Kronos Worldwide Reports Fourth Quarter Results
DALLAS, Feb 24, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: KRO) today reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2003 of $13.1 million, or $.27 per diluted share, compared with income of $9.2 million, or $.19 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2002. For the full year 2003, Kronos reported net income of $87.5 million, or $1.79 per diluted share, compared with net income of $66.3 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, for the full year 2002.
The Company's titanium dioxide pigments ("TiO2") segment profit (see description of non-GAAP information below) for the fourth quarter of 2003 was $32.2 million compared with $20.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2002. The increase in fourth quarter segment profit was primarily due to higher production and sales volumes and lower maintenance costs. Segment profit for the full year 2003 increased to $137.4 million compared with $96.5 million for full year 2002, primarily due to higher average selling prices and higher production volumes.
The Company's average selling prices in billing currencies (which excludes the effects of fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies) during the fourth quarter of 2003 were 2% lower than the fourth quarter of 2002, due primarily to sales to the North American and export markets, but were 3% higher for the full year 2003 compared to 2002, primarily due to sales to the European market. Expressed in U.S. dollars computed using actual foreign currency exchange rates prevailing during the respective periods, the Company's average selling prices in the fourth quarter of 2003 were 8% higher than the fourth quarter of 2002, and were 13% higher for the full year 2003 compared with 2002.
The Company's fourth quarter 2003 sales volumes increased 9% from the fourth quarter of 2002, with substantially all of the increase in the European and export markets. Sales volumes for the full year 2003 set a new record, increasing 2% from the previous record achieved in 2002. The Company's fourth quarter 2003 production volumes were 14% higher than the fourth quarter of 2002, and were 8% higher for the full year 2003 compared to 2002, with operating rates at near full capacity in all periods presented. The Company's production volume also set a new record in 2003. Inventories were higher at December 31, 2003 as compared to December 31, 2002, and represented 2.2 months of average sales.
Certain of the sales generated by the Company's European and Canadian operations are denominated in the U.S. dollar, and such operations routinely hold U.S. dollar-denominated receivables. Primarily as a result of the weakening of the U.S. dollar as compared to the Canadian dollar and the euro throughout the year, the Company's results in the fourth quarter and full year 2003 included net currency transaction losses of $3.4 million and $7.7 million, respectively. Due to a more stable dollar in 2002, the Company recognized net currency transaction gains of $200,000 in the fourth quarter of 2002 and net currency transaction losses of $600,000 for the full year.
The previously-reported $6.3 million foreign currency transaction gain in 2002, which aggregated $.13 per diluted share, related to the second quarter extinguishment of certain intercompany indebtedness. Due to the utilization of certain income tax attributes not previously recognized, no income taxes were recognized on this foreign currency transaction gain in 2002. Interest expense for the fourth quarter and full year 2003 increased $700,000 and $16.2 million, respectively, from the comparable prior year periods, primarily due to higher levels of outstanding debt and associated currency effects, partially offset by lower interest rates.
The Company's effective income tax rate for 2003 reflects the previously- reported $24.6 million cash income tax benefit ($.50 per diluted share) related to the favorable German court ruling concerning the Company's claim for refund suit.
In an effort to provide investors with additional information regarding the Company's results as determined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), the Company has disclosed certain non-GAAP information which the Company believes provides useful information to investors:
-- The Company discloses percentage changes in its average TiO2 selling
prices in billing currencies, which excludes the effects of foreign
currency translation. The Company believes disclosure of such
percentage changes allows investors to analyze such changes without
the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, thereby
facilitating period-to-period comparisons of relative changes in
average selling prices in the actual various billing currencies.
Generally, when the U.S. dollar either strengthens or weakens against
other currencies, the percentage change in average selling prices in
billing currencies will be higher or lower, respectively, than such
percentage changes would be using actual exchange rates prevailing
during the respective periods.
