PolyOne Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Results

Fourth Quarter Results

-- GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $0.08 compared to a loss of $0.02 in the prior year fourth quarter; 2019 GAAP EPS included a $0.25 unfavorable impact associated with earnout adjustments and acquisition-related costs

-- Adjusted EPS from continuing operations of $0.34 increased from $0.24 in the prior year fourth quarter

-- Better than expected results were driven by the Specialty Engineered Materials segment, including record operating income from Advanced Composites platform

Full Year Results

-- GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $0.97 compared to $1.09 in the prior year; 2019 GAAP EPS included a $0.51 unfavorable impact associated with earnout adjustments and acquisition-related costs

-- Adjusted EPS from continuing operations increased 12% to $1.69, representing the 10th consecutive year of adjusted EPS growth

-- Announced transformative portfolio improvements by divesting Performance Products and Solutions (PP&S) segment and signing definitive agreement to acquire Clariant Masterbatch business

News provided by

PolyOne Corporation

Jan 28, 2020, 06:33 ET

CLEVELAND, Jan. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PolyOne Corporation (NYSE: POL) today reported its full year and fourth quarter results for 2019. Full year GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.97 in 2019 compared to $1.09 in 2018.  Adjusted earnings per share in 2019 increased 12% to $1.69, from $1.51 in 2018. 

Fourth quarter GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.08 in 2019 compared to a loss of $0.02 per share in the fourth quarter of 2018.  Adjusted earnings per share of $0.34 in the fourth quarter of 2019 exceeded the $0.30 expected at the time of the company's fourth quarter outlook announcement.  The better than expected earnings were driven primarily by record performance from Advanced Composites. 

Special items for the fourth quarter of 2019 included acquisition-related costs, partially offset by a favorable mark-to-market pension adjustment.  Special items in the fourth quarter of 2018 are primarily related to an unfavorable mark-to-market pension adjustment (Attachment 3).

"Overall results for the fourth quarter were better than expected, and I'm pleased to report 12% adjusted EPS growth for the full year," said Robert M. Patterson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, PolyOne Corporation. "Our investments in composites and other sustainable solutions helped to distinguish our performance, as Specialty Engineered Materials (SEM) led the way in both the fourth quarter and the full year."

The company noted that for the full year, SEM increased revenue and operating income by 16% and 20%, respectively.  Growth in composites and wire and cable applications more than offset lower sales and operating income in Europe and Asia primarily resulting from weaker automotive demand.  The latter demand conditions also negatively impacted the Color, Additives and Inks segment for the full year and fourth quarter. 

"I also want to highlight our Distribution business, which increased operating income to a new record of $75 million for the year despite challenging end market dynamics," Mr. Patterson continued.

"2019 marks our tenth consecutive year of adjusted EPS growth, which is a milestone accomplishment. It was also the year we took two major steps forward in our specialty transformation with the divestiture of PP&S for $775 million and the definitive agreement for the acquisition of Clariant Masterbatch," Mr. Patterson said. 

As the company disclosed in December, the Clariant transaction is expected to add $1.15 billion of annual revenue, and with run rate synergies will add $0.85 to adjusted EPS (excluding step-up of depreciation and amortization) and increase EBITDA from specialty applications to greater than 85% on a pro forma basis.

Commenting on the company's outlook, Mr. Patterson said, "We embark on the new year with clear momentum and confidence in our ability to deliver double-digit adjusted EPS growth in 2020 and beyond.  With a more specialty portfolio and less exposure to cyclical end markets, we believe our best days are ahead."

Conference Call

The company will conduct a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on January 28, 2020. To participate in the conference call, dial 1-844-835-7433 (domestic) or 1-914-495-8589 (international) and provide conference ID number 8047906.

A recording of the call will also be available for one week, beginning at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 28, 2020. To listen to this recording, dial 1-855-859-2056 (domestic) or 1-404-537-3406 (international) and enter conference ID number 8047906.

About PolyOne

PolyOne Corporation (NYSE: POL), with 2019 revenues of $2.9 billion, is a premier provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions. The company adds value to global customers and improves sustainability through formulating materials, such as:

  • Barrier technologies that preserve the shelf-life and quality of food, beverages, medicine and other perishable goods through high-performance materials that require less plastic
  • Light-weighting solutions that replace heavier traditional materials like metal, glass and wood, which can improve fuel efficiency in all modes of transportation
  • Breakthrough technologies that minimize wastewater and improve the recyclability of materials and packaging across a spectrum of end uses

PolyOne employs approximately 5,600 associates, is certified ACC Responsible Care® and is a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste.  For more information, visit www.polyone.com.

