Print This Story  Email This Story  Save this Link View PR Newswire's RSS Feed  Blogs Discussing this News Release  Search Blogs that Mention this News Release  Click this link to view linked Bookmarking Services Click this link to view linked Blogging Services


Hawk Announces Third Quarter 2007 Results

   Hawk Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio. (PRNewsFoto/Hawk Corporation)

CLEVELAND, OH UNITED STATES
- Net sales increase 2.6% to $54.3 million; Nine month net sales up 7.7% to
                               $171.5 million
- Third quarter net income from continuing operations up 21.4% to $0.18 per
                               diluted share
- Full year 2007 income from operations guidance range increased to between
                      $17.0 million and $19.0 million

    CLEVELAND, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hawk Corporation (Amex:
HWK) announced today that net sales for the third quarter ended September
30, 2007 increased 2.6% to $54.3 million from $52.9 million in the
comparable prior year period. In the third quarter of 2006, the Company
benefited from pricing actions, a portion of which were retroactive to
prior periods, having the effect of reducing the Company's reported quarter
to quarter sales growth. The Company's net sales benefited during the
quarter from continued growth in the aerospace, construction and mining,
agriculture and performance automotive markets, pricing actions, new
business awards and favorable foreign currency exchange rates. As expected,
sales to the heavy truck market were soft as a result of new vehicle
emission control standards implemented at the beginning of 2007.
    Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 were $171.5
million, an increase of 7.7%, from $159.3 million in the comparable prior
year period. Net sales for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006
benefited from pricing actions, a portion of which were retroactive
relating to the last half of 2005. The effect of foreign currency exchange
rates accounted for 2.7% of the consolidated net sales increase of 7.7%
during the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
    Income from operations for the third quarter of 2007 was $4.2 million,
a decrease of $1.7 million, or 28.8%, from $5.9 million in the prior year
period. Income from operations was affected positively by sales volume
increases, increased manufacturing efficiencies from the Company's domestic
manufacturing facilities including the facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, pricing
actions and lower incentive compensation costs in the third quarter of 2007
compared to the prior year period. However, when comparing 2007 results to
those of 2006, the comparison suffered from the sharply positive effect of
the retroactive price increase recorded in the third quarter of 2006. The
Company incurred $0.4 million of legal costs during the three month period
ended September 30, 2007, related to the previously announced Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Department of Justice (DOJ)
investigations.
    For the nine month period ended September 30, 2007, the Company
reported income from operations of $14.8 million, an increase of $4.8
million, or 48.0%, from $10.0 million in the comparable prior year period.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company incurred $1.3
million of legal costs related to the SEC and DOJ investigations.
    Ronald E. Weinberg, Hawk's Chairman and CEO, said, "We are pleased with
third quarter results, which continued to benefit from strong end market
activity as well as continued operating improvements. The pricing actions
we initiated in 2006 affected the comparisons with this year. However,
eliminating those increases would reflect favorable comparisons in our
revenues, operating income and operating margins quarter over quarter and
year over year. This improvement in income from operations reflects the
success of our pricing actions, the continued operating improvements and
the strength of our international operations. Based on our results through
the first nine months, we are increasing our income from operations
guidance for the full year 2007."
    For the third quarter ended September 30, 2007, the Company reported
net income from continuing operations of $1.7 million, or $0.18 per diluted
share, an improvement of $0.3 million, or 21.4%, compared to net income
from continuing operations of $1.4 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in
the comparable prior year period. The Company reported interest income of
$1.1 million for the three month period ended September 30, 2007 which was
generated primarily from the investment of cash proceeds during the quarter
from the sale of the Company's precision components segment in February
2007. The Company's interest expense declined for the quarter ended
September 30, 2007 primarily as a result of the redemption of $22.9 million
of senior notes during the period. The increase in the Company's third
quarter net income from continuing operations was primarily due to a
substantially lower effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2007
compared to the third quarter of 2006 due to an increase over prior
anticipated levels of income in our U.S. jurisdiction reflected in the
income tax rate in the third quarter of 2007.
    For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company reported net
income from continuing operations of $5.6 million, or $0.59 per diluted
share, an improvement of $5.2 million compared to net income from
continuing operations of $0.4 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, in the
comparable prior year period. The Company reported interest income of $2.9
million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2007. As a result of
