Press Releases

Tenneco Reports Fourth Quarter And Full-Year 2012 Financial Results

January 31, 2013
  • Highest-ever full-year revenue of $7.4 billion
  • Record net income and EPS for Q4 and full year
  • Record fourth quarter cash from operations up $43 million to $244 million
  • Record low full-year leverage ratio of 1.5x
Lake Forest, IL, Jan. 31, 2013 – Tenneco Inc. (NYSE: TEN) reported fourth quarter net income of $33 million, or 54-cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $30 million, or 49-cents per diluted share a year ago. On an adjusted basis, net income rose to $40 million, or 66-cents per diluted share, compared with $32 million, or 53-cents per diluted share, a year ago.   
 
EBIT (earnings before interest, taxes and noncontrolling interests) was $84 million versus $88 million in the fourth quarter 2011. Adjusted EBIT was $94 million versus $89 million. The benefit from incremental new light vehicle platforms and higher light vehicle volumes, and effectively controlling operational costs drove the company’s highest-ever fourth quarter adjusted EBIT.
 
These results include $5 million in fourth quarter expense, representing 6-cents per diluted share, for deferred and long-term compensation indexed to the company’s stock price which rose 25% during the quarter.
 
“Despite volume weakness late in the year, we recorded our highest-ever annual revenue and continued to deliver year-over-year adjusted EBIT margin improvement in the fourth quarter and the full year,” stated Gregg Sherrill, chairman and CEO, Tenneco. “Our focus on operational excellence drove our earnings improvement as we effectively converted on light vehicle revenues in North America and China, and benefitted from strong execution on the launch of commercial vehicle programs. I’m also pleased with the strong cash generation driven by higher earnings and effective working capital management.”
 
  
Adjusted fourth quarter 2012 and 2011 results
 
    Q4 2012   Q4 2011
  (millions except per share amounts) EBITDA* EBIT Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc. Per Share EBITDA* EBIT Net income  attributable to Tenneco Inc. Per Share
 
Earnings Measures $ 141 $ 84 $ 33 $ 0.54   $ 139 $ 88 $ 30 $ 0.49
 
Adjustments (reflects non-GAAP measures):      
  Restructuring and related expenses   3   3   2   0.04     1   1   -   0.01
  Asset impairment charge   -   7   7   0.11     -   -   -   -
  Net tax adjustments   -   -   (2)   (0.03)     -   -   2   0.03
 
Non-GAAP earnings measures $ 144 $ 94 $ 40 $ 0.66   $ 140 $ 89 $ 32 $
0.53
 
 * EBITDA including noncontrolling interests (EBIT before depreciation and amortization).
In addition to the items set forth above, the tables at the end of this press release reconcile GAAP to non-GAAP results. 
 
 
Fourth quarter 2012 adjustments:
  • Restructuring and related charges of $3 million before tax, or 4-cents per diluted share.
  • Non-cash asset impairment charge of $7 million, or 11-cents per diluted share, related to the European ride control business.
  • Tax adjustments of $2 million, or 3-cents per diluted share, due to adjustments of prior year estimates.
Fourth quarter 2011 adjustments:
  • Restructuring and related charges of $1 million before tax, or 1-cent per diluted share.
  • Tax adjustments of $2 million, or 3-cents per diluted share primarily related to recording a valuation allowance against the foreign losses and withholding taxes on foreign dividends, mostly offset by adjustments to prior year estimates.
 
Revenue
Total revenue in the quarter was $1.753 billion compared with $1.784 billion in fourth quarter 2011. Revenue excluding substrate sales and currency increased 2% to $1.390 billion versus $1.364 billion a year ago. The increase was driven by strong light vehicle volumes in North America and China and slightly higher North American aftermarket sales, which offset declines in Europe OE volumes and aftermarket sales. Currency had an unfavorable impact of $31 million in the quarter.
 
EBIT Margin 
For the quarter, the company reported the following EBIT as a percent of revenue and EBIT as a percent of value-add revenue (revenue excluding substrate sales).
  
  Q4 2012   Q4 2011
 
EBIT as a percent of revenue 4.8% 4.9%
EBIT as a percent of value-add revenue 6.2% 6.5%
 
Adjusted EBIT as a percent of revenue 5.4% 5.0%
Adjusted EBIT as a percent of value-add revenue 6.9% 6.5%
 
  
Cash 
Cash generated from operations was $244 million, up from $201 million a year ago, driven by higher earnings and effective working capital management.
 
Capital expenditures in the quarter were $77 million versus $80 million a year ago, primarily to support customer programs and growth in China and the North America emission control business.
 
 
 FULL YEAR 2012 RESULTS
Tenneco reported total annual revenue of $7.363 billion, up from $7.205 billion in 2011. Excluding substrate sales and the impact of currency, revenue increased 7% to $5.938 billion versus $5.527 billion the prior year. Higher light vehicle production in North America, China and India, strong aftermarket sales in North America, and incremental revenue from commercial vehicle business drove record-high revenue despite lower OE volumes and aftermarket sales in Europe and South America. Total OE commercial and specialty vehicle revenue increased 22% year-over-year to $804 million.
  
The company reported net income of $275 million, or $4.50 per diluted share, compared with net income of $157 million, or $2.55 per diluted share a year ago. Adjusted for the items in the table below, net income rose to $203 million, or $3.32 per diluted share, compared with $163 million, or $2.66 per diluted share, a year ago.
 
For the year, Tenneco EBIT increased to $428 million from $379 million in 2011. Adjusted for the items below, EBIT was up 11% to $443 million versus $398 million a year ago. Earnings were driven by managing operational costs on higher year-over-year OE light vehicle volumes, efficient execution on the launch of commercial vehicle programs, and higher North American aftermarket volumes.
 
 
Adjusted 2012 and 2011 results
 
    2012   2011
  (millions except per share amounts) EBITDA* EBIT Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc. Per Share EBITDA* EBIT Net income  attributable to Tenneco Inc. Per Share
 
Earnings Measures $ 633 $ 428 $ 275 $ 4.50   $ 586 $ 379 $ 157 $ 2.55
 
Adjustments (reflects non-GAAP measures):      
  Restructuring and related expenses   13   13   8   0.14     8   8   5   0.09
  Asset impairment charge   -   7   7   0.11     -   -   -   -
  Pullman recoveries   (5)   (5)   (3)   (0.05)     -   -   -   -
  Goodwill impairment charge   -   -   -   -     11   11   7   0.11
  Costs related to refinancing   -   -   12   0.19     -   -   1   0.01
  Net tax adjustments   -   -   (96)   (1.57)     -   -   (7)   (0.10)
 
Non-GAAP earnings measures $ 641 $ 443 $ 203 $ 3.32   $ 605 $ 398 $ 163 $
2.66
 
 * EBITDA including noncontrolling interests (EBIT before depreciation and amortization).
In addition to the items set forth above, the tables at the end of this press release reconcile GAAP to non-GAAP results. 
 
For the full year, the company reported the following EBIT as a percent of revenue and EBIT as a percent of value-add revenue (revenue excluding substrate sales).
 
  2012   2011
 
EBIT as a percent of revenue 5.8% 5.3%
EBIT as a percent of value-add revenue 7.5% 6.9%
 
Adjusted EBIT as a percent of revenue 6.0% 5.5%
Adjusted EBIT as a percent of value-add revenue 7.8% 7.2%
 
  
Cash
For the full year 2012, the company generated $370 million in cash from operations compared with $245 million in 2011, driven by higher earnings and $54 million in working capital improvement. Total capital spending for the full year was $263 million.
 
During the year, Tenneco completed a stock buyback plan, repurchasing 600,000 shares of its outstanding common stock for $18 million to offset dilution from shares issued to employees in 2012.
 
Debt
At December 31, 2012, Tenneco’s debt net of cash was $957 million, compared with $1.01 billion at the end of 2011. The company’s continued earnings improvement and strong cash generation resulted in a new all-time low net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 1.5x.
 
 
FOURTH QUARTER REPORTING SEGMENTS
 
NORTH AMERICA
 
   (millions except percents)
Q4 12
Revenues
% Change vs.
Q4 11
  Q4 12 Revenues Excluding Currency & Substrate Sales
% Change vs.
Q4 11
North America Original Equipment                  
  Ride Control $ 156   7%   $ 155   6%
  Emission Control $ 526   (2%)   $ 302   5%
  Total North America Original Equipment $ 682   0%   $ 457   5%
North America Aftermarket                  
  Ride Control $ 116   3%   $ 116   3%
  Emission Control $ 48   (2%)   $ 48   (2%)
  Total North America Aftermarket $ 164   1%   $ 164   1%
Total North America $ 846   0%   $ 621   4%
 
North America EBIT increased to $54 million from $46 million one year ago. On an adjusted basis, EBIT rose 17% to $55 million from $47 million. EBIT performance was driven by leveraging volumes in both OE businesses, higher aftermarket sales, and effectively controlling operational costs.
 
