Cooper Standard Reports Third Quarter Results, Details Restructuring Plans

NOVI, Mich., Nov. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CPS) today reported results for the third quarter 2019.

Third Quarter 2019 Summary

• Sales totaled $729.0 million
• Net loss of $13.9 million or $(0.82) per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $43.5 million or 6.0 percent of sales
• Adjusted net loss of $5.2 million or $(0.31) per diluted share
• Net new business awards totaled $132 million in projected annualized sales
• Continuing record pace for new program launches

"Production levels on certain key vehicle platforms in North America and Asia have remained well below expectations and have continued to negatively impact our financial results," said Jeffrey Edwards, chairman and CEO, Cooper Standard. "In addition, unfavorable outcomes of customer negotiations in China and the unanticipated UAW work stoppage in the United States further reduced sales and profits during the third quarter.

"We are continuing the aggressive implementation of several initiatives to reduce costs, optimize working capital and align our operations with lower light vehicle production in all regions," Edwards added. "We expect the successful execution of these initiatives, combined with record new program launches and further advancements within our non-automotive businesses will position us to drive improved results going forward."

Consolidated Results

The year-over-year change in third quarter sales was primarily attributable to the sale of the Company's Anti-Vibration Systems (AVS) business, unfavorable volume and mix, customer price adjustments and foreign exchange, partially offset by incremental sales from acquisitions.

Net loss for the third quarter 2019 included restructuring charges related to headcount reduction actions, asset impairment charges related to fixed assets in Asia, an adjustment to the amount of the gain recognized on the second quarter sale of the AVS business, and certain project costs related to acquisitions and divestitures.  Adjusted net loss, which excludes these items and their related tax impact, declined in the third quarter 2019 compared to the prior year period adjusted net income due largely to unfavorable volume and mix, general inflation, customer price adjustments and higher material costs, partially offset by operating efficiencies 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.

Notable Developments

The Company continues at a record pace for new program launches. During the third quarter, the Company successfully launched 71 new customer programs, an increase of 54 percent compared to the third quarter of 2018. Also during the quarter, the Company received net new business awards totaling $132 million in annualized sales.  This brings the year-to-date total net new business awards to $261 million.  New contract awards related to product innovations, including both new and replacement business, totaled $24 million in annualized sales in the third quarter and $276 million year-to-date. Cooper Standard's expanding portfolio of commercialized innovation products includes: MagAlloy™; ArmorHose™; ArmorHose™ TPV; LightHose; Gen III Posi-Lock; TP Microdense; Microdense EPDM; FlushSeal™ glass sealing technology; and Fortrex™.

Cost Reduction and Restructuring Initiatives

The Company remains focused on reducing ongoing costs through improved operating efficiency and the further rightsizing of its operating footprint and overhead expenses.  In addition to actions announced and implemented in 2018 and the first half of 2019, the Company is implementing several additional restructuring and cost reduction initiatives that are expected to reduce expenses in 2020 and beyond.  These additional initiatives include the transition from a regional management structure to a leaner, more effective and efficient global organization structure, further rightsizing of selling, general, administrative and engineering (SGA&E) expense, and structural cost reductions through the closure of 10 facilities.  Restructuring expense related to planned headcount reductions is expected to be $7 to $9 million with annualized savings resulting in a payback of less than one year.  The restructuring expense related to facility closures is expected to be in the range of $20 to $25 million including $11 million in restructuring expense already incurred. The related structural cost savings are expected to drive a cash payback in less than two years.

Segment Results of Operations

Sales

• The impact of foreign currency exchange primarily relates to the Euro and Chinese Renminbi.

Adjusted EBITDA

• The impact of foreign currency exchange is primarily driven by the Polish Zloty, Czech Koruna, Canadian Dollar and Mexican Peso.
• The Cost (Increases) / Decreases category above includes:
• The increase in commodity cost pressure, general inflation and tariffs;
• Reduction in compensation-related expenses;
• The one-time impact of commercial settlements in Asia Pacific; and
• Net operational efficiencies of $12.9 million primarily driven by our Europe and Asia Pacific segments.

Liquidity and Cash Flow

At September 30, 2019, Cooper Standard had cash and cash equivalents totaling $323.1 million.  Net cash provided by operating activities in the third quarter 2019 was $38.9 million and free cash flow for the quarter (defined as net cash used in/provided by operating activities minus capital expenditures) was an inflow of $3.3 million.

In addition to cash and cash equivalents, the Company had $183.7 million available under its amended senior asset-based revolving credit facility ("ABL"), inclusive of outstanding letters of credit, for total liquidity of $506.8 million at September 30, 2019.

Total debt at September 30, 2019 was $803.5 million. Net debt (defined as total debt minus cash and cash equivalents) was $480.4 million.  Cooper Standard's net leverage ratio (defined as net debt divided by trailing 12 months adjusted EBITDA) at September 30, 2019 was 2.0 times.

Outlook

Based on the results achieved in the first three quarters and the industry and economic outlook for the rest of the year, the Company has revised its guidance for the full year 2019 as summarized below:

Conference Call Details

Cooper Standard management will host a conference call and webcast on November 6, 2019 at 9 a.m. ET to discuss its third quarter 2019 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 5561738 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 Novi, 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 30,000 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: 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 us entering new markets; 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, 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 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.

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SOURCE Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc.