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Brush Engineered Materials Inc. Reports Stronger-Than-Expected Third Quarter Sales of $125.8 Million, up 34% over Third Quarter 2003

10/28/2004

CLEVELAND, Oct 28, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Brush Engineered Materials Inc. (NYSE:BW) today reported third quarter sales of $125.8 million, up $31.6 million or 34% compared to the third quarter 2003 sales of $94.2 million. Net income for the quarter was $3.4 million or $0.18 per share diluted, a $6.5 million or $0.36 per share improvement compared to a net loss of $3.1 million or $0.18 per share diluted for the third quarter of 2003.

The stronger-than-expected sales during the third quarter were driven by strength across the Company's key end-use markets including telecommunications and computer, automotive electronics, data storage and industrial components. Sales from new products, especially in the industrial component market segment, gained some momentum in the third quarter. Approximately $4.3 million of the sales increase for the third quarter was due to metal prices and foreign exchange.

While earnings for the third quarter improved significantly, results were negatively impacted by yields and manufacturing performance, copper prices and seasonal factory maintenance shutdowns. During the third quarter product mix and manufacturing performance was unfavorable as compared to the first half of the year. Gross margin as a percent of sales for the quarter of 21% was up 6% over the gross margin percentage for the third quarter of 2003.

For the first nine months of 2004 the Company reported net income of $13.8 million or $0.77 per share diluted on sales of $380.3 million compared to a loss of $6.0 million or $0.36 per share diluted on sales of $295.5 million for the first nine months of 2003. Year-to-date sales were 29% higher than the same period in 2003. Metal prices and exchange rates accounted for approximately $15.8 million of the sales increase. Gross margin as a percent of sales of 22% was up 5% over the first nine months of 2003.

During the third quarter the Company completed a common stock offering of approximately 2,050,000 newly issued shares and 115,000 secondary shares of common stock issued by selling shareholders. In addition, pursuant to a partial exercise of an over allotment option by the underwriters, an additional 200,000 primary shares were issued bringing the total of primary shares of common stock issued under the offering to 2,250,000. The net proceeds from the offering after deducting fees was approximately $39.0 million. The majority of proceeds from the offering were used to repay outstanding borrowings under the Company's revolving line of credit and $5.0 million of the proceeds was used to repay a portion of the Company's long-term subordinated debt.

    Business Segment Reporting

    Metal Systems Group

The Metal Systems Group consists of Alloy Products, Technical Materials, Inc. (TMI) and Beryllium Products.

The Metal Systems Group's third quarter sales of $72.0 million were 33% higher than the third quarter of 2003 sales of $54.1 million. For the first nine months of 2004 sales of $225.1 million were up 28% over sales of $176.0 million of the prior year.

The third quarter 2004 operating loss of $0.9 million improved by $7.2 million over the $8.0 million operating loss for the third quarter of 2003. The Metal Systems Group operating profit for the first nine months was $4.1 million, an improvement of $18.3 million over the $14.2 million operating loss for the same period last year.

Alloy Products' third quarter sales of $48.9 million were 33% higher than third quarter 2003 sales of $36.7 million. Year-to-date sales of $156.1 million were up 31% over 2003 year-to-date sales of $119.3 million. Approximately 5% of the increase for the quarter and 6% of the increase in sales for the first nine months of 2004 was due to copper prices and foreign exchange. During 2004 Alloy Products has seen strong demand across its global end-use markets including telecommunications and computer, automotive electronics and industrial components. Sales of Alloy strip form products were up 25% for the quarter and 34% year to date while bulk form products were up 49% for the third quarter and 24% year to date as compared to the same periods last year. As the third quarter progressed, order entry softened, particularly in the telecommunications and computer and automotive electronics end-use markets. In addition, growth slowed in Japan and Southeast Asia. The softness in these markets was offset in part by continued strength from bulk products' oil and gas, undersea and heavy equipment product applications where the Company's new product introductions are making progress. Alloy Products' sales and operating profit were negatively impacted during the third quarter by the normal domestic and European seasonal factors. While Alloy Products has made significant operating improvements throughout 2004 with its lean manufacturing program, during the third quarter, manufacturing performance was weaker and as a result, negatively impacted earnings. It is anticipated that Alloy Products' operating efficiency will improve in the fourth quarter.