 
 
EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA AND INDIA
 
   (millions except percents)
Q4 12
Revenues
% Change vs.
Q4 11
  Q4 12 Revenues Excluding Currency & Substrate Sales
% Change vs.
Q4 11
Europe Original Equipment                  
  Ride Control $ 115   (17%)   $ 119   (14%)
  Emission Control $ 338   (6%)   $ 225   (6%)
  Total Europe Original Equipment $ 453   (9%)   $ 344   (9%)
Europe Aftermarket                  
  Ride Control $ 47   (2%)   $ 48   0%
  Emission Control $ 25   (19%)   $ 26   (16%)
  Total Europe Aftermarket $ 72   (9%)   $ 74   (6%)
South America & India $ 141   (7%)   $ 138   7%
Total Europe, South America & India $ 666   (9%)   $ 556   (5%)
 
EBIT for Europe, South America and India for the quarter was $9 million versus $28 million a year ago. Adjusted for restructuring and asset impairment charges, EBIT was $18 million versus $28 million. The adjusted EBIT decrease was driven by unfavorable currency of $4 million, a 7% decline in Europe OE light vehicle production, significantly lower aftermarket sales in Europe, and the impact from underutilized capacity due to low industry production volumes.
 
 
 
ASIA PACIFIC
 
  (millions except percents)
Q4 12
Revenues
% Change vs.
Q4 11
  Q4 12 Revenues Excluding Currency & Substrate Sales
% Change vs.
Q4 11
Asia $ 206   19%   $ 181   22%
Australia $ 35   (3%)   $ 32   (6%)
Total Asia Pacific $ 241   15%   $ 213   17%
 
Reported and adjusted EBIT for Asia Pacific rose 50% to $21 million compared with $14 million in 2011. EBIT was driven by higher China OE volumes, Tenneco’s strong position on top-selling platforms and improved manufacturing efficiency with the ramp up at new plants. Higher OE volumes in Thailand and the benefit of restructuring and operating improvements in Australia also contributed to year-over-year EBIT improvement.
 
 
 
OUTLOOK
The company will provide its annual guidance and outlook for 2013 on February 14 during its previously announced investor and analyst meeting in New York. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gregg Sherrill, Chief Operating Officer, Hari Nair, Chief Financial Officer, Ken Trammell, and other members of the global management team will review the company’s strategy, discuss business operations, and provide guidance including revenue, capital expenditures, interest expense and cash taxes.
 
Based on IHS Automotive forecasts for first quarter 2013, Tenneco anticipates global OE light vehicle production volumes will be slightly lower, down 2% year-over-year. North America is expected to be down 2%, Europe down 10%, India down 12%, China up 8% and South America up 5%. Tenneco also expects that commercial vehicle volumes will be lower year-over-year in the first quarter, as Power Systems Research is forecasting a 17% decline in North America class 4-7 production, and the company expects no improvement in the emissions regulated off-road market, Tenneco’s largest commercial vehicle business.
 
The aftermarket business in the first quarter is expected to be essentially flat year-over-year in North America, with the European aftermarket remaining weak due to ongoing macroeconomic conditions throughout the region.
 
Given the lower global OE light vehicle production and continued weakness in commercial vehicle markets, Tenneco anticipates its total revenue in the first quarter will be down slightly year-over-year.
 
Tenneco continues to take actions to address the ongoing challenges in Europe. In the third quarter, the company announced plans to close an aftermarket facility in Vittaryd, Sweden, and today, the company is announcing its intention to make additional fixed cost reductions in Europe. Including the Vittaryd closure, the company plans to reduce structural costs in Europe by $60 million annually, and anticipates related costs of approximately $120 million. Tenneco expects that most of the expense will be recorded in late 2013 and 2014, and that the company will reach a full savings run rate in 2016.
 
The company continues to expand its OE business with leading manufacturers worldwide with a full light vehicle launch schedule for the first quarter. Tenneco announced that it will supply Mahindra with diesel aftertreatment systems for on-road heavy duty trucks in India, and was selected by Scania to provide off-road diesel aftertreatment systems for vehicles in Europe. This is in addition to the previously announced Scania on-road business.
 
“While global macroeconomic conditions remain fragile and will pressure production volumes in the first quarter, I’m pleased with how we’re managing through this uncertainty, particularly the challenging economic conditions in Europe, and continuing to win and launch new business and drive operational excellence,” added Sherrill. “Tenneco has excellent growth opportunities ahead with our outstanding position on light vehicle platforms globally, our excellent footprint in the world’s fastest-growing markets, and a strong book of business with commercial vehicle customers which we will capitalize on as industry production cycles recover.”
 
