Innospec Reports Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Business performance on track – one off items impact results; Margins remain strong

Oilfield Services continues to progress; Huntsman acquisition on track

Board maintains 10 percent dividend increase 

EPS impacted by sales phased into Q4 and share-based compensation driven by 32 percent increase in share price

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Nov. 02, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innospec Inc. (NASDAQ:IOSP) today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016.  At the same time, the Company announced that it has declared a semi-annual dividend of $0.34 per common share for the second half of 2016, which will be paid on November 24, 2016 to shareholders of record as of November 15, 2016.  This brings the annual dividend to $0.67 per share, a 10 percent increase over 2015.

Total net sales for the third quarter were $205.5 million, down 19 percent from the $254.2 million reported in the corresponding quarter last year.  Net income was $11.4 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, compared to $35.6 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, recorded a year ago.  Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and fair value adjustments) for the quarter was $21.2 million, a 50 percent decrease from $42.1 million in 2015’s third quarter. The comparative quarter last year was bolstered by strong sales in Octane Additives and a very strong quarter in Oilfield Services.

Results for this quarter include several special items, which are summarized in the table below.  Excluding these special items, adjusted non-GAAP EPS was $0.78 per diluted share, compared to $1.18 per diluted share a year ago. Innospec closed the quarter with a net cash position of $19.6 million, compared to a net debt position of $4.7 million at the end of the second quarter. Cash generation in the quarter was strong, with operating cash inflows of $29.8 million before capital expenditures of $4.7 million.

Adjusted EBITDA and net income excluding special items, and related per-share amounts, are non-GAAP financial measures that are defined and reconciled with GAAP results herein and in the schedules below.

Commenting on the third quarter results, Patrick S. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, said,

“I am pleased to report that, from an operations perspective, the third quarter met our expectations despite a number of one-off items that negatively impacted our earnings. Outside of this we have also seen the phasing of orders into the fourth quarter and an increase in stock-based compensation costs driven by a 32 percent increase in our share price.  With this in mind we expect a strong end to the year and to carry this positive momentum into 2017.”

“In Fuel Specialties, the changes to refinery crude slates continue to impact demand for one of our product lines, but the resulting richer sales mix means that gross margins are strong. The third quarter was also weaker for sales into aviation, but this is a result of order phasing, and we do not feel this reflects a change in underlying demand. With good cost control, we are pleased to have delivered improved operating income in the quarter.”

“Performance Chemicals delivered a really good quarter, with a 9 percent sales increase. With margins also improving, and despite the settlement of a legal claim, this translated into a 17 percent operating income improvement compared to the same quarter in 2015. This success continues to be driven by a strong pipeline of new products being delivered from our R&D team, which is very well aligned to our customers needs. This performance has been delivered despite a significant adverse exchange rate impact on our business in EMEA. The acquisition of the Huntsman European Surfactants business is progressing well, and we believe this transaction is on track to close towards the end of Q4.”

"As we have previously indicated, our Oilfield Services business continues to move in the right direction. Sequential sales have improved again, and the business has moved back to break-even after two very tough quarters, with our cost containment measures delivering reduced operating expenses. Our frac/stim business leads the recovery, with our production chemicals business continuing its robust performance, despite some order phasing into Q4. However, this remains a fragile recovery, and, although WTI is now hovering around the $50 per barrel mark, we need to see this sustained for several months, before this may be translated into more significant opportunities. The market remains very competitive indeed. While we remain cautious, we are viewing 2017 with a little more confidence.”

“Octane Additives sales were lower than anticipated as a customer administrative issue prevented us completing the order in the quarter. This was rectified in October. We are working with our one remaining customer for this business to identify their future demand.”

Net sales in Fuel Specialties for the quarter were $114.4 million, a 6 percent decrease from $121.3 million last year due to an adverse price/mix.  Revenues in the Americas were down by 13 percent year over year driven by softer demand for a specific product line, but were broadly flat in EMEA. In Asia Pacific, sales grew 14 percent from last year, driven by new business wins.  The aviation business experienced a softer quarter, due to the phasing of orders.  Gross margins in the segment rose from last year to 38.3 percent, benefitting from a richer sales mix of higher margin business.  Operating income for the quarter was $24.1 million, up 12 percent from last year’s $21.6 million.

In Performance Chemicals, net sales of $36.8 million were up 9 percent year over year, as volume growth of 14 percent offset an adverse currency impact of 4 percent and 1 percent lower pricing.  By region, sales grew by 6 percent in the Americas and 17 percent in EMEA and Asia Pacific from a year ago.  The segment’s gross margin was 33.4 percent benefitting from a richer sales mix with increased sales of higher margin Personal Care business.  Operating income of $4.2 million for the quarter included a $1.0 million commercial legal settlement with a distributor; excluding this settlement underlying operating income was up 44 percent from the $3.6 million reported in 2015’s third quarter. 

