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Pulse Electronics Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter Results
[March 20, 2015]

Pulse Electronics Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter Results


Pulse Electronics Corporation (OTC Pink: PULS), a leading provider of electronic components, today reported results for its fourth quarter ended December 26, 2014.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

  • Net sales were $80.1 million, down 8.7 percent from $87.8 million in the prior-year quarter, and down 9.2 percent from $88.2 million in the third quarter.
  • Operating profit (U.S. GAAP) was $1.2 million compared with $1.2 million in the prior-year quarter and a loss of $1.6 million in the third quarter.
  • Non-GAAP operating profit was $3.0 million compared with $2.2 million in the prior-year quarter and $4.6 million in the third quarter.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $4.7 million compared to $4.2 million in the prior-year quarter and $6.5 million in the third quarter. As a percentage of revenue, Adjusted EBITDA margin was 5.9 percent compared to 4.8 percent in the prior-year quarter and 7.4 percent in the third quarter.
  • Mark Twaalfhoven was named Chief Executive Officer on December 1, 2014.

Fourth Quarter Operating Performance

Net sales were $80.1 million compared to $87.8 million in the prior-year quarter mainly due to weakness in specific product lines, particularly mobile handset antennas and certain automotive products. Demand for core network and power products and wireless infrastructure antennas was largely flat with the previous year. Sequentially, net sales decreased 9.2 percent compared to third quarter net sales of $88.2 million as weak demand that began in the third quarter unexpectedly carried over into the fourth quarter and further suppressed revenue. Orders in the first quarter are stable with the fourth quarter, while revenue will be lower due to seasonality typical of Chinese New Year.

Cost of sales decreased 10.3 percent to $61.6 million from $68.7 million in the prior-year quarter. The company's gross profit margin was 23.1 percent compared with 21.7 percent in the prior-year quarter and 24.0 percent in the third quarter. Gross profit margin increased compared to the prior year mainly due to improved product mix and manufacturing efficiency improvement initiatives which offset higher labor costs in China. Sequentially, gross margin declined slightly due to unfavorable product mix and continued industry price pressure in mobile antennas.

Operating expenses were $16.4 million and included $0.7 million of expenses related to initiatives to reduce the company's number of legal entities. Excluding the legal entity restructuring costs, operating expenses declined 9.2 percent from the fourth quarter of 2013, mainly due to results of actions related to the previously announced expense reduction initiative. Operating expenses decreased 5.9 percent sequentially, mainly due to lower compensation expense and efforts to control spending in response to the lower revenue.

Operating profit (U.S. GAAP) was $1.2 million compared with $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, as operating expense reductions offset lower gross profit resulting from lower revenue. Non-GAAP operating profit was $3.0 million compared with $2.2 million in the prior-year quarter and $4.6 million in the third quarter.

The company had $21.0 million of cash and cash equivalents at December 26, 2014 compared with $26.9 million at December 27, 2013. The decrease in cash mainly reflects the payment of cash consideration for the convertible bond exchange transactions, redemption of remaining convertible bonds, refinancing transaction fees and expenses, capital expenditures, and increases in working capital. Cash generated by operating activities in the fourth quarter was $1.3 million.

Merger with Affiliates of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

The company announced on March 2, 2015 that it has entered into a definitive agreement with certain affiliates of investment funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (such affiliates, "Oaktree"), under which Oaktree will invest a total of $17.0 million in Pulse and subsequently acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Pulse. Pulse shareholders will be entitled to receive $1.50 in cash for each share of common stock they hold immediately prior to the closing of the merger. The transactions will result in Pulse becoming a private company, which will continue to be led by Mark Twaalfhoven as Chief Executive Officer. Further information on the transaction can be found in the company's Form SC 13E3 filed with the SEC on March 6, 2015.

About Pulse Electronics Corporation

Pulse Electronics is a leading electronic components partner that helps customers build the next great product by providing the needed technical solutions. Pulse Electronics has a long operating history of innovation in magnetics, antennas and connectors, as well as the ability to ramp quickly into high-quality, high-volume production. The company serves the wireless and wireline communications, power management, military/aerospace and automotive industries. Pulse Electronics is a participating member of the IEEE, SFF, OIF, HDBaseT Alliance, CommNexus, MoCA, and IWPC. Visit the Pulse Electronics website at www.pulseelectronics.com.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains statements, including projections of future business objectives and financial results, that are "forward looking" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on the company's current information and expectations. There can be no assurance these forward-looking statements will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially due to the risk factors listed from time to time in the company's SEC reports including, but not limited to, those discussed in its Current Reports on Form 8-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K. All such risk factors are incorporated herein by reference as though set forth in full. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

Non-GAAP Measures

In this press release and in other public statements, Pulse presents certain non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations and may not be comparable with similar non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Set forth in Schedule A are the reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These reconciliations should be carefully evaluated. Prior disclosures of non-GAAP figures may not exclude the same items and as such should not be used for comparison purposes. Management believes that these measures enhance investors' understanding of the company's financial performance and the comparability of the company's operating results to prior periods, as well as against the performance of other companies.

Copyright © 2015 Pulse Electronics Corporation. All rights reserved. All brand names and trademarks are properties of their respective holders.





