Plexus Reports Fiscal Third Quarter Revenue of $609 Million, EPS of $0.66

NEENAH, Wis., July 18, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plexus Corp. (Nasdaq:PLXS) today announced:

Q3 Fiscal 2012 Results (quarter ended June 30, 2012):

• Revenue: $609 million, relative to our guidance of $590 to $620 million
• Diluted EPS: $0.66, including $0.08 per share of stock-based compensation expense, relative to our guidance of $0.60 to $0.66

Q4 Fiscal 2012 Guidance:

• Revenue: $590 to $620 million
• Diluted EPS: $0.60 to $0.66, excluding any restructuring charges and including approximately $0.08 per share of stock-based compensation expense

Dean Foate, President and CEO, commented, "Fiscal third quarter revenues were up 6% sequentially to $609 million, above the mid-point of our guidance range and a record revenue level for the company. Our diluted EPS was $0.66, above the mid-point of our guidance range as we benefited from foreign currency exchange gains and a reduction in our expected tax rate.  Return on invested capital improved to 15.0% this quarter, below our current target of 17.5%, but well above our weighted average cost of capital of 12.5%." 

Mr. Foate continued, "Our new business development results were strong again this quarter. Our teams won 36 new programs in our Manufacturing Solutions group; we anticipate these wins will generate approximately $203 million in annualized revenue when fully ramped into production. Of course, all future revenues are subject to the timing and ultimate realization of customer forecasts and orders. Our funnel of qualified business opportunities increased during the quarter to $2.2 billion, a solid result considering the high level of new program wins over the past four fiscal quarters." 

Ginger Jones, Senior Vice President and CFO, commented, "Gross margin was 9.4% for the fiscal third quarter, which was within our expected range. Selling and administrative expenses were at the high end of our expectations as a result of increased variable incentive compensation expense. However, we were able to deliver operating margin within our expectations despite the higher incentive compensation expense. Our estimated tax rate for fiscal 2012 has dropped slightly to 9% from 10%. The impact of this reduction in our estimated tax rate, together with the foreign currency exchange gains accounted for $0.04 of EPS above our expectations."

Ms. Jones continued, "Fiscal third quarter cash cycle days including customer deposits were 63 days, three days better than our expectations. Days in receivables were consistent with the prior quarter, while inventory days had a healthy improvement of six days as a result of our ongoing efforts to reduce inventory levels. This reduction was partially offset by a three day decrease in accounts payable days. We generated free cash flow of $23 million during the quarter." 

Ms. Jones concluded, "During the fiscal third quarter we entered into a five-year, $250 million senior unsecured credit facility (the "New Credit Facility") that terminates on May 15, 2017.  The New Credit Facility includes a $160 million revolving credit facility and a $90 million term loan that refinanced our previous $100 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility and the balance of $90 million under our senior unsecured term loan, both scheduled to mature on April 4, 2013. The New Credit Facility will also be available to satisfy future general corporate purposes.  We believe this level of debt appropriately leverages our balance sheet to improve weighted average cost of capital and create shareholder value." 

Mr. Foate continued, "We are establishing fiscal fourth quarter 2012 revenue guidance of $590 to $620 million. At that level of revenue we anticipate EPS of $0.60 to $0.66, excluding any unanticipated restructuring charges and including approximately $0.08 per share of stock-based compensation expense. The midpoint of this guidance range suggests that our fiscal fourth quarter revenue will be essentially flat when compared to our fiscal third quarter."

Mr. Foate concluded, "Looking further ahead, we anticipate that the macro-environment will continue to be challenging, making longer-range growth projections exceptionally difficult.  Our optimism about longer-term growth is anchored in our strong new wins performance over the past year that should result in revenue growth strengthening in fiscal 2013.  However, with this difficult macro backdrop, we currently anticipate that the end-market environment will continue to be challenging for many of our customers, resulting in muted growth for mature production programs.  Optimizing results under our financial model relies on a balanced mix, where growing mature programs yield typically better operating performance, and offset the production startup costs we experience in the earlier phases of new programs. While we believe that our current level of operating margin performance is industry leading, it is below our target, which we believe may be difficult to achieve in an environment where our revenue growth is heavily biased to ramping new program wins versus end-market growth of mature programs."

Plexus provides non-GAAP supplemental information such as return on invested capital ("ROIC") and free cash flow. ROIC is used for internal management assessments because it provides additional insight into ongoing financial performance. In addition, we provide both measures because we believe they offer insight into the metrics that are driving management decisions as well as management's performance under the tests that it sets for itself. Please refer to the attached reconciliations of non-GAAP supplemental data.

