UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
April 29, 2015
 
BEL FUSE INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

New Jersey
 
0-11676
 
22-1463699
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)


206 Van Vorst Street, Jersey City, New Jersey
 
07302
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (201) 432-0463

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 

Item 2.02.       Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On April 29, 2015, Bel issued a press release regarding the results for the three months ended March 31, 2015. A copy of this press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
 
In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
 
Item 9.01.       Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d)
Exhibits
 
Exhibit 99.1– Press release of Bel Fuse Inc. dated April 29, 2015, pertaining to the Company’s results for the three months ended March 31, 2015. As described in Item 2.02 of this Form 8–K, this Exhibit 99.1 is furnished and not filed.
 

 
SIGNATURE
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
Date: April 29, 2015
BEL FUSE INC.
(Registrant)
                
               
By:    
/s/ Colin Dunn
Colin Dunn
Vice President of Finance and Secretary (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
 

 
EXHIBIT INDEX
 

Exhibit 99.1– Press release of Bel Fuse Inc. dated April 29, 2015, pertaining to the Company’s results for the three months ended March 31, 2015. As described in Item 2.02 of this Form 8–K, this Exhibit 99.1 is furnished and not filed.
 



Exhibit 99.1
 
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bel Fuse Inc.
206 Van Vorst Street
Jersey City,  NJ 07302
www.belfuse.com
tel 201.432.0463
fax 201.432.9542
 

Investor Contact:
 Neil Berkman Associates
 (310) 477-3118
 info@berkmanassociates.com
 
Company Contact:
Daniel Bernstein
President
ir@belf.com
 
 
Bel First Quarter Net Earnings Increase 122%, Sales Set a Record $142.0 Million

Net Earnings Increase to $0.45 Per Class A Share and $0.48 Per Class B Share

JERSEY CITY, NJ, Wednesday, April 29, 2015 -- Bel Fuse Inc. (NASDAQ: BELFA and BELFB) today announced preliminary financial results for the first quarter of 2015.

First Quarter 2015 Highlights
 
Net sales increased 71.8% to a first quarter record $142.0 million as compared with net sales of $82.6 million for the first quarter of 2014.
 
GAAP net earnings per share -- “EPS” -- were $0.45 per Class A share and $0.48 per Class B share as compared with GAAP EPS of $0.20 per Class A share and $0.22 per Class B share last year.
 
Non-GAAP Adjusted EPS was $0.51 per Class A share and $0.54 per Class B share as compared with non-GAAP Adjusted EPS of $0.21 per Class A share and $0.22 per Class B share last year.
 
Operating income increased 224.9% to $9.4 million as compared with operating income of $2.9 million for the first quarter of 2014.
 
Operating income before net unrealized gains from foreign currency revaluation, increased 76% to $4.8 million compared with operating income of $2.7 million for the first quarter of 2014.
 
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes and Depreciation and Amortization) increased to $16.2 million as compared with $6.4 million last year.

Non-GAAP financial measures, such as non-GAAP Adjusted EPS and Adjusted EBITDA, exclude the impact of special items, such as acquisition-related costs, restructuring charges and certain other items.  Please refer to the financial statements included with this press release for a reconciliation of GAAP financial measures to non-GAAP financial measures.  Results for the first quarter of 2015 include the results of Power Solutions, acquired in June 2014, and Connectivity Solutions, acquired in July and August 2014.
First quarter 2015 Adjusted EPS was affected by the following special items (net of taxes and in thousands except per share amounts):
 
   
First Quarter
 
   
2015
 
Restructuring charges
 
$
111
 
Acquisition related costs
   
240
 
Information technology migration and rebranding costs
   
384
 
Total special items
 
$
735
 
         
Total EPS impact - Class A shares
 
$
0.06
 
Total EPS impact - Class B shares
 
$
0.06
 

CEO Comments
Daniel Bernstein, Bel's President and CEO, said, "We are pleased with our results.  Bel’s strategy to grow through acquisitions delivered the results we planned for in the first quarter, which historically has been our seasonally lowest sales quarter of the year.  Net sales increased 72% to a record first quarter high, due to the incremental impact of sales from Power Solutions of $41.7 million and Connectivity Solutions of $17.1 million.  Margins improved, operating income was up 225% (and operating income increased 76% before the impact of net unrealized gains from foreign currency revaluation), and net income also increased.  Adjusted EBITDA also rose to $16.2 million.  These results show that our efforts integrating the acquired businesses, enhancing their efficiencies and controlling their costs continue to be successful."

