METH Methode Electronics (MM)

Methode Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq:METH) today announced operating results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended April 30, 2006. For the fiscal 2006 fourth quarter Methode reported net sales of $116.3 million, and net income of $4.3 million, or $0.12 earnings per share. Included in these results is a tax charge of $4.5 million, or $0.12 per share, resulting from the repatriation of $38.1 million of foreign earnings to the U.S., and an $0.8 million reduction to the bad debt provision, $0.6 million after tax, or $0.02 per share, on the sale in May 2006 of claims against Delphi for $4.6 million of pre-petition receivables. This compares with the fiscal 2005 fourth quarter net sales of $115.6 million, and net income of $9.7 million, or $0.27 earnings per share. Net income in the 2005 fiscal fourth quarter included a $1.0 million, or $0.03 per share gain on life insurance policies. Customer tooling sales in the fiscal 2006 fourth quarter were $2.0 million compared to $13.3 million in the prior year period. Excluding customer tooling, product sales were $114.3 million in the fiscal 2006 fourth quarter compared to $102.3 million in the same quarter last year. For the 2006 fiscal year, Methode reported net sales of $421.6 million and net income of $17.0 million, or $0.47 earnings per share. Included in the 2006 fiscal year results was a $2.3 million bad debt provision, $1.5 million after tax, or $0.04 per share, for receivables deemed uncollectible due to the Delphi bankruptcy. In addition, these results include a tax charge of $4.5 million, or $0.12 per share, resulting from the repatriation of $38.1 million of foreign earnings to the U.S. Excluding the increased tax expense and the Delphi bad debt charge, Methode achieved net income of $0.63 per share. This compares to fiscal year 2005 net sales of $392.7 million and net income of $25.5 million, or earnings of $0.71 per share, which included the $0.03 per share insurance gain. Customer tooling sales for the 2006 fiscal year were $10.8 million compared to $17.2 million for the 2005 fiscal year. Excluding customer tooling, product sales in the 2006 fiscal year were $410.8 million, compared to $375.5 million in the 2005 fiscal year. Cost of products sold, as a percentage of net sales in fiscal 2006, was 79.8 percent, compared to 78.1 percent from the year ago period. This increase is primarily a result of operational inefficiencies at the Scotland automotive facility, costs associated with initiating and launching new business in China, significant raw material and energy increases, contractual price concessions to U.S automotive OEMs, along with production volume declines due to automotive customer market share losses. Selling and administrative expense for the 2006 fiscal year represented 13.2 percent of net sales, compared to 13.0 percent in fiscal 2005. Included in fiscal 2006 results is the $2.3 million bad debt provision, for impaired receivables due to the bankruptcy of Delphi Corporation. Third-party Sarbanes-Oxley compliance costs were reduced to $1.1 million in fiscal 2006 from $3.4 million in fiscal 2005. Stock-based compensation increased by $0.7 million in fiscal 2006, as the Company entered its second year of restricted stock awards. Commenting on the results, Donald W. Duda, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "While sales increased during the 2006 fiscal year, operating margins did not keep pace. We are working with our operations in Scotland and China to bring those businesses to profitable levels in the coming 12 to 18 months. Raw material increases remain a major issue as the automotive OEMs are resistant to absorbing these additional costs, which places significant downward pressure on Methode's automotive margins. We continue to seek ways to combat these factors, and have become increasingly more selective with regard to automotive programs in which we participate and customers with which we do business." Mr. Duda continued, "Despite raw material price increases and customer bankruptcies, a number of Methode's business units performed well during the year. Our power distribution business has positioned itself for continued growth with its expansion into China, along with the joint marketing capability from our Cableco acquisition. In addition, our global automotive business launched over 60 new programs and was awarded new business from current customers, as well as from new OEMs, helping to diversify Methode's automotive customer base." As part of its continuing focus to improve costs and worldwide efficiencies, Methode expects to reorganize portions of its business in the 2007 fiscal year, which could result in a $0.06 to $0.08 charge to earnings per share. In addition, it is anticipated that margin improvements expected to be gained at the Scotland and Shanghai operations will be significantly offset by the profit erosion related to Methode's traditional Detroit customers due to product pricing, raw material increases and customer market share losses. Incorporating the effect of these events, Methode is forecasting 2007 fiscal year net sales of between $430.0 million and $445.0 million, including approximately $15.0 million in tooling sales, with net income in the range of $0.40 and $0.48 per share, which includes the abovementioned reorganization charge. For the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 which includes temporary plant shut-downs due to the automotive model year change-over period, Methode is forecasting net sales of between $100.0 million to $103.0 million with net income between $0.09 and $0.11 per share. Conference Call As previously announced, the Company will conduct a conference call led by its Chief Executive Officer, Donald W. Duda, and Chief