NN Reports 2005 Fourth Quarter And Full Year Results

NN, Inc. (Nasdaq: NNBR) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2005. Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2005 were $75.9 million, down 3.1% from $78.3 million for the same period of 2004. Net income for the fourth quarter totaled $5.1 million, or $0.30 per diluted share which included a non-operating gain of $0.02 per diluted share related to the sale of excess land at our Veenendaal, The Netherlands facility. This compares to a net loss of $254,000, or $(0.01) per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2004. Net sales for the year 2005 were $321.4 million, up $17.3 million or 5.7% compared to $304.1 million for 2004. Net income for 2005 totaled $15.0 million, or $0.87 per diluted share, compared to $7.1 million, or $0.41 per diluted share for 2004. The $0.41 per diluted share for 2004 includes the negative impact of 2004 fourth quarter charges of $0.15 per diluted share related to the long-term global rationalization of the Company manufacturing operations. James H. Dorton, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, commented, the total revenue increase of $17.3 million for the full year, product price increases accounted for approximately 66%, volume increases accounted for approximately 26% and the effect of currency exchange accounted for approximately 8% of the total increase. As a percentage of net sales, cost of products sold was 75.1% in the fourth quarter of 2005 compared to 81.8% in the fourth quarter of 2004. For the full year 2005 and 2004, cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales was 77.4% and 79.1%, respectively. The positive effect of price increases implemented in the second half of the year and cost improvements associated with our Level 3 initiatives were the main factors in the improved margins. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of 2005 were 9.4% as a percentage of net sales compared to 9.5% for the same period in 2004. For the full year, selling, general and administrative expenses as a percent of net sales were 8.9% compared to 9.8% in 2004. This improvement was due mainly to decreased Sarbanes-Oxley compliance costs and to a lesser extent decreased Level 3 implementation costs and decreased consulting and legal costs. Our operations continued to generate excellent cash flow during 2005 which allowed us to continue to aggressively pay down debt. For the total year, we reduced debt by approximately $12.1 million from $74.7 million at December 31, 2004 to $62.6 million at December 31, 2005. We ended the year with a very strong fourth quarter. Strong performances from our U.S. Ball & Roller and Industrial Molding businesses contributed significantly to this increase. Additionally, our Level 3 initiatives are continuing to deliver solid results and are expected to provide even stronger results in 2006 and beyond. Our fourth quarter results also included a gain of $0.02 per diluted share related to the sale of excess land at our Veenendaal, The Netherlands facility. In mid-October, we revised our estimates for the full year to approximately $325 million in revenues and earnings per share of $0.77 to $0.81 due to estimated lower volumes in Europe for the second half of the year, the expected negative impact of currency translation and an unfavorable tax mix. Although our total year 2005 revenues of $321 million were slightly below these estimates, our earnings of $0.87 per diluted share exceeded our estimates. Roderick R. Baty, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, in 2005, we continued to strategically focus on profitably growing our business by concentrating on opportunities to grow our core bearing component business. We made investments in China and Slovakia that provide us with an increased geographic footprint in Eastern Europe and China for the expansion of our ball manufacturing capabilities as well as provide us with opportunities to manufacture other bearing components. Additionally, in early October of 2005 we announced the purchase of SNR Roulements?internal precision ball producing equipment from its manufacturing facility in Annecy, France. This outsourcing transaction is consistent with our strategy and provides us further opportunities to expand existing customer relationships through our core competencies of value added component manufacturing capabilities and service. Anticipated 2006 Results Mr. Baty continued, for 2006 we are forecasting relatively flat economic conditions and continued good capacity utilization rates in the U.S. and Europe. Thus, we are currently estimating total year revenues for 2006 to approximate $325 million, which is essentially flat with our 2005 revenue levels. Negatively impacting our year over year revenue comparisons are currency ($8.0 million) and a market share loss with INA ($7.0 million) which we will offset by market share improvements ($12.0 million) and the positive impact of material related selling price increases ($6.0 million). We are currently negotiating new long-term NN Euroball supply agreements with INA and SKF which expire in mid 2006. In regards to these negotiations, INA has informed us of their decision to in-source approximately $12.0 million of annual business to their internal ball manufacturing facility in Germany. We are continuing to negotiate the terms of a long term supply agreement with INA. Our contract negotiations with SKF have resulted in an agreement to extend our current contract through the end of 2006 under existing terms and conditions. Negotiations for a multi-year extension beyond the end of 2006 with SKF are ongoing. Our 2006 business plan anticipates full year earnings to be in the range of $0.86 to $0.92 per diluted share which are in line with 2005 earnings. These earnings projections include the negative impact of estimated currency translation of NN Europe earnings, the expensing of any potential 2006 stock option awards, increased energy costs and the start up expenses associated with our new manufacturing facility in China. The guidance does not include the positive earnings impact of potential acquisitions in 2006 or the earnings per share impact of any stock repurchases under NN stock repurchase program. The Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase plan to purchase up to $10.0 million of the Company outstanding common stock over the next eighteen months. Mr. Baty concluded, given NN current debt levels, we believe that a stock repurchase plan and future acquisitions can be fully funded in the near term. At NN, we remain committed and confident in our ability to continue the execution of a long-term growth strategy that includes both internal growth and growth through acquisitions in our bearing and related component products businesses.