 
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CONFERENCE CALL
The company will host a conference call on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The dial-in number is 888-946-9420 (domestic) or 312-470-7418 (international). The passcode is TENNECO. The call and accompanying slides will be available on the financial section of the Tenneco web site at www.tenneco.com. A recording of the call will be available one hour following completion of the call on January 31, 2013, through February 28, 2013. To access this recording, dial 800-756-3941 (domestic) or 203-369-3592 (international). The purpose of the call is to discuss the company’s operations for the quarter, as well as other matters that may impact the company’s outlook. A copy of the press release is available on the financial and news sections of the Tenneco web site.
 
 
ANNUAL MEETING 
The Tenneco Board of Directors has scheduled the corporation’s annual meeting of shareholders for Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. CT. The meeting will be held at the corporate headquarters, 500 North Field Drive, Lake Forest, Illinois. The record date for shareholders eligible to vote at the meeting is March 18, 2013.
 
 
Tenneco is a $7.4 billion global manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and more than 24,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco is one of the world’s largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of emission control and ride control products and systems for automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment markets and the aftermarket. Tenneco markets its products principally under the Monroe®, Walker® and Clevite®Elastomer brand names.
 
 
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Words such as “may,” “expects,” “anticipate,” ”projects,” “will,” and “outlook” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the company (including its subsidiaries). Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, the company's plans, actions and actual results could differ materially. Among the factors that could cause these plans, actions and results to differ materially from current expectations are:
 
(i) general economic, business and market conditions;
(ii) the company’s ability to source and procure needed materials, components and other products and services in accordance with customer demand and at competitive prices;
(iii) changes in capital availability or costs, including increases in the company's costs of borrowing (i.e., interest rate increases), the amount of the company's debt, the ability of the company to access capital markets at favorable rates, and the credit ratings of the company’s debt;
(iv) changes in consumer demand, prices and the company’s ability to have our products included on top selling vehicles, including any shifts in consumer preferences to lower margin vehicles, for which we may or may not have supply arrangements;
(v) changes in automotive and commercial vehicle manufacturers' production rates and their actual and forecasted requirements for the company's products such as the significant production cuts during recent years by automotive manufacturers in response to difficult economic conditions;
(vi) the overall highly competitive nature of the automobile and commercial vehicle parts industries, and any resultant inability to realize the sales represented by the company’s awarded book of business which is based on anticipated pricing and volumes over the life of the applicable program;
(vii) the loss of any of our large original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) customers (on whom we depend for a substantial portion of our revenues), or the loss of market shares by these customers if we are unable to achieve increased sales to other OEMs or any change in customer demand due to delays in the adoption or enforcement of worldwide emissions regulations;
(viii) workforce factors such as strikes or labor interruptions;
(ix) increases in the costs of raw materials, including the company’s ability to successfully reduce the impact of any such cost increases through materials substitutions, cost reduction initiatives, customer recovery and other methods;
(x) the negative impact of higher fuel prices on transportation and logistics costs, raw material costs and discretionary purchases of vehicles or aftermarket products;
(xi) the cyclical nature of the global vehicular industry, including the performance of the global aftermarket sector and longer product lives of automobile parts;
(xii) the company's continued success in cost reduction and cash management programs and its ability to execute restructuring and other cost reduction plans and to realize anticipated benefits from these plans;
(xiii) product warranty costs;
(xiv) the cost and outcome of existing and any future legal proceedings;
(xv) economic, exchange rate and political conditions in the countries where we operate or sell our products;
(xvi) the company's ability to develop and profitably commercialize new products and technologies, and the acceptance of such new products and technologies by the company's customers and the market;
(xvii) changes by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other accounting regulatory bodies to authoritative generally accepted accounting principles or policies;
(xviii) changes in accounting estimates and assumptions, including changes based on additional information;
(xix) governmental actions, including the ability to receive regulatory approvals and the timing of such approvals, as well as the impact of the enforcement of, changes to or compliance with laws and regulations, including those pertaining to environmental concerns, pensions or other regulated activities;
(xx) natural disasters, acts of war and/or terrorism and the impact of these occurrences or acts on economic, financial, industrial and social condition, including, without limitation, with respect to supply chains and customer demand in the countries where the company operates; and
(xxi) the timing and occurrence (or non-occurrence) of transactions and events which may be subject to circumstances beyond the control of the company and its subsidiaries.
The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. Additional information regarding these risk factors and uncertainties is detailed from time to time in the company's SEC filings, including but not limited to its report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
 
 

CONTACT:
Bill Dawson
Media Inquiries
(1) 847 482-5807
bdawson@tenneco.com

Linae Golla
Investor Inquiries
(1) 847 482-5162
lgolla@tenneco.com
 
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