AirBoss of America Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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March 7, 2024

There are 7 speakers on the call.

Operator

you for standing by. This is the conference operator. Welcome to the AirBoss of America 4th Quarter Conference Call. As a reminder, all participants are in listen only mode and the conference is being recorded. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Operator

I would now like to turn the conference over to Gren Schoch, Chairman and Co Chief Executive Officer. Please go ahead.

Speaker 1

Thank you, operator. Good morning, everybody, and thank you for joining us for the Airbus 4th quarter 2023 results conference call. My name is Gren Schoch. I'm the Chairman and Co CEO of Airbus. With me today are Chris Mitsakakis, our President and Co CEO Frank Untillay, our CFO and Chris Figuel, our EVP and General Counsel.

Speaker 1

Our agenda today will start with a review of the operational highlights for the quarter year, followed by a discussion of our financial results

Speaker 2

before we

Speaker 1

open the conference line to questions. Before we begin, I will remind listeners that our remarks today contain forward looking statements, including our estimates of future developments. We invite listeners to review risk factors related to our business in our annual information form and our MD and A, both of which are available on SEDAR and on our corporate website. Also, we will discuss certain non GAAP measures, including EBITDA. Reconciliations of these measures are available in our MD and A.

Speaker 1

Finally, please note that our reporting currency is in U. S. Dollars. References today will be in U. S.

Speaker 1

Dollars unless we indicate otherwise. With that, I'll now turn it over to Chris Bitsycakos for our operational review.

Speaker 3

Thank you, Gren, and good morning, everyone. As we look at our Q4 year ended December 2023 results, we are pleased with the significant positive swing in our cash generation from a consumption of $30,000,000 in 2022 to cash generation of $40,000,000 in 2023. Despite the improvement in cash generation, 2023 was a challenging year for Airbus as economic headwinds impacted each segment to varying degrees. Between the UAW strike, the in sourcing of tolling business, customers reducing inventory at the end of the year and the general higher interest rate climate affecting demand, there was no shortage of tactical challenges. In light of those challenges, the company focused on managing costs and developing multilayer risk mitigation plans, while undertaking an extensive in-depth strategic review of each of our business units.

Speaker 3

This detailed review has resulted in a new strategic transition for the corporation, which includes a shift in reportable segments commencing with our results for the Q4 year ended December 31, 2023. Airbus will now report results under 2 segments, Airbus Rubber Solutions and Airbus Manufactured Products. All rubber compounding operations are now consolidated in the new ARS segment, including the rubber compounding operations in Actonville, Quebec, which emphasize this segment's ability to act as the core driver for sustainable and predictable growth and productivity for the corporation. The new Manufactured Products segment consists of all operations which manufacture or distribute finished products to a variety of target markets including automotive, non automotive and defense. As A and P will now encompass all manufactured and distributed finished goods, we will be undertaking an additional product line by product line strategic review in order to assess their overall alignment with the strategic direction of the corporation.

Speaker 3

Through this transition, we will be making a concerted effort to refocus the company's resources on the core business of AirFa. By narrowing our focus, we expect to be able to deliver a more consistent and predictable revenue stream going forward. In terms of last year, both ARS and AMP experienced residual softness in Q4 2023, while the eventual recovery in volumes in 2024 for each segment will remain subject to the ongoing challenges related to continued inflation pressures and the ongoing global geopolitical challenges and successful conversion of key opportunities. For ARS, the segment experienced some retraction in most business lines compared to 2022, which was a record year from both a sales and EBITDA perspective. However, 2023 was still a solid year from a sales and EBITDA perspective.

Speaker 3

Despite robust performance earlier in the year, there was a pronounced softness experienced at the end of Q4 2023 as sales were impacted by customers focused on reducing inventory levels going into their year end. Despite these headwinds, the segment remains focused on executing on its strategy to deliver strong results with specialized products, expanded production of a broader array of compounds and enhanced flexibility in attracting and fulfilling new business through identified synergies and margin expansion. A and P experienced strong traction in its rubber molded product lines despite challenges towards the latter part of the year due to labor disruptions related to the UAW strikes. The defense business experienced softness across the product portfolio throughout the entire year due to ongoing delays in the sourcing of major program awards. Throughout the year, management continued its focus on operational improvements, including managing costs and a commitment to drive efficiencies and best in class automation.

