CMC Reports Second Quarter 2018 Earnings From Continuing Operations Of $0.08 Per Share; And Adjusted Earnings From Continuing Operations Of $0.26 Per Share

IRVING, Texas, March 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC) today announced financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2018.  Earnings from continuing operations were $9.8 million ($0.08 per diluted share) for the second quarter of 2018, on net sales of $1.1 billion, and adjusted earnings from continuing operations of $31.0 million ($0.26 per diluted share) as detailed in the Non-GAAP reconciliation on page 12.  This compares to earnings from continuing operations and adjusted earnings from continuing operations of $23.0 million ($0.20 per diluted share), on net sales of $0.9 billion for the second quarter of 2017. For the six months ended February 28, 2018, earnings from continuing operations were $41.7 million, compared to $28.7 million for the same period of the prior year.

Barbara Smith, Chairman of the Board, CEO, and President, commented, "Strong demand in all of our segments supported the solid financial results despite the second quarter being historically our most challenging period.  The International Mill and Americas Recycling segments produced exceptional results, as strong demand was coupled with a rising selling price environment.  In the Americas Mills and Fabrication segments, we experienced margin compression primarily as a result of raw material costs rising faster than selling prices, as well as the costs related to the start-up of the Durant, Oklahoma micro mill.  We are very pleased with how the start-up has proceeded and look forward to this facility supporting the strong demand we are experiencing."

During the three months ended February 28, 2018, the Company made significant progress in exiting its International Marketing and Distribution segment, which was announced last year.  Following the sale of the raw materials trading business in August of 2017, the Company has now sold, reached an agreement to sell, or wound down substantially all of the trading operations.  As a result, these operations have been reflected as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

In January of 2018, the Company announced it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire certain U.S. rebar steel mill and fabrication assets from Gerdau S.A. for a cash purchase price of $600 million. The acquisition includes 33 rebar fabrication facilities, as well as steel mills located in Knoxville, Tennessee; Jacksonville, Florida; Sayreville, New Jersey; and Rancho Cucamonga, California.  The closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, including regulatory review, and is expected to close before calendar year-end 2018.  The Company incurred $5.9 million of pre-tax costs related to this transaction during the second quarter of 2018.

In December of 2017, the Company started commercial production at its new micro mill in Durant, Oklahoma and will increase production levels over the remainder of its fiscal year.  During the second quarter of 2018, the Company incurred pre-tax start up costs of $8.7 million related to this mill.

In March of 2018, the Company signed a definitive agreement to sell its non-core structural steel fabrication business with operations in South Carolina and Texas.  The Company expects to close the sale during its third fiscal quarter of 2018.  Associated with the sale of these assets, the Company recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of $12.1 million during the second quarter of 2018.

The Company recorded tax expense of $10.6 million in the second quarter of 2018 to reflect the estimated impacts of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("TCJA"), including the U.S. tax on deemed repatriated earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries, the write-down of net U.S. deferred tax liabilities at lower enacted corporate tax rates, and the effects of the implementation of the territorial tax system. The impacts of the legislation may differ from this estimate, possibly materially (and the amount of the estimated charge may be adjusted accordingly over the remainder of fiscal 2018), pending further regulatory clarification.  In addition, the Company recorded a $9.2 million tax provision benefit related to reorganization of certain international operations. The net effects of these discrete tax items in the second quarter of 2018 is an expense of $1.4 million.  Currently, the Company estimates that the corporate tax rate will be approximately 25% for the full fiscal year.

The Company's liquidity position at February 28, 2018 remained strong with cash and cash equivalents of $195.2 million and availability under the Company's credit and accounts receivables sales facilities of approximately $615.8 million. On February 21, 2018, the Company amended its credit agreement to, among other things, provide for a coterminous delayed draw term loan facility in the maximum aggregate principal amount of up to $200.0 million, the proceeds of which, if drawn, are required to be used to finance the acquisition from Gerdau noted above. 

On March 21, 2018, the board of directors of CMC declared a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share for shareholders of record on April 4, 2018.  The dividend will be paid on April 19, 2018.

Business Segments-Fiscal Second Quarter 2018 Review
Our Americas Recycling segment recorded adjusted operating profit of $12.2 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to an adjusted operating profit of $7.8 million for the second quarter of 2017. The improvement in adjusted operating profit compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily the result of strong volumes and increases in both ferrous and nonferrous prices during the quarter.