To access PolyOne's news library online, please visit www.polyone.com/news.

Forward-looking Statements

In this press release, statements that are not reported financial results or other historical information are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. They are based on management's expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. They use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial condition, performance and/or sales. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the finalization of the Company's financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2019; the time required to consummate the acquisition of Clariant's masterbatch business; the satisfaction or waiver of conditions in the purchase agreements; any material adverse changes in Clariant's masterbatch business; the ability to obtain required regulatory or other third-party approvals and consents and otherwise consummate the proposed acquisition of Clariant's masterbatch business; our ability to achieve the strategic and other objectives relating to the proposed acquisition of Clariant's masterbatch business, including any expected synergies; our ability to successfully integrate Clariant's masterbatch business and achieve the expected results of the acquisition of Clariant's masterbatch business, including, without limitation, the acquisition being accretive; disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit markets that could adversely impact the availability of credit already arranged and the availability and cost of credit in the future; the effect on foreign operations of currency fluctuations, tariffs and other political, economic and regulatory risks; changes in polymer consumption growth rates and laws and regulations regarding plastics in jurisdictions where we conduct business; changes in global industry capacity or in the rate at which anticipated changes in industry capacity come online; fluctuations in raw material prices, quality and supply, and in energy prices and supply; production outages or material costs associated with scheduled or unscheduled maintenance programs; unanticipated developments that could occur with respect to contingencies such as litigation and environmental matters; an inability to raise or sustain prices for products or services; an ability to achieve or delays in achieving or achievement of less than the anticipated financial benefit from initiatives related to acquisition and integration, working capital reductions, costs reductions and employee productivity goals; information systems failures and cyberattacks; and other factors affecting our business beyond our control, including, without limitation, changes in the general economy, changes in interest rates and changes in the rate of inflation. The above list of factors is not exhaustive.

Attachment 1

PolyOne Corporation

Summary of Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

(In millions, except per share data)



Three Months Ended
December 31,


Year Ended
December 31,


2019


2018


2019


2018









Sales

$

658.6



$

677.1



$

2,862.7



$

2,881.0


Operating income

20.5



30.2



156.8



178.6


Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to PolyOne
shareholders

6.4



(1.3)



75.5



87.7


Basic earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations
attributable to PolyOne shareholders

$

0.08



$

(0.02)



$

0.98



$

1.10


Diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations
attributable to PolyOne shareholders

$

0.08



$

(0.02)



$

0.97



$

1.09


















Senior management uses comparisons of adjusted net income from continuing operations attributable to PolyOne shareholders and diluted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations attributable to PolyOne shareholders, excluding special items, to assess performance and facilitate comparability of results. Senior management believes these measures are useful to investors because they allow for comparison to PolyOne's performance in prior periods without the effect of items that, by their nature, tend to obscure PolyOne's operating results due to the potential variability across periods based on timing, frequency and magnitude. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation from, or solely as alternatives to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Below is a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. See Attachment 3 for a definition and summary of special items.


Three Months Ended
December 31, 2019


Three Months Ended
December 31, 2018

Reconciliation to Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Income

$


EPS


$


EPS









Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to PolyOne
shareholders

$

6.4



$

0.08



$

(1.3)



$

(0.02)


Special items, after tax (Attachment 3)

19.9



0.26



20.6



0.26


Adjusted net income / EPS - excluding special items

$

26.3



$

0.34



$

19.3



$

0.24



Year Ended
December 31, 2019


Year Ended
December 31, 2018

Reconciliation to Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Income

$


EPS


$


EPS









Net income from continuing operations attributable to PolyOne
shareholders

$

75.5



$

0.97



$

87.7



$

1.09


Special items, after tax (Attachment 3)

55.8



0.72



33.6



0.42


Adjusted net income / EPS - excluding special items

$

131.3



$

1.69



$

121.3



$

1.51


Attachment 2

PolyOne Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

(In millions, except per share data)



Three Months Ended
December 31,


Year Ended
December 31,


2019


2018


2019


2018

Sales

$

658.6



$

677.1



$

2,862.7



$

2,881.0


Cost of sales

505.3



536.2



2,205.5



2,256.2


Gross margin

153.3



140.9



657.2



624.8


Selling and administrative expense

132.8



110.7



500.4



446.2


Operating income

20.5



30.2



156.8



178.6


Interest expense, net

(11.9)



(15.6)



