Harsco Corporation Announces First Quarter 2002 Results

Company Reports Income from Continuing Operations of $0.37 Per Share and $16 Million Improvement in Free Cash Flow Including Asset Sales


HARRISBURG, Pa., April 23, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Worldwide industrial services and products company Harsco Corporation (NYSE:HSC) today reported first quarter 2002 results. Income and diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter were as follows:


                                    $ Millions     Per Share - Diluted
                                    ----------     -------------------

 Quarter Ending                       March 31           March 31
                                   2002     2001      2002     2001
                                  ------   ------    ------   ------
 Income from
  Continuing Operations          $  15.0  $  11.2  $   0.37 $   0.28
 Loss from
  Discontinued Operations           (0.8)    (1.1)    (0.02)   (0.03)
                                   -----    -----     -----    -----
 Net Income                      $  14.2  $  10.1  $   0.35 $   0.25
                                   =====    =====     =====    =====
 Net Unusual Costs,
  Special Charges
  and Gains                         (1.5)    (6.9)    (0.04)   (0.17)
 Income Excluding Net
  Unusual Costs, Special
  Charges and Gains              $  15.7  $  17.0  $   0.39 $   0.42
                                   =====    =====     =====    =====

First quarter earnings were negatively affected by $1.1 million after-tax or $0.03 per share from foreign exchange translation due to the strong U.S. dollar, and higher pension expense of $3.3 million after-tax or $0.08 per share, which more than offset the elimination of $2.7 million after-tax or $0.07 per share in goodwill amortization under the Company's adoption of SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." After-tax net unusual costs, special charges and gains totaled $1.5 million, related principally to employee reductions, other exit costs and a customer bankruptcy charge. Sales from continuing operations in the quarter were $459 million, compared with $505 million in the prior year. Negative foreign currency translation lowered sales in the first quarter by $10 million.

Continuing the Company's focus on higher margin, recurring revenue industrial services businesses, the Company is considering the divestiture of additional business lines. As required by SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," adopted by the Company on January 1, 2002, the Company is now reporting operations which have been identified for divestiture as discontinued operations.

Commenting on the Company's performance, Harsco Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Derek C. Hathaway said, "As anticipated, our first quarter results reflect our historical pattern as our slowest quarter of the year in both the services and products sectors. Given that our manufacturing businesses have not yet seen the benefit of the projected economic rebound, and recognizing also the continuing negative effects of foreign currency translation, we are pleased with our performance for the first three months of the year.

"Our services-based Infrastructure and Mill Services segments performed relatively well, offsetting weaker performance from our Gas and Fluid Control segment, which represents the majority of our manufacturing business. Service sales increased to 68 percent of our total sales in the first quarter, compared with 64 percent last year. Conversely, manufacturing sales declined from 36 percent of total sales to 32 percent.

"We realized in excess of $10 million in cash from asset sales during the quarter, and have made further progress already this month. We hope to complete the second quarter with an additional $15 to $40 million in cash from asset sales, which if fully realized, would put us at our 2002 target of $50 million in cash from asset sales by mid-year, six months ahead of schedule.

"With our traditionally strong quarters ahead of us and the expected benefits of our debt reduction efforts as they accelerate through the year, and given the modest upturn from manufacturing that we anticipate in the second half, we remain confident in our previously announced objective for 2002 earnings per share growth in the area of 10 percent."

First Quarter Business Segment Review

Infrastructure - Overall, this segment performed well given the anticipated slower conditions. Sales were down 8 percent, but operating margins improved by 40 basis points from the prior year period. The lower sales are due principally to weak market conditions in both the industrial grating business and domestic railway track repair parts and equipment business, as well as timing factors in the access services and equipment business. Operating income, excluding net unusual costs, special charges and gains of $0.4 million in 2002 and $3.6 million in 2001, was $11.7 million, compared with $11.8 million last year. Operating income was negatively affected by a net $1.3 million resulting from negative foreign currency translation and higher pension expense, partially offset by the elimination of goodwill amortization expense.

Mill Services - Aggressive cost cutting, global diversity, and the continuing positive contribution from the roofing granules business enabled this segment to achieve planned results, despite the difficult, albeit improving, market conditions in North America as well as the continuing appreciation of the U.S. dollar. Operating income, excluding net unusual costs, special charges and gains of $1.1 million in 2002 and $2.4 million in 2001, was $18.8 million, compared with $20.9 million in the prior year quarter. Here again, operating income was negatively affected by a net $1.1 million from foreign currency translation and higher pension expense, partially offset by the elimination of goodwill amortization expense. Margins declined from 11.4 percent to 10.6 percent. Sales were down 3 percent year-over-year, but would have been up slightly if not for an almost $9 million reduction due to negative foreign currency translation.