-- The Company discloses segment profit, which is used by the Company's
management to assess the performance of the Company's TiO2
operations. The Company believes disclosure of segment profit
provides useful information to investors because it allows investors
to analyze the performance of the Company's TiO2 operations in the
same way that the Company's management assesses performance. The
Company defines segment profit as income before income taxes,
minority interest, interest expense and certain general corporate
items. Corporate items excluded from the determination of segment
profit include corporate expense, interest income not attributable to
the Company's TiO2 operations, securities gains (losses) and gains on
the disposal of long-lived assets outside the ordinary course of
business or long-lived assets not associated with the Company's TiO2
operations.
Kronos Worldwide, Inc. is a major international producer of titanium dioxide pigments.
The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that represent management's beliefs and assumptions based on currently available information. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "intends," "may," "will," "should," "could," "anticipates," "expects," or comparable terminology or by discussions of strategy or trends. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot give any assurances that these expectations will prove to be correct. Such statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the cyclicality of the titanium dioxide industry, global economic and political conditions, changes in global productive capacity, changes in customer inventory levels, changes in product pricing, changes in product costing, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, competitive technology positions, operating interruptions (including, but not limited to, labor disputes, leaks, fires, explosions, unscheduled downtime, transportation interruptions, war and terrorist activities), the outcome of tax controversies and other contingencies, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Should one or more of these risks materialize (or the consequences of such a development worsen), or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from those forecasted or expected. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Company's 2003 results are subject to completion of an audit and the filing of its 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
KRONOS WORLDWIDE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In millions, except per share and metric ton data)
(Unaudited)
Three months ended Year ended
December 31, December 31,
2002 2003 2002 2003
Net sales $211.9 $245.6 $875.2 $ 1,008.2
Cost of sales 161.8 175.7 671.8 739.2
Gross margin 50.1 69.9 203.4 269.0
Selling, general and
administrative expense 29.6 34.3 107.7 124.4
Other operating income
(expense):
Currency transaction
gains (losses), net .2 (3.4) (.6) (7.7)
Disposition of property
and equipment (1.1) (.2) (.6) (.5)
Other income .1 .1 .5 .4
Corporate expense (.9) (1.5) (3.3) (4.2)
Other expense --- (.1) (.2) (.1)
Income from operations 18.8 30.5 91.5 132.5
Other income (expense):
Interest expense to
affiliates (.1) (1.2) (12.3) (1.8)
Interest income from
affiliates .1 --- 20.7 .7
Trade interest income .4 .2 1.7 .7
Other interest income .2 --- .7 .2
Foreign currency
transaction gain --- --- 6.3 ---
Interest expense (7.6) (8.3) (16.8) (33.0)
Income before income
taxes and minority
interest 11.8 21.2 91.8 99.3
Provision for income taxes 2.6 8.1 25.5 11.7
Minority interest in
after-tax earnings --- --- --- .1
Net income $ 9.2 $13.1 $66.3 $87.5
Basic and diluted net
income per share $ .19 $.27 $1.35 $1.79
Basic and diluted
weighted average shares
used in the calculation
of net income per share 48.9 48.9 48.9 48.9
Other Data - metric tons
in thousands:
Sales volume 102.4 111.7 454.8 462.0
Production volume 107.1 121.9 441.9 476.1
KRONOS WORLDWIDE, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF SEGMENT PROFIT TO
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
Three months ended Year ended
December 31, December 31,
2002 2003 2002 2003
Segment profit $20.1 $32.2 $96.5 $137.4
Adjustments:
Trade interest income (.4) (.2) (1.7) (.7)
Corporate expense (.9) (1.5) (3.3) (4.2)
Income from operations $18.8 $30.5 $91.5 $132.5
RECONCILIATION OF PERCENT CHANGE IN
AVERAGE SELLING PRICES
(Unaudited)
Percent change- Percent change-
Three months ended Year ended
December 31, December 31,
2003 vs. 2002 2003 vs. 2002
Percent change in average
selling prices:
Using actual foreign currency
exchange rates +8% +13%
Impact of changes in foreign currency
exchange rates -10% -10%
In billing currencies -2% +3%
SOURCE Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
Gregory M. Swalwell, Vice President, Finance of Kronos
Worldwide, Inc., +1-972-233-1700
(KRO)