Cooper Standard Reports First Quarter Results

NORTHVILLE, Mich., May 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CPS) today reported results for the first quarter 2020.

First Quarter 2020 Summary

• Sales totaled $654.9 million
• Net loss of $110.6 million or $(6.55) per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $8.3 million or 1.3 percent of sales
• Adjusted net loss of $36.5 million or $(2.16) per diluted share
• Strong cash balance of $301.8 million at quarter end
• Net new business awards totaled $82 million in projected annualized sales
• Contract awards related to the Company's innovation products totaled $121 million

"During this period of unprecedented market disruption, our team has been universally focused on maintaining the health and safety of our employees and conserving cash to ensure the continued financial strength and flexibility of the Company," said Jeffrey Edwards, chairman and CEO, Cooper Standard.  "As a result of our aggressive actions, beginning in 2019 and continuing to date, we ended the quarter with more than $300 million of cash on the balance sheet.  Combined with availability on our credit facilities, we expect to have ample liquidity to sustain our operations."

Consolidated Results

The year-over-year change in first quarter sales was primarily attributable to customers idling operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the prior-year sale of the Company's Anti-Vibration Systems (AVS) business, unfavorable volume and mix, and unfavorable foreign exchange.

Net loss for the first quarter 2020 included non-cash impairment charges related to assets held for sale in the amount of $74.1 million, certain project costs related to assets held for sale of $2.4 million and restructuring charges related to headcount reduction actions of $7.3 million and other special items.  Adjusted net loss, which excludes these items and their related tax impact, was $(36.5) million in the first quarter 2020 compared to adjusted net income of $9.9 million in the first quarter of 2019.  The decline was due largely to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, other unfavorable volume and mix, general inflation and foreign exchange, partially offset by operating efficiencies, lower SGA&E expense and other cost saving initiatives.

Adjusted net income (loss), adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings (loss) per diluted share are non-GAAP measures.  Reconciliations to the most directly comparable financial measures, calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"), are provided in the attached supplemental schedules.

COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts and Responses

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on our industry and on our operations during the first quarter.  The impact on our sales was approximately $115 million and the impact on adjusted EBITDA was approximately $40 million.  Our operations in China were completely closed for approximately six weeks beginning in January.  Our operations in Europe and North America were almost all closed beginning in early to mid-March, with the exception of our Advanced Technology Group (ATG) operations.  Our ATG operations remained open, working at reduced capacity, to support critical infrastructure businesses in markets such as commercial trucking, military and defense, fire and emergency and grocery store suppliers in addition to producing customized components for medical ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE).  A phased restart of operations in China began in late February.  All 12 of our plants in China are now open and working at approximately 75 percent of capacity.  European and North American operations are currently in the process of re-opening and ramping up production according to government directives and customer schedules.

In response to the pandemic, the Company activated emergency response teams in all regions of the world to coordinate actions to ensure the safety of our employees and the orderly closing and re-opening of our facilities.  We believe these actions have been successful at preventing the spread of COVID-19 within our operations.  Notably in China, where employees have returned to work and production has resumed, we have had no known incidents of COVID-19 infections in our operations to date.

In addition to the safety measures, we have taken significant aggressive actions to conserve cash and ensure access to adequate lines of credit to support the ongoing needs of the Company.  These actions include the amendment of credit and factoring facilities to extend maturity dates, reductions in capital spending, aggressive collection initiatives, cancellation of open hiring requisitions, strict limitations on business travel, furloughing of manufacturing personnel and partial salary deferral for all salaried personnel.

New Business Awards

During the first quarter of 2020, the Company received net new business awards representing $82 million in anticipated future incremental annualized sales.  New contract awards related to product innovations, including both new and replacement business, in the first quarter represent $121 million in anticipated future annualized sales.  Net new business reflects anticipated sales from formally awarded programs, less lost business, discontinued programs and replacement programs, based on customer forecast volumes.  Contract awards related to innovation products reflect anticipated sales from formally awarded new and replacement programs specifically with respect to products containing the Company's commercialized innovation products, such as MagAlloy™, ArmorHose™, ArmorHose™ TPV, LightHose, Gen III Posi-Lock, TP Microdense, Microdense EPDM, FlushSeal™ glass sealing technology and Fortrex™, based on customer forecast volumes.  The calculation of "net new business" and "new contract awards related to innovation products" does not reflect customer price reductions on existing programs and may be impacted by various assumptions embedded in the respective calculation, including actual vehicle production levels on new programs, foreign exchange rates and the timing of major program launches.