Speaker 3

We expect the resegmentation to offer additional opportunities for cost and efficiency improvements. Based on our new strategic direction, the company's long term priorities consist of the following. Firstly, to grow the core Rubber Solutions segment by emphasizing rubber compounding as the core driver for sustainable growth and productivity, focusing on innovation and custom rubber compounding, while aiming to expand market share through organic and inorganic means, while striving to achieve enhanced diversification by a broadening of the product breadth through technological advancements and investments in specialty compound niches. Secondly, focusing manufactured products growth strategy on diversifying and expanding its range of non automotive rubber molded products, while simultaneously narrowing the overall product line range through a renewed focus on core competencies. And thirdly, while undertaking a strategic review of all product lines currently manufactured and sold by the company in its Manufactured Products segment, we plan to target inorganic growth opportunities with a focus on adding new compounds and products, technical capabilities and geographic regions in selected North American and international markets.

Speaker 3

In summary, AirBoss will continue to focus on these long term priorities, while investing in core areas of the business to establish a solid foundation that will support long term predictable and sustainable growth. With that, I will now pass the call over

Speaker 4

to Frank for the financial review. Thanks, Chris, and good morning, everyone. As a reminder, all dollar amounts presented today are in U. S. Dollars except for dividends per share, which are in Canadian dollars.

Speaker 4

Percentage changes compared Q4 of 2023 to Q4 of 2022 unless otherwise noted. Starting from the top line, consolidated net sales for Q4 of 2023 decreased by 21.1 percent to $92,700,000 from $117,500,000 in Q4 of 2022 with decreases at both Rubber Solutions and Manufactured Products. Consolidated gross profit for Q4 of 2023 decreased to $5,100,000 or 5.5 percent of net sales from $24,800,000 or 21.1 percent of net sales in Q4 of 2022. Due to decreases in manufactured products, defense product lines and rubber molded products line. Our adjusted EBITDA decreased to $4,000,000 for Q4 of 2023 compared to $13,900,000 for Q4 of 2022.

Speaker 4

Adjusted profit for Q4 of 2023 was negative $2,800,000 or negative $0.10 per diluted adjusted earnings per share compared to 12,300,000 dollars or $0.45 per diluted adjusted earnings per share for Q4 of 2022. Turning now to our individual segments. Net sales for Q4 2023 in the Rubber Solutions segment decreased by 21.1 percent to 54,500,000 dollars from $69,000,000 in Q4 of 2022. The decrease in net sales for Q4 of 'twenty three was primarily due to the softness across most sectors. Gross profit at Rubber Solutions for Q4 of 'twenty three was $7,800,000 or 14.4 percent of net sales compared with $7,700,000 or 11.2 percent of net sales in Q4 of 2022.

Speaker 4

The increase in gross profit margin was principally due to product mix managing overhead costs partially offset by a reduction in volume. At manufactured products, net sales for Q4 of 2023 decreased by 19.9 percent $44,000,000 compared with $55,000,000 in Q4 of 2022. The decrease was a result of lower volume in the defense products and the rubber molded products lines. Gross profit at manufactured products for Q4 of 2023 was negative $2,800,000 compared with $17,100,000 in Q4 of 2022. The decrease was primarily a result of an $8,000,000 non cash write down related to Nitrile Glove inventory and retroactive pricing from improved arrangements with key suppliers and customers and lower volumes in the defense products line recognized comparable to the prior year in addition to lower volume in the defense products and rubber molded products line.

