Worthington Reports First Quarter Results

Worthington Industries, Inc. (NYSE:WOR) today reported results for the three months ended August 31, 2007. (U.S. dollars in millions, except per share data)       1Q2008 4Q2007 1Q2007 Net sales $ 759.0 $ 786.6 $ 778.7 Operating income 20.0 41.7 54.7 Equity income 15.0 16.7 18.3 Net earnings 20.2 38.2 43.2 Earnings per share $ 0.24 $ 0.45 $ 0.48   EBITDA (a) $ 49.6 $ 71.4 $ 87.6 (a) Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. See reconciliation on consolidated statement of earnings. First Quarter 2008 Highlights Quarterly net sales and operating income in the Pressure Cylinders segment represented a first quarter record of $136.6 million and $18.0 million, respectively. Cash dividends received from joint ventures totaled $14.7 million for the quarter. Cash provided by operating activities was $74.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2008. Capital expenditures were $16.5 million for the same period. Dividends paid to shareholders totaled $14.5 million for the quarter. At quarter end, the dividend yielded a 3.2% annualized return. During the first quarter, the company repurchased 4.2 million common shares, reducing total outstanding shares to 81.0 million at quarter end. The ratio of total debt to capitalization was 27.9% at quarter end, unchanged from the year ago time period. Consolidated Results For the first quarter, net sales were $759.0 million, compared to $778.7 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2007, a decline of 3%. First quarter net earnings of $20.2 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, fell 53% from first quarter 2007 net earnings of $43.2 million, or $0.48 per diluted share. First quarter 2008 earnings included $3.8 million in severance-related costs which had a negative impact of $0.03 on reported earnings per share. The severance charges were associated with a reduction of 63 employees, 44 of whom have taken advantage of a voluntary retirement offer and will be retiring by October 31, 2007. "We are focused on implementing actions throughout the company that position us to increase our operating margins and drive shareholder value,” said John McConnell, Chairman and CEO of Worthington Industries. "Our company has always believed in lean and efficient operations. The early retirement packages and the consolidation of metal framing locations are initial steps that we have taken to enhance our performance. Efforts to reduce costs are continuing across the company and we remain comfortable with our announced target of $35 million to $40 million of annual savings once the initiatives are fully implemented and one-time charges are taken,” McConnell added. Quarterly Segment Results In the Steel Processing segment, quarterly net sales fell 11%, or $45.1 million, to $355.9 million from $401.0 million in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2007. The decline in net sales was the result of lower average pricing (down 2%), due to a greater mix of tolling business, and lower volumes (down 9%) relative to the prior year. Operating income decreased because of the combination of lower volumes and a narrower spread between selling prices and material costs compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2007. In the Metal Framing segment, net sales decreased 7%, or $14.3 million, to $198.1 million from $212.3 million in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2007. Average selling prices fell 12%, more than offsetting an overall volume increase of 5%. Product mix worsened in the quarter as volumes increased in lower margin product lines and decreased significantly in higher margin lines, many of which serve the residential housing sector. The much narrower spread between lower selling prices and higher material costs resulted in an operating loss for the quarter. In the Pressure Cylinders segment, net sales increased 12%, or $15.1 million, to $136.6 million from $121.5 million in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2007. Increased volumes across most product lines in North America and Europe led to an increase in operating income from the prior year. Worthington’s joint ventures added significantly to first quarter results. Equity in the net income of six unconsolidated affiliates totaled $15.0 million for the quarter, compared to a record $18.3 million in the year ago quarter. While profitability at the WAVE joint venture continued to be very good, it was down from last year’s record quarter, and several automotive-related joint ventures were impacted by weakness in that end market. Cost Reduction Initiative As part of the company’s ongoing program to reduce its cost structure, the following steps have been taken or announced which are expected to result in $20 million in annual savings once fully implemented: An early retirement program resulted in 44 retirements and $2 million in annual run rate savings beginning November 1, 2007. Phase 1 of the SG&A reduction program has resulted in $2 million in savings in the first quarter of fiscal 2008. For fiscal 2008, annual savings are estimated at $9 million. Plant closures or downsizings at five metal framing facilities are expected to result in $9 million in annual savings once fully implemented. Possible charges will be recognized in the next few quarters as the facilities are closed or downsized. These restructuring charges are estimated at approximately $15 million for the five facilities and 165 employees that will be impacted. The plant closure process has begun and should be substantially completed by fiscal year end. The vast majority of the approximately $125 million in annual net sales of these locations is expected to be handled by the remaining 22 metal framing facilities. Other Share Repurchases During the first quarter, 4,180,200 shares were repurchased under a 10 million share authorization originally announced June 13, 2005, leaving a net authorized amount of approximately 