expected pre- tax income levels for the full year 2007, the Company has
adjusted its full year effective tax rate downward to 43.1% compared to the
expected rate of 46.9% as of June 30, 2007.
    The Company reported net income, including income from its discontinued
operations of $1.7 million, or $0.18 per diluted share for the three months
ended September 30, 2007, a decrease of $0.4 million, or 23.5%, compared to
net income of $2.1 million, or $0.22 per diluted share for the three month
period ended September 30, 2006. For the nine month period ended September
30, 2007, the Company reported net income of $16.6 million, or $1.76 per
diluted share, an increase of $12.2 million, or 277.3%, compared to $4.4
million, or $0.45 per diluted share in the comparable prior year period.
    Included in net income for the three and nine month period ended
September 30, 2007 was a charge for the unamortized portion of related debt
issuance costs as a result of the redemption of $22.9 million of the
Company's senior notes which resulted in a non-cash loss on extinguishment
of debt of approximately $0.4 million ($0.6 million pre-tax) or $0.04 cents
per diluted share.
    Business Segment Results
    Net sales in the friction products segment for the three months ended
September 30, 2007 increased $1.4 million, or 2.8%, to $51.5 million from
$50.1 million in the comparable prior year period. In the third quarter of
2006, the Company benefited from pricing actions including a retroactive
price increase. Because there was no retroactive price increase reported in
the third quarter of 2007, the 2006 retroactive increase effectively
reduced the Company's reported quarter to quarter sales growth increase.
Primary drivers of the sales increase included strong worldwide demand in
the aerospace, construction and mining, agriculture and performance
automotive markets, pricing actions, increased sales as a result of new
business awards and favorable foreign currency exchange rates. As expected,
sales to the heavy truck market declined during the quarter, as a result of
the implementation of the new vehicle emission control standards at the
beginning of 2007. Net sales from the segment's foreign facilities
represented 38.9% of the segment's total net sales for the three month
period ended September 30, 2007 compared to 29.5% in the comparable prior
year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, net sales in the
friction products segment were a record $161.0 million, up 7.8%, from
$149.4 million in the comparable prior year period. Net sales for the nine
month period ended September 30, 2006 benefited from the impact of a
portion of the retroactive price increase related to the last half of 2005.
The effect of foreign currency exchange rates accounted for 2.9% of the
friction products segment's net sales increase of 7.8% during the nine
months ended September 30, 2007.
    For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, income from operations in the
friction products segment decreased $1.8 million or 27.7%, to $4.7 million
from $6.5 million in three months ended September 30, 2006. Income from
operations increased as a result of sales volume increases, increased
manufacturing efficiencies from the segment's domestic manufacturing
facilities including the facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, pricing actions and
lower incentive compensation costs in the third quarter of 2007 compared to
the prior year period. However these increases were more than offset by the
effect of the retroactive price increase recorded in the third quarter of
2006. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007 income from operations
in the friction products segment was $15.5 million, up $4.2 million, or
37.2% from $11.3 million in the comparable prior year period.
    In the Company's performance racing segment, net sales for the three
months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were flat at $2.8 million. Over
the course of the last two years, the Company has sought to upgrade the
engineering and technological expertise of this segment to respond to the
growing needs of high-end racing teams. For the nine months ended September
30, 2007, net sales in the performance racing segment were $10.5 million,
an increase of $0.6 million, or 6.1%, from $9.9 million in the comparable
prior year period.
    For the three months ended September 30, 2007, the performance racing
segment reported a loss from operations of $0.5 million compared to a loss
from operations of $0.6 million in the comparable prior period. For the
nine months ended September 30, 2007, the performance racing segment
reported a loss from operations of $0.7 million compared to a loss from
operations of $1.3 million in the comparable prior year period.
    The Company's discontinued operations, which consisted of the precision
components segment for the period ended September 30, 2007 and the
precision components and motor segments for the period ended September 30,
2006, reported break-even results for the three months ended September 30,
2007 compared to income of $0.7 million in the comparable prior year period
as the remaining activities of the discontinued operations wind down. For
the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company reported income after
taxes from its discontinued operations of $10.9 million compared to $4.0
million in the comparable prior year period.
    Working Capital and Liquidity
    At September 30, 2007, working capital decreased by $2.5 million from
December 31, 2006. This decrease was primarily the result of a reduction in
the Company's inventory levels, partially offset by a net increase in our
cash and an increase in account receivable levels as a result of the sales
volume increase during the period. As previously announced, the Company