Gas and Fluid Control - Depressed market conditions and pricing pressures across many product lines, exacerbated by an unusually warm winter, continued to negatively affect results in the first quarter. Operating income, excluding net unusual costs, special charges and gains of $1.0 million in 2002 and $0.7 million in 2001, declined to $5.2 million, compared with $8.6 million last year. Operating margins were 6.2 percent, down from 8.1 percent last year, and sales declined to $83.6 million from $106.4 million last year.

During this period of depressed demand, the Company continued its focus on lowering costs and improving working capital performance, and expects these actions to better position the segment for the gradual upturn that is expected to begin in the second half of the year.

Financial Position

Harsco made further progress in its strategic objectives for cash optimization during the first quarter of 2002. Net cash from operating activities improved by $6.5 million and proceeds from asset sales grew by $7.4 million compared with the prior year period. Coupled with a reduction in capital expenditures of $2.4 million, free cash flow in the quarter improved approximately $16 million. The Company expects free cash flow to accelerate as it enters the later quarters of the year, traditionally its stronger quarters.

While its debt-to-capital ratio remained unchanged from year-end 2001, the Company continues to expect a significant reduction in debt levels as the year progresses. In the first quarter, net interest expense was reduced by almost $3.5 million, as debt has declined by almost $100 million since March 31, 2001. The effective tax rate was reduced 400 basis points below the first quarter of last year.

The first quarter of 2002 also marked the Company's first under the Stern Stewart Economic Value Added (EVA(r)) program for financial management decision-making and incentive compensation. EVA for the quarter met plan, although slightly behind the corresponding year-ago quarter. The Company expects gradual improvement in EVA through the year and anticipates meaningful EVA improvement for the full year.

As previously announced, Harsco will hold a conference call today at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its results and respond to questions from the investment community. The conference call will be Webcast live via Harsco's corporate Web site at www.harsco.com. The call can also be accessed by telephone by dialing (800) 611-4920, or (706) 634-5923 from outside the United States and Canada. Listeners are advised to dial in at least five minutes prior to the call. Replays will be available via both the Harsco Web site and by telephone beginning approximately 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time today until approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesday, April 30. The telephone replay dial-in number is (800) 642-1687, or (706) 645-9291 from outside the United States and Canada. Enter Conference ID number 3745920.

Forward-Looking Statements

The nature of Harsco's operations and the many countries in which it operates subject it to changing economic, competitive, regulatory, and technological conditions, risks, and uncertainties. In accordance with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Harsco provides the following cautionary remarks regarding important factors which, among others, could cause future results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, expectations and assumptions expressed or implied herein. These include statements about our management confidence and strategies for performance; expectations for new and existing products, technologies, and opportunities; and expectations for market segment and industry growth, sales, earnings, and other financial performance measures.

These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) changes in the worldwide business environment in which the Company operates, including general economic conditions, particularly in the mill service, infrastructure and industrial gas markets; currency exchange rates; interest rates; and capital costs; (2) changes in governmental laws and regulations, including taxes; (3) market and competitive changes, including pricing pressures, market demand and acceptance for new products, services, and technologies; (4) effects of unstable governments and business conditions in emerging economies; and (5) other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company does not intend to update this information and disclaims any legal liability to the contrary.

Harsco Corporation is a diversified provider of market-leading industrial services and products serving the worldwide infrastructure development, steel and metals, railway transportation, and gas and energy industries. The company employs approximately 18,700 people in 40 countries of operation. Additional information can be found at www.harsco.com


 Harsco Corporation
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (Unaudited)

                                               Three Months Ended
                                                    March 31
 (In thousands, except per share amounts)      2002          2001(a)
                                             ---------     ---------
 Revenues from continuing operations:
  Service sales                              $ 309,861     $ 325,064
  Product sales                                148,723       179,559
  Other                                             19           421
                                             ---------     ---------
   Total revenues                              458,603       505,044
                                             =========     =========
 Costs and expenses from
  continuing operations:
   Cost of services sold                       227,187       237,643
   Cost of products sold                       117,330       147,470
   Selling, general, and
    administrative expenses                     78,394        81,060
   Research and development expenses               857           585
   Other expense                                 1,335         3,848
                                             ---------     ---------
    Total costs and expenses                   425,103       470,606
                                             =========     =========