TMI's third quarter sales of $14.1 million were 55% higher than third quarter 2003 sales of $9.1 million. Year-to-date sales of $42.4 million were up 34% over the same period last year. The strong sales growth has been driven by demand from the telecommunications and computer, automotive electronics and semiconductor markets. Plating and CERDIP (an aluminum clad alloy) product applications have grown over 30% as compared to last year. Although visibility remains short, TMI is experiencing some softening, particularly in the automotive and semiconductor markets.

Beryllium Products' third quarter sales of $9.0 million were 10% higher than the third quarter 2003 sales. For the first nine months of the year sales of $26.5 million were up 6% over the same period last year. The outlook for defense and medical applications remains strong. In addition, the program for supplying the optical mirrors for NASA's James Webb Space telescope is on track with scheduled deliveries, including a shipment in the fourth quarter 2004.

Microelectronics Group

The Microelectronics Group includes Williams Advanced Materials Inc. (WAM) and Electronic Products.

The Microelectronics Group's sales for the third quarter of 2004 of $49.0 million were 24% above third quarter 2003 sales of $39.4 million. Sales for the first nine months of 2004 of $150.5 million were 31% higher than 2003 year-to-date sales of $115.3 million. Operating profit for the third quarter was $3.9 million, slightly above the third quarter 2003 operating profit of $3.8 million. Operating profit year to date of $14.2 million was up 45% over the year-to-date 2003 operating profit of $9.8 million.

WAM's 2004 third quarter sales of $41.5 million were 30% higher than third quarter 2003 sales of $31.9 million. WAM's year-to-date 2004 sales of $127.0 million were 38% higher than 2003 year-to-date sales of $92.1 million. Metal prices accounted for 9% of the sales increase for the third quarter and 8% year to date. Most of the strength has been driven by traditional microelectronics, wireless photonics, data storage and semiconductor product applications. WAM is experiencing some softening in order entry related to the telecommunications wireless handset market.

Electronic Products' third quarter 2004 sales of $7.6 million and 2004 year-to-date sales of $23.4 million were up 1% over the 2003 third quarter and year-to-date sales.

Outlook

Although third quarter sales were stronger than expected, order entry began to slow toward the latter part of the quarter. Automotive electronics has weakened and there are mixed signals coming from the telecommunications and computer and semiconductor markets. In addition, it appears that Japan has weakened and Southeast Asia is experiencing a slower rate of growth. Thus, the Company expects that the fourth quarter sales growth will be less than the growth experienced thus far in 2004. Fourth quarter sales are currently expected to be approximately 10% greater than fourth quarter 2003 sales.

Chairman's Comments

Commenting on the results, Gordon D. Harnett, Chairman, President and CEO, stated, "I am pleased that sales growth exceeded our expectations for the third quarter. This is the seventh consecutive quarter where sales were higher than the previous year's performance. Our marketing efforts and new product development are enhancing our growth opportunities. We remain disciplined in our strategy and committed to our initiatives for continued improvement."

Forward-Looking Statements

Portions of the content set forth in this document that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements. The Company's actual future performance, including performance in the near term, may materially differ from that contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. These factors include, in addition to those mentioned elsewhere herein:

    --  The condition of the markets which the Company serves, whether
        defined geographically or by market, with the major markets
        being telecommunications and computer, optical media,
        automotive electronics, industrial components, aerospace and
        defense and appliance.

    --  Actual sales, operating rates and margins in the fourth
        quarter 2004 and for the full year of 2004.

    --  Changes in product mix.

    --  The financial condition of particular customers.

    --  The Company's success in implementing its strategic plans and
        the timely and successful completion of any capital expansion
        projects.

    --  Other factors, including, interest rates, exchange rates, tax
        rates, pension costs, energy costs, raw material costs and the
        cost and availability of insurance.

    --  Changes in government regulatory requirements and the
        enactment of any new legislation that impacts the Company's
        obligations.

    --  The conclusion of pending litigation matters in accordance
        with the Company's expectation that there will be no material
        adverse effects.

    --  Additional risk factors that may affect the Company's results
        are identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the
        Company's Prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange
        Commission on July 1, 2004.

Brush Engineered Materials Inc. is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, supplies worldwide markets with beryllium products, alloy products, electronic products, precious metal products, and engineered material systems.

                   Brush Engineered Materials Inc.

