Federal-Mogul Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results

• Fourth quarter 2012 sales of $1.6 billion, FY 2012 sales of $6.7 billion. 

• Q4 2012 net loss of $(80) million primarily due to a weaker European market.  Adjusted net loss of $(41) million when excluding restructuring, impairments and special items. 

• FY 2012 net loss of $(117) million on the weak European market and impairment charges. FY adjusted net income of $51 million, excluding restructuring, impairments and special items. 

• Operational EBITDA of $65 million in Q4 2012 and $483 million for FY 2012. Adjusted Operational EBITDA of $84 million in Q4 2012 and $508 million for FY 2012. 

• Multi-site restructuring to transfer production and equipment to lower cost locations. 

Southfield, Michigan, February 27, 2013. Federal-Mogul Corporation (NASDAQ: FDML) today announced fourth quarter 2012 sales of $1.6 billion, four percent lower than the fourth quarter of 2011, or two percent lower on a constant dollar basis.  The result includes the impact of 13% lower global commercial and industrial engine production, and a 14% decline in European light vehicle production, compounded by a shift in mix within light vehicle production from higher content diesel to gasoline products.  The company had a net loss of $(80) million in Q4 2012 due to the weaker European light vehicle and global commercial vehicle markets with negative regional and product mix.  Without the impact of restructuring, impairments and special items, the company had an adjusted net loss of $(41) million in Q4 2012.  Operational EBITDA in Q4 2012 was $65 million due to the lower European sales and unfavorable mix, combined with legal and commercial charges of $(19) million.  Excluding these items, Q4 2012 Adjusted EBITDA was $84 million.  

The company, for full year 2012 reported four percent lower sales than 2011, comprising a one percent constant dollar increase, offset by an adverse currency impact of five percent.  Sales in North America were three percent higher and in Rest of World (ROW) eight percent higher on a constant dollar basis, but were offset by four percent lower sales in Europe, excluding sales from BERU.  The company in China had nine percent constant dollar sales growth during Q4 2012 versus Q4 2011.  

Federal-Mogul, for full year 2012 reported a net loss of $(117) million with the European market, impairments and special items negatively impacting results.  The company had an adjusted net income of $51 million when excluding the impact of the impairments, restructuring and special items.

Operational EBITDA for the full year 2012 was $483 million.  When excluding the impact of special items of $25 million, including legal, customer and other contractual agreements, the company had 2012 Adjusted Operational EBITDA of $508 million.

The company in Q2 2012 announced a $60 million restructuring program involving three plant closures and one site downsizing.  The closures are expected to be completed by the end of Q2 2013.  The company today announced plans to commence an additional multi-site restructuring program involving the potential closure or downsizing of manufacturing facilities, primarily in Western Europe.  The plan will be implemented from 2013 through 2015 and involves shifting capacity and equipment to existing lower cost sites in Eastern Europe, Asia and Mexico.  Details of each site restructuring plan will be disclosed to employees in accordance with relevant legal requirements and customary consultations with employee representatives, labor authorities and other stakeholders.

"We are evaluating the markets closely and anticipate implementing a plan to transfer capacity from higher cost locations to available capacity in lower cost locations in Mexico, Poland, China and other sites," said Rainer Jueckstock, co-CEO and Powertrain Segment CEO.  "We are balancing Federal-Mogul's global manufacturing footprint efficiency with the need to support our customer's planned growth in developing markets and with the need to be ready for the eventual European market recovery."

Segment Revenue and Operational EBITDA Q4 2012
Federal-Mogul in Q4 2012 had total revenue of $1.6 billion.  The Powertrain Segment (PT) had total revenue of $973 million including intercompany sales to Vehicle Component Solutions Segment (VCS).  Powertrain Segment revenue in Q4 2012 was six percent lower, or three percent lower on a constant dollar basis, compared to Q4 2011.  

Commercial vehicle production in Federal-Mogul's primary markets declined 13% during the fourth quarter 2012, versus the same period of 2011, resulting in a seven percent decrease in the company's Powertrain Segment sales to CV and industrial markets during the quarter.  Sales in EMEA, where PT derives a significant portion of its revenue and profitability from light vehicle diesel, commercial and industrial powertrain products, were 12% lower than Q4 2011, compared to a market decline of 14%.  

Furthermore, the softer European market conditions also drove a product mix shift within light vehicle production away from higher content diesel engines towards lower content gasoline engines, with a significant impact on profitability.  Sales to OE customers in North America during the period were up two percent.  Sales to OE customers in China grew 8% during Q4 2012, versus Q4 2011.

"Our European customers have signaled a market recovery in the second half of 2013.  We don't expect current lower European volumes and diesel to gasoline engine mix for the long term, since diesel powertrains are ultimately more fuel efficient and are preferred by a large percentage of European customers.  However, the economic impact of conditions in the last half of 2012 drove an unfavorable mix that negatively impacted the company's profitability in recent periods," said Jueckstock.

The Powertrain Segment recorded Operational EBITDA of $29 million in Q4 2012, down from $108 million in Q4 2011, primarily driven by the reduced volume and unfavorable mix conditions previously explained.  The segment was also negatively impacted by a special commercial agreement in the quarter. Excluding this item, the Powertrain Segment had Adjusted Operational EBITDA of $39 million.

The VCS Segment in Q4 2012 had revenue of $709 million. Total revenue was down two percent, or flat on a constant dollar basis.  The VCS Segment had a two percent decline in sales to customers in original equipment markets, or up one percent on a constant dollar basis.  Global aftermarket sales were down one percent on a constant dollar basis.  The VCS Segment recorded Operational EBITDA of $37 million in Q4 2012, down $8 million versus Q4 2011.  Without the impact of a legal settlement recorded in the quarter, VCS Operational EBITDA would have been $46 million or 6.5% of sales, an improvement of $1 million versus the fourth quarter 2011.

"We continue to see evidence of the success of our marketing and distribution strategies," said Michael Broderick, Federal-Mogul co-CEO and CEO Vehicle Component Solutions Segment.  "Our large North American core aftermarket business is stabilizing as we are exiting unprofitable business while simultaneously focusing on product differentiation in all our premium product lines."

Net Results
Federal-Mogul reported a net loss of $(80) million in the fourth quarter 2012 primarily due to lower sales, especially in the European market.  The net result was further impacted by special legal and commercial agreements of $(19) million, impairment charges of $(20) million and $(6) million of restructuring charges.  Without the impact of these items and the associated tax benefit of $6 million, the company had an adjusted net loss of $(41) million.

For the full year 2012, the company had a net loss of $(117) million with the full year earnings impact of lower sales in Europe, special items of $(25) million and other non-EBITDA charges, principally impairments, totaling $(169) million.  Without the impairment, special items and associated tax impact of $26 million, the company would have recorded $51 million net income.

Cash Flow 
The company recorded a cash outflow of $(77) million during the fourth quarter of 2012 and had an outflow of $(480) million for the full year 2012.  Full year capital spending of $387 million and interest payments of $106 million offset $483 million of Operational EBITDA.  In addition, a significant portion of cash outflow was due to the extension of $285 million of accounts receivable requested by several large U.S. aftermarket retail customers as part of commercial negotiations.  The company does not intend to continue to extend payment terms in the future. During the period, Federal-Mogul also contributed $90 million to the U.S.-funded pension plan and paid $52 million for the BERU spark plug business.  Federal-Mogul had a cash balance of $467 million at the end of the fourth quarter 2012 and an undrawn revolver of $450 million.

Original source: http://investor.federalmogul.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=97066&p=earningsdisclosure&erid=466715#.UTXMZDCjGSo