BEAVERTON, OR, Jul 13 (MARKET WIRE) --
Merix Corporation (NASDAQ: MERX) today announced consolidated financial
results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 ended May 30, 2009.
Highlights
-- Continued improvements in Merix' underlying cost structure preserves
cash and liquidity, positioning the company well for an improvement in
business conditions
-- Meaningful sequential quarterly gross margin improvement, particularly
in Asia where gross margin improved to 14.3% of revenue
-- Significant new customer wins enable share growth in the Test,
Industrial & Medical and Defense & Aerospace end markets
-- Ended fiscal year with $17.6 million in cash and cash equivalents
-- The existing Bank of America credit facility, combined with the
recently announced China-based credit agreement, increases the company's
unused borrowing availability to $42.6 million, representing an $11.5
million increase compared to the third quarter further strengthening the
company's liquidity position
-- Excellent factory performance and further improvement in yields,
quality and customer delivery performance
Financial Results
The Company reported a net loss of $8.4 million or $0.39 per diluted share
on revenue of $58.9 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, which
compares to a net loss of $3.5 million or $0.17 per diluted share on
revenue of $87.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.
Included in the fiscal 2009 fourth quarter loss was $3.6 million of
non-recurring expense items comprised of the following:
-- $0.9 million of non-cash impairment charges associated with estimated
future Wood Village facility lease and property tax payments;
-- $1.1 million of severance payments related to previously announced
actions; and
-- $1.6 million of legal and professional costs primarily related to our
ongoing securities litigation efforts. It is anticipated that the future
quarterly expense rate associated with the securities litigation will be
significantly lower.
Commenting on the recent fourth quarter performance, Michael D.
Burger, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our fourth quarter
revenue decreased 3% compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2009 and we
believe our demand is at or near the bottom of this economic cycle. Our
team has performed exceptionally well given the roughly 30% revenue
decline over the past year by reducing costs while continuing to improve
operating metrics and support our customer needs. These improvements have
reduced our cash break even level to below $60 million of quarterly
revenue. At the same time we've continued to increase our liquidity by
expanding our existing Bank of America relationship and adding a new
China-based credit facility which together increases our overall access
to low cost capital."
Mr. Burger continued, "Despite the economic slowdown we believe we are
maintaining market share and beginning to win new projects in a number of
larger customer programs. These recent wins are a testament that we have
the right operational model which customers value. With our stronger
liquidity position, we're now refocusing our efforts externally and
increasing our intensity to leverage our unique geographic footprint and
market position. While we anticipate success, predicting the timing is
always a challenge and therefore we currently anticipate first quarter
revenues to stabilize and remain relatively flat when compared to the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2009."
Merix' overall gross margins improved significantly from the third quarter
of fiscal 2009 and averaged 8.5% of revenue for the fourth quarter
compared to 10.7% and 1.4% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 and third
quarter of fiscal 2009, respectively. The significant margin improvement
compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2009 was due to the full-quarter
impact of cost reduction actions taken during the first few months of
calendar 2009 and the operational improvements achieved over the last
several quarters.
Operating expenses, exclusive of impairment, restructuring charges and
certain legal and professional expenses associated primarily with our
securities litigation process, totaled $8.1 million in the fourth quarter
of fiscal 2009 compared to $9.8 million and $8.8 million in the fourth
quarter of fiscal 2008 and third quarter of fiscal 2009, respectively.
The sequential quarterly expense reduction of $0.7 million was also the
result of the full-quarter impact of cost reduction actions taken in the
first few months of calendar 2009.
Liquidity
Merix ended the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 with $17.6 million in cash
and cash equivalents, near a 21 month high. Borrowings under the Company's
line of credit were unchanged from the third quarter at $8.0 million with
$37.3 million of remaining availability under the line. Additionally, on
June 29, 2009 Merix announced a new credit agreement with Industrial and
Commercial Bank of China that provides an additional $5.3 million of low
cost borrowing capacity. Today, total unused and available borrowing
capacity equals $42.6 million representing an $11.5 million increase from
the third quarter of fiscal 2009.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
Merix will conduct a conference call and live webcast Monday, July 13,
2009 at 2:00 p.m. PT. Management will discuss fourth quarter fiscal 2009
financial results, provide a qualitative discussion regarding our business
outlook and comment further on the strategic direction of the Company. To
access the webcast, log on to www.merix.com.