(more)
 
 

Bel First Quarter Net Earnings Increase 122%, Sales Set a Record $142.0 Million
April 29, 2015
Page Two

"Bel Power is reestablishing itself in key markets such as cloud computing and rail.  We are on track to grow our power business as planned in the second half of 2015 as evidenced by recent design wins in these markets.  Our manufacturing facilities in China have passed audits from industrial, rail and networking customers who have been pleased with the improvements in quality, service, and delivery we have achieved since the Power One acquisition.  Bel’s customers know that we are committed to continuous quality improvements, and will invest in equipment needed to improve the manufacturing processes of our power products.  With the majority of the transition costs now behind us, we expect a decrease in information technology costs now that this function has been assumed by our internal information technology group.
"We also have made good progress in the integration of the former Emerson Network Power Connectivity Solutions business, now Connectivity Solutions.  Following our plan of initially focusing on maintaining operational continuity, coupled with the successful consolidation of the Fibreco and Gigacom Interconnect businesses into the acquired Chelmsford location, in the first quarter we turned to optimization through group-wide collaboration and implementation of best practices across all of our facilities. These efforts identified many opportunities for additional cost savings and operational efficiencies in our Chelmsford facility, opportunities we are striving to translate into meaningful cost savings throughout the year.  By more closely aligning our selling costs with the combined sales from our Connectivity Solutions business, we also are benefitting from the integration of the Connectivity Solutions' sales and marketing team with U.S.-based Cinch Connectors, now going to market as Cinch Connectivity Solutions.
"We are well positioned to capitalize on the anticipated growth in deployment of single aisle commercial aircraft. We also continue to see strength in deployment of our 2 GBT harsh environment fiber optic products for high reliability avionics applications and are already actively working on designs for next-generation 4 and 10 GBT products."

First Quarter 2015 Results
Net sales increased 71.8% to $142.0 million compared to $82.6 million for the first quarter of 2014.  Excluding $58.8 million of net sales for the first quarter of 2015 from last year's acquisitions, net sales were essentially flat as higher sales of Bel's integrated modules and custom modules were partially offset by lower sales of Interconnect products and DC/DC converters.
Operating income increased to $9.4 million compared to operating income for the first quarter of 2014 of $2.9 million.  Non-GAAP Adjusted operating income increased to $10.5 million compared to non-GAAP Adjusted operating income for the first quarter of 2014 of $2.9 million, primarily reflecting the incremental contributions of the 2014 acquisitions.  Depreciation and amortization expense increased to $5.3 million for the first quarter of 2015 from $3.4 million for the first quarter of 2014 from incremental depreciation and amortization expense associated with the 2014 acquisitions.  Operating income for the first quarter of 2015 included net unrealized gains from foreign currency revaluation of approximately $4.6 million before tax (approximately $0.30 per Class A and Class B shares net of tax), primarily due to the favorable impact of the weakening of the Euro against the U.S. dollar on a $34 million intercompany loan.
Interest expense was $2.2 million as compared with $0.03 million for the first quarter of 2014, primarily due to the interest on borrowings used to fund the 2014 acquisitions.
Net earnings for the first quarter of 2015 were $5.6 million compared to net earnings for the first quarter of 2014 of $2.5 million.  Non-GAAP Adjusted net earnings for the first quarter of 2015 increased to $6.3 million compared to non-GAAP Adjusted net earnings for the first quarter of 2014 of $2.5 million.

Balance Sheet Data
As of March 31, 2015, Bel reported working capital of $183.1 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $78.6 million, a current ratio of 2.5-to-1, and total debt obligations of $220.9 million.  In comparison, as of December 31, 2014 Bel had working capital of $188.9 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $77.1 million, a current ratio of 2.6-to-1, and total debt obligations of $232.6 million.  In January 2015, we completed the sale of Power Solutions' Network Power Systems product line and related transactions.  Net proceeds of approximately $9 million from these transactions were used to repay debt in accordance with the provisions of the Company's credit agreement.

