MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sensient Technologies Corporation (NYSE: SXT) reported adjusted net earnings of 71 cents per share, a first quarter record and an increase of 14.5% over the prior year period’s adjusted net earnings of 62 cents per share. Consolidated revenue increased to $368.1 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $365.6 million in last year’s first quarter. The Company has continued to rationalize non-strategic business, which has impacted revenue growth. First quarter revenue grew by approximately 4%, as adjusted to remove the effect of the non-strategic business. Adjusted operating income increased 10.6% to $54.3 million compared to adjusted operating income of $49.1 million in last year’s first quarter. Adjusted consolidated operating margins increased 140 basis points to 14.8% on strong performances across all of the operating groups. Foreign currency translation reduced both revenue and operating income by approximately one percent in the first quarter.
On March 4th, the Company announced that it was initiating a further restructuring plan to eliminate underperforming operations, consolidate manufacturing facilities and improve efficiencies within the Company. In 2013, the Company had restructuring costs to relocate the Flavors & Fragrances Group headquarters and consolidate manufacturing facilities. Pre-tax restructuring and other costs of $52.7 million and $12.8 million were recognized in the first quarters of 2014 and 2013, respectively. The costs incurred in the first quarter of 2014 include approximately $40 million of non-cash costs related to the write-down of fixed assets and intangibles. The restructuring and other costs reduced first quarter earnings by 75 cents per share in 2014, and 19 cents per share in 2013. Diluted earnings per share, as reported, were a loss of 4 cents in the first quarter of 2014 compared to income of 43 cents in the comparable period last year. As reported, the Company’s operating income was $1.6 million and $36.3 million in the first quarters of 2014 and 2013, respectively. Consolidated operating margins, as reported, were 0.4% in the first quarter and 9.9% in the comparable period last year. The Company has included non-GAAP results to remove the costs related to the restructuring plan and other costs, and provide investors with a consistent view of the Company’s operating performance.
Cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter of 2014 was $19.8 million, as reported, which includes $3.4 million of payments related to restructuring and other costs. Adjusted to remove the restructuring impact, cash provided by operating activities was $23.3 million in the first quarter compared to $25.6 million reported in last year’s first quarter. The decrease was primarily driven by a higher use of cash to fund working capital this year.
In March, the Company also announced a comprehensive plan to enhance shareholder value. The Board of Directors increased the Company’s regular quarterly cash dividend by 9%, to 25 cents per share. The Company has increased the annual dividend payment to shareholders in each of the last nine years with this action. Sensient also plans to purchase up to two million shares of stock over the next twelve months, representing four percent of the Company’s outstanding shares. The Company’s purchases will be made on an opportunistic basis depending on market and other conditions. Sensient purchased 200,000 shares in March.
“Sensient delivered a very strong performance in the first quarter of 2014,” said Paul Manning, President and CEO of Sensient Technologies Corporation. “The results this quarter clearly demonstrate that our strategy is working. There is additional upside potential for the margins in both businesses, and we expect the Flavors & Fragrances Group’s operating margin to improve significantly in the next few years.”
BUSINESS REVIEW
The Color Group reported revenue of $133.6 million in the quarter, an increase of 3% from the $129.5 million reported in the comparable period last year. Operating income increased 10.2% to $29.4 million from $26.7 million in last year’s first quarter. The Color Group’s operating margin increased 140 basis points to 22.0% in the quarter, driven by strong performances across the Group. In particular, the digital inks and cosmetics businesses reported double digit growth in local currency. Foreign currency translation did not have a significant impact on either revenue or operating income in the first quarter.
The Flavors & Fragrances Group reported first quarter revenue of $213.4 million compared to the $215.8 million reported in last year’s first quarter. Operating income increased 5.4% to $29.9 million, compared to $28.4 million in the first quarter of 2013. The Flavors & Fragrances Group’s operating margin increased to 14.0% in the quarter, an improvement of 80 basis points from the margin in last year’s first quarter. The Natural Ingredients and North American Beverage businesses reported double digit operating income growth in the quarter. Foreign currency translation did not have a significant impact on revenue, but reduced operating income by approximately one percent in the first quarter.
The Corporate & Other segment, which includes the Company’s operations in Asia Pacific and China, and the flavor businesses in Central and South America, reported revenue of $35.3 million in the first quarter compared to $34.9 million in the comparable period last year. In local currency terms, revenue grew by approximately 7% in this segment.
2014 OUTLOOK
Sensient has increased its 2014 diluted earnings per share guidance to be within the range of $2.92 and $3.00, excluding restructuring and other costs. The Company’s previous guidance had been a range between $2.86 and $2.94 per share.