 Operating income from
  continuing operations:                        33,500        34,438
   Equity in income (loss) of
    affiliates, net                                205        (2,238)
   Interest income                               1,363         1,220
   Interest expense                            (11,226)      (14,540)
                                             ---------     ---------

 Income from continuing operations
  before income taxes and
  minority interest                             23,842        18,880

 Provision for income taxes                      7,392         6,608
                                             ---------     ---------
 Income from continuing operations
  before minority interest                      16,450        12,272

 Minority interest in net income                 1,445         1,086
                                             ---------     ---------
 Income from continuing operations              15,005        11,186
                                             ---------     ---------
 Discontinued Operations:
  Loss from operations of
   discontinued business                        (1,319)       (1,607)
  Provision for income taxes                       475           562
                                             ---------     ---------
 Loss from discontinued operations                (844)       (1,045)
                                             ---------     ---------
      Net Income                             $  14,161     $  10,141
                                             =========     =========
 Average shares of common
  stock outstanding                             40,041        39,807

 Basic earnings per common share:
  Income from continuing operations                .37           .28
  Income from discontinued operations             (.02)         (.03)
                                             ---------     ---------
 Basic earnings per common share             $     .35     $     .25
                                             =========     =========
 Diluted average shares of common
  stock outstanding                             40,535        39,879

 Diluted earnings per common share:
  Income from continuing operations                .37           .28
  Income from discontinued operations             (.02)         (.03)
                                             ---------     ---------
 Diluted earnings per common share           $     .35     $     .25
                                             =========     =========

 (a) In order to comply with the Financial Accounting Standards Board
     (FASB) Statement No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or
     Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," 2001 information has been
     reclassified for comparative purposes.

 Harsco Corporation
 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)

                                      March 31         December 31
 (In thousands)                         2002             2001(a)
                                    -----------        -----------
 ASSETS
 Current assets
  Cash and cash equivalents         $    60,454        $    67,409
  Accounts receivable, net              390,227            386,230
  Inventories                           186,658            176,970
  Other current assets                   69,759             68,545
                                    -----------        -----------
   Total current assets                 707,098            699,154
                                    ===========        ===========
 Property, plant and
  equipment, net                        817,771            834,917
 Cost in excess of net assets
  of businesses acquired, net           347,778            353,564
 Other assets                           175,796            180,439
 Assets from discontinued
  operations                             24,428             22,692
                                    -----------        -----------
   Total assets                     $ 2,072,871        $ 2,090,766
                                    ===========        ===========

 LIABILITIES
 Current liabilities
  Short-term borrowings             $    15,527        $    29,559
  Current maturities of
   long term debt                        10,089             12,422
  Accounts payable                      138,519            162,481
  Accrued compensation                   33,802             37,245
  Income taxes                           27,306             34,755
  Dividends payable                      10,030              9,996
  Other current liabilities             179,357            178,699
                                    -----------        -----------
   Total current liabilities            414,630            465,157
                                    ===========        ===========
 Long-term debt                         741,242            720,133
 Deferred income taxes                  108,462            103,082
 Insurance liabilities                   50,005             49,019
 Other liabilities                       57,977             57,621
 Liabilities from discontinued
  operations                             10,078              9,581
                                    -----------        -----------
  Total liabilities                   1,382,394          1,404,593
                                    ===========        ===========

 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Common stock                            83,275             83,106
 Additional paid-in capital              98,518             94,597
 Accumulated other
  comprehensive expense                (139,221)          (135,263)
 Retained earnings                    1,251,810          1,247,680
                                    -----------        -----------
                                      1,294,382          1,290,120
 Treasury stock                        (603,905)          (603,947)
                                    -----------        -----------
   Total shareholders' equity           690,477            686,173
                                    ===========        ===========
   Total liabilities and
    shareholders' equity            $ 2,072,871        $ 2,090,766
                                    ===========        ===========

 (a) In order to comply with the Financial Accounting Standards Board
     (FASB) Statement No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or
     Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," 2001 information has been
     reclassified for comparative purposes.