initiated its $4.0 million common stock repurchase plan in March 2007.
Through September 30, 2007, the Company repurchased 247,765 shares of
common stock and spent $3.0 million in connection with its repurchase of
its stock under the plan.
    Total debt outstanding, including current portion, decreased $24.0
million, to $87.2 million at September 30, 2007, compared to $111.2 million
at December 31, 2006 reflecting the redemption of $22.9 million of senior
notes and the repayment of $1.0 million of local debt at its operation in
China. Cash and marketable securities decreased $19.5 million to $74.0
million as of September 30, 2007 from $93.5 million as of June 30, 2007
primarily as a result of the $22.9 million payment of senior note principal
and $0.2 million of accrued interest through August 7, 2007 on the tendered
senior notes. As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company
had no borrowings under its $30.0 million revolving credit facility. At
September 30, 2007, based on its collateral values, the Company had $19.7
million available to borrow under the revolving credit facility.
    Business Outlook
    Reflecting the strength of the first nine months of 2007, the Company
is reaffirming its expectations for its full year 2007 net sales of between
$224.0 million and $226.0 million. This range represents an increase of
between 5.6% and 6.6% as compared to revenues of $212.0 million in the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.
    As a result of the expected sales volume and continued operational
improvements, we expect income from operations to increase from our current
guidance range of between $14.0 million and $16.0 million to a revised
range of between $17.0 million and $19.0 million. This new range includes
an estimate for legal costs relating to the SEC and DOJ investigations for
the remainder of the year although it is difficult to determine these
future expenses with any degree of accuracy.
    The Company
    Hawk Corporation is a leading worldwide supplier of highly engineered
products. Its friction products group is a leading supplier of friction
materials for brakes, clutches and transmissions used in airplanes, trucks,
construction and mining equipment, farm equipment, recreational and
performance automotive vehicles. The Company's performance racing group
manufactures clutches and gearboxes for motorsport applications and
performance automotive markets. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Hawk has
approximately 1,100 employees at 11 manufacturing, research, sales and
administrative sites in 5 countries.
    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release includes forward-looking statements concerning sales
and operating earnings. These forward-looking statements are based upon
management's expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward-
looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and
other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company and
which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the
Company's ability to execute its business plan to meet its forecasted
results from continuing operations; the Company's vulnerability to adverse
general economic and industry conditions and competition; decisions by the
Company regarding the use of proceeds from the sale of its precision
components segment, including the Company's ability to identify suitable
acquisition candidates and complete such acquisitions; the Company's
dependence on a limited number of customers for a significant portion of
its total revenues; the impact on the Company's gross profit margins as a
result of changes in product mix; the ability of the Company to
successfully negotiate new agreements, as they expire, with its unions
representing certain of its employees, on terms favorable to the Company
without experiencing work stoppages; the effect of the transfer of
manufacturing to lower wage locations by other manufacturers who compete
with the Company; the effect on the Company's international operations of
unexpected changes in legal and regulatory requirements, export
restrictions, currency controls, tariffs and other trade barriers,
difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, political and
economic instability, difficulty in accounts receivable collection and
potentially adverse tax consequences; the effect of foreign currency
exchange rates as the Company's non-U.S. sales continue to increase; the
effect of any interruption in the Company's supply of raw materials; the
costs and outcome of the ongoing SEC and DOJ investigation; a substantial
increase in the price of raw materials; and, the continuity of business
relationships with major customers.
    Actual results and events may differ significantly from those projected
in the forward-looking statements. Reference is made to Hawk's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, its quarterly reports on Form
10-Q, and other periodic filings, for a description of the foregoing and
other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement
speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company
undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
    Investor Conference Call
    A live Internet broadcast of the Company's conference call discussing
quarterly and year to date results can be accessed via the investor
relations page on Hawk Corporation's web site (http://www.hawkcorp.com) on
Wednesday November 7, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. An archive of the
call will be available shortly after the end of the conference call on the
investor relations page of the Company's web site.
                               HAWK CORPORATION
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited)
                    (In thousands, except per share data)

