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SALEM, N.H., May 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Standex International Corporation (NYSE:SXI) today reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 ending March 31, 2020.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2020 Results 

"I'm pleased with how we navigated the unprecedented environment and positioned the Company to enter an uncertain period in a position of strength.  In response to COVID-19 related business challenges, we took immediate and effective actions in the quarter to support a healthy and safe operating environment for our employees. We launched a company-wide business continuity effort to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our experience in China, where some of our plants were closed for a portion of the quarter and are now fully operational, provided us with an effective playbook. We have been deemed an essential business in most of our plants and have had limited shutdowns in our facilities. Our approach in executing globally has been highly collaborative and coordinated," commented David Dunbar, president and chief executive officer.

"Despite the very challenging environment, third quarter earnings improved year-over-year with increased operating margins in Hydraulics, Engineering Technologies and Food Service and we continued to generate solid free cash flow.  Our Engraving segment performance was impacted by reduced capacity in some of our Asian plants due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced demand due to certain customer shut-downs in Europe.  In addition to facing similar COVID-19 challenges, the Electronics segment was negatively impacted by material cost increases.  However, on a sequential basis, revenue in the Electronics segment increased and operating margin declined only slightly. 

"In the fiscal third quarter, we announced the divestiture of our Refrigerated Solutions business which was subsequently completed in April.  Consolidated operating margin is approximately 200 basis points higher year-to-date in fiscal 2020 pro forma for the sale of RSG.

"Due to the economic impact of COVID-19 we have initiated expense reductions which will result in approximately $4 million in savings and $1.5 million in restructuring charges in fiscal fourth quarter 2020. In addition, we have reduced fiscal 2020 capital spending by approximately $10 million with the focus on maintenance, safety and our highest priority growth initiatives.

"Our strong balance sheet positions us well to invest selectively in our ongoing pipeline of organic and inorganic opportunities.  We have approximately $220 million in available liquidity with net debt to adjusted EBITDA of under 1x.  In addition, we generated free cash flow of $7.3 million in the third quarter with working capital turns improving ten basis points year-over-year to 4.7x. We also took actions to reduce our effective interest rate by 50 basis points or approximately $1 million annually.  

"In closing, I want to thank our employees for their dedication and efforts as well as our customers and suppliers for their ongoing support.  While this remains an extremely challenging environment, we are confident in our ability to successfully execute and progress on our strategic priorities further transforming Standex around larger and more profitable platforms with compelling customer value propositions," concluded Dunbar.

Outlook

In the fiscal fourth quarter 2020, the Company expects that each of its segments will experience some sequential revenue decline as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Electronics, Engraving, and Engineering Technologies segments are expected to have slight to moderate sequential revenue declines in the fourth quarter.  The Food Service segment is likely to have the most significant sequential decrease in revenue as restaurants around the United States remain closed or focused solely on take out sales.  In addition, the Scientific business will be impacted by the current market shift toward consumable protective equipment due to COVID-19 with less near-term emphasis on capital equipment expenditures.  

Third Quarter Segment Operating Performance

Electronics (31% of sales; 34% of segment operating income)

Sales decreased 4.2% year-over-year as the COVID-19 pandemic caused reduced capacity in Electronics' China plants and certain automotive customer shutdowns in Europe.  These trends were partially offset by strength in magnetics sales as well as contribution from new sensor, switch and relay applications.  Operating income year-over-year decreased approximately $1.4 million or 14.9% primarily due to the impact of lower volumes, material price increases, plant closings due to COVID-19, partially offset by cost savings initiatives.

In fiscal fourth quarter 2020, the Company expects a slight sequential decline in revenue and moderate decrease in operating margin.  The anticipated margin decrease reflects a combination of higher raw material cost and expenses associated with the partial shutdown of its Mexico plant.

Engraving (23% of sales; 19% of segment operating income)

Sales decreased 4.6% year-over-year, primarily due to pandemic related delays both in the receipt of tools from customers and the business' shipment of completed work. Operating income remained flat year-over-year but declined sequentially primarily due to COVID-19 related volume decline and associated operational costs. 