Sales in Oilfield Services were $49.7 million, down 37 percent on a very strong third quarter of 2015, driven by a reduction in customer activity with overall volumes down by 30 percent and an adverse price/mix impact of 7 percent.  However, as we anticipated, sales were up 7 percent on Q2 2016, indicating a modest recovery in this segment.  Current quarter sales are up 37 percent on the low point of Q1 2016.  Gross margins remained strong at 41.4 percent, and operating costs were down 17 percent on the same quarter last year, reflecting our effective cost control measures in these difficult market conditions. This business was break-even at the operating income level, compared to a profit of $7.2 million in the same quarter last year. However, this performance represents continuous improvement over the first and second quarters of this year.

In Octane Additives, net sales for the quarter were $4.6 million. This was lower than expected as the last portion of the current order was delayed because of customer administrative issues, and this was finally fulfilled early in October. If this order had been completed during the third quarter, it would have increased EPS by $0.06 per share.

Corporate costs were $15.2 million, up from $9.3 million a year ago.  In this quarter there were acquisition-related costs of $1.7 million, and an increase of $2.1 million related to share-based compensation and LTIP accruals as a result of the 32 percent rise in the share price during the quarter.

The effective tax rate for the quarter was 13.6 percent, and the expected tax rate for the full year remains at 20 percent.

Net cash generated from operations was strong in the quarter at $29.8 million, compared to $35.5 million a year ago.  As of September 30, 2016, Innospec had $167.1 million in cash and cash equivalents, and total debt of $147.5 million. 

Mr. Williams concluded, "We had some one-off charges this quarter, including those related to the significant rise in our share price. When combined with the order phasing in Octane Additives, these have adversely impacted our EPS by $0.22 per share.  However, our underlying business performance remains close to expectations, and we still feel confident that we will meet our targets for the year. There is evidence of the Oilfield Services business continuing to make progress and some of the order phasing issues are expected to unwind in Q4. With the Huntsman acquisition well on track to enhance Performance Chemicals, we believe that we are very well placed for 2017.”

“Based on our strong financial position, the Board has authorized a further increase in our semi-annual dividend, with a dividend payment of $0.34 per share, which continues to return value to our shareholders.”

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The information presented in this press release includes financial measures that are not calculated or presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (GAAP).  These non-GAAP financial measures comprise adjusted EBITDA, income before income taxes excluding special items and net income excluding special items and related per share amounts.  Adjusted EBITDA is net income per our consolidated financial statements adjusted for the exclusion of charges for interest expense, net, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and acquisition fair value adjustments.  Income before income taxes, net income and diluted EPS, excluding special items, per our consolidated financial statements are adjusted for the exclusion of foreign currency exchange losses/(gains), amortization of acquired intangible assets, adjustment to fair value of contingent consideration, acquisition-related costs, adjustment of income tax provisions, settlement of distributor claim and profit on disposal of subsidiary.  Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are provided herein and in the schedules below.  The Company believes that such non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and may assist them in evaluating the Company’s underlying performance and identifying operating trends.  In addition, these non-GAAP measures address questions the Company routinely receives from analysts and investors and the Company has determined that it is appropriate to make this data available to all investors.  While the Company believes that such measures are useful in evaluating the Company’s performance, investors should not consider them to be a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.  In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similarly-titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies and do not provide a comparable view of the Company’s performance relative to other companies in similar industries.  Management uses adjusted EPS (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for which is GAAP EPS) and adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for which is GAAP net income) to allocate resources and evaluate the performance of the Company’s operations.  Management believes the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is GAAP net income and has provided a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and net income excluding special items, and related per share amounts, to GAAP net income herein and in the schedules below.

About Innospec Inc.

Innospec Inc. is an international specialty chemicals company with approximately 1300 employees in 20 countries. Innospec manufactures and supplies a wide range of specialty chemicals to markets in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.  The Fuel Specialties business specializes in manufacturing and supplying fuel additives that improve fuel efficiency, boost engine performance and reduce harmful emissions. Oilfield Services provides specialty chemicals to all elements of the oil & gas exploration and production industry.  The Performance Chemicals business creates innovative technology-based solutions for our customers in the Personal Care market, focusing on skincare, haircare and suncare.  Octane Additives produces octane improvers to enhance gasoline.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  All statements other than statements of historical facts included or incorporated herein may constitute forward-looking statements.  Such forward-looking statements include statements (covered by words like “expects,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “may,” “believes,” “feels” or similar words or expressions), for example, which relate to earnings, growth potential, operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future.  Although forward-looking statements are believed by management to be reasonable when made, they are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and our actual performance or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements.  Additional information regarding risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to Innospec and affecting our business operations and prospects are described in Innospec’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, Innospec’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 and other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  You are urged to review our discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements under the heading "Risk Factors” in such reports.  Innospec undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Amortization of deferred finance costs of $0.2 million (2015 - $0.6 million) are included in depreciation and amortization in the cash flow statement but in interest expense in the income statement.