 Harsco Corporation
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

                                                Three Months Ended
                                                     March 31
 (In thousands)                                  2002        2001
                                               --------    --------
 Cash flows from operating
  activities:
   Net income                                  $ 14,161    $ 10,141
   Adjustments to reconcile net income
    to net cash provided by operating
    activities:
     Depreciation                                37,975      39,274
     Amortization                                   337       4,327
     Equity in (income) loss of
      affiliates, net                              (205)      2,238
     Other, net                                   1,407       3,896
     Changes in assets and liabilities,
      net of acquisitions and dispositions
      of businesses:
       Accounts receivable                       (9,319)    (26,116)
       Inventories                              (12,766)     (6,175)
       Accounts payable                         (20,713)    (21,779)
       Net disbursements related to
        discontinued defense business              (291)       (186)
       Other assets and liabilities              (1,573)     (3,066)
                                               --------    --------
   Net cash provided by operating activities      9,013       2,554
                                               ========    ========

 Cash flows from investing activities:
  Purchases of property, plant
   and equipment                                (31,255)    (33,609)
  Proceeds from sale of assets                   10,463       3,035
  Other investing activities                       --             9
                                               --------    --------
   Net cash (used) by investing activities      (20,792)    (30,565)
                                               ========    ========
 Cash flows from financing activities:
  Short-term borrowings, net                    (12,563)     (1,515)
  Current maturities and long-term debt:
   Additions                                     61,136      80,183
   Reductions                                   (34,583)    (31,180)
  Cash dividends paid on common stock            (9,996)     (9,553)
  Common stock issued-options                     3,611         151
  Common stock acquired for treasury               --           (50)
  Other financing activities                     (1,378)     (1,206)
                                               --------    --------
   Net cash provided by
    financing activities                          6,227      36,830
                                               ========    ========

 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash         (1,403)     (3,874)
                                               --------    --------

 Net increase (decrease) in cash
  and cash equivalents                           (6,955)      4,945

 Cash and cash equivalents at
  beginning of period                            67,409      56,422
                                               ========    ========
 Cash and cash equivalents at
  end of period                                $ 60,454    $ 61,367
                                               ========    ========

 Harsco Corporation
 REVIEW OF OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT (Unaudited)
 (In millions)

                      Infra-          Gas and    S3-    Gen'l  Consol-
                      struc-  Mill     Fluid   Networks Corpo-  idated
                      ture    Svcs     Control   LLC    rate    Totals
                      ======  ======   ======    =====  =====  =======
 Three Months Ended
 March 31, 2002

 Net sales from
  continuing
  operations to
  unaffiliated
  customers           $198.2   $176.8   $3.6  $ --    $--    $458.6
                      ------   ------   ----  ------  -----  ------
 Operating income
  from continuing
  operations          $ 11.3   $ 17.7   $4.2  $ --    $ 0.3  $ 33.5
 Equity in income
  of affiliates, net     0.2     --      -      --     --       0.2
 Interest income         0.3      0.9    -      --      0.2     1.4
 Interest expense       (7.0)    (1.3)   0.1)   --     (2.8)  (11.2)
 Income tax (expense)
  benefit               (1.4)    (5.5)   1.2)   --      0.7    (7.4)
 Minority interest
  in net income         (0.1)    (1.4)   -      --     --      (1.5)
                      ------   ------   ----  ------  -----  ------
 Segment income
  (loss) from
  continuing
  operations             3.3     10.4    2.9    --     (1.6)   15.0

 Loss from
  discontinued
  operations            --       --     (0.8)   --     --      (0.8)
                      ------   ------   ----  ------  -----  ------
 Segment net
  income (loss)       $  3.3   $ 10.4   $2.1  $ --    $(1.6) $ 14.2
                      ======   ======   ====  ======  =====  ======


 Three Months Ended
 March 31, 2001 (a)

 Net sales from
  continuing
  operations to
  unaffiliated
  customers           $215.1   $183.1  $106.4 $ --    $ --   $504.6
                      ------   ------   ----  ------  -----  ------
 Operating income
  (loss) from
  continuing
  operations          $  8.2   $ 18.5   $7.9  $ --    $(0.2) $ 34.4

 Equity in income
  (loss) of
  affiliates, net        0.4      0.1    --     (2.7)   --     (2.2)
 Interest income         0.2      1.0    --      --     --      1.2
 Interest expense       (9.1)    (2.2)  (0.3)    --    (2.9)  (14.5)
 Income tax
  (expense)
  benefit                0.2     (5.2)  (2.9)    0.9    0.4    (6.6)
 Minority interest
  in net income          --      (1.1)    --     --     --     (1.1)
                      ------   ------   ----  ------  -----  ------   
 Segment income
  (loss) from
   continuing
   operations           (0.1)    11.1    4.7    (1.8)  (2.7)   11.2

 Loss from
  discontinued
  operations             --      --     (1.1)    --     --     (1.1)
                      ------   ------   ----  ------  -----  ------
 Segment net
  income (loss)       $ (0.1)  $ 11.1   $3.6  $ (1.8) $(2.7) $ 10.1
                      ======   ======   ====  ======  =====  ======

 (a) In order to comply with the Financial Accounting Standards Board
     (FASB) Statement No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or
     Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," 2001 information has been
     reclassified for comparative purposes.