(59.5)



(62.8)


Debt extinguishment costs

—



(1.0)



—



(1.1)


Other income (expense), net

10.7



(14.9)



12.1



(12.9)


Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

19.3



(1.3)



109.4



101.8


Income taxes

(12.9)



(0.2)



(33.7)



(14.4)


Net income (loss) from continuing operations

6.4



(1.5)



75.7



87.4


Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

458.9



12.7



513.1



72.1


Net income

$

465.3



$

11.2



$

588.8



$

159.5


Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests

—



0.2



(0.2)



0.3


Net income attributable to PolyOne common shareholders

$

465.3



$

11.4



$

588.6



$

159.8










Earnings (loss) per share attributable to PolyOne common shareholders - Basic:





Continuing operations

$

0.08



$

(0.02)



$

0.98



$

1.10


Discontinued operations

5.97



0.17



6.64



0.91


Total

$

6.05



$

0.15



$

7.62



$

2.01










Earnings (loss) per share attributable to PolyOne common shareholders - Diluted:





Continuing operations

$

0.08



$

(0.02)



$

0.97



$

1.09


Discontinued operations

5.92



0.16



6.61



0.90


Total

$

6.00



$

0.14



$

7.58



$

1.99










Cash dividends declared per share of common stock

$

0.203



$

0.195



$

0.788



$

0.720










Weighted-average shares used to compute earnings per common share:





Basic

76.9



78.6



77.2



79.7


Diluted

77.5



79.2



77.7



80.4


Attachment 3

PolyOne Corporation

Summary of Special Items (Unaudited)

(In millions, except per share data)


Special items (1)

Three Months Ended December
31,


Year Ended
December 31,


2019


2018


2019


2018

Cost of sales:








   Restructuring costs

$

—



$

(0.1)



$

0.3



$

(0.6)


   Environmental remediation costs

0.3



(3.9)



(10.1)



(23.1)


   Reimbursement of previously incurred environmental costs

0.5



0.5



4.5



4.3


   Acquisition related costs

—



0.2



(2.0)



(1.6)


      Impact on cost of sales

0.8



(3.3)



(7.3)



(21.0)










Selling and administrative expense:








   Restructuring, legal and other

(4.4)



(4.8)



(19.4)



(17.0)


Acquisition earnout adjustments

(15.7)



(0.7)



(36.4)



(0.7)


   Acquisition related costs

(5.3)



(1.0)



(8.6)



(3.7)


      Impact on selling and administrative expense

(25.4)



(6.5)



(64.4)



(21.4)










      Impact on operating income

(24.6)



(9.8)



(71.7)



(42.4)










   Debt extinguishment costs

—



(1.0)



—



(1.1)


   Other income, net

0.1



0.2



0.5



0.4


   Pension & other post-retirement benefits - mark-to-market adjustment

9.5



(15.6)



9.5



(15.6)


      Impact on income from continuing operations before income taxes

(15.0)



(26.2)



(61.7)



(58.7)


Income tax (expense) benefit on above special items

(0.4)



5.5



11.1



14.7


Tax adjustments(2)

(4.5)



0.1



(5.2)



10.4


Impact of special items on net income from continuing operations
attributable to PolyOne Shareholders

$

(19.9)



$

(20.6)



$

(55.8)



$

(33.6)










Diluted earnings per common share impact

$

(0.26)



$

(0.26)



$

(0.72)



$

(0.42)










Weighted average shares used to compute adjusted earnings per
share:








   Diluted

77.5



79.2


77.7



80.4











(1)

Special items include charges related to specific strategic initiatives or financial restructuring such as: consolidation of operations; debt extinguishment costs; costs incurred directly in relation to acquisitions or divestitures, including adjustments related to contingent consideration; employee separation costs resulting from personnel reduction programs, plant realignment costs, executive separation agreements; asset impairments; mark-to-market adjustments associated with actuarial gains and losses on pension and other post-retirement benefit plans; environmental remediation costs, fines, penalties and related insurance recoveries related to facilities no longer owned or closed in prior years; gains and losses on the divestiture of operating businesses, joint ventures and equity investments; gains and losses on facility or property sales or disposals; results of litigation, fines or penalties, where such litigation (or action relating to the fines or penalties) arose prior to the commencement of the performance period; one-time, non-recurring items; and the effect of changes in accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results.



(2)

Tax adjustments include the net tax benefit/expense from one-time income tax items, the set-up or reversal of uncertain tax position reserves and deferred income tax valuation allowance adjustments.

