Littelfuse Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results

CHICAGO -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFUS) today reported sales and earnings for the fourth quarter and full year of 2012.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

• Sales were $158.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, an 8% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.
• Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2012 were $0.44 compared to $0.70 in the fourth quarter of 2011. The fourth quarter of 2012 included $13.0 million of special items (approximately $0.37 per share) comprised primarily of pension-accounting charges related to settlement of the pension liabilities for certain former employees and impairment charges related to the Shocking Technologies investment. (See page 5, footnote 1 for details).
• The Shocking Technologies impairment resulted from the company’s judgment that it will take longer than originally assumed for this start-up company to reach breakeven sales levels.
• Sales and order trends by business unit were as follows:
  • Electronics sales increased 4% year over year, but declined 14% sequentially, due primarily to weakness in key end markets in addition to normal seasonal trends.
  • Automotive sales increased 10% year over year as the addition of Accel ($4.8 million of sales in the fourth quarter) and 3% growth in the passenger vehicle business more than offset a 7% decline in commercial vehicle sales. Lower commercial vehicle sales reflected weakness in the construction and heavy truck markets.
  • Electrical sales increased 15% year over year due to continued strong growth in custom products and solid performance for power fuses.
  • The electronics book-to-bill ratio for the fourth quarter was 0.98 but is running significantly above 1.0 for the first quarter of 2013.
• Cash provided by operating activities was $40.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, which included a $5 million voluntary pension contribution. Capital expenditures increased to $9.7 million for the fourth quarter as a result of spending on major facility expansion projects.

Full Year Highlights

• Sales were $667.9 million for 2012 compared to $665.0 million for 2011. Excluding approximately $16 million of incremental sales from acquisitions and approximately $9 million of unfavorable currency effects, sales declined less than 1% year over year as strong growth in the electrical business was more than offset by lower electronics sales reflecting weakness in the telecom and PC end markets in addition to channel inventory destocking.
• Diluted earnings per share for 2012 were $3.40 compared to $3.90 in 2011. The decline in diluted earnings per share in 2012 was primarily due to the $0.37 of special charges booked in the fourth quarter of 2012.
• Cash provided by operating activities was $116.2 million for 2012 compared to $120.8 million in 2011. Cash provided by operating activities in 2012 was reduced by $10.0 million of voluntary pension contributions.
• Capital expenditures were $22.5 million in 2012 compared to $17.6 million in 2011. Capital expenditures net of asset disposals were $18.9 million in 2012 and $17.3 million in 2011.

“The fourth quarter came in consistent with our guidance with weak electronics sales, solid automotive performance and continued strong growth in electrical,” said Gordon Hunter, Chief Executive Officer. “It was a challenging second half of the year with the overall weakness in Europe, soft global electronics markets and declining commercial vehicle demand. Despite these challenges we finished 2012 with our second-best performance ever for operating income and record free cash flow (after excluding pension contributions).”

“While the first quarter of 2013 will be challenging as well, we are encouraged by the recent uptick in orders in our electronics and commercial vehicle businesses. If these trends continue, this should lead to improved performance beginning in the second quarter,” added Hunter.

“We are active on the M&A front and the pipeline is strong,” said Phil Franklin, Chief Financial Officer. “After another outstanding year of cash flow performance, we now have a net cash balance of $151 million. We will be looking to use substantial portions of this cash to fund acquisitions in 2013.”

Outlook

• Sales for the first quarter of 2013 are expected to be in the range of $158 to $168 million.
• Earnings for the first quarter of 2013 are expected to be in the range of $0.75 to $0.88 per diluted share.

Dividend

The company will pay a cash dividend of $0.20 per common share on March 7, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 20, 2013.

Conference Call Webcast Information

Littelfuse will host a conference call today, Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern/10:00 a.m. Central time to discuss the fourth quarter results. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed through the company’s website: www.littelfuse.com. Listeners should go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary audio software. The call will be available for replay through March 31, 2013 and can be accessed through the website listed above.

About Littelfuse

Founded in 1927, Littelfuse, Inc., the worldwide leader in circuit protection, offers the industry’s broadest and deepest portfolio of circuit protection products and solutions. Littelfuse devices protect products in virtually every market that uses electrical energy, from consumer electronics to automobiles to industrial equipment. In addition to its Chicago, Illinois, world headquarters, Littelfuse has more than 30 sales, distribution, manufacturing and engineering facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Technologies offered by Littelfuse include Fuses; Gas Discharge Tubes (GDTs); Positive Temperature Coefficient Devices (PTCs); PulseGuard^® ESD Suppressors; SIDACtor^® Devices; Silicon Protection Arrays (SPA^®); Switching Thyristors; TVS Diodes and Varistors. The company also offers a comprehensive line of highly reliable Electromechanical and Electronic Switch and Control Devices for commercial and specialty vehicles and Sensors for automobile safety systems, as well as Protection Relays and underground Power Distribution Centers for the safe control and distribution of electricity.