Our Americas Mills segment recorded adjusted operating profit of $31.5 million for the second quarter of 2018 compared to adjusted operating profit of $51.3 million for the corresponding period in fiscal 2017. We had a strong shipping quarter as construction activity remains high.  Included in the segment results were $8.7 million of costs related to the start-up activities of the Durant, Oklahoma micro mill in comparison to $1.0 million in the same period of 2017.   We expect start-up costs at this facility to continue into the fourth fiscal quarter of 2018 as we increase production levels.  Manufacturing costs at our other facilities were higher than the same period of the prior fiscal year by approximately $10 per ton as a result of inflation in alloys and electrodes, and higher energy costs, due to the unusually cold weather which occurred during the quarter.

Our Americas Fabrication segment recorded an adjusted operating loss of $27.1 million for the second quarter of 2018 compared to adjusted operating profit of $0.5 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2017. Included in the segment results was a $12.1 million asset impairment related to the agreement to sell the non-core structural steel fabrication business described previously.  In addition, over the past year, rising material cost has outpaced sales price increases, compressing margins. We are experiencing strong bidding activity for fabrication work and that has led to increased bid prices; however, due to the lag between when work is bid versus shipped, the selling prices and margins compressed significantly in this segment.

Our International Mill segment in Poland recorded adjusted operating profit of $24.5 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to adjusted operating profit of $9.5 million for the corresponding period in 2017.  Due to increased demand, selling prices at this operation have increased significantly in comparison to the same period of the prior fiscal year which, coupled with strong demand from the continued strength in construction activity in this market, contributed to a significant improvement in margins.

Outlook
Smith continued, "We have positioned CMC to take advantage of the strong market demand we expect for the balance of the year.  In the U.S., the recent tax reform legislation is providing confidence for the underlying growth of the economy, prompting capital investment which should result in the increased consumption of steel.  The Section 232 trade remedy details are still being finalized; however, we are hopeful that it will lead to a leveling of the playing field against imports.  At our International Mill segment, we forecast high levels of demand, from both the Polish and North European markets, to continue the strong results of this business.

We are completing the exit of our International Marketing and Distribution business and plan to utilize the proceeds to both strengthen our balance sheet as well as invest in our core steel manufacturing segments. We anticipate that our Durant, Oklahoma facility will be operating near its capacity of approximately 350,000 tons per year by the end of the 2018 fiscal year, and we are working on our integration plans for the announced acquisition.  We look forward to completing the closing conditions over the coming months and when the transaction closes, we see significant opportunity for cost synergies and value creation for our customers and shareholders."

Conference Call
CMC invites you to listen to a live broadcast of its second quarter of 2018 conference call today, Thursday, March 22, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. ET.  Barbara Smith, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, and Mary Lindsey, Senior Vice President and CFO, will host the call.  The call is accessible via our website at www.cmc.com.  In the event you are unable to listen to the live broadcast, the call will be archived and available for replay on our website on the next business day.  Financial and statistical information, including any non-GAAP disclosures, presented in the broadcast are located on CMC's website under "Investors."

About Commercial Metals Company
Commercial Metals Company and its subsidiaries manufacture, recycle and market steel and metal products, related materials and services through a network of facilities that includes four electric arc furnace ("EAF") mini mills, two EAF micro mills, a rerolling mill, steel fabrication and processing plants, construction-related product warehouses, and metal recycling facilities in the United States and Poland.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding CMC's expectations relating to key macro economic drivers that impact its business including demand, steel margins, effects of the ongoing trade actions in the U.S. and Poland, and the planned acquisition of substantially all of the U.S. rebar fabrication facilities and the steel mini-mills located in or around Rancho Cucamonga, California, Jacksonville, Florida, Sayreville, New Jersey and Knoxville, Tennessee currently owned by Gerdau S.A. and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Business") and the timing and financing thereof, the ability to obtain regulatory approvals and meet other closing conditions for the planned acquisition of the Business.  These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as we, CMC or its management, "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "intends," "plans to," "ought," "could," "will," "should," "likely," "appears," "potential," "outlook," or other similar words or phrases. There are inherent risks and uncertainties in any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our expectations are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual results may vary materially.  Except as required by law, CMC undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, new information or circumstances or otherwise.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from CMC's expectations include the following: changes in economic conditions which affect demand for our products or construction activity generally, and the impact of such changes on the highly cyclical steel industry; rapid and significant changes in the price of metals potentially impairing our inventory values due to declines in commodity prices; excess capacity in our industry, particularly in China, and product availability from competing steel mills and other steel suppliers including import quantities and pricing; compliance with and changes in environmental laws and regulations, including increased regulation associated with climate change and greenhouse gas emissions; potential limitations in our or our customers' abilities to access credit and non-compliance by our customers with our contracts; financial covenants and restrictions on the operation of our business contained in agreements governing our debt; risks associated with acquisitions generally, such as the inability to obtain, or delays in obtaining, required approvals under applicable antitrust legislation and other regulatory and third party consents and approvals; potential volatility in the capital markets and its impact on the ability to complete the proposed financing necessary to pay the purchase price for the Business; failure to retain key management and employees of the Business; issues or delays in the successful integration of the Business' operations with those of the Company, including incurring or experiencing unanticipated costs and/or delays or difficulties; difficulties or delays in the successful transition of the Business to the information technology systems of the Company as well as risks associated with other integration or transition of the operations, systems and personnel of the Business; future levels of revenues being lower than expected and costs being higher than expected; failure or inability to implement growth strategies in a timely manner; unfavorable reaction to the acquisition of the Business by customers, competitors, suppliers and employees; currency fluctuations; global factors, including political uncertainties and military conflicts; availability of electricity, electrodes and natural gas for mill operations; information technology interruptions and breaches in data security; ability to hire and retain key executives and other employees; our ability to make necessary capital expenditures; availability and pricing of raw materials over which we exert little influence, including scrap metal, energy, insurance and supply prices; unexpected equipment failures; competition from other materials or from competitors that have a lower cost structure or access to greater financial resources; losses or limited potential gains due to hedging transactions; litigation claims and settlements, court decisions, regulatory rulings and legal compliance risks; risk of injury or death to employees, customers or other visitors to our operations; increased costs related to health care reform legislation; and impacts from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED)