Speaker 4

This was partially offset by operational cost improvements in the segment. Free cash flow for Q4 of 'twenty three was $6,100,000 compared to negative $4,700,000 at the end of Q4 2022. This positive cash inflow supported our continued investment in capital assets and further reductions of our debt. CapEx was $3,200,000 for Q4 of 2023. By the end of

Operator

The speakers are now reconnected.

Speaker 4

Apologies. This is Frank Yantelio. It looks like we got disconnected. I'll just wrap up. Free cash flow for Q4 2023 was $6,100,000 compared to negative $4,700,000 at the end of Q4 of 20 22.

Speaker 4

This positive cash inflow supported our continued investment in capital assets and further reduction of our debt. CapEx was $3,200,000 for Q4 of 2023. By the end of Q4 of 2023, we reduced our net debt balance by $21,900,000 compared Q4 of 2022. We expect to fund the company's 2024 operating cash requirements, including required working capital investments, capital expenditures and scheduled debt repayments from cash on hand, cash flow from operations and committed borrowing capacity. Our revolving credit facility availability is $250,000,000 with an accordion of $75,000,000 and approximately 100 and $19,100,000 was drawn at the end of Q4 of 2023.

Speaker 4

As of the end of the quarter, we had net debt of $88,200,000 for a net leverage ratio of 3.3 times trailing 12 month adjusted EBITDA. With that, I will now turn the call over to Chris.

Speaker 3

Thank you, Frank. Operator, at this point, we can open the line for Q and A. And again, our apologies for the technical difficulties. Hopefully, we don't get disconnected again, but if we do, please be patient and we'll reconnect. Operator, feel free to tee up the questions for us.

Operator

Thank Our first question comes from Ahmed Abdallah of National Bank of Canada. Please go ahead.

Speaker 5

Yes. Thank you for taking my question. Touching on the volume softness you've mentioned that you've been seeing at ARS, do you have visibility that would give you confidence to say that we're turning a corner here? And also, can you perhaps elaborate, is this softness more pronounced at certain customer sectors versus others? Or is this more related to macroeconomic factors affecting everybody?

Speaker 3

Yes. Thanks for the question, Amit. That's a it's a very good question. What we saw towards the end of Q4 was a very generalized pullback of orders for ARS, much of them with the intention of our customers interested in reducing their inventory levels going into the end of their fiscal years. And so we saw a significant pullback in orders.

Speaker 3

We saw that softness continue on for the 1st part of January, but it appears that we're starting to turn the corner and the February orders were quite a bit stronger than January and March has continued down that path. So we think it was sort of a broader economic slowdown with the interest in not having tons of inventory over their shutdowns. But it appears that things are sort of getting back to normal now as we speak.

Speaker 5

Okay. Thank you for the color. And as you come out of an in-depth strategic review with the new long term priorities that you've been communicating, I just wonder what is different now versus before that would get you closer to achieving these priorities and targets? Or are there more structural changes that you need to be undergoing to get you closer to these goals? And maybe you can perhaps elaborate on these changes needed.

Speaker 3

Yes, certainly. I mean, there will be more changes coming. But to sort of give an overview, a 30,000 foot view of what this looks like, it really is a narrowing of our focus back to our core competencies and looking at every aspect of our business that supports that core competency and every aspect that doesn't. And although that transition doesn't happen overnight, it will certainly be over the next period of time, you will see certain things kind of support that overall transition. We feel that narrowing down our focus back into our core competencies, focusing on segments that we have very strong market share in, where our core competencies are and where we see the most amount of growth available.

Speaker 3

Those are the sections that we're going to be focusing more attention on. And yes, you will see as events happen around that solidification of our core competency, You'll see everything sort of align here over the next little while.

Speaker 5

Okay. Thanks for the color. I'll queue up again. Thank you.

Operator

Our next question comes from Kevin Chiang of CIBC. Please go ahead.

Speaker 2

Hi, thanks for taking my question. Maybe just when you think of 2024, and I appreciate all the moving parts here, just want to moving parts here, just trying to level set, what do you think a good run rate for revenue and EBITDA for this business Is it what we saw in Q4? It sounds like maybe there's a little bit of positive momentum as you enter 2024 here. So maybe that ends up being the trough. But is there a way to kind of level set what maybe the base business can give you and then you can layer on top or we can layer on top broader economic growth and upside from some of the restructuring you're doing on top of the space business?