CONFERENCE CALL
The Company will host a conference call to discuss its 2014 first quarter financial results at 10:00 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. To participate in the conference call, please contact InterCall Teleconferencing at (706) 758-1089 and refer to conference identification number 24095009. A webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Information section of the Company’s website at www.sensient.com.
A replay will be available beginning at 1:00 p.m. CDT on April 15, 2014, through midnight on April 22, 2014, by calling (404) 537-3406 and referring to conference identification number 24095009. A transcript of the call will also be posted on the Company’s web site at www.sensient.com after the call concludes.
This release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors concerning the Company’s operations and business environment. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements and that could adversely affect the Company’s future financial performance include the following: the pace and nature of new product introductions by the Company and the Company’s customers; the Company's ability to successfully implement its strategy to create sustainable, long-term shareholder value; the Company’s ability to successfully implement its growth strategies; the outcome of the Company’s various productivity-improvement and cost-reduction efforts; changes in costs or availability of raw materials, including energy; industry and economic factors related to the Company’s domestic and international business; growth in markets for products in which the Company competes; industry and customer acceptance of price increases; actions by competitors, including increased intensity of competition; the loss of any customers in certain product lines in which our sales are made to a relatively small number of customers; product liability claims or product recalls; the costs of compliance, or failure to comply, with laws and regulations applicable to our industries and markets; changing consumer preferences and changing technologies; and failure to complete and integrate future acquisitions or dispositions. The risks and uncertainties identified above are not the only risks the Company faces. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that it currently believes to be immaterial also may adversely affect the Company. Should any known or unknown risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have material adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations. This release contains time-sensitive information that reflects management’s best analysis only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied herein will not be realized. Additional information regarding these risks can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
ABOUT SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES
Sensient Technologies Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of colors, flavors and fragrances. Sensient employs advanced technologies at facilities around the world to develop specialty food and beverage systems, cosmetic and pharmaceutical systems, inkjet and specialty inks and colors, and other specialty and fine chemicals. The Company’s customers include major international manufacturers representing most of the world’s best-known brands. Sensient is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
| Sensient Technologies Corporation | ||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except percentages and per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Earnings | Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2013 | % Change | ||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 368,131 | $ | 365,640 | 0.7 | % | ||||||||
| Cost of products sold | 243,623 | 248,503 | -2.0 | % | ||||||||||
| Selling and administrative expenses | 122,929 | 80,799 | 52.1 | % | ||||||||||
| Operating income | 1,579 | 36,338 | -95.7 | % | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | 4,131 | 4,261 | ||||||||||||
| Earnings before income taxes | (2,552 | ) | 32,077 | |||||||||||
| Income taxes | (477 | ) | 10,638 | |||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | (2,075 | ) | $ | 21,439 | |||||||||
| Earnings per common share: | ||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | 0.43 | |||||||||
| Diluted | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | 0.43 | |||||||||
| Average common shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||
| Basic | 49,853 | 49,711 | 0.3 | % | ||||||||||
| Diluted | 50,079 | 49,867 | 0.4 | % | ||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Amounts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Company's 2014 results include restructuring and other charges of $52.7 million pre-tax ($37.4 million after-tax or $0.75 per share) related to eliminating underperforming operations, consolidating manufacturing facilities, improving efficiencies within the Company and other items. The Company's 2013 results include restructuring charges of $12.8 million pre-tax ($9.4 million after-tax or $0.19 per share) related to the 2013 restructuring program. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| & Other | Restructuring | Adjusted | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reported | Impact | Adjusted | Reported | Impact | Adjusted | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 368,131 | $ | - | $ | 368,131 | $ | 365,640 | $ | - | $ | 365,640 | 0.7 | % | |||||||||||