In fiscal fourth quarter 2020, on a sequential basis, the Company expects a slight decline in revenue and flat operating margin performance primarily due to volume trends.  While the Engraving backlog at the end of the third quarter was in a strong position, there is the potential that some automotive programs may slip into fiscal year 2021. 

Engineering Technologies (17% of sales; 13% of segment operating income)

Engineering Technologies revenue decreased 2.7% year-over-year reflecting lower aviation-related sales offset partially by increased sales in the space end market.  Operating income grew 10.6% as a result of cost control actions and manufacturing efficiencies. 

In fiscal fourth quarter 2020, the Company expects to see moderate sequential revenue decline in its aviation end market due to COVID-19 related customer pushouts, although the segment's defense exposure should mitigate some of the sequential decrease as these end markets are anticipated to remain stable. The Company expects sequentially flat operating margin performance.

Hydraulics (9% of sales; 10% of segment operating income)

Sales for the Hydraulics segment decreased 10.3% year-over-year due to a slowdown in the dump market and customer inventory destocking in the refuse market.  Operating income increased 5.0% year-over-year reflecting increased contribution from aftermarket sales and solid expense management.    

The Company expects that the fiscal fourth quarter operating performance will be challenged due to the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on customer production levels, along with the continued imposition of tariffs on rod cylinders.  This will be partially offset by the continued focus on growing aftermarket presence and continued expense controls. 

Food Service Equipment (20% of sales; 24% of segment operating income)

Sales increased 3.7% year-over-year reflecting growth in Scientific, particularly in the retail drug sector, balanced with relatively flat demand in Merchandising and lower sales in the Pumps business. The 6.9% increase in operating income was primarily due to increased margin at both Scientific and Merchandising as a result of favorable product mix and expense control. 

During the fourth quarter, the Company expects a significant sales reduction in our Display Merchandising and Pump businesses as restaurants around the United States remain closed or focused solely on take out sales. Sales in the Scientific business will be moderately impacted by the short-term customer focus on supplying personal protective equipment for health care workers in lieu of capital equipment.

Capital Allocation

• Share Repurchase: During the fiscal third quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 129,000 shares for $8.1 million.  There is approximately $44.7 million remaining under the Board's current repurchase authorization.
• Capital Expenditures: In fiscal third quarter of 2020, Standex's cash capital expenditures were $5.5 million compared to $3.1 million in the third quarter of 2019.  The Company is reducing its outlook for fiscal 2020 capital spending to approximately $19 million to $21 million compared to $30 million to $32 million previously. The focus of capital expenditures for the balance of fiscal 2020 will be on maintenance, safety and highest priority growth initiatives. 
• Dividends: On April 22, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.22 per share, a 10% year-over-year increase.  The dividend will be payable on May 25, 2020 to shareholders of record May 11, 2020. 

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

• Net Debt: Standex had net debt of $102.8 million at March 31, 2020 compared to $88.1 million at the end of the second fiscal quarter in 2020 and $104.5 million at the end of fiscal 2019.  Net debt for the third quarter of 2020 consisted primarily of long-term debt of $212.1 million and cash and equivalents of $109.3 million of which $81.0 million was held by foreign subsidiaries.

Standex has repatriated approximately $20.3 million year-to-date in fiscal 2020 and continues to expect to repatriate $35 million in total in fiscal 2020. The Company's net debt to Adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio was 0.95x at the end of the fiscal third quarter 2020.

• Cash Flow: Net cash provided by continuing operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $12.8 million compared to net cash provided by continuing operating activities of $14.4 million in the prior year. The Company generated free cash flow after capital expenditures of $7.3 million compared to free cash flow of $11.3 million in the fiscal third quarter 2019. The year-over-year decrease primarily reflected higher capital expenditures and a pension contribution payment.  Working capital turns of 4.7x in the third quarter compared to 4.6x in fiscal third quarter 2019.

