Trecora Resources Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Results

SUGAR LAND, Texas, March 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Trecora Resources (NYSE: TREC) a leading provider of high purity specialty hydrocarbons and waxes, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016.

"During 2016 we focused our resources and invested in building a strong foundation for future growth," said Simon Upfill-Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "Our transformational capital projects continued to take shape as we positioned our business to increase capacity and profitability over the long-term to take advantage of the resurgence in the global chemical industry.  While certain projects have experienced some slight delays, the completion of the distillation unit is a major milestone for Trecora Chemical (TC), which will benefit from increased demand for custom processing.

"Historically one of our softest quarters, we faced headwinds in the fourth quarter similar to what we experienced in previous quarters," continued Mr. Upfill-Brown.  "Challenging petrochemical market conditions, a continuation of a few specific customer volume shortfalls and somewhat lower margins for petrochemical products due to higher feedstock costs made year-over-year comparisons difficult.  That said, we achieved near record quarterly revenue levels at TC driven by a 53% year-over-year increase in wax sales and 42% increase in custom processing revenue. 

"Finally, we remain confident regarding the long-term prospects of our business reinforced by the expanded petrochemical production capacity on the Gulf Coast and anticipated stronger demand from polyethylene manufacturers," said Mr. Upfill-Brown.  "While we expect to achieve volume growth in the second half of 2017, we believe that 2018 will be the catalyst year for Trecora with the potential to deliver increased incremental EBITDA across all areas of the Company. Lastly, with the mine once again operational, we have the potential to monetize our investment in order to deliver significant value to our shareholders."

Fourth Quarter Financial 2016 Results
Total revenue in the fourth quarter was $54.2 million compared with $60.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.  The decline in reported revenue was driven by a 25.4% decrease in petrochemical sales volume, partially offset by a 10.1% increase in the average sales price of petrochemical products, compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. The higher average sales price was partially offset by an 8.5% year-over-year increase in the average per-gallon cost of petrochemical feedstock which is the basis for the formula pricing for about 60% of the Company's petrochemical product sales.  Average feedstock cost per gallon increased 5.1% from the third quarter of 2016.  Since formula pricing is based upon prior month feedstock averages, sales price increases tend to lag higher feedstock costs resulting in lower profit margins.  Byproduct sales decreased in the fourth quarter from a year ago and third quarter 2016 levels.

Gross profit in the fourth quarter was $7.7 million, or 14.1% of total revenues, compared with $11.3 million, or 18.6% of total revenues, in the fourth quarter of 2015.  Operating income for the fourth quarter was $2.5 million, compared with operating income of $5.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Net loss for the fourth quarter was $0.8 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, compared with net income of $1.1 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2015. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $1.6 million, or $0.06 per share¹. Reported net income in the fourth quarters of 2016 and 2015 both reflect equity in losses of AMAK of $3.7 million and $3.0 million, respectively.

Adjusted EBITDA in the quarter was $5.7 million, representing a 10.6% margin, compared with Adjusted EBITDA of $8.6 million and a 14.2% margin in the year-ago period.

South Hampton Resources
Petrochemical volume in the fourth quarter was 18.4 million gallons, compared with 24.6 million gallons in the fourth quarter of 2015. Prime product volume in the fourth quarter of 2016 was 14.5 million gallons, compared with 17.4 million gallons in the fourth quarter of 2015.  Excluding shipments to a Canadian oil sands customer, which experienced a significant production cutback early in 2016, prime product volume was lower by 4.4% from the prior year period.  Byproduct volume, which is sold at significantly lower margins than prime products, decreased 18.9% sequentially and 45.5% year-over-year, to 3.9 million gallons.

International volume represented 22.7% of total petrochemical volume during the quarter, down from 25.7% sequentially and 31.9% in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Trecora Chemical
In the fourth quarter, TC generated revenues of $8.0 million, up 49.4% from $5.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. TC revenue included $5.7 million of wax product sales, up 52.6%, and $2.3 million of custom processing fees, higher by 42.0%, both compared with the fourth quarter of 2015.  The distillation mechanical construction portion of the hydrogenation and distillation unit project at TC has been completed.  Once fully operational, this unit will provide TC with new capabilities to leverage relationships with existing petrochemical customers and drive new custom processing revenue.  Start up of the hydrogenation section remains on track for early April.

EBITDA in the fourth quarter was $0.2 million, compared with $0.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Company (AMAK)
Trecora reported equity in losses of AMAK of approximately $3.7 million during the fourth quarter of 2016.  The plant restarted its processing operations late in the quarter. In addition, processing of the gold-bearing waste dumps from historical mining at the Guyan mining license area was completed and the results are being evaluated.  AMAK also commenced an extensive underground and surface exploration drilling campaign on copper and zinc ore bodies at Al Masane.  Under the new operating model, the mining and processing operations will be managed by an owner's team with technical support and labor resources provided by a Turkish company with considerable experience in the mining industry.

2016 Full Year Results
For the year, Trecora generated total revenue of $212.4 million, compared with revenue of $242.0 million in the prior year.

Gross profit for 2016 was $39.9 million, compared with $57.0 million in 2015. Gross profit margin for the year was 18.8%, compared with 23.6% in 2015.

Net income for the full year of 2016 was $19.4 million, compared with $18.6 million in 2015. Diluted EPS were $0.78, compared with $0.74 in 2015. Net income benefitted from a gain from additional equity issuance by AMAK of $3.2 million and a bargain purchase gain on the acquisition of B Plant of $11.5 million offset slightly by equity in loss for AMAK of $1.5 million for an estimated combined impact of $0.34 per diluted share on an after-tax basis.

Adjusted EBITDA for the full year of 2016 was $31.0 million, compared with $47.3 million in 2015. Adjusted EBITDA margin in the year was 14.6%, compared with 19.6% in 2015.

South Hampton Resources
Petrochemical volume in 2016 was 76.4 million gallons, compared with 86.9 million gallons in 2015.  Prime product volume in 2016 was 58.5 million gallons, compared with 64.1 million gallons in 2015.  Byproduct volume, which is sold at lower margins, was down 21.4% year-over-year to 17.9 million gallons.

International volume represented 22.7% of total petrochemical volume in 2016.

Trecora Chemical
In 2016, TC generated revenues of $30.4 million, up 27.9% from $23.7 million from 2015.

Balance Sheet
As of December 31 2016, cash and cash equivalents were $8.4 million, compared with $18.6 million at the close of 2015. Inventory was $17.9 million, compared with $15.8 million at December 31, 2015. Excluding loan fees, total debt was $84.0 million, compared with $82.3 million at December 31, 2015. Capital expenditures during the fourth quarter were $12.7 million including the hydrogenation/distillation unit project, the new advanced reformer unit, and a new cooling tower along with various improvements throughout both facilities.

Other Matters
On March 1, 2017, Trecora Resources announced that the Audit Committee of its Board of Directors, following consultation with management and discussion with the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, BKM Sowan Horan, LLP, concluded that there were errors in the accounting for its equity in earnings from its investment in AMAK in the second and third quarters of 2016.  While the errors have a de minimis effect on net income and earnings per share (less than $0.01 per share) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, they do have an impact on net income of the second and third quarters of 2016. As a result, the second and third quarter Forms 10-Q should no longer be relied upon. The Company will restate these quarters on or before the due date for the filing of its 2016 Form 10-K. 

Although the Company's internal assessment is not complete, the Company has determined that it has a material weakness related to its controls surrounding the accounting for its investment in AMAK. Consequently, as a result of this material weakness, management will be unable to conclude that the Company's internal controls over financial reporting are effective as of December 31, 2016. The final assessment of the Company's internal controls will be included in the 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which also will include an adverse opinion from BKM Sowan Horan, LLP with respect to the Company's internal controls over financial reporting. The Company expects that the remediation of this material weakness will be completed prior to the filing of its first quarter 2017 Form 10-Q.

Earnings Call
Today's conference call and presentation slides will be simulcast live on the Internet, and can be accessed on the investor relations section of the Company's website at http://www.trecora.com or at http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=122862. A replay of the call will also be available through the same link.

To participate via telephone, callers should dial in five to ten minutes prior to the 4:30 pm Eastern start time; domestic callers (U.S. and Canada) should call 1-888-208-1814 or 1-719-325-2297 if calling internationally, using the conference ID 6372176. To listen to the playback, please call 1-844-512-2921 if calling within the United States or 1-412-317-6671 if calling internationally. Use pin number 6372176 for the replay.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures
The Company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). This press release contains the non-GAAP measures: EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, and Adjusted Net Income. Our non-GAAP measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP measures and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based upon our belief, as well as, assumptions made by and information currently available to us. Because such statements are based upon expectations as to future economic performance and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ from those projected. These risks, as well as others, are discussed in greater detail in Trecora Resources' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Trecora Resources' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and the Company's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this press release.

About Trecora Resources (TREC)
TREC owns and operates a facility located in southeast Texas, just north of Beaumont, which specializes in high purity hydrocarbons and other petrochemical manufacturing. TREC also owns and operates a leading manufacturer of specialty polyethylene waxes and provider of custom processing services located in the heart of the Petrochemical complex in Pasadena, Texas. In addition, the Company is the original developer and a 33.4% owner of Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Co., a Saudi Arabian joint stock company.

Investor Relations Contact:
Matt Steinberg
The Piacente Group
212-481-2050
trecora@tpg-ir.com

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SOURCE Trecora Resources