| Cost of products sold | 243,623 | - | 243,623 | 248,503 | 595 | 247,908 | -1.7 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Selling and administrative expenses | 122,929 | 52,722 | 70,207 | 80,799 | 12,178 | 68,621 | 2.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 1,579 | (52,722 | ) | 54,301 | 36,338 | (12,773 | ) | 49,111 | 10.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 4,131 | - | 4,131 | 4,261 | - | 4,261 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings before income taxes | (2,552 | ) | (52,722 | ) | 50,170 | 32,077 | (12,773 | ) | 44,850 | 11.9 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Income taxes | (477 | ) | (15,274 | ) | 14,797 | 10,638 | (3,366 | ) | 14,004 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | (2,075 | ) | $ | (37,448 | ) | $ | 35,373 | $ | 21,439 | $ | (9,407 | ) | $ | 30,846 | 14.7 | % | ||||||||
| Earnings per common share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.75 | ) | $ | 0.71 | $ | 0.43 | $ | (0.19 | ) | $ | 0.62 | 14.5 | % | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.75 | ) | $ | 0.71 | $ | 0.43 | $ | (0.19 | ) | $ | 0.62 | 14.5 | % | ||||||||
| Average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 49,853 | 49,853 | 49,711 | 49,711 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 50,079 | 50,079 | 49,867 | 49,867 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
| These non-GAAP financial measures are utilized by management in comparing our operating performance on a consistent basis. We believe that these financial measures are appropriate to enhance an overall understanding of our underlying operating performance trends compared to historical and prospective periods. Management also believes that these measures are useful to investors in their analysis of our results of operations and provide improved comparability between fiscal periods. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information calculated in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sensient Technologies Corporation | ||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||
| Results by Segment | Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
|
Revenue |
2014 | 2013 | % Change | |||||||||
| Flavors & Fragrances | $ | 213,379 | $ | 215,841 | -1.1 | % | ||||||
| Color | 133,638 | 129,479 | 3.2 | % | ||||||||
| Corporate & Other | 35,342 | 34,876 | 1.3 | % | ||||||||
| Intersegment elimination | (14,228 | ) | (14,556 | ) | ||||||||
| Consolidated | $ | 368,131 | $ | 365,640 | 0.7 | % | ||||||
|
Operating Income |
||||||||||||
| Flavors & Fragrances | $ | 29,939 | $ | 28,406 | 5.4 | % | ||||||
| Color | 29,407 | 26,683 | 10.2 | % | ||||||||
| Corporate & Other | (57,767 | ) | (18,751 | ) | ||||||||
| Consolidated | $ | 1,579 | $ | 36,338 | -95.7 | % | ||||||
| Consolidated excluding restructuring & other charges | $ | 54,301 | $ | 49,111 | 10.6 | % | ||||||
| Beginning in the first quarter of 2014, the results of operations for the Company’s Fragrances businesses in Asia Pacific and China, previously reported in the Corporate & Other segment, are reported in the Flavors & Fragrances Group, and the results of operations for the Company’s pharmaceutical flavors business, previously reported in the Flavors & Fragrances Group, are reported in the Colors Group with the pharmaceutical colors business. Results for 2013 have been restated to reflect this change. Restructuring and other charges are reported in the Corporate & Other segment. |
| Sensient Technologies Corporation | ||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||
| Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets | ||||||||||
| March 31, | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||
| Current assets | $ | 817,221 | $ | 756,090 | ||||||
| Goodwill & intangible assets (net) | 467,223 | 452,257 | ||||||||
| Property, plant, and equipment (net) | 525,679 | 512,247 | ||||||||
| Other assets | 85,760 | 47,418 | ||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 1,895,883 | $ | 1,768,012 | ||||||
| Current liabilities | $ | 243,218 | $ | 206,458 | ||||||
| Long-term debt | 386,737 | 327,625 | ||||||||
| Accrued employee and retiree benefits | 27,144 | 60,939 | ||||||||
| Other liabilities | 30,770 | 25,028 | ||||||||
| Shareholders' Equity | 1,208,014 | 1,147,962 | ||||||||
| Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | $ | 1,895,883 | $ | 1,768,012 | ||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | ||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 19,835 | $ | 25,589 | ||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||||
| Acquisition of property, plant and equipment | (14,711 | ) | (21,039 | ) | ||||||
| Proceeds from sale of assets | 919 | 24 | ||||||||
| Other investing activity | (94 | ) | (70 | ) | ||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (13,886 | ) | (21,085 | ) | ||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||||
| Proceeds from additional borrowings | 49,254 | 33,438 | ||||||||
| Debt payments | (43,096 | ) | (23,954 | ) | ||||||
| Purchase of treasury stock | (2,724 | ) | - | |||||||
| Dividends paid | (11,539 | ) | (10,999 | ) | ||||||
| Proceeds from options exercised and other | 331 | 56 | ||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (7,774 | ) | (1,459 | ) | ||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (548 | ) | 1,363 | |||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (2,373 | ) | 4,408 | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 19,836 | 15,062 | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 17,463 | $ | 19,470 | ||||||
| Supplemental Information | ||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | $ | 13,424 | $ | 12,963 | ||||||
| Dividends per share | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.22 | ||||||
