Joy Global Inc., a worldwide leader in high-productivity mining solutions, has reported its first quarter fiscal 2012 results. First quarter bookings increased by 17% to $1.4 billion and net sales increased 31% to $1.1 billion compared to the same period last year. Operating income of $214 million was 18.8% of sales, compared to operating income of $154 million, or 17.7% of sales, in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. Income from continuing operations was $142 million or $1.33 per fully diluted share for the first quarter compared to income from continuing operations of $102 million, or $0.96 per fully diluted share in the first quarter of 2011.
First Quarter Operating Results
"We are very pleased with our first quarter, and it gives us a very strong start to our 2012," says Mike Sutherlin, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our core surface and underground businesses grew revenues by 18%, and 23%, respectively, and operating leverage enabled them to expand operating margins to over 20%. Both sales and margins are records for a first quarter. Orders in these core businesses were strong, but lumpy. Orders for original equipment in our underground business were down, but this is largely due to the exceptionally strong bookings we had in last year's first quarter. Conversely, orders for surface original equipment and for aftermarket parts and services in both segments were especially strong, and in line with the outlook for our markets. LeTourneau operating results remain accretive, despite working through legacy warranty and supply chain issues which should improve over the balance of the year. We hit a major milestone with International Mining Machinery, by reaching an ownership level that enables us to proceed with de-listing. As a result of all of these factors, our first quarter was a combination of strong operational performance and good progress on investments we have made in our future," says Sutherlin.
International Mining and Machinery Holding Ltd. (IMM)
On December 29, 2011, the company completed its purchase of a 41.1% ownership interest in IMM from an affiliate of The Jordan Company L.P. (the Jordan transaction) and commenced a mandatory tender offer for the remaining outstanding shares of IMM. As a result of prior open market purchases of IMM shares, the completion of the Jordan transaction resulted in the company obtaining a controlling ownership interest of 69.2% in IMM and triggered the consolidation of IMM into our operating results effective December 29, 2011. First quarter 2012 includes net sales of $11 million and operating profit of $0.5 million for IMM for the month of January, net of $0.3 million in purchase accounting charges. The completion of the Jordan transaction also resulted in a gain of $19 million from the fair market value adjustment on the previously held 28.1% ownership of IMM shares. We have also included $0.8 million in operating profit representing our share of the earnings of IMM for the period during the quarter that we did not have a controlling interest.
During the first quarter of 2012, the company acquired a total of $590 million in shares of IMM through the completion of the Jordan transaction and the resulting tender offer. As of the end of the first quarter 2012, the company owned 69.8% of the outstanding shares of IMM. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, on February 10, 2012, the company completed the mandatory tender offer for the remaining outstanding shares of IMM, purchasing an additional 29.1% of the outstanding shares and cancelling all outstanding options, bringing our total ownership interest to 98.9%. The total consideration for the 98.9% ownership interest and the cancellation of all outstanding options was approximately $1.4 billion. The transactions were funded from cash held in escrow and borrowings under the October 31, 2011 term loan commitment. The company intends to complete the legally-required acquisition of the remaining 1.1% of IMM shares in the third quarter of fiscal 2012.
Bookings
Bookings increased 17% to $1.4 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, which includes $84.3 million from LeTourneau and $15.5 million from IMM. Orders for the core underground and surface businesses increased 9% in total over the first quarter of last year. Aftermarket orders increased 21%, while original equipment orders were down 3% over last year's first quarter. The stronger U.S. dollar reduced bookings by $9 million during the quarter.
Underground mining machinery recorded its second highest first quarter bookings in history, excluding IMM, yet orders were down 2% in comparison to last year's record setting first quarter. A 26% increase in aftermarket bookings was more than offset by a 19% decrease in original equipment bookings. The increase in aftermarket bookings was led by orders received in the United States, Australia and China. Original equipment orders were down in all regions, from the record bookings recorded in the first quarter last year, which included a major longwall system in Australia.
Bookings for surface mining equipment, excluding LeTourneau, were up 40% from the first quarter of last year. Original equipment orders were up 81% from the orders reported a year ago, while aftermarket bookings increased by 20%. Original equipment orders received in the current quarter were broadly disbursed across geographies and commodities, including the United States, Canada, Latin America, Australia and South Africa, and aftermarket orders were up in all regions.