                          Digest of Earnings

                           October 1, 2004


                                               2004          2003
                                           ------------- -------------

Third Quarter

   Net Sales                               $125,766,000  $ 94,156,000


   Net Income (Loss)                       $  3,431,000   ($3,060,000)


   Share Earnings  - Basic                 $       0.18        ($0.18)

   Average Shares - Basic                    18,936,641    16,563,098

   Share Earnings  - Diluted               $       0.18        ($0.18)

   Average Shares - Diluted                  19,308,693    16,563,098


Year-to-date

   Net Sales                               $380,267,000  $295,479,000


   Net Income (Loss)                       $ 13,755,000   ($6,039,000)


   Share Earnings  - Basic                 $       0.79        ($0.36)

   Average Shares - Basic                    17,414,097    16,562,559

   Share Earnings  - Diluted               $       0.77        ($0.36)

   Average Shares - Diluted                  17,756,659    16,562,559



Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

                                                   Oct. 1,   Dec. 31,
(Dollars in thousands)                              2004       2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets
Current assets
   Cash and cash equivalents                      $ 27,007   $  5,062
   Accounts receivable                              72,579     55,102
   Inventories                                      96,487     87,396
   Prepaid expenses                                  5,934      5,454
   Deferred income taxes                               906        291
                                                   --------   --------
        Total current assets                       202,913    153,305

Other assets                                        15,523     18,902
Long-term deferred income taxes                        742        704

Property, plant and equipment                      538,844    535,421
   Less allowances for depreciation,
     depletion and impairment                      360,420    344,575
                                                   --------   --------
                                                   178,424    190,846

Goodwill                                             7,992      7,859
                                                   --------   --------
                                                  $405,594   $371,616
                                                   ========   ========


Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities
   Short-term debt                                $ 15,018   $ 13,387
   Accounts payable                                 12,478     16,038
   Other liabilities and accrued items              39,230     37,366
   Unearned revenue                                  6,484          -
   Income taxes                                      1,272      1,373
                                                   --------   --------
        Total current liabilities                   74,482     68,164

Other long-term liabilities                         11,196     14,739
Retirement and post-employment benefits             51,003     49,358
Long-term debt                                      57,863     85,756
Minority interest in subsidiary                          -         26

Shareholders' equity                               211,050    153,573
                                                   --------   --------
                                                  $405,594   $371,616
                                                   ========   ========

See notes to consolidated financial statements.



Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)

                       Third Quarter Ended        Nine Months Ended
                      Oct. 1,     Sept. 26,     Oct. 1,     Sept. 26,
                       2004         2003         2004         2003
-------------------------------------------- -------------------------

Net sales          $   125,766  $    94,156  $   380,267  $   295,479
  Cost of sales         99,182       79,786      294,665      245,132
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Gross margin            26,584       14,370       85,602       50,347
  Selling,
   general and
   administrative
   expenses             18,773       14,299       56,981       48,208
  Research and
   development
   expenses              1,130          998        3,496        3,034
  Other-net                965        1,376        4,284        2,352
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Operating
 profit (loss)           5,716       (2,303)      20,841       (3,247)
  Interest expense       1,955          569        6,562        2,175
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Income (loss)
 before income taxes     3,761       (2,872)      14,279       (5,422)

  Minority interest          -           (2)           -          (24)
  Income taxes             330          190          524          641
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

Net income (loss)  $     3,431  $    (3,060) $    13,755  $    (6,039)
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========

Per share of common
 stock:   basic    $      0.18  $     (0.18) $      0.79  $     (0.36)

Weighted average
 number of
 common shares
 outstanding        18,936,641   16,563,098   17,414,097   16,562,559


Per share of common
 stock:   diluted  $      0.18  $     (0.18) $      0.77  $     (0.36)

Weighted average
 number of
 common shares
 outstanding        19,308,693   16,563,098   17,756,659   16,562,559

See notes to consolidated financial statements.



Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
                                                    Nine Months Ended
                                                   Oct. 1,   Sept. 26,
(Dollars in thousands)                              2004       2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Net income (loss)                                 $ 13,755    ($6,039)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to
 net cash used in operating activities:
  Depreciation, depletion and amortization          17,339     15,320
  Amortization of deferred financing costs in
   interest expense                                  1,084        242
  Derivative financial instrument
   ineffectiveness                                     465         58
  Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable       (18,013)    (8,919)
  Decrease (increase) in inventory                  (9,371)     7,142
  Decrease (increase) in prepaid and
   other current assets                                362      5,111
  Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and
   accrued expenses                                  6,961      3,292
  Increase (decrease) in interest and
   taxes payable                                      (719)       230
  Increase (decrease) in deferred income taxes      (1,536)        73
  Increase (decrease) in other long-term
   liabilities                                      (1,560)       140
  Other - net                                        2,955      1,421
                                                   --------   --------
              Net cash provided from operating
               activities                           11,722     18,071