(more)
 

Bel First Quarter Net Earnings Increase 122%, Sales Set a Record $142.0 Million
April 29, 2015
Page Three

Conference Call
Bel has scheduled a conference call at 10:00 a.m. EDT today.  To participate, dial (720) 545 0088, conference ID #33577129.  A simultaneous webcast of the conference call may be accessed online from the Events and Presentations link of the Investors page under the "About Bel" tab at www.BelFuse.com.  The webcast replay will be available for a period of 20 days at this same Internet address.  For a telephone replay, dial (404) 537 3406, conference ID #33577129 after 1:00 p.m. EDT.

About Bel
Bel (www.belfuse.com) designs, manufactures and markets a broad array of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits.  These products are primarily used in the networking, telecommunications, computing, military, aerospace, transportation and broadcasting industries.  Bel's product groups include Magnetic Solutions (integrated connector modules, power transformers, power inductors and discrete components), Power Solutions and Protection (front-end, board-mount and industrial power products, module products and circuit protection), and Connectivity Solutions (expanded beam fiber optic, copper-based, RF and RJ connectors and 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 potential sales growth, decreased data processing costs opportunities to reduce costs and enhance efficiency in the future, efforts to renew customer relationships with former Power Solutions customers, anticipated growth in deployment of single aisle commercial aircraft, and benefits arising from the consolidation of Bel’s Fibreco and Gigacom Interconnect businesses) are forward-looking statements (as described under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) 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.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The non‑GAAP measures presented in this press release and supplementary information 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 from operations, net earnings, earnings 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.

Website Information
We routinely post important information for investors on our website, www.belfuse.com, in the "Investor Relations" section. We use our website as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investor Relations section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.
 
(tables attached)
 

Bel Fuse Inc.
Supplementary Information(1)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts and unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
         
Net sales
 
$
142,015
   
$
82,646
 
Cost of sales
   
114,890
     
68,576
 
Gross profit
   
27,125
     
14,070
 
As a % of sales
   
19.1
%
   
17.0
%
                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
   
17,608
     
11,189
 
As a % of sales
   
12.4
%
   
13.5
%
Restructuring charges
   
158
     
--
 
                 
Income from operations
   
9,359
     
2,881
 
As a % of sales
   
6.6
%
   
3.5
%
                 
Interest expense
   
(2,179
)
   
(30
)
Interest income and other, net
   
402
     
51
 
Earnings before provision for income taxes
   
7,582
     
2,902
 
                 
Provision for income taxes
   
2,014
     
399
 
Effective tax rate
   
26.6
%
   
13.7
%
Net earnings available to common stockholders
 
$
5,568
   
$
2,503
 
As a % of sales
   
3.9
%
   
3.0
%
                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
               
Class A common shares - basic and diluted
   
2,175
     
2,175
 
Class B common shares - basic and diluted
   
9,670
     
9,335
 
                 
Net earnings per common share:
               
Class A common shares - basic and diluted
 
$
0.45
   
$
0.20
 
Class B common shares - basic and diluted
 
$
0.48
   
$
0.22
 
 
(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2015 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 


Bel Fuse Inc.
Supplementary Information(1)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands and unaudited)

 
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
         
Assets
       
         
Current assets:
       
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
78,632
   
$
77,138
 
Accounts receivable, net
   
93,820
     
99,605
 
Inventories, net
   
111,908
     
113,630
 
Other current assets
   
21,045
     
20,283
 
                 
Total current assets
   
305,405
     
310,656
 
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
67,830
     
70,661
 
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net
   
208,364
     
213,075
 
Other assets
   
35,470
     
41,633
 
                 
Total assets
 
$
617,069
   
$
636,025
 
                 
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
               
                 
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
 
$
63,442
   
$
61,926
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
   
14,781
     
13,438
 
Other current liabilities
   
44,038
     
46,438
 
                 
Total current liabilities
   
122,261
     
121,802
 
                 
Long-term debt, noncurrent
   
206,156
     
219,187
 
Other liabilities
   
68,666
     
70,285
 
                 
Total liabilities
   
397,083
     
411,274
 
                 
Stockholders' equity
   
219,986
     
224,751
 
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
617,069
   
$
636,025
 

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2015 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

Bel Fuse Inc.
Supplementary Information(1)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
   
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
   
As Reported
GAAP
   
Special
Items(2)
   
As Adjusted
Non-GAAP(3)
   
As Reported
GAAP
   
Special
Items(2)
   
As Adjusted
Non-GAAP(3)
 