                                        Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
                                           September 30       September 30
                                          2007     2006      2007      2006
                                        -----------------  ------------------
    Net sales                            $54,349  $52,956  $171,456  $159,269
    Cost of sales                         42,388   38,381   130,654   124,191
                                        -----------------  ------------------
    Gross profit                          11,961   14,575    40,802    35,078

    Selling, technical and
     administrative expenses               7,600    8,555    25,419    24,685
    Amortization of intangibles              182      123       545       371
                                        -----------------  ------------------
    Total expenses                         7,782    8,678    25,964    25,056

    Income from operations                 4,179    5,897    14,838    10,022

    Interest expense                      (2,265)  (2,850)   (7,376)   (8,494)
    Interest income                        1,053       40     2,894        61
    Other (expense) income, net             (500)      41      (434)       91
                                        -----------------  ------------------

    Income from continuing operations
     before income taxes                   2,467    3,128     9,922     1,680
    Income tax provision                     781    1,727     4,275     1,293
                                        -----------------  ------------------
    Income from continuing operations,
     after income taxes                    1,686    1,401     5,647       387
    Income from discontinued operations,
     net of tax                              (25)     703    10,971     4,026
                                        -----------------  ------------------
    Net income                            $1,661   $2,104   $16,618    $4,413
                                        =================  ==================

    Diluted earnings per share:
      Income from continuing operations    $0.18    $0.14     $0.59     $0.03
                                        -----------------  ------------------
      Discontinued operations, net of tax    -       0.08      1.17      0.42
    Net earnings per diluted share         $0.18    $0.22     $1.76     $0.45
                                        =================  ==================

    Diluted weighted average shares
     outstanding                           9,356    9,498     9,368     9,518



                                         Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
                                            September 30        September 30
    Segment data:                           2007     2006      2007      2006
                                         -------------------------------------
    Net sales:
      Friction products                  $51,490  $50,140  $161,007  $149,379
      Performance racing                   2,859    2,816    10,449     9,890
                                         -------------------------------------
    Total                                $54,349  $52,956  $171,456  $159,269
                                         =====================================

    Gross profit:
      Friction products                  $11,715  $14,164   $39,186   $33,330
      Performance racing                     246      411     1,616     1,748
                                         -------------------------------------
    Total                                $11,961  $14,575   $40,802   $35,078
                                         =====================================

    Depreciation and amortization:
      Friction products                   $1,711   $1,776    $5,535    $5,226
      Performance racing                      73       61       207       177
                                         -------------------------------------
    Total                                 $1,784   $1,837    $5,742    $5,403
                                         =====================================

    Income (loss) from operations:
      Friction products                   $4,672   $6,507   $15,502   $11,351
      Performance racing                    (493)    (610)     (664)   (1,329)
                                         -------------------------------------
    Total                                 $4,179   $5,897   $14,838   $10,022
                                         =====================================

    Capital expenditures:
      Friction products                   $1,555   $1,741    $5,828    $5,391
      Performance racing                      65       51       270       176
                                          ------------------------------------
    Total                                 $1,620   $1,792    $6,098    $5,567
                                          ====================================



                                HAWK CORPORATION
                    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (unaudited)
                                 (in thousands)

                                                September 30       December 31
                                                     2007              2006
                                                ------------------------------
    ASSETS
    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                    $72,993            $6,177
      Marketable securities                            998               -
      Accounts receivable, net                      39,144            34,502
      Inventories                                   37,107            38,890
      Deferred tax asset                               871             2,472
      Other current assets                           4,225             4,607
      Current assets of discontinued
       operations                                      -              87,313
                                                ----------------------------
    Total current assets                           155,338           173,961
      Property, plant and equipment, net            39,997            39,409
      Finite-lived intangible assets                 7,339             7,884
      Other assets                                   5,684             8,000
                                                ----------------------------
    Total assets                                  $208,358          $229,254
                                                ============================

    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current liabilities
      Accounts payable                             $24,040           $23,023
      Other accrued expenses                        16,841            20,269
      Short-term debt                                  -                 980
      Current portion of long-term debt                 91               127
     Current liabilities of discontinued
      operations                                       -              12,795
                                                ----------------------------
    Total current liabilities                       40,972            57,194
      Long-term debt                                87,090           110,053
      Deferred income taxes                          1,079             1,025
      Other                                         15,018            14,253
    Shareholders' equity                            64,199            46,729
                                                ----------------------------
    Total liabilities and shareholders'
     equity                                       $208,358          $229,254
                                                ============================


SOURCE Hawk Corporation




Back to Topback to top

Related links:
  • http://www.hawkcorp.com/
    Photo Notes:
    NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001129/HWKLOGO
    AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
    PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
    CONTACT:
    Joseph J. Levanduski, Vice President - CFO,
    or Thomas A. Gilbride, Vice President - Finance, both of Hawk
    Corporation, +1-216-861-3553; or investors, John Baldissera, BPC
    Financial Marketing, +1-800-368-1217