Backlog at the end of the first quarter was $3.6 billion, compared to $3.3 billion at the beginning of fiscal 2012. The increase reflects a positive book to bill ratio for both businesses during the first quarter of 2012, plus a $47 million addition of IMM backlog after acquiring a controlling interest.
Net Sales
Net sales increased 21% to $1.0 billion, excluding LeTourneau and IMM. Original equipment sales were up 37% and aftermarket sales were up 10% over the prior year period. Changes in foreign exchange rates decreased net sales by $4 million in the first quarter compared to a year ago.
Net sales of underground mining machinery, excluding IMM, rose 23% in the first quarter compared to a year ago. Original equipment shipments were up 31% and aftermarket shipments were up 17% over the prior first quarter. The original equipment sales were driven by higher shipments in Australia, the United States and Eurasia, while aftermarket sales were led by China, Australia, the United States and Eurasia.
Net sales of surface mining equipment, excluding LeTourneau, were 18% higher than a year ago. Original equipment sales increased 47%, with aftermarket sales up 4%. Original equipment sales increases were across all regions led by strong shipments in Latin America, South Africa, the United States and Canada. Aftermarket sales increases in the United States, Canada and Latin America in the first quarter of 2012 were partially offset by sales decreases in Australia and South Africa.
Operating Profit
Operating income for the core business, before LeTourneau and IMM acquisition related activities, was $204 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared to $154 million in the first quarter of last year. Return on sales was 19.5% in the first quarter, compared to 17.7% last year. Incremental profitability for the core business was 28.3%.
The increase in operating profit, before all of the acquisition activities, was due to higher sales volume, price realization and favorable manufacturing overhead absorption compared to the prior year first quarter. These items were partially offset by an increase in selling, engineering and administrative expenses.
In addition, the current quarter results include $9 million of operating profit from LeTourneau, net of $3.1 million of ongoing purchase accounting charges. The first quarter results also include $5.9 million in excess purchase accounting charges associated with the write-up of the acquired inventory and backlog of LeTourneau.
Net interest expense increased to $16 million in the first quarter of 2012 up from $4 million in the prior year. The increase in interest expense is attributable to incremental borrowings associated with acquisition financing for LeTourneau and IMM.
The effective income tax rate was 27.9% in the first quarter compared to 31.6% in the prior year first quarter. The reduction in the effective tax rate is attributable to permanent tax differences arising from the share gain and acquisition costs associated with the IMM transaction and other discrete tax benefits recorded during the quarter. Excluding these items in the current year, the effective tax rate would have been 31%. The effective tax rate is expected to be between 29.5 and 31.5% for the full year.
Impact of Acquisitions and Unusual Items on Earnings Per Share
Income from continuing operations in the first quarter was $142 million or $1.33 per fully diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations of $102 million or $0.96 per fully diluted share in the first quarter of the prior year.
Cash used in continuing operations was $14 million in the first quarter, compared to cash used in continuing operations of $7 million a year ago. The increase in cash used in continuing operations during the first quarter was due primarily to an increase in inventories to support planned shipments, partially offset by increased advance payments and receivable collections during the quarter.
Capital expenditures were $49 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to $28 million in the prior year first quarter.
Market Outlook
The end markets for the commodities that are mined by the company's customers are defined by an improving global economic outlook on one hand and mild winter weather in North America on the other. Improvements in the U.S. economy as well as evidence of a "soft landing" in China, are giving confidence to commodity markets despite potential lingering headwinds from the Eurozone debt crises.
While some 2012 economic forecasts were revised downward in the second half of 2011, the overall emerging market growth story remains intact. The Chinese economy performed stronger than expected in the fourth quarter at almost 9% annual growth, and should continue to drive commodity demand. The build out of the western electricity grid and social housing programs will further support double digit year-over-year growth in Chinese industrial production. In addition, Japan's industrial production is expected to rebound by 5% over last year. Finally, global manufacturing improved through the second half of 2011, and provides increasing support to commodity markets.