                 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except per-share data)
 
      Three Months Ended Year Ended
12/26/2014 12/27/2013 12/26/2014 12/27/2013
Net sales $ 80,110 $ 87,772 $ 343,534 $ 355,676
Cost of sales   61,638     68,682     266,623     274,009  
Gross profit 18,472 19,090 76,911 81,667
Operating expenses 16,402 17,331 68,806 74,041
Severance, impairment and other associated costs 753 560 3,937 3,342
CEO transition costs   75     -     4,128     -  
Operating profit 1,242 1,199 40 4,284
 
Interest expense, net (6,493 ) (6,373 ) (26,317 ) (24,492 )
Other (expense) income, net   (1,358 )   452     (1,829 )   (2,432 )
Loss before income taxes (6,609 ) (4,722 ) (28,106 ) (22,640 )
Income tax expense   (2,978 )   (2,362 )   (4,752 )   (4,383 )
Net loss (9,587 ) (7,084 ) (32,858 ) (27,023 )
Less: Net (loss) earnings attributable to non-controlling interest   (33 )   72     (2 )   111  
Net loss attributable to Pulse Electronics Corporation $ (9,554 ) $ (7,156 ) $ (32,856 ) $ (27,134 )
 
Basic shares outstanding 17,565 8,006 16,278 7,994
Basic loss per share $ (0.54 ) $ (0.89 ) $ (2.02 ) $ (3.39 )
 
Diluted shares outstanding 17,565 8,006 16,278 7,994
Diluted loss per share $ (0.54 ) $ (0.89 ) $ (2.02 ) $ (3.39 )
 
 

                       
BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended Year Ended
12/26/2014 12/27/2013 12/26/2014 12/27/2013
Net sales:
Network $ 35,868 $ 36,813 $ 152,602 $ 150,570
Power 24,706 26,289 105,936 111,544
Wireless   19,536     24,670     84,996     93,562  
Total net sales 80,110 87,772 343,534 355,676
Segment operating profit (loss):
Network 1,439 859 7,124 4,839
Power 2,832 2,358 9,029 7,607
Wireless   (1,504 )   (1,422 )   (6,741 )   (4,673 )
Segment operating profit 2,767 1,795 9,412 7,773
Severance, impairment and other associated costs 753 560 3,937 3,342
CEO transition costs 75 - 4,128 -
Legal entity restructuring costs 687 - 1,264 -
Legal reserve   10     36     43     147  
Operating profit $ 1,242   $ 1,199   $ 40   $ 4,284  
 
FINANCIAL POSITION (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands) 12/26/2014 12/27/2013
 
Cash and cash equivalents $ 20,987 $ 26,902
Accounts receivable, net 54,646 62,185
Inventory, net 35,760 36,726
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 13,746 18,966
Net property, plant and equipment 26,472 27,955
Other assets   12,937     16,100  
Total assets 164,548 188,834
 
Accounts payable 61,752 70,871
Current portion of long-term debt - 22,315
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 33,720 36,335
Long-term debt 127,048 90,030
Other long-term liabilities   23,313     22,841  
Total liabilities 245,833 242,392
Total deficit   (81,285 )   (53,558 )
 
Total liabilities and deficit $ 164,548 $ 188,834
 
Shares outstanding 17,475 7,956
 
 

                       

Schedule A

NON-GAAP MEASURES (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except per-share amounts)
 
1. Operating profit excluding severance, impairment and other associated costs, CEO transition costs, legal entity restructuring costs, non-cash stock-based compensation expenses, and legal reserve costs
 
Three Months Ended Year Ended
12/26/2014 12/27/2013 12/26/2014 12/27/2013
Operating profit $ 1,242 $ 1,199 $ 40 $ 4,284
Pre-tax severance, impairment and other associated costs 753 560 3,937 3,342
Pre-tax CEO transition costs 75 - 2,952 -
Pre-tax legal entity restructuring costs 687 - 1,264 -
Pre-tax non-cash stock-based compensation expenses 245 413 2,479 1,835
Pre-tax legal reserve   10     36     43     147  
Operating profit excluding severance, impairment and other associated costs, CEO transition costs, legal entity restructuring costs, non-cash stock-based compensation expenses, and legal reserve costs $ 3,012 $ 2,208 $ 10,715 $ 9,608
 
 
2. Net loss per diluted share excluding severance, impairment and other associated costs, CEO transition costs, legal entity restructuring costs, non-cash stock-based compensation expenses, and legal reserve costs
 
Three Months Ended Year Ended
12/26/2014 12/27/2013 12/26/2014 12/27/2013
Net loss per diluted share $ (0.54 ) $ (0.89 ) $ (2.02 ) $ (3.39 )
After-tax severance, impairment and other associated costs, per share 0.03 0.05 0.17 0.30
After-tax CEO transition costs, per share 0.00 - 0.11 -
After-tax legal entity restructuring costs, per share 0.02 - 0.05 -
After-tax non-cash stock-based compensation expenses, per share 0.01 0.03 0.09 0.14
After-tax legal reserve, per share   0.00     0.01     0.00     0.01  
Net loss per diluted share excluding severance, impairment and other associated costs, CEO transition costs, legal entity restructuring costs, non-cash stock-based compensation expenses, and legal reserve costs $ (0.48 ) $ (0.79 ) $ (1.60 ) $ (2.94 )
 
 
3. Adjusted EBITDA
 
Three Months Ended
12/26/2014 12/27/2013
Net loss attributable to Pulse Electronics Corporation $ (9,554 ) $ (7,156 )
Non-controlling interest (33 ) 72
Income tax expense 2,978 2,362
Interest expense, net 6,493 6,373
Non-cash stock-based compensation expenses 245 413
Depreciation and amortization 1,710 1,959
Other expense (income), net 1,358 (452 )
Severance, impairment and other associated costs 753 560
CEO transition costs 75 -
Legal entity restructuring costs 687 -
Legal reserve   10     36  
Adjusted EBITDA $ 4,722 $ 4,167
 


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