1.4 million shares. Purchases may occur from time to time, on the open market or in private transactions with consideration given to the market price of the stock, the nature of other investment opportunities, cash flows from operations and general economic conditions. Dividend Declared On August 17, 2007, the board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per share payable September 29, 2007, to shareholders of record on September 15, 2007. Announcements On August 20, 2007, the company announced that its Worthington Steel Company had signed an agreement to acquire a 50% interest in Serviacero Planos. The joint venture became effective September 17, 2007, and will be known as Serviacero Worthington. It owns and operates the two existing Serviacero Planos steel service centers in Leon and Queretaro in central Mexico. Annual sales for the joint venture are expected to be $125 million initially. On August 20, 2007, the company also announced that its Worthington Steel Company had signed an agreement to form a joint venture with The Magnetto Group of Turin, Italy, to construct and operate a Class 1 steel processing facility in Kosice, Slovakia. The joint venture will be known as Canessa Worthington and operations are scheduled to begin early in calendar 2008. On September 25, 2007, the company announced a plan to close or downsize five metal framing facilities. The action is expected to result in annualized savings of $9 million. Restructuring charges related to the closures, including severance for affected employees, is projected at $15 million and will be recognized in the next few quarters. Conference Call Worthington will review first quarter results during its quarterly conference call tomorrow, September 26, 2007, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Details on the conference call can be found on the company web site at www.WorthingtonIndustries.com Corporate Profile Worthington Industries is a leading diversified metal processing company with annual sales of approximately $3 billion. The Columbus, Ohio, based company is North America’s premier value-added steel processor and a leader in manufactured metal products such as metal framing, pressure cylinders, automotive past model service stampings, metal ceiling grid systems and laser welded blanks. Worthington employs more than 8,000 people and operates 67 manufacturing facilities in 10 countries. Founded in 1955, the company operates under a long-standing corporate philosophy rooted in the golden rule, with earning money for its shareholders as the first corporate goal. This philosophy, an unwavering commitment to the customer, and one of the strongest employee/employer partnerships in American industry serve as the company’s foundation. Safe Harbor Statement The company wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act”). Statements by the company relating to future or expected performance, sales, operating results and earnings per share; projected capacity and working capital needs; pricing trends for raw materials and finished goods; anticipated capital expenditures and asset sales; projected timing, results, costs, charges and expenditures related to acquisitions or to facility startups, dispositions, shutdowns and consolidations; targeted and expected savings through head count reductions, facility closures and other expense reductions; new products and markets; expectations for company and customer inventories, jobs and orders; expectations for the economy and markets; expected benefits from new initiatives; expectations for improving margins and increasing shareholder value; effects of judicial rulings and other non-historical matters constitute "forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Act. Because they are based on beliefs, estimates and assumptions, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Any number of factors could affect actual results, including, without limitation, product demand and pricing; changes in product mix, product substitution and market acceptance of the company’s products; fluctuations in pricing, quality or availability of raw materials (particularly steel), supplies, transportation, utilities and other items required by operations; effects of facility closures and the consolidation of operations; the effect of consolidation and other changes within the steel, automotive, construction and related industries; failure to maintain appropriate levels of inventories; the ability to realize targeted expense reductions such as head count reductions, facility closures and other expense reductions; the ability to realize other cost savings and operational efficiencies on a timely basis; the overall success of, and the ability to integrate, newly-acquired businesses and achieve synergies therefrom; capacity levels and efficiencies within facilities and within the industry as a whole; financial difficulties (including bankruptcy filings) of customers, suppliers, joint venture partners and others with whom the company does business; the effect of national, regional and worldwide economic conditions generally and within major product markets, including a prolonged or substantial economic downturn; the effect of disruption in business of suppliers, customers, facilities and shipping operations due to adverse weather, casualty events, equipment breakdowns, acts of war or terrorist activities or other causes; changes in customer inventories, spending patterns, product choices, and supplier choices; risks associated with doing business internationally, including economic, political and social instability, and foreign currency exposure; the ability to improve and maintain processes and business practices to keep pace with the economic, competitive and technological environment; adverse claims experience with respect to workers compensation, product recalls or liability, casualty events or other matters; deviation of actual results from estimates and/or assumptions