Handy & Harman Ltd. Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2012 and Outlook for Second Quarter and Full Year 2012

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Handy & Harman Ltd. (NASDAQ(CM): HNH); ("HNH" or the "Company") today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.

HNH reported net income of $5.1 million on net sales of $164.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared with net income of $4.8 million on net sales of $153.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2011 included a $6.6 million gain on disposal of assets, net of tax, from discontinued operations. Basic and diluted net income per common share was $0.40 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared with net income of $0.39 per share in the same period of 2011.

"Demand for HNH's products and services increased across most of the Company's segments in the first quarter of 2012 versus the first quarter of 2011, resulting in 7.0% quarter-over-quarter sales growth. We also reported 12.6% higher gross profit, and income from continuing operations, net of tax, for the first quarter of 2012 increased to $5.1 million as compared to a loss of $1.2 million for the first quarter of 2011," stated Glen Kassan, Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of HNH. 

The Company generated Adjusted EBITDA of $17.5 million for the first quarter of 2012, as compared to $15.5 million for the same period in 2011, an increase of $2.0 million, or 12.7%.  See "Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measurements" below for the definition of Adjusted EBITDA.

Income from continuing operations, net of tax, increased $6.3 million to $5.1 million as compared to a loss of $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2011, principally driven by increased sales and gross profit in most of the Company's segments. In addition, the first quarter of 2012 included a non-cash unrealized gain on derivatives of $0.9 million, as compared to a non-cash derivative loss of $4.2 million in the same period of  2011.  The 2012 period included non-cash pension expense of $0.6 million compared to $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2011.  The first quarter of 2011 also included an asset impairment charge of $0.7 million. The first quarter of 2012 included a tax provision from continuing operations of $3.4 million as compared to $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2011.  The increase in the tax provision in the first quarter of 2012 as compared to the first quarter of 2011 was due to a higher federal tax provision principally resulting from the recording of the benefit of the Company's federal net operating loss carry-forwards in the fourth quarter of 2011.

HNH's outlook for sales in the second quarter of 2012, based on current information, will be between $175 million and $214 million and between $635 million and $776 million for the full year of 2012.  HNH also forecasts generating Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $24 million to $29 million in the second quarter of 2012 and $77 million to $94 million for the full year of 2012. 

By comparison, net sales from continuing operations on a comparable basis were $187.5 million and Adjusted EBITDA was $24.2 million for the second quarter of 2011 and the Company reported net sales of $664.0 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $75.6 million for the full year ended December 31, 2011.

Segment Operating Results

Precious Metal

The Precious Metal segment net sales increased by $3.2 million, or 7.2%, to $47.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to net sales of $44.6 million for the same period of 2011.  The increased net sales were primarily driven by higher volume and an increase of approximately $316.00 per troy ounce in the average market price of gold during the first quarter of 2012 as compared to the same period of 2011. There was no material impact on revenue related to silver prices as both periods in 2012 and 2011 had average silver prices of approximately $32 per troy ounce.

Segment operating income increased by $1.1 million from $4.5 million during the first quarter of 2011 to $5.6 million for the same period in 2012.  The increase was primarily driven by higher sales volume and a more favorable product mix.

Tubing

The Tubing segment net sales increased by $1.4 million, or 5.7%, to $25.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $24.4 million for the same period of 2011.  The increase was attributable to higher sales from the markets served by the Stainless Steel Tubing Group and new markets served by the Specialty Tubing Group, which were partially offset by lower sales from the refrigeration market serviced by the Specialty Tubing Group.

Segment operating income decreased by $0.7 million to $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $4.3 million for the same period of 2011.  Lower operating income was principally driven by lower gross margin from the Stainless Steel Tubing Group due to a shift in sales mix.

Engineered Materials

The Engineered Materials segment sales increased by $7.7 million, or 15.6% to $57.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $49.4 million for the same period of 2011. The incremental sales were driven by higher volume of commercial roofing products and fasteners, which were favorably impacted by the mild winter in several parts of the United States. Sales of  gas connectors also increased, partially offset by lower sales of electro-galvanized steel products as a result of lower demand from the residential construction market.

Segment operating income increased by $2.4 million to $4.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $2.1 million for the same period of 2011.  The increase in operating income was principally the result of the higher sales volume.  Gross profit margin for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was higher compared to the three months ended March 31, 2011, primarily due to increased sales of higher-margin branded fastener products in the first quarter of 2012 as compared to the first quarter of 2011.

Arlon Electronic Materials

Arlon sales decreased by $2.0 million, or 9.2% to $20.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $22.0 million for the same period of 2011.  Lower sales were driven by reduced demand for printed circuit board materials related to the telecommunications infrastructure in China, as well as lower sales of flex heater products for the general industrial market.