 Harsco Corporation
 REVIEW OF OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT - Addendum (Unaudited)
 (In millions)

                      Infra-           Gas and   S3-   Gen'l   Consol-
                      struc-  Mill     Fluid  Networks Corpo-  idated
                       ture   Svcs     Control   LLC   rate    Totals
                      ======  ======   ======   =====  =====   =======
 Three Months Ended
 March 31, 2002

 Net sales from
  continuing
  operations to
  unaffiliated
  customers           $198.2   $176.8  $83.6  $ --    $ --   $458.6
                      ------   ------  -----  ------  -----  ------   
 Operating income
  from continuing
  operations before
  special items       $ 11.7   $ 18.8   $5.2  $ --    $ --   $ 35.7
 Net unusual costs,
  special (charges)
  and gains             (0.4)    (1.1)  (1.0)   --      0.3    (2.2)
                      ------   ------  -----  ------  -----  ------   
 Operating income
  from continuing
  operations            11.3     17.7    4.2    --      0.3    33.5
 Equity in income
  of affiliates, net     0.2      --     --     --      --      0.2
 Interest income         0.3      0.9    --     --      0.2     1.4
 Interest expense       (7.0)    (1.3)  (0.1)   --     (2.8)  (11.2)
 Income tax
  (expense) benefit     (1.4)    (5.5)  (1.2)   --      0.7    (7.4)
 Minority interest
  in net income         (0.1)    (1.4)   --     --      --     (1.5)
                      ------   ------  -----  ------  -----  ------   
 Segment net
  income (loss)
  from continuing
  operations             3.3     10.4    2.9    --     (1.6)   15.0

 Loss from
  discontinued
  operations             --      --     (0.8)   --      --     (0.8)
                      ------   ------  -----  ------  -----  ------   
 Segment net
  income (loss)       $  3.3   $ 10.4   $2.1  $ --    $(1.6) $ 14.2
                      ======   ======  =====  ======  =====  ======   

 Three Months Ended
 March 31, 2001 (a)

 Net sales from
  continuing
  operations to
  unaffiliated
  customers           $215.1   $183.1  $106.4 $ --    $ --   $504.6
                      ------   ------  -----  ------  -----  ------   
 Operating income
  from continuing
  operations before
  special items       $ 11.8   $ 20.9  $ 8.6  $ --    $ 0.7  $ 42.0
 Net unusual costs,
  special charges       (3.6)    (2.4)  (0.7)   (2.7)  (0.9)  (10.3)
                      ------   ------  -----  ------  -----  ------   
 Operating income
  (loss) from
  continuing
  operations             8.2     18.5    7.9    --     (0.2)   34.4(b)
 Equity in income
  (loss) of
  affiliates, net        0.4      0.1    --     (2.7)   --     (2.2)
 Interest income         0.2      1.0    --     --      --      1.2
 Interest expense       (9.1)    (2.2)  (0.3)   --     (2.9)  (14.5)
 Income tax
  (expense)
  benefit                0.2     (5.2)  (2.9)    0.9    0.4    (6.6)
 Minority interest
  in net income          --      (1.1)   --      --     --     (1.1)
                      ------   ------  -----  ------  -----  ------   
 Segment income
  (loss) from
  continuing
  operations            (0.1)    11.1    4.7    (1.8)  (2.7)   11.2

 Loss from
  discontinued 
  operations             --       --    (1.1)    --     --     (1.1)
                      ------   ------  -----  ------  -----  ------
 Segment net
  income (loss)       $ (0.1)  $ 11.1  $ 3.6  $ (1.8) $(2.7) $ 10.1
                      ======   ======  =====  ======  =====  ======

 (a) In order to comply with the Financial Accounting Standards Board
     (FASB) Statement No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or
     Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," 2001 information has been
     reclassified for comparative purposes.

 (b) Excludes $2.7 million of losses for S3Networks, LLC that are
     included as special items above. The $2.7 million is included in
     Equity in income (loss) of affiliates, net.


            

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