used by the company in the application of its significant accounting policies; level of imports and import prices in the company’s markets; the impact of judicial rulings and governmental regulations, both in the United States and abroad; and other risks described from time to time in the company’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (In thousands, except per share)   Three Months Ended August 31, 2007   2006 Net sales $ 758,955 $ 778,720 Cost of goods sold 680,170   657,369   Gross margin 78,785 121,351 Selling, general and administrative expense 54,949 66,626 Restructuring charges 3,832   -   Operating income 20,004 54,725 Other income (expense): Miscellaneous expense (908 ) (365 ) Interest expense (4,638 ) (4,345 ) Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates 14,985   18,279   Earnings before income taxes 29,443 68,294 Income tax expense 9,275   25,067   Net earnings $ 20,168   $ 43,227       Average common shares outstanding - basic 84,063   88,765   Earnings per share - basic $ 0.24   $ 0.49       Average common shares outstanding - diluted 85,001   89,415   Earnings per share - diluted $ 0.24   $ 0.48       Common shares outstanding at end of period 81,034 88,817   Cash dividends declared per share $ 0.17 $ 0.17       Reconciliation of net earnings to EBITDA Net earnings $ 20,168 $ 43,227 Interest expense 4,638 4,345 Income taxes 9,275 25,067 Depreciation & amortization 15,486   14,931   EBITDA $ 49,567   $ 87,570   WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands)   August 31, May 31, 2007 2007 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 78,686 $ 38,277 Short-term investments - 25,562 Receivables, less allowances of $4,002 and $3,641 at August 31, 2007 and May 31, 2007 384,224 400,916 Inventories: Raw materials 251,427 261,849 Work in process 98,168 97,633 Finished products 95,567 88,382 Total inventories 445,162 447,864 Assets held for sale 4,546 4,600 Deferred income taxes 13,259 13,067 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 40,328 39,097 Total current assets 966,205 969,383   Investments in unconsolidated affiliates 58,178 57,540 Goodwill 179,839 179,441 Other assets 36,694 43,553 Property, plant & equipment, net 563,753 564,265 Total assets $ 1,804,669 $ 1,814,182   Liabilities and shareholders' equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 284,309 $ 263,665 Notes payable 87,000 31,650 Accrued compensation, contributions to employee benefit plans and related taxes 40,962 46,237 Dividends payable 13,783 14,440 Other accrued items 46,880 45,519 Income taxes payable 18,249 18,983 Total current liabilities 491,183 420,494   Other liabilities 72,855 57,383 Long-term debt 245,000 245,000 Deferred income taxes 88,554 105,983 Total liabilities 897,592 828,860   Minority interest 47,899 49,321 Shareholders' equity 859,178 936,001 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 1,804,669 $ 1,814,182 WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands)   Three Months Ended August 31, 2007 2006 Operating activities Net earnings $ 20,168 $ 43,227 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:   Depreciation and amortization 15,486 14,931 Restructuring charges 3,832 - Provision for deferred income taxes 1,747 844 Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates, net of distributions (285 ) (10,660 ) Minority interest in net income of consolidated subsidiaries 1,998 1,616 Net loss on sale of assets 2,392 825 Stock-based compensation 934 791 Excess tax benefits - stock-based compensation (560 ) (200 ) Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 13,363 8,570 Inventories 2,703 (87,535 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,718 (2,381 ) Other assets 207 494 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 12,492 (72,611 ) Other liabilities (1,362 ) (1,628 ) Net cash provided (used) by operating activities 74,833   (103,717 )   Investing activities Investment in property, plant and equipment, net (16,505 ) (16,823 ) Acquisitions, net of cash acquired - (31,150 ) Investment in unconsolidated affiliate - (636 ) Proceeds from sale of assets 46 884 Sales of short-term investments 25,562   2,173   Net cash provided (used) by investing activities 9,103   (45,552 )   Financing activities Proceeds from short-term borrowings 55,350 123,090 Proceeds from issuance of common shares 4,734 1,850 Excess tax benefits - stock-based compensation 560 200 Payments to minority interest (2,400 ) - Repurchase of common shares (87,310 ) - Dividends paid (14,461 ) (15,078 ) Net cash provided (used) by financing activities (43,527 ) 110,062     Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 40,409 (39,207 ) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 38,277   56,216   Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 78,686   $ 17,009   WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA (In thousands)     This supplemental information is provided to assist in the analysis of the results of operations.   Three Months Ended August 31, 2007 2006 Volume: Steel Processing (tons) 810 896 Metal Framing (tons) 174 166 Pressure Cylinders (units) 11,539 11,942   Net sales: Steel Processing $ 355,854 $ 400,988 Metal Framing 198,071 212,340 Pressure Cylinders 136,598 121,511 Other 68,432   43,881   Total net sales $ 758,955   $ 778,720     Material cost: Steel Processing $ 270,221 $ 297,875 Metal Framing 145,501 130,186 Pressure Cylinders 64,278 57,166   Operating income (loss): Steel Processing $ 9,979 $ 20,797 Metal Framing (8,003 ) 17,781 Pressure Cylinders 17,965 16,670 Other 63   (523 ) Total operating income $ 20,004   $ 54,725       The following provides detail of the restructuring charges included in the operating income by segment presented above.   Three Months Ended August 31, 2007 2006   Pre-tax restructuring charges by segment:   Steel Processing $ 1,201 $ - Metal Framing 882 - Pressure Cylinders - - Other 1,749   -   Total restructuring charges $ 3,832   $ -