Continuing Execution of Cost Reduction and Strategic Initiatives

The Company remains focused on reducing ongoing costs through improved operating efficiency and the further rightsizing of its operating footprint and overhead expenses.  As previously announced, two additional manufacturing facilities were scheduled to be closed by 2021.  One of the closures has been completed.  The second closure is on track to be completed later this year.

Subsequent to the end of the first quarter, the Company reached an agreement to divest certain non-strategic assets and operations in India and Europe.  Subject to the approval of the respective antitrust authorities, the transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2020 and is expected to be immediately accretive to future Company earnings and cash flow when completed.

Segment Results of Operations

• Volume and mix, net of customer price reductions includes the impact of the decline in vehicle production volume as driven by government imposed global lock-downs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The impact of foreign currency exchange primarily relates to the Euro, Brazilian Real, and Chinese Renminbi.

• Volume and mix, net of customer price reductions, includes the impact of the decline in vehicle production volume as driven by government imposed global lock-downs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The impact of foreign currency exchange is primarily driven by the Brazilian Real, Chinese Renminbi, Euro, Polish Zloty, and Czech Koruna.
• The Cost (Increases) / Decreases category above includes:
• Reduction in compensation-related expenses, purchasing savings through lean initiatives, restructuring savings;
• Increase in commodity costs and wage increases; and
• Net operational efficiencies of $16 million, weakened by the impact of COVID-19, primarily driven by our North America and European segments.

A reconciliation of net loss to adjusted EBITDA is included in the "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures' section of this release.

Liquidity and Cash Flow

At March 31, 2020, Cooper Standard had cash and cash equivalents totaling $301.8 million.  Net cash used in operating activities in the first quarter 2020 was $2.0 million.  Free cash flow for the quarter (defined as net cash used in/provided by operating activities minus capital expenditures) was an outflow of $52.6 million, which was an improvement of $8.9 million compared to the first quarter of 2019, despite the extreme operating environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to cash and cash equivalents, the Company had $145.7 million available under its amended senior asset-based revolving credit facility ("ABL"), inclusive of outstanding letters of credit, for total liquidity of $447.5 million at March 31, 2020.

Total debt at March 31, 2020 was $807.3 million. Net debt (defined as total debt minus cash and cash equivalents) was $505.5 million.  Cooper Standard's net leverage ratio (defined as net debt divided by trailing 12 months adjusted EBITDA) at March 31, 2020 was 3.5 times.

Outlook

The continuing effects and potential future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have created inordinately high levels of uncertainty in the markets and economies in which we operate.  Even as our customers around the world have begun or are beginning to restart operations, there is still significant uncertainty regarding future production levels and consumer demand for light vehicles.  In view of this elevated uncertainty, the Company has withdrawn previously provided guidance for 2020 and does not anticipate providing specific financial guidance at least until such time as market conditions normalize.

Based on our current expectations for our customers resuming production, we expect our current strong cash balance and ample access to flexible credit facilities will provide sufficient resources to support ongoing operations and the execution of planned strategic initiatives for the next 12 months.

Conference Call Details

Cooper Standard management will host a conference call and webcast on May 12, 2020 at 9 a.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2020 results, provide a general business update and respond to investor questions.  A link to the live webcast of the call (listen only) and presentation materials will be available on Cooper Standard's Investor Relations website at www.ir.cooperstandard.com/events.cfm.

To participate by phone, callers in the United States and Canada should dial toll-free (877) 374-4041.  International callers should dial (253) 237-1156.  Provide the conference ID 6274518 or ask to be connected to the Cooper Standard conference call. Representatives of the investment community will have the opportunity to ask questions after the presentation. Callers should dial in at least five minutes prior to the start of the call.

Individuals unable to participate during the live call may visit the investors' portion of the Cooper Standard website (www.ir.cooperstandard.com) for a replay of the webcast.