Financial Officer, Douglas A. Koman, on July 13, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. You may participate on the conference call by dialing 1-877-407-8031 for domestic callers or 201-689-8031 for international callers. Methode also invites you to listen to the webcast of this call by visiting the Company's website at www.methode.com and entering the "Investor Relations" page and then clicking on the "Webcast" icon. A replay of the call will be available for seven days, by dialing 1-877-660-6853 for domestic callers or 201-612-7415 for international callers, both using playback account number 286 and conference ID number 205459. Replay will also be available on the Company's website. About Methode Electronics Methode Electronics, Inc. is a global manufacturer of component and subsystem devices. Methode designs, manufactures and markets devices employing electrical, electronic, wireless, sensing and optical technologies. Methode's components are found in the primary end markets of the automotive, communications (including information processing and storage, networking equipment, wireless and terrestrial voice/data systems), aerospace, rail and other transportation industries; and the consumer and industrial equipment markets. Further information can be found at Methode's website http://www.methode.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release dated July 13, 2006, containing information on Methode's fourth quarter and year-end reporting periods for fiscal 2006, and offering guidance for its first quarter and full year reporting periods for fiscal 2007, are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. The Company's results will be subject to many of the same risks that apply to the automotive, computer and telecommunications industries, such as general economic conditions, interest rates, consumer spending patterns and technological change. Other factors, which may result in materially different results for future periods, include market growth; operating costs; currency exchange rates and devaluations; delays in development, production and marketing of new products; and other factors set forth from time to time in the Company's Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to the safe harbor protection provided under the securities law. All information in this press release is as of July 13, 2006. Methode undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations. -0- *T Methode Electronics, Inc. Financial Highlights (In thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended April 30, 2006 2005 ------------- --------- Net sales $116,297 $115,581 Other income 412 501 Cost of products sold 90,991 89,158 Selling and administrative expenses 12,872 12,935 Income from operations 12,846 13,989 Interest, net 452 438 Other income, net 168 1,064 Income before income taxes 13,466 15,491 Income taxes 9,175 5,764 Net income 4,291 9,727 Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share: $0.12 $0.27 Average Number of Common Shares outstanding: Basic 36,284 36,130 Diluted 36,497 36,415 Year Ended April 30, 2006 2005 ------------- --------- Net sales $421,615 $392,725 Other income 1,074 1,720 Cost of products sold 336,410 306,618 Selling and administrative expenses 55,559 51,185 Income from operations 30,720 36,642 Interest, net 2,106 1,126 Other income (expense), net (457) 679 Income before income taxes 32,369 38,447 Income taxes 15,320 12,914 Net income 17,049 25,533 Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share: $0.47 $0.71 Average Number of Common Shares outstanding: Basic 36,259 35,842 Diluted 36,463 36,153 (In thousands) April 30, April 30, 2006 2005 ----------- ----------- Cash $81,646 $87,142 Accounts receivable - net 74,223 65,699 Inventories 45,681 41,583 Other current assets 19,722 10,908 ----------- ----------- Total Current Assets 221,272 205,332 Property, plant and equipment - net 90,497 92,640 Goodwill - net 28,893 24,738 Intangible assets - net 17,540 20,367 Other assets 16,381 13,604 ----------- ----------- Total Assets $374,583 $356,681 =========== =========== Accounts and notes payable $41,581 $32,406 Other current liabilities 32,622 32,819 ----------- ----------- Total current liabilities 74,203 65,225 Other liabilities 8,671 8,934 Shareholders' equity 291,709 282,522 ----------- ----------- Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $374,583 $356,681 =========== =========== (In thousands) Year Ended April 30, 2006 2005 ------------ -------- OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income $17,049 $25,533 Provision for depreciation 17,466 17,123 Amortization of intangibles 5,380 4,311 Provision for losses on accounts receivable 2,109 213 Stock based compensation 2,047 1,365 Deferred income taxes (2,870) 633 Changes in operating assets and liabilities (12,283) (3,350) Other 750 (874) ------------ -------- NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES 29,648 44,954 INVESTING ACTIVITIES Purchases of property, plant and equipment (18,654) (18,982) Acquisitions (7,446) (4,374) Proceeds from sale of building 1,712 - Proceeds from life insurance policies - 2,309 Other (1,427) (6) ------------ -------- NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES (25,815) (21,053) FINANCING ACTIVITIES Purchase of common stock (1,783) - Proceeds from exercise of stock options 689 6,462 Dividends (7,465) (7,252) ------------ -------- NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES (8,559) (790) Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash (770) 2,274 ------------ -------- INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (5,496) 25,385 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 87,142 61,757 ------------ -------- CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD $81,646 $87,142 ============ ======== *T