An online replay of the webcast will be available at 5:00 pm PT on July
13, 2009 and a telephone replay will be available from 4:00 pm PT on July
13, 2009 until 11:59 pm PT on Monday, July 20, 2009 by calling (320)
365-3844, access code 104349.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
"Non-GAAP Net Loss excluding Unusual Items" is disclosed in this press
release and is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes the
disclosure of this non-GAAP financial measure, when presented in
conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures, provide useful
information to the Company, investors and other users of the financial
statements of the underlying operating performance of the company for a
given level of net sales. Management believes this measure is important
because it reflects financial performance that is unencumbered by certain
non-recurring or unusual items. The Company has provided a reconciliation
of this measure to GAAP financial information in the attached schedules.
About Merix
Merix is a leading manufacturer of technologically advanced, multilayer,
rigid printed circuit boards for use in sophisticated electronic
equipment. Merix provides high-performance materials, quick-turn
prototype, pre-production and volume production services to its
customers. Principal markets served by Merix include communications and
networking, computing and peripherals, test, industrial and medical,
defense and aerospace, and automotive end markets in the electronics
industry. Additional corporate information is available on the internet
at www.merix.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to the Company's
business operations and prospects, including statements related to
estimates of financial results for future reporting periods that are made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws.
These forward-looking statements, which may be identified by the inclusion
of words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes,"
"seeks," "estimates," "goals" and other similar expressions, are based on
current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections that are
subject to change. Actual results may differ materially from the
forward-looking statements. Many factors, including the following, could
cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements: our ability to control or pass through increases in the cost
of raw materials and supplies; changes in customer order levels, product
mix and inventory build-up; lower than expected or delayed sales; ability
to successfully restructure Merix Asia and complete the related capital
and technology expansion; the ability to successfully and timely
integrate the operations of Merix Asia; continued availability of our
line of credit facility or sources of additional capital; the ability to
successfully restructure Merix Oregon; fluctuations in demand for
products and services of the Company, including quick-turn and premium
services; foreign currency risk; the introduction of new products or
technologies by competitors; the ability to avoid unanticipated costs,
including costs relating to product quality issues and customer warranty
claims; pricing and other competitive pressures in the industry from
domestic and global competitors; all other risks inherent in foreign
operations such as increased regulatory complexity and compliance cost
and greater political and economic instability; our ability to fully
utilize our assets and control costs; our ability to retain or attract
employees with sufficient know-how to conduct our manufacturing processes
and maintain or increase our production output and quality; and other
risks listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise disclosed by the Company,
including those set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended May 31, 2008 and Form 10-Q for the third quarter ended
February 28, 2009. Merix Corporation does not undertake to update any
such factors or to publicly announce developments or events relating to
the matters described herein.
MERIX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except earnings per share data)
(Unaudited)
Fiscal quarter ended Fiscal year ended
------------------------------- --------------------
May 30, Feb. 28, May 31, May 30, May 31,
2009 2009 2008 2009 2008
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net sales: $ 58,879 $ 60,721 $ 87,554 $ 287,127 $ 378,637
Cost of sales 53,878 59,845 78,185 264,941 340,778
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Gross profit 5,001 876 9,369 22,186 37,859
Gross margin 8.5% 1.4% 10.7% 7.7% 10.0%
Operating expenses:
Engineering 361 500 523 2,121 1,810
Selling, general
and
administrative 9,298 8,867 9,322 36,896 43,268
Impairment and
severance
charges 1,991 22,342 (175) 24,895 15,686
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total
operating
expenses 11,650 31,709 9,670 63,912 60,764
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating income
(loss) (6,649) (30,833) (301) (41,726) (22,905)
Other expense, net (1,049) (1,050) (1,723) (4,317) 21
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Loss before income
taxes and minority
interests (7,698) (31,883) (2,024) (46,043) (22,884)
Provision for income
