Littelfuse Reports Third Quarter Results

Littelfuse Reports Third Quarter Results

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Littelfuse, Inc. (NAS: LFUS) today reported sales and earnings for the third quarter of 2012.

Third Quarter Highlights

• Sales for the third quarter of 2012 were $172.7 million. This was a 1% decline year over year and 2% sequentially and consistent with third quarter guidance.

• Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of 2012 were $1.08. This included $1.5 million of acquisition-related expenses and impairment charges which reduced earnings by $.05 per share.

• Sales and order trends by business unit were as follows:

  • Electronics sales declined 9% year over year and 2% sequentially due to sluggish end markets globally and tight inventory management by distributors. The order rate softened during the quarter with the book-to-bill ratio ending the quarter at .89.

  • Automotive sales increased 9% year over year due primarily to $5.1 million of sales from the recently-completed Accel acquisition. Excluding Accel, automotive sales declined 2% due to the effects of a weaker euro and slowing commercial vehicle sales partially offset by modest growth in passenger vehicles.

  • Electrical sales increased 10% year over year due to continued growth in protection relays and custom products and an upturn in solar sales reflecting the success of new products.

• The effective tax rate dropped to 22.6% resulting from favorable book-to-provision adjustments and more income earned in low-tax jurisdictions.

• Cash provided by operating activities was $43.5 million for the third quarter of 2012 compared to $37.9 million for the third quarter of 2011. Through nine months of 2012 operating cash flow was $76.1 million and capital expenditures were $12.8 million.

• The company acquired the assets of Terra Power LLC on September 26, 2012. Terra Power provides power distribution and switching products to the commercial vehicle market and has a growing revenue base of approximately $7 million. It will be managed as part of the Cole Hersee business.

"We turned in solid financial performance for the quarter despite uncertain market conditions," said Gordon Hunter, Chief Executive Officer. "As projected, the electronics business did not show typical seasonal strength and the commercial vehicle business softened considerably. On the other hand, the electrical business continues to grow and the passenger vehicle business is holding up reasonably well despite challenges in Europe."

"Third quarter cash flow was near record levels, and we continue to build our cash position despite closing two small acquisitions within the last four months," said Phil Franklin, Chief Financial Officer. "We are pleased with our progress in filling the acquisition funnel and expect to do some more substantial deals in the future."

Outlook

"Our current business environment is marked by uncertainty, lack of visibility and softening demand in a few of our key markets," said Hunter. "The low book-to-bill ratio indicates a weaker-than-normal fourth quarter for electronics, although sales are expected to be above last year's fourth quarter. The weakness in the commercial vehicle market, which began several months ago, is continuing into the fourth quarter. Growth in content per vehicle in our passenger car business is expected to help offset lackluster end demand. The electrical business is expected to have another growth quarter despite slowing in the mining sector."

• Sales for the fourth quarter are expected to be in the range of $152 to $162 million which at the midpoint represents 7% growth over the fourth quarter of 2011.

• Earnings for the fourth quarter of 2012 are expected to be in the range of $0.75 to $0.90 per diluted share before special items. The company expects to book a material non-cash charge in the fourth quarter related to lump-sum distributions from the U.S. pension plan that will reduce the company's pension liability.

• Capital expenditures are now expected to be less than $20 million, down from earlier guidance of $25 million. This reflects push out of several capacity-related projects.

Dividend

The company will pay a cash dividend of $0.20 per common share on December 3, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 19, 2012.

Conference Call Webcast Information

Littelfuse will host a conference call today, Thursday, November 1, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern/10:00 a.m. Central time to discuss the third quarter results. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed through the company's website: www.littelfuse.com. Listeners should go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary audio software. The call will be available for replay through December 31, 2012 and can be accessed through the website listed above.

About Littelfuse

Founded in 1927, Littelfuse, Inc., the worldwide leader in circuit protection, offers the industry's broadest and deepest portfolio of circuit protection products and solutions. Littelfuse devices protect products in virtually every market that uses electrical energy, from consumer electronics to automobiles to industrial equipment. In addition to its Chicago, Illinois, world headquarters, Littelfuse has more than 30 sales, distribution, manufacturing and engineering facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Technologies offered by Littelfuse include Fuses; Gas Discharge Tubes (GDTs); Positive Temperature Coefficient Devices (PTCs); Protection Relays; PulseGuard® ESD Suppressors; SIDACtor® Devices; Silicon Protection Arrays (SPA™); Switching Thyristors; TVS Diodes and Varistors. The company also offers a comprehensive line of highly reliable Electromechanical and Electronic Switch and Control Devices for commercial and specialty vehicles, as well as Protection Relays and underground Power Distribution Centers for the safe control and distribution of electricity.

For more information, please visit the Littelfuse website: littelfuse.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are intended to constitute "forward-looking statements" entitled to the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA. These statements may involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks relating to product demand and market acceptance, economic conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing, product quality problems or product recalls, capacity and supply difficulties or constraints, coal mining exposures reserves, failure of an indemnification for environmental liability, exchange rate fluctuations, commodity price fluctuations, the effect of the company's accounting policies, labor disputes, restructuring costs in excess of expectations, pension plan asset returns less than assumed, integration of acquisitions and other risks which may be detailed in the company's other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated or implied in the forward-looking statements. This report should be read in conjunction with information provided in the financial statements appearing in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and in the company's Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 29, 2012. For a further discussion of the risk factors of the company, please see Item 1A. "Risk Factors" to the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

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