For more information, please visit the Littelfuse website: littelfuse.com.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are intended to constitute “forward-looking statements” entitled to the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA. These statements may involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks relating to product demand and market acceptance, economic conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing, product quality problems or product recalls, capacity and supply difficulties or constraints, coal mining exposures reserves, failure of an indemnification for environmental liability, exchange rate fluctuations, commodity price fluctuations, the effect of the company’s accounting policies, labor disputes, restructuring costs in excess of expectations, pension plan asset returns less than assumed, integration of acquisitions and other risks which may be detailed in the company’s other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated or implied in the forward-looking statements. This report should be read in conjunction with information provided in the financial statements appearing in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2012. For a further discussion of the risk factors of the company, please see Item 1A. “Risk Factors” to the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2012.

LFUS-F

LITTELFUSE, INC.
Net Sales and Operating Income by Business Unit
(In thousands of USD, unaudited)
			Fourth Quarter											Year-to-Date
			2012				2011				% Change			2012				2011				% Change
Net Sales
Electronics			$	75,124			$	72,454			4	%		$	329,466			$	354,487			(7	%)
Automotive				50,268				45,629			10	%			206,222				197,586			4	%
Electrical				33,402				29,110			15	%			132,225				112,882			17	%
Total net sales			$	158,794			$	147,193			8	%		$	667,913			$	664,955			0	%
			Fourth Quarter											Year-to-Date
			2012				2011				% Change			2012				2011				% Change
Operating Income
Electronics			$	8,348			$	6,008			39	%		$	51,422			$	62,982			(18	%)
Automotive				6,328				5,421			17	%			29,817				30,002			(1	%)
Electrical				8,999				7,435			21	%			32,794				28,902			13	%
Other(1)				(5,656	)			(743	)		661	%			(7,163	)			(7,982	)		(10	%)
Total operating income			$	18,019			$	18,121			(1	%)		$	106,870			$	113,904			(6	%)
Interest expense				403				420							1,701				1,691
Investment impairment (1)				7,334				-							7,334				-
Other (income) expense, net				(1,045	)			(954	)						(2,217	)			(2,888	)
Income before taxes			$	11,327			$	18,655			(39	%)		$	100,052			$	115,101			(13	%)
(1) “Other” typically includes special items such as acquisition-related costs, restructuring costs and asset impairments. “Other” for the fourth quarter of 2012 included (all in operating expense): • Acquisition- related fees ($0.3 million) • Pension valuation adjustments ($0.3 million) • Charges related to settlement of the pension liabilities for certain former employees ($5.1 million) In the fourth quarter of 2012 there were also special items below the operating income line. These items all related to Shocking Technologies and included both impairment and equity losses totaling $7.3 million. The carrying value of the Shocking Technologies investment at December 29, 2012 represents the company's best estimate of the value of its investment as of the balance sheet date. Shocking is currently seeking additional funding, and if these fund-raising efforts are not successful, further impairment of this investment may occur.   Total special items for the fourth quarter of 2012 were $13.0 million. Including tax effects, these items reduced earnings per share by approximately $0.37 cents per share.

LITTELFUSE, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands of USD, except share amounts)
		December 29, 2012				December 31, 2011
		(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	235,404			$	164,016
Short-term investments			-				13,997
Accounts receivable, less allowances			100,559				92,088
Inventories			75,580				75,575
Deferred income taxes			11,890				11,895
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			16,532				14,219
Assets held for sale			5,500				6,592
Total current assets			445,465				378,382
Property, plant and equipment:
Land			6,243				4,888
Buildings			54,559				52,730
Equipment			304,954				281,521
			365,756				339,139
Accumulated depreciation			(244,845	)			(220,255	)
Net property, plant and equipment			120,911				118,884
Intangible assets, net of amortization:
Patents, licenses and software			11,144				10,753
Distribution network			18,964				19,307
Customer lists, trademarks and tradenames			18,704				14,523
Goodwill			133,592				115,697
			182,404				160,280
Investment in unconsolidated entity			8,666				6,000
Other investment			10,327				8,867
Deferred income taxes			8,090				4,191
Other assets			1,865				1,820
Total assets		$	777,728			$	678,424
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	27,226			$	19,934
Accrued payroll			20,540				23,048
Accrued expenses			11,062				8,861
Accrued severance			1,033				1,843
Accrued income taxes			11,559				10,591
Current portion of long-term debt			84,000				85,000
Total current liabilities			155,420				149,277
Accrued post-retirement benefits			22,338				15,292
Other long-term liabilities			12,412				12,752
Total equity			587,558				501,103
Total liabilities and equity		$	777,728			$	678,424
Common shares issued and outstanding of 22,029,446 and 21,552,529 at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