taxes 579 628 1,057 2,628 1,502
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Loss before minority
interests (8,277) (32,511) (3,081) (48,671) (24,386)
Minority interests 86 155 458 593 1,165
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net loss $ (8,363) $ (32,666) $ (3,539) $ (49,264) $ (25,551)
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Diluted net loss per
share $ (0.39) $ (1.54) $ (0.17) $ (2.34) $ (1.22)
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Diluted shares used
in per share
calculations 21,573 21,170 21,072 21,098 21,019
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
MERIX CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
NET SALES, GROSS PROFIT & GROSS MARGIN BY SEGMENT
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Fiscal quarter ended Fiscal year ended
------------------------------- --------------------
May 30, Feb. 28, May 31, May 30, May 31,
2009 2009 2008 2009 2008
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net sales:
North America 27,274 28,807 45,495 137,149 203,202
Asia 31,605 31,914 42,059 149,978 175,435
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total net
sales $ 58,879 $ 60,721 $ 87,554 $ 287,127 $ 378,637
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Gross profit:
North America 477 (2,386) 4,899 4,739 21,489
Asia 4,524 3,262 4,470 17,447 16,370
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total gross
profit $ 5,001 $ 876 $ 9,369 $ 22,186 $ 37,859
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Gross margin:
North America 1.7% -8.3% 10.8% 3.5% 10.6%
Asia 14.3% 10.2% 10.6% 11.6% 9.3%
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total gross
margin 8.5% 1.4% 10.7% 7.7% 10.0%
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
MERIX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
May 30, 2009 May 31, 2008
------------ ------------
Assets:
Cash and short-term investments $ 17,571 $ 5,728
Accounts receivable, net 43,285 73,153
Inventories, net 14,367 23,631
Assets held for sale 3 1,477
Deferred income taxes 160 75
Prepaid and other current assets 4,896 12,961
------------ ------------
Total current assets 80,282 117,025
Property, plant and equipment, net 95,883 103,012
Goodwill 11,392 31,794
Intangible assets, net 6,884 8,866
Deferred income taxes 612 885
Assets held for sale 1,146 -
Other assets 4,471 5,859
------------ ------------
Total assets $ 200,670 $ 267,441
============ ============
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
Accounts payable $ 33,263 $ 59,789
Accrued liabilities 14,715 15,783
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 47,978 75,572
Long-term debt 78,000 70,000
Other long-term liabilities 4,234 3,522
------------ ------------
Total liabilities 130,212 149,094
------------ ------------
Minority interests 3,935 4,573
Shareholders' equity 66,523 113,774
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 200,670 $ 267,441
============ ============
MERIX CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Fiscal quarter ended Fiscal year ended
-------------------- --------------------
May 30, May 31, May 30, May 31,
2009 2008 2009 2008
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from operating
activities:
Net loss $ (8,363) $ (3,539) $ (49,264) $ (25,551)
Net adjustments to
reconcile loss to net cash
provided by operating
activitities:
Depreciation and
amortization 5,783 4,761 22,605 20,992
Other non-cash items 1,395 1,943 23,997 11,995
Changes in working capital 536 705 25,343 4,633
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by
operating activities (649) 3,870 22,681 12,069
Cash flows from investing
activities:
Purchases of property, plant
and equipment (874) (8,645) (19,005) (28,394)
Proceeds from disposal of
property, plant and
equipment 27 255 988 278
Net changes in investments - - - 9,025
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Net cash used in
investing activities (847) (8,390) (18,017) (19,091)
Cash flows from financing
activities:
Principal payments on
long-term borrowings - - - (2,500)
Principal payments on capital
lease obligations - - - (438)
Net borrowings on revolving
line of credit - - 8,000 -
Other financing activities,
net (17) (177) (821) (1,487)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Net cash used in
financing activities (17) (177) 7,179 (4,425)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Net change in cash and cash
equivalents (1,513) (4,697) 11,843 (11,447)
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period 19,084 10,425 5,728 17,175
--------- --------- --------- ---------
End of period $ 17,571 $ 5,728 $ 17,571 $ 5,728
========= ========= ========= =========
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
NET SALES STATISTICS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three months ended
----------------------------------------------
May 30, 2009 Feb. 28, 2009 May 31, 2008
-------------- -------------- --------------
Net Sales by End Markets:
Communications &
Networking $ 23,125 39% $ 24,917 41% $ 36,626 43%
Automotive 10,050 17% 11,511 19% 21,255 19%
Computing & Peripherals 4,074 7% 4,725 8% 6,046 10%
Test, Industrial and
Medical 9,300 16% 7,153 12% 8,844 10%
Defense & Aerospace 6,881 12% 5,998 10% 7,641 7%