About Cooper Standard

Cooper Standard, headquartered in Northville, Mich., is a leading global supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry. Products include sealing, fuel and brake delivery, and fluid transfer systems. Cooper Standard employs approximately 28,000 people globally and operates in 21 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.cooperstandard.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, and we intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor created thereby.  Our use of words "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "outlook," "guidance," "forecast," or future or conditional verbs, such as "will," "should," "could," "would," or "may," and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions. Our expectations, beliefs, and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, we cannot assure you that these expectations, beliefs and projections will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or achievements to be materially different from the future results or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Among other items, such factors may include: the  impact, and expected continued impact, of the recent COVID-19 outbreak on our financial condition and results of operations; significant risks to our liquidity presented by the COVID-19 pandemic; prolonged or material contractions in automotive sales and production volumes; our inability to realize sales represented by awarded business; escalating pricing pressures; loss of large customers or significant platforms; our ability to successfully compete in the automotive parts industry; availability and increasing volatility in costs of manufactured components and raw materials; disruption in our supply base; competitive threats and commercial risks associated with our diversification strategy through Advanced Technology Group; possible variability of our working capital requirements; risks associated with our international operations, including changes in laws, regulations and policies governing the terms of foreign trade, such as increased trade restrictions and tariffs; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; our ability to control the operations of our joint ventures for our sole benefit; our substantial amount of indebtedness; our ability to obtain adequate financing sources in the future; operating and financial restrictions imposed on us under our debt instruments; the underfunding of our pension plans; significant changes in discount rates and the actual return on pension assets; effectiveness of continuous improvement programs and other cost savings plans; manufacturing facility closings or consolidation; our ability to execute new program launches; our ability to meet customers' needs for new and improved products; the possibility that our acquisitions and divestitures may not be successful; product liability, warranty and recall claims brought against us; laws and regulations, including environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; legal proceedings, claims or investigations against us; work stoppages or other labor disruptions; the ability of our intellectual property to withstand legal challenges; cyber-attacks, data privacy concerns, other disruptions in or the inability to implement upgrades to, our information technology systems; the possible volatility of our annual effective tax rate; changes in our assumptions as a result of IRS issuing guidance on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; the possibility of a failure to maintain effective controls and procedures; the possibility of future impairment charges to our goodwill and long-lived assets; our dependence on our subsidiaries for cash to satisfy our obligations; and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.  Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except where we are expressly required to do so by law.

This press release also contains estimates and other information that is based on industry publications, surveys and forecasts.  This information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and we have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information.

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Financial statements and related notes follow:

Non-GAAP Measures

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, net debt and free cash flow are measures not recognized under U.S. GAAP and which exclude certain non-cash and special items that may obscure trends and operating performance not indicative of the Company's core financial activities. Management considers EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, net debt and free cash flow to be key indicators of the Company's operating performance and believes that these and similar measures are widely used by investors, securities analysts and other interested parties in evaluating the Company's performance. In addition, similar measures are utilized in the calculation of the financial covenants and ratios contained in the Company's financing arrangements and management uses these measures for developing internal budgets and forecasting purposes. EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) adjusted to reflect income tax expense (benefit), interest expense net of interest income, depreciation and amortization, and adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA further adjusted to reflect certain items that management does not consider to be reflective of the Company's core operating performance.  Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) adjusted to reflect certain items that management does not consider to be reflective of the Company's core operating performance. Adjusted basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share is defined as adjusted net income (loss) divided by the weighted average number of basic and diluted shares, respectively, outstanding during the period.  Net debt is defined as total debt minus cash and cash equivalents.  Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities minus capital expenditures and is useful to both management and investors in evaluating the Company's ability to service and repay its debt.

When analyzing the Company's operating performance, investors should use EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, net debt and free cash flow as supplements to, and not as alternatives for, net income (loss), operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and not as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of the Company's liquidity. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, net debt and free cash flow have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of the Company's results of operations as reported under U.S. GAAP. Other companies may report EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, net debt and free cash flow differently and therefore the Company's results may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. In addition, in evaluating adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss), it should be noted that in the future the Company may incur expenses similar to or in excess of the adjustments in the below presentation. This presentation of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) should not be construed as an inference that the Company's future results will be unaffected by special items.  Reconciliations of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss) and free cash flow follow.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

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SOURCE Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc.