and Alkali businesses generated adjusted EBITDA of $104 million in the quarter excluding LCM charges and delivered cash of $56 million after funding their respective capital expenditures.  TiO₂ generated adjusted EBITDA of $63 million excluding LCM charges and delivered cash of $24 million despite continued challenging global market conditions.  Our performance also reflects the early-stage benefits of our Operational Excellence program in TiO₂ focused on reducing operating costs, generating additional cash through significant working capital reductions, reducing discretionary capital expenditures and selling feedstock inventories.  We initiated this program earlier this year and expanded it in the third quarter.  We expect to see more significant cost reductions and cash generation from this program in 2016 and 2017.  Operational Excellence is designed to produce approximately $600 million of additional cash over the period 2015-2017.

Casey continued: "With its high cash generation capability, our Alkali business continues to be a strong complement to our TiO₂ business.  Alkali generated $41 million of adjusted EBITDA and delivered $32 million of cash in the quarter after funding its capital expenditures.  Alkali continues to perform to expectations and operate in a sold-out mode driven by strong export demand growth and a continued recovery in the domestic market."

Tronox TiO₂

TiO₂ segment revenue of $380 million was 11 percent lower than $429 million in the prior-year quarter, primarily the result of lower pigment selling prices.  Sales of pigment products declined 18 percent compared to the year-ago quarter, as sales volumes increased 4 percent and average selling prices declined 22 percent (18 percent on a local currency basis).  Pigment products sales volume gains were realized in EMEA and Latin America.  Sales of titanium feedstocks and co-products, including zircon and rutile products, increased 2 percent versus the year-ago quarter.  Higher sales volumes more than offset lower average selling prices.  The sales volume increase is primarily attributable to CP titanium slag and ilmenite sales that occurred in the current quarter compared to no sales of either product in the year-ago quarter.  Selling prices for CP titanium slag have stabilized at levels modestly above those of a year-ago while selling prices declined in the 5-9 percent range for zircon and rutile products.

Compared sequentially to the second quarter, TiO₂ segment revenue of $380 million was 7 percent lower than $409 million, driven primarily by lower selling prices for pigment products and titanium feedstock co-products.  Pigment products revenue declined 8 percent, as sales volumes declined 2 percent and average selling prices declined 6 percent (6 percent on a local currency basis).  Sales volumes in the Americas were modestly higher while sales volumes in Europe and Asia-Pacific were modestly lower.  Selling prices were level in Europe and 5-10 percent lower in the Americas and Asia-Pacific.  Finished pigment products inventory was reduced in the third quarter from second quarter levels but remained modestly above normal seasonal levels.  Sales of titanium feedstocks and co-products, including zircon and rutile products, were 11 percent lower than the second quarter as sales volumes declined 3 percent and average selling prices declined 8 percent.  Zircon sales volumes increased while CP titanium slag sales were lower.  Selling prices for CP titanium slag were essentially level to the prior quarter while selling prices declined in the 4-5 percent range for zircon and rutile products.

TiO₂ segment adjusted EBITDA of $63 million excluding $5 million of net non-cash LCM charges compares to adjusted EBITDA of $123 million excluding $1 million of net non-cash LCM charges in the year-ago quarter and $85 million excluding $49 million net non-cash LCM charges in the prior quarter.  TiO₂ segment operating loss of $26 million compares to operating income of $35 million in the year-ago quarter and an operating loss of $41 million in the prior quarter.  With adjusted EBITDA of $63 million excluding net non-cash LCM charges and capital expenditures of $39 million, including $19 million of capital expenditures related to our Fairbreeze mine project, TiO₂ delivered $24 million of cash in the quarter despite depressed market conditions.

To conserve operating cash and free up cash unnecessarily trapped in working capital, we continue to adjust production levels to further reduce inventory.  In pigment products, processing line curtailments represent approximately 15 percent of total production capacity.  In feedstocks and co-products, we have reduced our CP Titanium slag production to a level representing approximately 50 percent of total production capacity.  Our mining operations continue to run at full capacity in order to produce zircon and rutile to meet market demand.  We expect sales volumes for both pigment products and titanium feedstocks to continue to be unaffected, as we intend to meet demand from reduced production supplemented by inventories.

As part of our cost reduction initiative, TiO₂ has commenced a global restructuring of its business to streamline operations and create a more commercially and operationally efficient business.  We expect this restructuring to reduce TiO₂ annual global workforce costs by approximately $45 million and be completed by the first half of 2016.  The estimated total pre-tax charge resulting from this restructuring will be approximately $25 million, which is expected to be principally recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016.

Capital expenditures in TiO₂ of $39 million in the third quarter included $19 million related to the Fairbreeze mine project that will produce feedstock to supply the slag furnaces at our KZN Sands operations and provide new zircon and rutile co-products. Preliminary commissioning (known as "hot commissioning") will begin this quarter and continue through to full production by mid-year 2016.  Total capital expenditures related to the Fairbreeze mine from project commencement through 2016 are estimated to be approximately $225 million.  Approximately $149 million has been spent from commencement through the third quarter 2015.  Fairbreeze is expected to be a net positive contributor to 2016 EBITDA from the sale of zircon and rutile co-products coupled with efficiency gains expected to be realized in downstream smelting and pigment operations from the mine's high quality ilmenite feedstock.

Tronox Alkali

Alkali segment revenue of $195 million declined 1 percent compared to pro forma revenue of $197 million in the year-ago quarter, as average selling prices increased 5 percent and sales volumes declined 6 percent.  Higher selling prices were realized in both export and domestic markets.  The sales volume decline was driven primarily by the timing of planned and unplanned maintenance coupled with a power supplier outage during the quarter.  Operations have returned to normal as maintenance has been completed and the power supplier outage has been resolved.  Compared sequentially to the second quarter, Alkali revenue was 6 percent lower, as average selling prices increased 2 percent and sales volumes declined 9 percent, also the result of maintenance and the supplier outage.  Alkali continues to operate in a sold-out mode driven by strong export demand growth and a continued recovery in the domestic market.

Alkali adjusted EBITDA of $41 million increased from pro forma adjusted EBITDA of $38 million in the prior-year quarter, as higher selling prices more than offset costs associated with maintenance and the supplier outage.  Compared sequentially, adjusted EBITDA declined from $50 million in the prior quarter, also due to maintenance costs and the supplier outage.  Alkali segment operating income of $21 million compares to pro forma operating income of $25 million in the year-ago quarter and $25 million in the prior quarter.  Capital expenditures in the third quarter were $9 million.  With adjusted EBITDA of $41 million and capital expenditures of $9 million, Alkali delivered cash of $32 million in the third quarter.

Corporate

Corporate adjusted EBITDA was ($18) million in the third quarter versus pro forma adjusted EBITDA of ($21) million in the year-ago quarter and ($19) million in the prior quarter.  The Corporate loss from operations was $16 million compared to a pro forma loss from operations of $24 million in the prior-year quarter and $34 million in the second quarter which included one-time expenses of approximately $21 million related to the Alkali acquisition.

Consolidated

Selling, general and administrative expenses in the third quarter were $55 million, compared to $47 million in the prior-year quarter and $72 million in the second quarter including one-time expenses of approximately $21 million related to the Alkali acquisition.  The current year quarters include approximately $10 million related to Alkali business operations that were not incurred in the prior year.

Interest and debt expense of $45 million increased from $34 million in the year-ago quarter primarily due to a higher debt level related to the Alkali acquisition that closed in the second quarter of this year.  On September 30, 2015, gross consolidated debt was $3,127 million, and debt, net of cash, was $2,982 million.  We had $540 million of liquidity on September 30, 2015.  Capital expenditures were $48 million and depreciation, depletion and amortization was $82 million.

Third Quarter 2015 Webcast Conference Call

Thursday November 5, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. ET (New York).  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: +1.877.831.3840
International: +1.253.237.1184
Conference ID: 51129054

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

Conference Call Replay: Available via the Internet and telephone beginning on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. ET (New York), until midnight, November 9, 2015.

Internet Replay: www.tronox.com
Dial-in telephone numbers:
U.S. / Canada: +1.855.859.2056
International: +1.404.537.3406
Conference ID: 51129054

Upcoming Conferences

During the fourth quarter 2015 a member of management is scheduled to present at the following conference:

• TZMI Congress 2015, Shanghai, November 18, 2015
• Citi Basic Materials, New York, December 1, 2015

Accompanying conference materials will be available at http://investor.tronox.com

About Tronox

Tronox Limited is a global leader in the mining, production, and marketing of inorganic minerals and chemicals. The company operates two vertically integrated businesses: Tronox Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) and Tronox Alkali. For more information, visit 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, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These and other risk factors are discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including those under the heading entitled "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2015.

Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can management assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Unless otherwise required by applicable laws, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future developments.

Use of Non-U.S. 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-U.S. GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net loss attributable to Tronox.  These non-U.S. GAAP financial measures are a supplement to, and not a substitute for or superior to, the company's results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  The non-U.S. GAAP financial measures presented by the company may be different than non-U.S. GAAP financial measures presented by other companies.  The non-U.S. GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance the user's overall understanding of the company's operating performance. Specifically, the company believes the non-U.S. 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.  The presentation of these non-U.S. 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 U.S. GAAP.  A reconciliation of the non-U.S. GAAP financial measures to U.S. GAAP results is included herein.

Management believes these non-U.S. 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, depletion and amortization to the net income. Further adjustments due to purchase accounting and stock-based compensation charges attempt to exclude items that are either non-cash or unusual in nature;
• Assist investors to assess the company's compliance with financial covenants under its debt instruments;
• 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 U.S. GAAP and does not purport to be an alternative to measures of our financial performance as determined in accordance with U.S. 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, and
• We believe that the non-U.S. GAAP financial measure "Adjusted net loss attributable to Tronox Limited" and its presentation on a per share basis provide useful information about our operating results to investors and securities analysts. We also believe that excluding the effects of these items from operating results allows management and investors to compare more easily the financial performance of our underlying businesses from period to period.

Media Contact: Bud Grebey
Direct: +1.203.705.3721

Investor Contact: Brennen Arndt
Direct: +1.203.705.3722

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SOURCE Tronox Limited

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