Speaker 4

Yes, Kevin, I'll start the answer to that question. I think Q4 was additionally soft, and I think we have to look more like between Q2 and Q3 to sort of get a level set run rate moving forward. And obviously, as we've indicated, there was some pronounced softness across the segments in Q4, but we

Speaker 3

from that perspective. And then Chris, I don't know if there's anything else from the volume perspective just based on what we're seeing. Yes. Sorry, Kevin. I didn't catch all of your question you were cutting out a little bit.

Speaker 3

So is there any extra color that I can add to that?

Speaker 2

No, no. I think Frank answered that perfectly, so that's helpful. But maybe just on volumes, if I look at, I guess, non tolling volumes, I think they've been down roughly 9% both in Q3 and Q4. Tolling looks like it had a bit of a big hit in Q4, but it sounds like that might be related to some of the inventory comments you made. Just I guess as you look at these volume trends, is the feeling now that this is the trough and you can sequentially build off of this in 2024 or is it still pretty uncertain when you have your conversations with your key customers?

Speaker 3

No, that's our feeling that we have 23 new customers that we're bringing on board at ARS here starting early in the year. So we expect to be able to grow the non tolling business throughout the year. Of course, we have to still execute because when you're growing new customers, your quality delivery, all the blocking and tackling has to work out just right. But we have a very strong growth plan on our non tolling revenue coming into this year. And of course, the year started out a little bit soft, sort of that residual softness from the latter part of Q4.

Speaker 3

But it looks like we're starting to turn that corner. And the new customers that we have teed up will continue to drive that up on the non tolling side. On the tolling side, it's kind of interesting. It comes and goes based on the general economy. So as the economy generally improves, then our tolling customers start to run out of their own capacity and start to outsource more.

Speaker 3

But in general, we're looking at driving our business more towards non tolling because it's much more predictable, right? Of course, we always have capacity available to jump in when a key tolling customer has a need. But we want to make sure that we're not so reliant on it going forward because it comes in waves and it leaves in waves, which enhances the lack of predictability on that part of the segment. So we want to make sure that we get enough of a core base business that is non tolling that when the tolling comes in, it's good, It's extra. But when it goes away, it doesn't impact as much as it did last year.

Speaker 2

That's helpful. And then just last one. You've used the word predictable a few times now on this call. Just I guess as you think about the broader pipeline of opportunities you have and maybe some of the stuff you've obviously very successful in winning during the pandemic. Does that have you rethinking how you bid on some of that stuff?

Speaker 2

Is a big HHS contract something you'd want to go after in the future knowing that you get this 1 year earnings bump, but obviously you can create a lot of volatility and it is less predictable on a go forward basis. Just how do you think about bidding on that stuff moving forward relative to the strategy to create a more predictable earnings

Speaker 3

stream? It's a really important priority for us, the predictability. And yes, I mean, just speaking about you mentioned HHS, we had that huge increase during the pandemic and lots of promises from the government that they never wanted to be caught again in the next event, whether it be a pandemic or something else with a lack of domestic PPE available. But I think I mentioned a couple of times in our presentation that we are going to be doing a product line by product line review. It won't necessarily change the way that we quote the way you phrase that question, but it will it could change the product lines that we decide to quote on.

Speaker 3

And because although there is huge potential from massive awards on and you mentioned HHS. At the same time, it requires a lot of resources and it really contributes to the lack of predictability. So I'm not going to preempt what that product line by product line review is going to yield for us. We're doing a very scientific sort of view as to the product lines we want to continue to be in and the ones we don't want to be in. And certainly, predictability is one of the key factors that we're looking at as we make those decisions.

Speaker 2

Perfect. I appreciate the color there. Thank you very much.

Operator

Our next question comes from David Ocampo of Cormark Securities. Please go ahead.