MARKET SECTOR BREAKOUT

Plexus reports revenue based on the market sector breakout set forth in the table below, which reflects the Company's focus on its global business and market development sector strategy. 

 FISCAL Q3 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

• ROIC for the fiscal third quarter was 15.0%. The Company defines ROIC as tax-effected annualized operating income divided by average invested capital over a rolling four-quarter period for the third quarter and a rolling three-quarter period for the second quarter. Invested capital is defined as equity plus debt, less cash and cash equivalents. 
• Cash flow provided by operations was approximately $35 million for the quarter. Capital expenditures for the quarter were $12 million. Free cash flow was positive for the quarter, at approximately $23 million. The Company defines free cash flow as cash flow provided by (or used in) operations less capital expenditures. 
• Top 10 customers comprised 60% of revenue during the quarter, consistent with the previous quarter.
• Juniper Networks, Inc., with 16% of revenue, was the only customer representing 10% or more of revenue for the quarter.
• Cash Conversion Cycle: 

Conference Call/Webcast and Replay Information:

About Plexus Corp. – The Product Realization Company

Plexus (www.plexus.com) delivers optimized Product Realization solutions through a unique Product Realization Value Stream service model. This customer-focused services model seamlessly integrates innovative product conceptualization, design, commercialization, manufacturing, fulfillment and sustaining services to deliver comprehensive end-to-end solutions for customers in the America, European and Asia-Pacific regions. 

Plexus is the industry leader in servicing mid-to-low volume, higher complexity customer programs characterized by unique flexibility, technology, quality and regulatory requirements. Award-winning customer service is provided to over 130 branded product companies in the Networking/Communications, Medical, Industrial/Commercial and Defense/Security/Aerospace market sectors.

The Plexus Corp. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7065

Safe Harbor and Fair Disclosure Statement

The statements contained in this release which are guidance or which are not historical facts (such as statements in the future tense and statements including "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "goal," "target" and similar terms and concepts), including all discussions of periods which are not yet completed, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk of customer delays, changes, cancellations or forecast inaccuracies in both ongoing and new programs; the poor visibility of future orders, particularly in view of current economic conditions; the economic performance of the industries, sectors and customers we serve; the effects of the volume of revenue from certain sectors or programs on our margins in particular periods; the risk that our recent agreement with Kontron does not result in the revenues or margins anticipated by us; our ability to secure new customers, maintain our current customer base and deliver product on a timely basis; the risk that our revenue and/or profits associated with customers who are acquired by third parties will be negatively affected; the particular risks relative to new or recent customers or programs, which risks include customer and other delays, start-up costs, potential inability to execute, the establishment of appropriate terms of agreements, and the lack of a track record of order volume and timing; the risks of concentration of work for certain customers; our ability to manage successfully a complex business model characterized by high customer and product mix, low volumes and demanding quality, regulatory, and other requirements; the risk that new program wins and/or customer demand may not result in the expected revenue or profitability; the fact that customer orders may not lead to long-term relationships; the effects of shortages and delays in obtaining components as a result of economic cycles or natural disasters; raw materials and component cost fluctuations, particularly due to sudden increases in customer demand; the risks associated with excess and obsolete inventory, including the risk that inventory purchased on behalf of our customers may not be consumed or otherwise paid for by the customer, resulting in an inventory write-off; the weakness of the global economy and the continuing instability of the global financial markets and banking system, including the potential inability of our customers or suppliers to access credit facilities; the effect of changes in the pricing and margins of products; the effect of start-up costs of new programs and facilities, such as our announced plans to expand in Romania and the United States, and recent, planned and potential future expansions; the risk of unanticipated costs, unpaid duties and penalties related to an ongoing audit of our import compliance by U.S. Customs and Border Protection; increasing regulatory and compliance requirements; possible unexpected costs and operating disruption in transitioning programs; the potential effect of fluctuations in the value of the currencies in which we transact business; the potential effect of world or local events or other events outside our control (such as drug cartel-related violence in Mexico, changes in oil prices and terrorism); the impact of increased competition; and other risks detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings (particularly in Part I, Item 1A of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011).

(financial tables follow)

Free Cash Flow Calculation

The Company defines free cash flow as cash flow provided by (or used in) operations less capital expenditures. For the three months ended June 30, 2012 cash flow provided by operations was approximately $35 million less capital expenditures of approximately $12 million, resulting in free cash flow of approximately $23 million.