Bel Reports First Quarter Net Earnings of $0.20 Per Class A Share and $0.22 Per Class B Share as Revenue Increases 31.1% to $82.6 Million

April 30, 2014

JERSEY CITY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bel Fuse Inc. (NASDAQ:BELFA)(NASDAQ:BELFB) today announced preliminary financial results for the first quarter of 2014.

First Quarter Highlights

  • Net sales increased 31.1% to $82.6 million versus $63.0 million in last year's first quarter.
  • Net earnings increased to $0.20 per Class A share and $0.22 per Class B share versus net losses of $0.05 per Class A and Class B share for the first quarter last year.
  • Income from operations increased to $2.9 million versus a loss of $1.4 million in the same quarter last year.

Recent Event

  • Agreed to acquire Power Solutions business from ABB for $117 million.

CEO Comments
Daniel Bernstein, Bel's President and CEO, said, "Bel delivered solid financial results in what is our seasonally weakest quarter of the year. First quarter revenue increased 31.1%, primarily reflecting sales of $16.2 million at TRP, which we acquired on March 29, 2013. Cost of sales as a percentage of revenue decreased 2.6 percentage points versus prior year, contributing to a $4.3 million increase in operating income for the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period last year. First quarter net earnings increased to $2.5 million compared to a net loss of $0.6 million for the same quarter last year. This performance is especially noteworthy in view of the fact that in addition to the normal seasonal impact of the Chinese New Year on our first quarter operations, we were also affected by a downward adjustment in inventory levels among some of our large networking customers.

"On April 25, 2014, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Power Solutions business of ABB Ltd. Power Solutions is a leading provider of high-efficiency and high-density power conversion products for server, storage and networking equipment, industrial applications and power systems. Bel will pay approximately $117 million in cash to acquire the business, which had trailing twelve month revenue of approximately $251 million. The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014 and to be immediately accretive to Bel's earnings. Since 2009, we have believed that the combination of the two respective power businesses would create a dynamic enterprise capable of competing effectively on a global basis. Bel is excited by the many growth opportunities that will be created by this transaction and we look forward to building an industry leading power business with our new colleagues at Power Solutions."

Bel intends to finance this acquisition through bank borrowings and cash on hand.

First Quarter Results
For the three months ended March 31, 2014, net sales increased to $82.6 million compared to $63.0 million for the first quarter of 2013, as revenue from recently acquired businesses and higher sales of magnetics and interconnect products more than offset a decrease in modular product sales.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2014 increased to $2.9 million. This compares to an operating loss for the first quarter of 2013 of $1.4 million, which included pre-tax restructuring and acquisition-related charges of $0.6 million. Excluding these and other charges, as detailed in the table reconciling GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures included in this release, the non-GAAP operating loss for the first quarter of 2013 was $0.8 million.

Net earnings for the first quarter of 2014 were $2.5 million. This compares to a net loss for the first quarter of 2013 of $0.6 million. Excluding amounts detailed in the table reconciling GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures mentioned above, the non-GAAP net loss for the first quarter of 2013 was $0.4 million.

Net earnings per diluted Class A common share for the first quarter of 2014 were $0.20, compared to a net loss per diluted Class A common share of $0.05 for the first quarter of 2013. Adjusted to exclude the amounts referenced above, non-GAAP net earnings per diluted Class A common share for the first quarter of 2014 were $0.21 and the net loss per diluted Class A common share for the first quarter of 2013 was $0.04.

Net earnings per diluted Class B common share were $0.22 for the first quarter of 2014, compared to a net loss of $0.05 per diluted Class B common share for the first quarter of 2013. Adjusted to exclude the amounts referenced above, the non-GAAP net loss per diluted Class B common share was $0.04 for the first quarter of 2013.

Balance Sheet Data
As of March 31, 2014 (and without giving effect to the Power Solutions transaction), Bel had working capital of $141.4 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $53.9 million, a current ratio of 4.0-to-1, total long-term obligations of $13.0 million, and stockholders' equity of $231.2 million. In comparison, at December 31, 2013, Bel reported working capital of $137.2 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $62.1 million, a current ratio of 3.0-to-1, total long-term obligations of $12.5 million, and stockholders' equity of $228.7 million. Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $8.2 million since the end of 2013 primarily due to repayments of short-term borrowings.

Conference Call
Bel has scheduled a conference call at 11:00 a.m. EDT today. To participate, dial (720) 545-0088, conference ID #25431617. A simultaneous webcast is available from the Investors link under the "About Bel" tab at www.BelFuse.com. The webcast replay will be available for 20 days at this same Internet address. For a telephone replay, dial (855) 859-2056, conference ID #25431617, after 2:00 p.m. EDT.

About Bel
Bel (www.belfuse.com) and its divisions are primarily engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale of products used in networking, telecommunications, high-speed data transmission, commercial aerospace, military, transportation, and consumer electronics. Products include magnetics (discrete components, power transformers and MagJack® connectors with integrated magnetics), modules (DC-DC converters and AC-DC power supplies, integrated analog front-end modules and custom designs), circuit protection (miniature, micro and surface mount fuses) and interconnect devices (micro, circular and filtered D-Sub connectors, fiber optic connectors, passive jacks, plugs and high-speed cable assemblies). The Company operates facilities around the world.

Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information contained in this press release, the matters discussed in this press release (including the statements regarding the anticipated accretive impact of the pending Power Solutions transaction and the growth opportunities that may result from that transaction) are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from Bel's projections. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements are: the market concerns facing our customers; the continuing viability of sectors that rely on our products; the effects of business and economic conditions; difficulties associated with integrating recently acquired companies; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; product development, commercialization or technological difficulties; the regulatory and trade environment; risks associated with foreign currencies; uncertainties associated with legal proceedings; the market's acceptance of the Company's new products and competitive responses to those new products; and the risk factors detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. In light of the risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will in fact prove to be correct. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements.

  BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(000s omitted, except for per share data)
 
 
Three Months Ended

March 31,

  2014         2013  
 
(unaudited)
 
Net sales $ 82,646   $ 63,028  
 
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales 68,576 53,932
Selling, general and administrative 11,189 10,399
Restructuring charges   --     124  
 
Total costs and expenses   79,765     64,455  
 
Income (loss) from operations 2,881 (1,427 )
 
Interest expense (30 ) (3 )
Interest income and other, net   51     38  
 
Earnings (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes 2,902 (1,392 )
Provision (benefit) for income taxes   399     (834 )
 
Net earnings (loss) $ 2,503   $ (558 )
 
Earnings (loss) per Class A common share - basic and diluted $ 0.20   $ (0.05 )
 
Weighted average Class A common shares outstanding - basic and diluted   2,175     2,175  
 
Earnings (loss) per Class B common share - basic and diluted $ 0.22   $ (0.05 )
 
Weighted average Class B common shares outstanding - basic and diluted   9,335     9,221  

* Prior period amounts have been restated to reflect adjustments arising during the measurement period related to the 2012 and 2013 acquisitions as if all such adjustments had been recognized on the dates of acquisition.

 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(000s omitted)
 
  Mar. 31,   Dec. 31,     Mar. 31,   Dec. 31,
ASSETS 2014 2013 LIABILITIES & EQUITY 2014 2013
    (unaudited)   (audited)*       (unaudited)   (audited)*
 
Current assets $ 188,105 $ 204,155 Short-term borrowings $ 4,688 $ 12,739

Property, plant & equipment, net

39,344 40,896 Other current liabilities 41,973 54,242
Goodwill and intangibles 47,628 47,962 Noncurrent liabilities 13,047 12,458
Other assets   15,827   15,128 Stockholders' equity   231,196     228,702
 
Total Assets $ 290,904 $ 308,141

Total Liabilities & Equity

$ 290,904 $ 308,141
 
  BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP MEASURES (unaudited)
(000s omitted, except for per share data)
 
 
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

Income
from
operations

 

Net
earnings(2)

  

Net earnings per
Class A common
share - diluted(3)

  

Net earnings per
Class B common
share - diluted(3)
 
GAAP measures $ 2,881 $ 2,503 $ 0.20 $ 0.22
Severance costs 57 35 0.01 --
Acquisitions and other related costs   9     6     --     --  
Non-GAAP measures(1) $ 2,947   $ 2,544   $ 0.21   $ 0.22  
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

Loss
from
operations

Net
loss(2)

Net loss per
Class A common
share - diluted(3)

Net loss per
Class B common
share - diluted(3)
 
GAAP measures $ (1,427 ) $ (558 ) $ (0.05 ) $ (0.05 )

Restructuring charges, severance and reorganization costs

  208     129     0.01     0.01  
Acquisitions and other related costs   402     365     0.03     0.03  

Restoration of prior year Research and Experimentation (R&E) credit

  --     (385 )   (0.03 )   (0.03 )
Non-GAAP measures(1) $ (817 ) $ (449 ) $ (0.04 ) $ (0.04 )
 

(1) The non-GAAP measures presented above are not measures of performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). These measures should not be considered a substitute for, and the reader should also consider, income (loss) from operations, net earnings (loss), earnings (loss) per share and other measures of performance as defined by GAAP as indicators of our performance or profitability. Our non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other similarly-titled captions of other companies due to differences in the method of calculation.

Based upon discussions with investors and analysts, we believe that the reader's understanding of Bel's performance and profitability is enhanced by reference to these non-GAAP measures. Removal of amounts such as charges for restructuring, severance, and reorganization; acquisition-related costs; and certain income tax adjustments facilitates comparison of our results among reporting periods. We believe that such amounts are not reflective of the relevant business in the period in which the gain or charge is recorded for accounting purposes.

(2) Net of income tax at effective rate in the applicable tax jurisdiction.

(3) Individual amounts of earnings per share may not agree to the total due to rounding.

Investor Contact:
Neil Berkman Associates
310-477-3118
info@berkmanassociates.com
or
Company Contact:
Bel Fuse Inc.
Daniel Bernstein, President & CEO
201-432-0463
www.belfuse.com

Source: Bel Fuse Inc.

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