Attachment 4

PolyOne Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(In millions)



Year Ended
December 31, 2019


Year Ended
December 31, 2018

ASSETS




Current assets:




Cash and cash equivalents

$

864.7



$

170.9


Accounts receivable, net

326.8



347.2


Inventories, net

260.9



284.6


Current assets held for sale

—



129.7


Other current assets

54.0



66.4


Total current assets

1,506.4



998.8


Property, net

407.4



384.5


Goodwill

685.7



639.1


Intangible assets, net

469.3



422.4


Operating lease assets, net

63.8



—


Non-current assets held for sale

—



124.5


Other non-current assets

133.3



154.0


Total assets

$

3,265.9



$

2,723.3






LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY




Current liabilities:




Short-term and current portion of long-term debt

$

18.4



$

19.4


Accounts payable

283.3



305.0


Current operating lease obligations

21.0



—


Current liabilities held for sale

—



104.5


Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

372.4



128.7


Total current liabilities

695.1



557.6


Non-current liabilities:




Long-term debt

1,210.9



1,336.2


Pension and other post-retirement benefits

56.6



54.3


Deferred income taxes

63.5



69.1


Non-current operating lease obligations

42.8



—


Non-current liabilities held for sale

—



3.3


Other non-current liabilities

144.3



162.2


Total non-current liabilities

1,518.1



1,625.1






SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY




PolyOne shareholders' equity

1,051.9



540.0


Noncontrolling interest

0.8



0.6


Total equity

1,052.7



540.6


Total liabilities and equity

$

3,265.9



$

2,723.3


Attachment 5

PolyOne Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(In millions)



Year Ended December 31,


2019


2018

Operating Activities




Net income

$

588.8



$

159.5


Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:




Gain on sale of business, net of tax

(457.7)



—


Depreciation and amortization

87.5



88.5


Accelerated depreciation and fixed asset charges associated with
restructuring activities

—



3.0


Debt extinguishment costs

—



1.1


Share-based compensation expense

12.3



10.9


Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the effect of acquisitions:




Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable

32.9



(11.3)


Decrease (increase) in inventories

40.2



(10.6)


(Decrease) increase in accounts payable

(27.1)



7.9


(Decrease) increase in pension and other post-retirement benefits

(19.7)



4.8


Increase in post-acquisition earnouts

36.4



0.7


Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and other assets and liabilities - net

8.1



(0.8)


Net cash provided by operating activities

301.7



253.7


Investing activities




Capital expenditures

(81.7)



(76.0)


Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(119.6)



(98.6)


Proceeds from divestiture

761.8



—


Proceeds from other assets

51.4



4.3


Net cash used by investing activities

611.9



(170.3)


Financing activities




Borrowings under credit facilities

963.4



1,152.9


Repayments under credit facilities

(1,083.9)



(1,090.3)


Purchase of common shares for treasury

(26.9)



(123.0)


Cash dividends paid

(60.9)



(56.1)


Repayment of other debt

(1.8)



(16.4)


Repayment of long-term debt

(6.5)



(6.5)


Payments on withholding tax on share awards

(2.4)



(4.1)


Debt financing costs

(0.2)



(4.6)


Net cash used by financing activities

(219.2)



(148.1)


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

(0.6)



(8.0)


Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

693.8



(72.7)


Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

170.9



243.6


Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$

864.7



$

170.9






















Attachment 6

PolyOne Corporation

Business Segment and Platform Operations (Unaudited)

(In millions)


Operating income at the segment level does not include: special items as defined in Attachment 3; corporate general and administration costs that are not allocated to segments; intersegment sales and profit eliminations; share-based compensation costs; and certain other items that are not included in the measure of segment profit and loss that is reported to and reviewed by the chief operating decision maker. These costs are included in Corporate and eliminations.



Three Months Ended
December 31,


Year Ended
December 31,


2019


2018


2019


2018

Sales:








Color, Additives and Inks

$

226.7



$

240.9



$

1,003.8



$

1,046.5


Specialty Engineered Materials

177.5



150.5



745.7



645.8


Distribution

272.4



304.8



1,192.2



1,265.4


Corporate and eliminations

(18.0)



(19.1)



(79.0)



(76.7)


Sales

$

658.6



$

677.1



$

2,862.7



$

2,881.0










Gross margin:








Color, Additives and Inks

$

73.9



$

78.1



$

338.4



$

353.4


Specialty Engineered Materials

47.7



36.9



200.2



171.7


Distribution

31.0



30.6



132.1



125.8


Corporate and eliminations

0.7



(4.7)