Conference Call Details

Standex will host a conference call for investors tomorrow, May 8, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. ET. On the call, David Dunbar, President and CEO, and Ademir Sarcevic, CFO, will review the Company's financial results and business and operating highlights.  Investors interested in listening to the webcast and viewing the slide presentation should log on to the "Investors" section of Standex's website under the subheading, "Events and Presentations", located at www.standex.com. 

A replay of the webcast will also be available on the Company's website shortly after the conclusion of the presentation online through May 8, 2021. To listen to the teleconference playback, please dial (877) 344-7529 in the U.S. or (412) 317-0088 internationally; the passcode is 10142523.  The audio playback via phone will be available through May 15, 2020. The webcast replay can be accessed in the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website, located at www.standex.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP adjusted income from operations, non-GAAP adjusted net income from continuing operations, free operating cash flow, EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA to net debt, and adjusted earnings per share. The attached financial tables reconcile non-GAAP measures used in this press release to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. The Company believes that the use of non-GAAP measures including the impact of restructuring charges, purchase accounting, insurance recoveries, discrete tax events, and acquisition costs help investors to obtain a better understanding of our operating results and prospects, consistent with how management measures and forecasts the Company's performance, especially when comparing such results to previous periods.  An understanding of the impact in a particular quarter of specific restructuring costs, acquisition expenses, or other gains and losses, on net income (absolute as well as on a per-share basis), operating income or EBITDA can give management and investors additional insight into core financial performance, especially when compared to quarters in which such items had a greater or lesser effect, or no effect.  Non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a replacement for, the corresponding GAAP measures, and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

About Standex

Standex International Corporation is a multi-industry manufacturer in five broad business segments: Engraving, Electronics, Engineering Technologies, Hydraulics, and Food Service Equipment with operations in the United States, Europe, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa, India and China.  For additional information, visit the Company's website at http://standex.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this Press Release that are not based on historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "should," "could," "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "anticipate," "intend," "continue," or similar terms or variations of those terms or the negative of those terms. There are many factors that affect the Company's business and the results of its operations and that may cause the actual results of operations in future periods to differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. These factors include, but are not limited to: the impact of pandemics such as the current coronavirus on employees, our supply chain, and the demand for our products and services around the world; materially adverse or unanticipated legal judgments, fines, penalties or settlements; conditions in the financial and banking markets, including fluctuations in exchange rates and the inability to repatriate foreign cash; domestic and international economic conditions, including the impact, length and degree of economic downturns on the customers and markets we serve and more specifically conditions in the automotive, construction, aerospace, transportation, food service equipment, consumer appliance, energy, oil and gas and general industrial markets; lower-cost competition; the relative mix of products which impact margins and operating efficiencies in certain of our businesses; the impact of higher raw material and component costs, particularly steel, certain materials used in electronics parts, petroleum based products, and refrigeration components; an inability to realize the expected cost savings from restructuring activities including effective completion of plant consolidations, cost reduction efforts including procurement savings and productivity enhancements, capital management improvements, strategic capital expenditures, and the implementation of lean enterprise manufacturing techniques; the potential for losses associated with the exit from or divestiture of businesses that are no longer strategic or no longer meet our growth and return expectations; the inability to achieve the savings expected from global sourcing of raw materials and diversification efforts in emerging markets; the impact on cost structure and on economic conditions as a result of actual and threatened increases in trade tariffs; the inability to attain expected benefits from acquisitions and the inability to effectively consummate and integrate such acquisitions and achieve synergies envisioned by the Company; market acceptance of our products; our ability to design, introduce and sell new products and related product components; the ability to redesign certain of our products to continue meeting evolving regulatory requirements; the impact of delays initiated by our customers; and our ability to increase manufacturing production to meet demand; and potential changes to future pension funding requirements. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent management's estimates only as of the day made and should not be relied upon as representing management's estimates as of any subsequent date. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company and management specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if management's estimates change.

SOURCE Standex International Corporation