This press release contains financial measures not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided below.

Adjusted Operating Profit from Continuing Operations is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted operating profit (loss) from continuing operations is the sum of our earnings (loss) from continuing operations before interest expense, income taxes (benefit) and discounts on sales of accounts receivable. Adjusted operating profit (loss) from continuing operations should not be considered as an alternative to earnings (loss) from continuing operations or net earnings (loss), as determined by GAAP. However, we believe that adjusted operating profit (loss) from continuing operations provides relevant and useful information, which is often used by analysts, creditors and other interested parties as it allows: (i) a supplemental measure of our ongoing core performance and (ii) the assessment of period-to-period performance trends. Management uses adjusted operating profit (loss) from continuing operations to evaluate our financial performance. For added flexibility, we may sell certain trade accounts receivable both in the U.S. and internationally. We consider sales of accounts receivable as an alternative source of liquidity to finance our operations, and we believe that removing these costs provides a clearer perspective of our operating performance. Adjusted operating profit (loss) from continuing operations may be inconsistent with similar measures presented by other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations is the sum of earnings (loss) from continuing operations before net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests, interest expense and income taxes (benefit). It also excludes our largest recurring non-cash charge, depreciation and amortization, as well as long-lived asset and goodwill impairment charges, which are also non-cash. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations should not be considered as an alternative to earnings (loss) from continuing operations or net earnings (loss), or as a better measure of liquidity than net cash flows from operating activities, as determined by GAAP. However, we believe that adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations provides relevant and useful information, which is often used by analysts, creditors and other interested parties as it allows: (i) comparison of our earnings to those of our competitors; (ii) a supplemental measure of our ongoing core performance; and (iii) the assessment of period-to-period performance trends. Additionally, adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations is the target benchmark for our annual and long-term cash incentive performance plans for management. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations may be inconsistent with similar measures presented by other companies.

There were no net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests during the three and six months ended February 28, 2018 and 2017.

Adjusted earnings from continuing operations is a non-GAAP financial measure that is equal to earnings from continuing operations before acquisition and integration costs, mill operational start-up costs, certain material impairment losses, gains and losses related to debt restructuring, loss on debt extinguishment and severance expenses, including the estimated income tax effects thereof.  Additionally, we adjust adjusted earnings from continuing operations for the effects of the TCJA.  Adjusted earnings from continuing operations should not be considered as an alternative to earnings from continuing operations or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. However, we believe that adjusted earnings from continuing operations provides relevant and useful information to investors as it allows: (i) a supplemental measure of our ongoing core performance and (ii) the assessment of period-to-period performance trends. Management uses adjusted earnings from continuing operations to evaluate our financial performance.  Adjusted earnings from continuing operations may be inconsistent with similar measures presented by other companies.  Adjusted earnings from continuing operations per diluted share is defined as adjusted earnings from continuing operations on a diluted per share basis.

A reconciliation of earnings from continuing operations to adjusted earnings from continuing operations is provided below:

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SOURCE Commercial Metals Company