(13.5)



(26.1)


Gross margin

$

153.3



$

140.9



$

657.2



$

624.8










Selling and administrative expense:








Color, Additives and Inks

$

46.7



$

48.1



$

191.0



$

194.9


Specialty Engineered Materials

28.2



24.7



113.4



99.4


Distribution

14.0



13.6



56.7



54.3


Corporate and eliminations

43.9



24.3



139.3



97.6


Selling and administrative expense

$

132.8



$

110.7



$

500.4



$

446.2










Operating income:








Color, Additives and Inks

$

27.2



$

30.0



$

147.4



$

158.5


Specialty Engineered Materials

19.5



12.2



86.8



72.3


Distribution

17.0



17.0



75.4



71.5


Corporate and eliminations

(43.2)



(29.0)



(152.8)



(123.7)


Operating income

$

20.5



$

30.2



$

156.8



$

178.6


Attachment 7

PolyOne Corporation

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)

(In millions, except per share data)


Senior management uses gross margin before special items and operating income before special items to assess performance and allocate resources because senior management believes that these measures are useful in understanding current profitability levels and how it may serve as a basis for future performance. In addition, operating income before the effect of special items is a component of PolyOne annual and long-term employee incentive plans and is used in debt covenant computations. Senior management believes these measures are useful to investors because they allow for comparison to PolyOne's performance in prior periods without the effect of items that, by their nature, tend to obscure PolyOne's operating results due to the potential variability across periods based on timing, frequency and magnitude. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation from, or solely as alternatives to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Below is a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. See Attachment 3 for a definition and summary of special items.



Three Months Ended
December 31,


Year Ended
December 31,

Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income

2019


2018


2019


2018









Sales

$

658.6



$

677.1



$

2,862.7



$

2,881.0










Gross margin - GAAP

153.3



140.9



657.2



624.8


Special items in gross margin (Attachment 3)

(0.8)



3.3



7.3



21.0


Adjusted Gross margin

$

152.5



$

144.2



$

664.5



$

645.8










Adjusted Gross margin as a percent of sales

23.2

%


21.3

%


23.2

%


22.4

%









Operating income - GAAP

20.5



30.2



156.8



178.6


Special items in operating income (Attachment 3)

24.6



9.8



71.7



42.4


   Adjusted Operating income

$

45.1



$

40.0



$

228.5



$

221.0










Adjusted Operating income as a percent of sales

6.8

%


5.9

%


8.0

%


7.7

%













The tables below reconciles pre-special income tax expense and the pre-special effective tax rate to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.


Three Months Ended
December 31, 2019


Three Months Ended
December 31, 2018


GAAP Results


Special Items


Adjusted Results


GAAP Results


Special Items


Adjusted Results













Income from continuing operations before
income taxes

$

19.3



$

15.0



$

34.3



$

(1.3)



$

26.2



$

24.9














Income tax expense - GAAP

(12.9)



—



(12.9)



(0.2)



—



(0.2)


Income tax impact of special items (Attachment 3)

—



0.4



0.4



—



(5.5)



(5.5)


Tax adjustments (Attachment 3)

—



4.5



4.5



—



(0.1)



(0.1)


Income tax (expense) benefit

$

(12.9)



$

4.9



$

(8.0)



$

(0.2)



$

(5.6)



$

(5.8)














Effective Tax Rate

66.8

%




23.2

%


(15.4)

%




23.3

%


Year Ended
December 31, 2019


Year Ended
December 31, 2018


GAAP
Results


Special
Items


Adjusted
Results


GAAP
Results


Special
Items


Adjusted
Results













Income from continuing operations before
income taxes

$

109.4



$

61.7



$

171.1



$

101.8



$

58.7



$

160.5














Income tax expense - GAAP

(33.7)



—



(33.7)



(14.4)



—



(14.4)


Income tax impact of special items (Attachment 3)

—



(11.1)



(11.1)



—



(14.7)



(14.7)


Tax adjustments (Attachment 3)

—



5.2



5.2



—



(10.4)



(10.4)


Income tax expense

$

(33.7)



$

(5.9)



$

(39.6)



$

(14.4)



$

(25.1)



$

(39.5)














Effective Tax Rate

30.8

%




23.1

%


14.1

%




24.6

%

Liquidity is calculated as follows:


(In millions)

As of December 31, 2019

Cash and cash equivalents

$

864.7


Revolving credit availability

281.1


Liquidity

$

1,145.8


SOURCE PolyOne Corporation