Other 5,449 9% 6,417 10% 7,142 11%
-------------- -------------- --------------
$ 58,879 100% $ 60,721 100% $ 87,554 100%
============== ============== ==============
Net Sales by Type:
Quick-Turn & Premium $ 10,550 18% $ 9,959 16% $ 17,350 20%
Full Lead Time 48,329 82% 50,762 84% 70,204 80%
-------------- -------------- --------------
$ 58,879 100% $ 60,721 100% $ 87,554 100%
============== ============== ==============
Top 5 Customers (as % of
net sales) 35% 37% 43%
========= ========= =========
Current Period Change in
Average Pricing
Compared to: Three months ended
----------------------------
February 28, May 30,
2009 2008
------------- -------------
North America 1% 9%
Asia 8% 16%
------------- -------------
Consolidated 5% 6%
============= =============
Current Period Change in
Unit Volumes Compared to: Three months ended
----------------------------
February 28, May 30,
2009 2008
------------- -------------
North America -7% -45%
Asia -8% -36%
------------- -------------
Consolidated -8% -36%
============= =============
Cash, Borrowings and
Credit Availability: May 30, 2009 Feb. 28, 2009 May 31, 2008
-------------- -------------- --------------
Cash 17,571 19,084 5,728
Credit Availability 45,265 39,070 43,000
Outstanding Borrowings (8,000) (8,000) -
--------- --------- ----------
Net Cash & Available
Credit 54,836 (1) 50,154 48,728
========= ========= ==========
Fiscal year ended
------------------------------
May 30, 2009 May 31, 2008
-------------- --------------
Net Sales by End Markets:
Communications &
Networking $ 116,482 41% $ 159,535 42%
Automotive 58,423 21% 79,838 20%
Computing & Peripherals 21,368 8% 32,111 9%
Test, Industrial and
Medical 36,238 12% 40,866 11%
Defense & Aerospace 27,401 9% 26,468 7%
Other 27,215 9% 39,819 11%
-------------- --------------
$ 287,127 100% $ 378,637 100%
============== ==============
Net Sales by Type:
Quick-Turn & Premium $ 51,646 18% $ 85,117 22%
Full Lead Time 235,481 82% 293,520 78%
-------------- --------------
$ 287,127 100% $ 378,637 100%
============== ==============
Top 5 Customers (as % of
net sales) 37% 36%
========= =========
Current Period Change in
Average Pricing Fiscal year
Compared to: ended
-------------
May 30, 2008
-------------
North America 8%
Asia 10%
-------------
Consolidated -0.3%
=============
Current Period Change in Fiscal year
Unit Volumes Compared to: ended
-------------
May 30, 2008
-------------
North America -37%
Asia -23%
-------------
Consolidated -24%
=============
(1) Excludes $5.3 million available under credit facility entered into
with Industrial and Commerical Bank of China on June 26, 2009.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Non-GAAP Net Loss and
Cash, Available Credit and Borrowings
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three months ended
------------------------------------------- ---------
Fiscal 2009
Non-GAAP Net May 30, Feb. 28, Nov. 29, Aug. 30, Fiscal
Loss: 2009 2009 2008 2008 Year 2009
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net loss (GAAP) $ (8,363) $ (32,666) $ (6,088) $ (2,147) $ (49,264)
Adjustments to net
loss:
Employee
severance and
other
restructuring 1,122 1,620 387 40 3,169
(Gain)/loss on
disposal of
surplus assets - - 702 (567) 135
Wood Village
closure 869 222 - - 1,091
Goodwill
impairment - 20,500 - - 20,500
Securities
litigation and
other
professional
fees 1,565 523 - - 2,088
Non-GAAP net
loss,
excluding
unusual ---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
items $ (4,807) $ (9,801) $ (4,999) $ (2,674) (22,281)
========== ========= ========= ========= =========
Three months ended
------------------------------------------- ---------
Fiscal 2008
Non-GAAP Net May 31, Mar. 1, Dec. 1, Sep. 1, Fiscal
Loss: 2008 2008 2007 2007 Year 2008
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net loss (GAAP) $ (3,539) $ (13,354) $ (5,009) $ (3,649) (25,551)
Adjustments to net
loss:
Employee
severance and
other
restructuring 374 1,781 885 241 3,281
(Gain)/loss on
disposal of
surplus assets (301) - - - (301)
Wood Village
closure and
impairment (490) 12,767 - - 12,277
Asia asset
impairment 242 92 95 - 429
Huizhou
deferred tax
reversal - (960) - - (960)
Gain on
settlement of
Asia
acquisition -
acquisition
note
payable - (5,094) - - (5,094)
Write-off of
deferred
financing
costs 476 - - - 476
Non-GAAP net
loss,
excluding
unusual ---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
items $ (3,238) $ (4,768) $ (4,029) $ (3,408) (15,443)
========== ========= ========= ========= =========
Cash Borrowings
and Credit May 30, Feb. 28, Nov. 29, Aug. 30, May 31,
Availability: 2009 2009 2008 2008 2008
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Cash 17,571 19,084 11,483 5,938 5,728
Borrowing base 45,265 39,070 42,944 50,519 43,000
Outstanding
borrowings (8,000) (8,000) (6,983) - -
---------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net Cash &
Available
Credit 54,836(1) 50,154 47,444 56,457 48,728
========== ========= ========= ========= =========
(1) Excludes $5.3 million available under credit facility entered into
with Industrial and Commerical Bank of China on June 26, 2009.
Merix Investor Relations Contact:
Allen Muhich
Vice President, Finance
503.716.3700
Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.
-0-