                         
Net Sales
 
$
142,015
   
$
--
   
$
142,015
   
$
82,646
   
$
--
   
$
82,646
 
Cost of sales
   
114,890
             
114,890
     
68,576
     
(57
)
   
68,519
 
Gross profit
   
27,125
     
--
     
27,125
     
14,070
     
57
     
14,127
 
As a % of sales
   
19.1
%
           
19.1
%
   
17.0
%
           
17.1
%
                                                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
   
17,608
     
(988
)
   
16,620
     
11,189
     
(9
)
   
11,180
 
As a % of sales
   
12.4
%
           
11.7
%
   
13.5
%
           
13.5
%
Restructuring charges
   
158
     
(158
)
   
--
     
--
     
--
     
--
 
                                                 
Income from operations
   
9,359
     
1,146
     
10,505
     
2,881
     
66
     
2,947
 
As a % of sales
   
6.6
%
           
7.4
%
   
3.5
%
           
3.6
%
                                                 
Interest expense
   
(2,179
)
   
--
     
(2,179
)
   
(30
)
   
--
     
(30
)
Interest income and other, net
   
402
             
402
     
51
     
--
     
51
 
Earnings before provision for income taxes
   
7,582
     
1,146
     
8,728
     
2,902
     
66
     
2,968
 
                                                 
Provision for income taxes
   
2,014
     
411
     
2,425
     
399
     
25
     
424
 
Effective tax rate
   
26.6
%
           
27.8
%
   
13.7
%
           
14.3
%
Net earnings available to common stockholders
 
$
5,568
   
$
735
   
$
6,303
   
$
2,503
   
$
41
   
$
2,544
 
As a % of sales
   
3.9
%
           
4.4
%
   
3.0
%
           
3.1
%
                                                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
                                               
Class A common shares - basic and diluted
   
2,175
             
2,175
     
2,175
             
2,175
 
Class B common shares - basic and diluted
   
9,670
             
9,670
     
9,335
             
9,335
 
                                                 
Net earnings per common share:
                                               
Class A common shares - basic and diluted
 
$
0.45
   
$
0.06
   
$
0.51
   
$
0.20
   
$
0.01
   
$
0.21
 
Class B common shares - basic and diluted
 
$
0.48
   
$
0.06 --
   
$
0.54
   
$
0.22
   
$
--
   
$
0.22
 

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2015 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(2) Special items primarily consist of the following expenses and/or income items:

   
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
   
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
   
Gross
   
Taxes
   
Net of taxes
   
Gross
   
Taxes
   
Net of taxes
 
Restructuring charges
 
$
158
     
47
   
$
111
   
$
--
   
$
--
   
$
--
 
Other severance costs
   
--
     
--
     
--
     
57
     
22
     
35
 
Acquisition related costs
   
385
     
145
     
240
     
9
     
3
     
6
 
Information technology migration and rebranding costs
   
603
     
219
     
384
     
--
     
--
     
--
 
Total special items
 
$
1,146
   
$
411
   
$
735
   
$
66
   
$
25
   
$
41
 

(3) In this press release and supplemental information, we have included several non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP Net Earnings and EPS, Non-GAAP Gross Profit and Non-GAAP Operating Profit. We present results adjusted to exclude the effects of certain specified items ("special items") and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods.  We may use Non-GAAP EPS, Non-GAAP Net Earnings, Non-GAAP Gross Profit and Non-GAAP Operating Profit, to determine performance-based compensation.  Management believes that this information may be useful to investors.
 

Bel Fuse Inc.
Supplementary Information(1)
Non-GAAP EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA(2)
(in thousands) (unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
         
Net earnings available to common stockholders
 
$
5,568
   
$
2,503
 
Interest expense
   
2,179
     
30
 
Provision for income taxes
   
2,014
     
399
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
5,325
     
3,406
 
                 
Non-GAAP EBITDA
   
15,086
     
6,338
 
Special items(2)
   
1,146
     
66
 
                 
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
16,232
   
$
6,404
 
 
(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2015 is preliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(2) In this press release and supplemental information, we have included several non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP Net Earnings and EPS, Non-GAAP Gross Profit and Non-GAAP Operating Profit and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. We present results adjusted to exclude the effects of certain specified items ("special items") and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods.  We may use Non-GAAP EPS, Non-GAAP Net Earnings, Non-GAAP Gross Profit and Non-GAAP Operating Profit, to determine performance-based compensation. Management believes that this information may be useful to investors.