LITTELFUSE, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands of USD, except per share data, unaudited)
		For the Three Months Ended								For the Twelve Months Ended
		December 29, 2012				December 31, 2011				December 29, 2012				December 31, 2011
Net sales		$	158,794			$	147,193			$	667,913			$	664,955
Cost of sales			99,387				93,667				409,446				408,261
Gross profit			59,407				53,526				258,467				256,694
Selling, general and administrative expenses			34,078				28,889				124,277				116,740
Research and development expenses			5,678				4,685				21,231				19,439
Amortization of intangibles			1,632				1,831				6,089				6,611
			41,388				35,405				151,597				142,790
Operating income			18,019				18,121				106,870				113,904
Interest expense			403				420				1,701				1,691
Impairment and equity loss in unconsolidated affiliate			7,334				-				7,334				-
Other (income) expense, net			(1,045	)			(954	)			(2,217	)			(2,888	)
Income before income taxes			11,327				18,655				100,052				115,101
Income taxes			1,486				3,417				24,720				28,077
Net income		$	9,841			$	15,238			$	75,332			$	87,024
Net income per share:
Basic		$	0.45			$	0.71			$	3.45			$	3.96
Diluted		$	0.44			$	0.70			$	3.40			$	3.90
Weighted average shares and equivalent shares outstanding:
Basic			21,979				21,536				21,822				21,901
Diluted			22,228				21,806				22,098				22,255
Diluted Net Income Per Share
Net income as reported		$	9,841			$	15,238			$	75,332			$	87,024
Less: income allocated to participating securities			(14	)			(42	)			(128	)			(304	)
Net income available to common shareholders		$	9,827			$	15,196			$	75,204			$	86,720
Weighted average shares adjusted for dilutive securities			22,228				21,806				22,098				22,255
Diluted net income per share		$	0.44			$	0.70			$	3.40			$	3.90
Comprehensive income		$	6,575			$	5,285			$	83,249			$	74,414

LITTELFUSE, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands of USD)
		For the Twelve Months Ended
		December 29, 2012				December 31, 2011
		(Unaudited)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income		$	75,332			$	87,024
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			25,344				25,641
Amortization of intangibles			6,089				6,611
Provision for bad debts			242				444
Impairment of assets			549				2,320
Impairment and equity loss in unconsolidated affiliate			7,334				-
Pension settlement charges			5,348				-
Non-cash inventory charge(1)			567				4,145
Stock-based compensation			7,348				5,805
(Gain) loss on disposal of fixed assets			(1,443	)			183
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation			(2,728	)			(4,220	)
Deferred income taxes			(2,661	)			(1,363	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(1,587	)			4,768
Inventories			5,439				2,612
Accounts payable			5,353				(5,272	)
Accrued expenses (including post retirement)			(9,570	)			(421	)
Accrued payroll and severance			(4,387	)			(3,226	)
Accrued taxes			(357	)			(6,057	)
Prepaid expenses and other			(42	)			1,756
Net cash provided by operating activities			116,170				120,750
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment			(22,529	)			(17,555	)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired			(34,016	)			(11,077	)
Purchase of investment			(10,000	)			(6,000	)
Loan to unconsolidated entity			(2,000	)			-
Purchase of short-term investments			(4,616	)			(14,228	)
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments			17,805				-
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment			3,664				217
Net cash used in investing activities			(51,692	)			(48,643	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from debt			23,251				110,000
Payments of term debt			-				(49,000	)
Payments of revolving credit facility			(25,032	)			(50,000	)
Purchases of common stock			-				(37,092	)
Debt issuance costs			-				(716	)
Cash dividends paid			(16,564	)			(14,508	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			16,367				23,036
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation			2,728				4,220
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			750				(14,060	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			6,160				(3,751	)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			71,388				54,296
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			164,016				109,720
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	235,404			$	164,016
(1) Purchase accounting adjustment related to acquisitions.