Cash flows from investing activities:
  Payments for purchase of property,
   plant and equipment                              (5,013)    (4,760)
  Payments for mine development                       (133)      (137)
  Proceeds from other investments                       14          -
  Proceeds from sale of property,
   plant and equipment                                  15         34
                                                   --------   --------
              Net cash used in investing
               activities                           (5,117)    (4,863)

Cash flows from financing activities:
  Proceeds from issuance/(repayment) of
   short-term debt                                   3,104    (10,729)
  Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt              24      2,000
  Repayment of long-term debt                      (29,346)    (4,034)
  Issuance of common stock                          38,749          -
  Issuance of common stock under
   stock option plans                                2,855          -
                                                   --------   --------
              Net cash provided from (used in)
               financing activities                 15,386    (12,763)
Effects of exchange rate changes                       (46)         2
                                                   --------   --------
              Net change in cash and cash
               equivalents                          21,945        447
  Cash and cash equivalents at
   beginning of period                               5,062      4,357
                                                   --------   --------
  Cash and cash equivalents at
   end of period                                  $ 27,007   $  4,804
                                                   ========   ========

See notes to consolidated financial statements.



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)


Note A - Accounting Policies

In management's opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial
statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the
financial position as of October 1, 2004 and December 31, 2003 and the
results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended
October 1, 2004 and September 26, 2003. All of the adjustments were of
a normal and recurring nature.  Certain items in the prior year have
been reclassified to conform to the 2004 consolidated financial
statement presentation.



Note B - Inventories

                                                 Oct. 1,   Dec. 31,
(Dollars in thousands)                            2004      2003
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Principally average cost:
  Raw materials and supplies                     $24,314   $24,990
  Work in process                                 75,049    65,212
  Finished goods                                  26,668    20,637
                                                 --------  --------
     Gross inventories                           126,031   110,839

Excess of average cost over LIFO
   Inventory value                                29,544    23,443
                                                 --------  --------
   Net inventories                               $96,487   $87,396
                                                 ========  ========



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)


Note C -  Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The reconciliation between net income (loss) and comprehensive income
(loss) for the three and nine month periods ended October 1, 2004 and
September 26, 2003 is as follows:

                              Third Quarter Ended   Nine Months Ended
                               Oct. 1,  Sept. 26,   Oct. 1,  Sept. 26,
(Dollars in thousands)          2004      2003       2004      2003
-------------------------------------------------  -------------------

Net income (loss)             $  3,431  $ (3,060)  $ 13,755  $ (6,039)

Cumulative translation
 adjustment                       (267)      344       (398)      274


Change in the fair value of
 derivative financial
 instruments                       100     2,031      2,453       131
                               --------  --------   --------  --------

Comprehensive income (loss)   $  3,264  $   (685)  $ 15,810  $ (5,634)
                               ========  ========   ========  ========



Note D - Segment Reporting


(Dollars in          Metal       Micro-     Total      All
 thousands)         Systems   Electronics  Segments   Other    Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Third Quarter 2004
------------------
Revenues
 from external
 customers         $ 72,031     $ 49,038  $121,069  $ 4,697  $125,766

Intersegment
 revenues               867          285     1,152    3,934     5,086

Operating
 profit (loss)         (857)       3,900     3,043    2,673     5,716


Third Quarter 2003
------------------
Revenues
 from external
 customers         $ 54,074     $ 39,355  $ 93,429  $   727  $ 94,156

Intersegment
 revenues               572          233       805    3,071     3,876

Operating
 profit (loss)       (8,036)       3,804    (4,232)   1,929    (2,303)


First Nine Months 2004
----------------------
Revenues
 from external
 customers         $225,118     $150,452  $375,570  $ 4,697  $380,267

Intersegment
 revenues             2,937          972     3,909   15,416    19,325

Operating
 profit (loss)        4,114       14,193    18,307    2,534    20,841


First Nine Months 2003
----------------------
Revenues
 from external
 customers         $175,951     $115,316  $291,267  $ 4,212  $295,479

Intersegment
 revenues             2,290          751     3,041   10,725    13,766

Operating
 profit (loss)      (14,235)       9,814    (4,421)   1,174    (3,247)

SOURCE: Brush Engineered Materials Inc.

Brush Engineered Materials Inc.
Investors: Michael C. Hasychak, 216-383-6823
Media: Patrick S. Carpenter, 216-383-6835
http://www.beminc.com

Copyright (C) 2004 Business Wire. All rights reserved.

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