KEMET Reports Increased Profitability for the 3rd Quarter
o Net Sales were $165.5 million, up 31% over same quarter last year (up 13% excluding the acquisition)
o Gross Margin improved to 23%
o Net Income was $12.3 million or $0.15 per share
Greenville, South Carolina (January 25, 2007) - KEMET Corporation(NYSE:KEM) today reported that net sales for the quarter ended December 31, 2006, were $165.5 million, which is slightly lower than the prior quarter and a 31% increase over the same quarter last year. Net income before special charges was $12.3 million, or $0.15 per share, compared to $10.1 million, or $0.12 per share,last quarter and $6.1 million, or $0.07 per share, for the same quarter last year. On a GAAP basis, net income was
$5.3 million, or $0.06 per share, for the current quarter compared to net income of $0.8 million for the prior quarter and net income of $1.5 million for the same quarter last year. KEMET also reports results before special charges because the results offer an alternative depiction of normal operations.
"We continue to improve our financial performance by focusing on our customers and improving our product offerings," stated Per Loof, Chief Executive Officer. "Demand was steady across all regions and channels during the quarter, and pricing remained flat."
"Gross margins improved to 23% even though sales in Asia Pacific continue to be a larger percentage of our sales as compared to the previous quarter. This demonstrates that our previously initiated cost reduction programs are beginning to have the intended impact on the bottom line. Our sales to customers in Asia Pacific as a percentage of total sales continued to increase during the quarter and now represent 45% of total sales as compared to 44% in the previous quarter. Net income before special charges was $12.3 million as compared to $10.1 million for the previous quarter."
"It has now been three quarters since the acquisition of the EPCOS tantalum business, and this acquisition continues to provide results accretive to the overall Company. Sales for the newly acquired business were $23.1 million during the December quarter. On September 30th, we finalized the second closing with EPCOS. We have almost completed the full integration of this newly acquired business into the Company, and we are very pleased with the positive responses from our new customers. During the third quarter, KEMET successfully transitioned the Evora, Portugal facility's computer systems into KEMET computer systems."
The Company will hold a conference call at 9:00 am ET Thursday, January 25, 2007, to discuss the earnings release. To access the call, participants in the United States should dial 1-800-416-8033, and participants outside the United States should dial 1-706-643-0979. Participants should reference "KEMET Corporation" and the Conference ID #: 5924994. In conjunction with the conference call, there will be a simultaneous live broadcast over the Internet, which can be accessed at www.KEMET.com/IR. A replay of the conference call will be available until midnight February 8, 2007, at the same link.
KEMET's common stock is listed on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol KEM. At the Investor Relations portion of the Company's web site at www.KEMET.com/IR, users can subscribe to KEMET news releases and can find additional Company information.
OUR BUSINESS
Sales of surface-mount capacitors were 88% of net sales, and sales of leaded parts were 12% of net sales for the December 2006 quarter.
By region, 31% of net sales for the December 2006 quarter were to customers in the Americas, 45% were to customers in Asia Pacific, and 24% were to customers in Europe.
By channel, 55% of net sales for the December 2006 quarter were to distribution customers, 22% were to Electronics Manufacturing Services customers, and 23% were to Original Equipment Manufacturing customers.
Average selling prices for the December 2006 quarter, adjusted for changes in product mix, were basically flat.
Cash and short- and long-term investments in marketable securities increased $128.5 million to $254.2 million during the December 2006 quarter, from $125.7 million at September 30, 2006. The increase was due to the Company's previously announced convertible debt offering of $175 million, offset by the repurchase of $25.0 million of its common stock and the payment of $18.9 million relating to the second closing of the tantalum business of EPCOS.
During the December 2006 quarter, inventories increased $8.5 million to
$145.9 million from $137.4 million at September 30, 2006. Raw materials and supplies increased $6.2 million in the December 2006 quarter, and work in process and finished goods increased $2.3 million. The increase in raw materials and supplies was primarily a result of the conversion of certain raw materials from consignment inventory to owned inventory. This conversion resulted in the Company obtaining improved supplier pricing and terms of payment. Even though inventory increased since last quarter, the inventory turns remained relatively flat.
Capital expenditures for the December 2006 quarter were $13.8 million.
Depreciation and amortization expense in the quarter was $10.6 million.
For fiscal year 2007, KEMET anticipates continuing our investments in key customer relationships through our direct sales and customer service professionals, as well as our investments in research and development, to maintain our competitive position in the capacitor industry. We continue to invest in research and development activities with a primary focus on organic polymer tantalum and high-capacitance ceramic capacitor technologies.
The increase in R&D costs reflects the Company's continuing efforts to be the "Capacitance Company." KEMET introduced 54 new products during the quarter including 18 that were first to market.
The manufacturing moves to low-cost regions are substantially complete. Two manufacturing operation moves still remain to be made. One is the anode manufacturing move to Mexico, which is currently in process, and the other is the tantalum polymer manufacturing move to China, which was started in the fiscal first quarter 2007. It is expected that both moves will be completed by the end of June 2007.
QUIET PERIOD
Beginning April 1, 2007, KEMET will observe a Quiet Period during which the information provided in this news release and the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q will no longer constitute the Company's current expectations. During the Quiet Period, this information should be considered to be historical, applying prior to the Quiet Period only and not subject to update by the Company. The Quiet Period will extend until the day when KEMET's next quarterly earnings release is published.
Contact:
David E. Gable,
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
davidgable@KEMET.com,
864-963-6484