Speaker 6

Thanks. Just following up on Kevin's line of questioning there. I'm just curious which products within defense you guys view as core which ones you view as non core? And if you do take a step back from there, would it be a divestiture or just closing down the product line?

Speaker 3

We actually haven't made a decision of what we view as core and what we view as non core. We've kind of set up the criteria that we're looking at in terms of core versus non core. And of course, you can imagine the kinds of things that we're looking at. The margins that we can expect, the size of the growth that we could predict. The vertical integration into the Rubber business, is that existent or non existent?

Speaker 3

So those are the kinds of things that we're looking at product line by product line, But we created the overall strategy to focus more on the core business and that was approved by the Board in December. So now we're going forward with the more in-depth review of product line by product line. And certainly, a lot of those defense products, we're going to have to take a close look at because they require a lot of resources and we want to make sure that we apply our resources in the correct way for the greatest opportunity for growth for the business. And we can't answer that question today. And as I said earlier to Kevin, I don't want to preempt the results of those product line by product line reviews.

Speaker 3

But certainly, as we go through that, there is opportunity for divestiture, there's opportunity for mergers, there's opportunities for acquisitions and spin offs. I mean, you can put any list of things there that are available to us as we decide if something ends up in the non core bucket.

Speaker 6

Got you. And I think Chris previously you talked about restructuring the defense group and I think even when as far as putting a cost saving number to that, I think it was $7,000,000 or $8,000,000 annualized. Is that still a reasonable target for 2024?

Speaker 3

Yes. So we did a restructuring, not only in the defense group, but in

Operator

Pardon me. I have the speakers back in the call.

Speaker 3

Sorry about that. David, something went down mid answer. But what I was getting at is, we did make some changes and some reductions in 2023 and those are carrying forward into 2024. However, with the resegmentation and with the deep dive strategic review on product line by product line, we expect there to be more opportunities for synergy savings going forward.

Speaker 6

Okay. That's helpful. And then maybe for Frank, I'm surprised to still see an $8,000,000 write down of the nitrile gloves. Is that largely behind us now? We can't expect any more write downs and maybe even potential for releasing that inventory down the road?

Speaker 4

Yes. David, look, with the oversupply that occurred during the pandemic, there's been obviously a lot of pressure, downward pressure on the gloves. And while there still is some to move, we've taken the necessary steps from a net realizable value perspective to adjust accordingly. And we feel that we're where we need to be to move this last little bit. But again, it's really spillover from the past and everybody's priority is obviously focused on deleveraging and converting working capital as we've been doing across all the elements.

Speaker 6

Okay. And then if I could just sneak one last one in here, just quickly. Just on the real estate monetization, how much capital do you think that could unlock? And would you look to redeploy that on inorganic or organic growth opportunities?

Speaker 3

Yes. Generally speaking, we expect the monetization of the real estate to offer funds for us to use to expand the business, whether it be through acquisitions or even debt repayment or whatever we decide. But certainly, it's going to be a fairly significant process for us. We have not kicked that off quite yet, but once we decide to kick it off, we'll be able to give a few more details around that. Right now, it's a fairly high interest rate environment.

Speaker 3

So we're taking our time in terms of getting ready to do that. But once we're able to monetize that, it'll be a significant injection of cash for us to use to help grow the business, particularly on the rubber compounding side. It will facilitate the building of a brand new state of the art facility that will improve efficiencies and at the same time inject capital for us to use to grow the business. So as more details become available for that, David, we'll be able to share a little

Speaker 6

bit more around that. Okay. That's perfect. I'll hop back in the queue. Thanks, guys.

Operator

This concludes the question and answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Chris Bitsakakis for any closing remarks.

Speaker 3

Thank you, operator, and thank you everyone for attending today's call. Our sincerest apologies over the technical difficulties we were having. But please reach out to us directly or through our Investor Relations team if you have any further questions on our results or in general. Thank you very much and have a great day.

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AirBoss of America Q4 2023
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