Copper prices have increased almost 13% this year to $3.97 per pound as uncertainty surrounding Eurozone debt issues abates and positive economic news comes from the U.S. Global copper demand grew an estimated 4% in 2011, with China's consumption increasing by 8% to 7.8 million tonnes. In 2012, global copper demand is forecasted to rise 2%, driven by a 7% increase in Chinese demand. Chinese demand was met by destocking in 2011, and current inventory levels signal a need for an extended restocking in 2012, which will add to end-use demand.
Global steel production declined in the final months of 2011, led by a sharp decline in China. The decline in China steel production was coincident with a similar decline in dealer inventories as the result of credit tightening policies. With recently relaxed credit policies, dealers are expected to replenish their steel inventories in 2012 and this will add support to demand for met coal and iron ore.
Seaborne thermal coal markets remain strong, supported by Chinese and Indian imports. In 2011, China's coal-fired power generation rose 14%, resulting in record imports of 182 million tonnes. India's coal-fired power generation rose 9% year-over-year in 2011, supporting a 35% increase in thermal coal imports to nearly 85 million tonnes for the year. An estimated 90 gigawatts of coal-fired power generating capacity is under construction globally and will require more than 300 million tonnes of additional coal.
Extremely low natural gas prices and unusually mild winter weather have reduced coal demand at electrical utilities in the U.S. Much of this power demand loss was offset by exports, which reached their highest levels since 1991 at 107 million metric tons. Metallurgical coal exports for the year reached nearly 70 million short tons. The most notable factor for 2011 exports was the 45% increase in thermal coal exports. 2011 U.S. coal exports benefitted from supply constraints due to flooding in Australia that caused consumers in India, Japan and South Korea to look to alternative supplies. U.S. exports are expected to return to more normalized levels in 2012 as Australian production returns to the seaborne market. With slowing export growth and low demand for power generation, some U.S. producers have announced production cuts and mine closures. Conversely, U.S. producers are investing in lowering their overall production costs by expanding their better, lower cost mines. They also continue to invest in expansion of port capacity in anticipation of increased demand for U.S. exports into both the Atlantic and the Pacific seaborne markets.
Company Outlook
With global mining at high levels of capacity utilization and an improving global economic outlook, the Company's mining customers expect organic growth projects to provide the highest returns on capital. As a result, international miners have announced increases in their capital expenditures for 2012 by over 15%, led by the major diversified mining houses whose capital budgets are increasing by more than 20%. International capital expenditures are going into new mine and mine expansion projects primarily for coal in China, Australia and Russia; for copper in South America; and for iron ore in Africa and South America.
Capital expenditure budgets for U.S. mining customers are also up in 2012, although more modestly at 5%. These capital expenditures are primarily focused on expanding port facilities to increase coal exports and for selected production expansion at lower cost mines to rebalance their mine portfolios and lower production costs.
"There is risk in the U.S. coal market as mining customers reduce production at higher cost mines to balance weak demand," continues Sutherlin. "The company's current exposure to U.S. underground coal is 20 to 25% of global revenues. Based on models from similar prior periods of mild weather in North America and prior periods of low gas prices that lead to fuel switching, the company believes that continued weakness in the U.S. coal market could reduce total revenues by up to 4 to 6%. Some of this was already factored into the company's initial guidance for 2012, and the company believes that the balance can be offset by additional strength from the international markets. As a result, the company does not expect the U.S. coal market to adversely affect its 2012 guidance," says Sutherlin.
"IMM is being added to our annual guidance for the remainder of fiscal 2012. At approximately $400 million of annualized revenues, this will add $300 million to revenues for the remaining three quarters of fiscal 2012. IMM is expected to increase earnings per fully diluted share by $0.50 for the remainder of fiscal 2012, before excess purchase accounting charges attributable to the first year. However, this does not include the first quarter $0.19 gain on IMM previously held shares partially offset by $0.12 of acquisition costs that were recognized in the first quarter, as well as incremental interest of $0.16 for the full year, of which $0.04 was incurred in the first quarter. The inclusion of IMM and related activities into guidance for the remainder of fiscal 2012 results in revised fiscal 2012 guidance for revenues of $5.6 to $5.8 billion and revised earnings per fully diluted share of $7.40 to $7.80," concludes Sutherlin.
