Paul Mueller Company Announces Its Fourth Quarter Earnings of 2016

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., March 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paul Mueller Company (OTC:MUEL) today announced earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 2016.

 PAUL MUELLER COMPANY
SUMMARIZED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1) Results of Operations: (In thousands)

A. The chart below depicts the net revenue on a consolidating basis for the three months ended December 31.

The chart below depicts the net revenue on a consolidating basis for the twelve months ended December 31.

The chart below depicts the net income on a consolidating basis for the three months ended December 31.

The chart below depicts the net income on a consolidating basis for the twelve months ended December 31.

B. Our 2016 results were negatively affected by two events which we described in previous communications including our 2015 annual report.  

First, we began significant roof repairs on our Springfield, Missouri facilities.  The portion to be completed this year was estimated to cost approximately $2.0 million.  During the fourth quarter, we incurred $729,000 of expense for a YTD total of $1,661,000.

Second, we completed the lump sum pension payments to participants who elected to take the settlement.  These payments, paid from the assets of the plans, were available for participants who were no longer employed by the company as of May 6, 2016, but who had not yet begun receiving their benefit.  The eligible participants represented about a quarter of the obligations of the plans and just over 50% of those eligible elected the settlement.  The payments, totaling $13.8 million to 218 participants, were made on or about September 26, 2016.  This settlement had a negative noncash effect on the pretax earnings of the Company of $6.72 million caused by pension deficits, previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, moving through net income. 

C. The pre-tax results for the three months ended December 31, 2016, were favorably affected by a $500,000 decrease in the LIFO reserve.  The pre-tax results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, were unfavorably affected by a $500,000 increase in the LIFO reserve.  The pre-tax results for the three months ended December 31, 2015, were favorably affected by a $550,000 decrease in the LIFO reserve.  The pre-tax results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, were favorably affected by a $1,050,000 decrease in the LIFO reserve.

D. On March 18, 2016, the Company announced a repurchase program of up to $3 million of the Company’s common stock. The stock repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market, in compliance with a Rule 10b5-1 share repurchase plan adopted by the Company, or in privately negotiated transactions in compliance with applicable state and federal securities laws. The timing and amounts of any repurchases will be based on market conditions and other factors including price, regulatory requirements, and capital availability. The program does not require the repurchase of any minimum number of shares and may be suspended, modified, or discontinued at any time, without prior notice.  As of December 31, 2016, the Company has repurchased 37,199 shares at a total cost of $1,113,000. 

E. On March 17, 2017, the Company announced plans to build a new facility in Groenlo, a town in the east-central portion of The Netherlands. The new facility will be located 10 kilometers (approximately 6 miles) from one of Paul Mueller Company’s current Dutch manufacturing facilities in Lichtenvoorde.

Groenlo was chosen because of its close proximity to the current Lichtenvoorde location, easing the transition for the majority of the production employees. Working together in one location, employees can better develop common goals and address customer needs.

The new facility will consolidate four locations the Company currently operates in The Netherlands, including the Lichtenvoorde location. The €20 million ($21 million) project is expected to have a positive return based on reducing the costs of operating four separate facilities, the rent paid on three of the facilities, and the sale of the primary manufacturing location in Lichtenvoorde. It will also combine the companies acquired in 2008 into one location creating a stronger culture and improving collaboration and efficiencies.

Pending final approval of construction plans and loan documents, construction should start in the summer of 2017 with a completion date projected to be in the summer of 2018. 

F. During 2016, Mueller B.V. acquired the remaining 51% of DEG Engineering GmbH, a German engineering company, for $263,000 in cash, the forgiveness of a $2,152,000 payable owed to Mueller B.V. from DEG Engineering GmbH, and $96,000 in other considerations. The DEG Engineering GmbH acquisition included brand assets and patents useful in growing Mueller B.V. industrial and heat transfer business segments in international markets.

G. The Company was in violation of the fixed charge coverage covenant on its domestic bank borrowing facility at December 31, 2016. Subsequent to year end a waiver was obtained from the lender for the covenant violations as of December 31, 2016.

H. The consolidated financials are affected by the euro to dollar exchange rate when consolidating Mueller B.V., the Dutch subsidiary.  The month-end euro to dollar exchange rate was 1.09 for December, 2015 and 1.05 for December, 2016, respectively.                                   

(2) Summary of Accounting Policies:

Principles of Consolidation and Lines of Business–The financial statements include the accounts of Paul Mueller Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries: Mueller Transportation, Inc.; Mueller Field Operations, Inc.; and Mueller B.V. and its subsidiaries (collectively “Company”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company provides manufactured equipment and components for the food, dairy, beverage, transportation, chemical, pharmaceutical, and other industries, as well as the dairy farm market. The Company also provides field fabrication, service and repair, and construction services in these industries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions.  All statements regarding future performance growth, conditions, or developments are forward-looking statements.  Actual future results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the factors described on page 30 of the Company’s 2016 Annual Report, which is available at paulmueller.com.  The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update these forward-looking statements to reflect any future events or circumstances.

For all other relevant accounting policies and management discussion and analysis, please see the 2016 annual report, which is available at www.paulmueller.com.