Segment operating income increased by $0.4 million to $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $2.1 million for the same period of 2011.  Gross margin was 1.6% higher during the first quarter of 2012 as compared to 2011 primarily due to favorable product mix and improved manufacturing efficiencies.  A non-cash asset impairment charge of $0.7 million was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2011.  The non-cash asset impairment charge was related to vacant land owned by Arlon in Rancho Cucamonga, California.  The Company reduced this property's carrying value by $0.7 million to reflect its lower fair market value.

Kasco

Kasco segment sales increased by $0.5 million, or 4.1%, to $13.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $12.9 million for the same period of 2011. The sales improvement was principally from its route business in the United States.

Operating income for the Kasco segment was $1.2 million for the first quarter of 2012, as compared to $1.1 million for the same period of 2011, principally as a result of higher sales volume.

Liquidity

As of March 31, 2012, the Company's current assets totaled $192.3 million and its current liabilities totaled $122.1 million.  Therefore, its working capital was $70.2 million, as compared to working capital of $70.1 million as of December 31, 2011. As of April 25, 2012, the Company's availability under its U.S. revolving credit facility was approximately $35.3 million.

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measurements:

The financial data contained in this press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including "Adjusted EBITDA".  The Company is presenting Adjusted EBITDA because it believes that it provides useful information to investors about HNH, its business and its financial condition. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss from continuing operations before the effects of realized and unrealized gains or losses on derivatives, interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization, LIFO liquidation gain, and non-cash pension expense or credit, and excludes certain non-recurring and non-cash items. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors because it is one of the measures used by the Company's Board of Directors and management to evaluate its business, including in internal management reporting, budgeting and forecasting processes, in comparing operating results across the business, as an internal profitability measure, as a component in evaluating the ability and the desirability of making capital expenditures and significant acquisitions, and as an element in determining executive compensation.

However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"), and the items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. Therefore, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for net income (loss) or cash flows from operating, investing, or financing activities. Because Adjusted EBITDA is calculated before recurring cash charges including realized and unrealized losses on derivatives, interest expense and taxes, and is not adjusted for capital expenditures or other recurring cash requirements of the business, it should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to invest in the growth of the business. There are a number of material limitations to the use of Adjusted EBITDA as an analytical tool, including the following:

• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the Company's net realized and unrealized losses and gains on derivatives and any LIFO liquidations of its precious metal inventory;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the Company's interest expense;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the Company's tax expense or the cash requirements to pay its taxes;
• Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash expenses in the period recorded, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the cash requirements for such replacement;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not include pension expense; and
• Adjusted EBITDA does not include discontinued operations.

The Company compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its GAAP financial measures and by using Adjusted EBITDA only as supplemental information. The Company believes that consideration of Adjusted EBITDA, together with a careful review of its GAAP financial measures, is the most informed method of analyzing HNH.

The Company reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to net income from continuing operations, and that reconciliation is set forth below.  Because Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and is susceptible to varying calculations, Adjusted EBITDA, as presented, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Revenues and expenses are measured in accordance with the policies and procedures described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Our Company

Handy & Harman Ltd. is a diversified manufacturer of engineered niche industrial products with leading market positions in many of the markets it serves. Through its operating subsidiaries, HNH focuses on high margin products and innovative technology and serves customers across a wide range of end markets. HNH's diverse product offerings are marketed throughout the United States and internationally. 

Our companies are organized into five businesses: Precious Metals, Tubing, Engineered Materials, Arlon, and Kasco.

We sell our products and services through direct sales forces, distributors and manufacturer's representatives. We serve a diverse customer base, including the construction, electronics, telecommunications, home appliance, transportation, utility, medical, semiconductor, aerospace, military electronics and automotive markets. Other markets served include blade products and repair services for the food industry.

We are based in White Plains, New York and our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol HNH.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "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, that reflect HNH's current expectations and projections about its future results, performance, prospects and opportunities.  HNH has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as "may", "should," "expect," "hope," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "estimate" and similar expressions.  These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause its actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities in 2012 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.  These factors include, without limitation, HNH's need for additional financing and the terms and conditions of any financing that is consummated, customers' acceptance of its new and existing products, the risk that the Company will not be able to compete successfully, and the possible volatility of the Company's stock price and the potential fluctuation in its operating results.  Although HNH believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable and achievable, such statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that the actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.  Investors should read carefully the factors described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's filings with the SEC, including the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 for information regarding risk factors that could affect the Company's results.  Except as otherwise required by Federal securities laws, HNH undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

SOURCE Handy & Harman Ltd.