Strong organic revenue growth from residential products and Magnum Products acquisition drive continued increase in revenue and EBITDA – Outlook raised for full-year 2012

WAUKESHA, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2012-- Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GNRC), a leading designer and manufacturer of generators and other engine powered products, today reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2012.

Highlights

• Net sales increased year-over-year by 48.2% to $239.1 million as compared to $161.4 million in the second quarter of 2011.
  • Residential product sales increased 33.8% compared to the second quarter of 2011.
  • Commercial & Industrial (C&I) product sales increased 76.4% compared to the prior year second quarter.
• Net sales over the trailing four quarters were $1.040 billion; on a pro-forma basis, when including the results for Magnum Products for the entire period, net sales were $1.082 billion.
• Net income was $9.3 million or $0.14 per share for the second quarter of 2012 as compared to $15.3 million or $0.23 per share for the same period of 2011. The current year results include a charge for refinancing costs and a normalized effective income tax rate. Adjusted net income, as defined in the accompanying reconciliation schedules, increased to $39.9 million from $27.7 million in the second quarter of 2011. Adjusted diluted net income per common share was $0.58 as compared to $0.41 per share in the second quarter of 2011.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased to $54.6 million as compared to $37.6 million in the second quarter last year.
• Cash flow from operations in the second quarter of 2012 was $21.1 million as compared to $15.3 million in the prior year quarter. Free cash flow was $17.8 million as compared to $13.5 million in the second quarter of 2011.
• For the trailing four quarters, net income was $343.9 million; adjusted EBITDA, pro-forma for Magnum Products was $258.3 million; cash flow from operations was $201.4 million; and free cash flow was $187.3 million, which represents 90% of the adjusted net income reported during that time period.
• The Company is raising its sales growth guidance for full-year 2012 to the low-20% range over the prior year, which represents an increase from the high-teens growth rate previously expected. As a result, Adjusted EBITDA for the full-year 2012 is now expected to increase in the high-teens range over the prior year, which is an increase from the mid-teens growth rate previously expected.

“Our second quarter results continue to demonstrate the progress we are making in executing our Powering Ahead strategic plan,” said Aaron Jagdfeld, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Growth in shipments of home standby and portable generators were again strong during the second quarter. In particular, the market for our home standby generators continues to develop as more home owners discover the importance of having backup power. In our commercial and industrial products, Magnum continues to perform well as demand for mobile equipment is benefiting from a shift towards renting versus buying. In addition, while still a smaller portion of the overall C&I market, our leadership position in natural gas backup generators within North America has allowed us to benefit from the increased demand for these products.”

Second Quarter 2012 Details

Residential product sales for the second quarter of 2012 increased 33.8% to $123.4 million from $92.2 million for the comparable period in 2011. The growth was primarily driven by strong double-digit increases in shipments for both home standby and portable generators. The Company’s efforts to increase awareness and availability of home standby generators together with execution in meeting the increased demand for these products have helped to drive baseline growth. In addition, expanded placement for portable generator products continues to lead to year-over-year market share gains. Increased revenue from the power washer product line, which began shipping in the second quarter of 2011, also contributed modestly to the year-over-year sales growth in residential products.

C&I product sales for the second quarter of 2012 increased 76.4% to $101.1 million from $57.3 million for the comparable period in 2011. The increase in net sales was primarily driven by the Magnum Products acquisition, and to a lesser extent, increased shipments of natural gas backup generators, partially offset by a decline in shipments to national account customers.

Gross profit margin for the second quarter of 2012 was 36.6% compared to 37.4% in the second quarter of 2011. Gross margin declined over the prior year due to the mix impact from the addition of Magnum Products sales, which was partially offset by a higher mix of home standby generators and the positive impact from price increases, improved overhead absorption and moderation in commodity costs relative to the prior year.

Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2012 increased by $11.7 million or 30.4% as compared to the second quarter of 2011. These additional expenses were driven primarily by operating expenses associated with Magnum, increased sales, engineering and administrative infrastructure to support the strategic growth initiatives and higher baseline sales levels of the Company, increased incentive compensation expenses as a result of the Company’s financial performance during the quarter, and increased variable operating expenses resulting from the double-digit increase in organic sales.

As previously announced, on May 30, 2012, the Company completed a refinancing of its senior secured credit facilities, pursuant to which it has incurred $900 million of senior secured term loans to replace its prior $575 million term loan facilities. Following the refinancing, the Company used the available proceeds from the new term loans and cash on hand to fund a special cash dividend to its stockholders of $6.00 per share and to pay related financing fees and expenses. The special dividend, which was paid on June 29, 2012, constituted a declared amount of approximately $408 million in the aggregate of which $404 million was paid in the quarter. In conjunction with this refinancing, an approximate $11.0 million non-recurring charge was recorded during the second quarter of 2012 relating to refinancing costs and other related expenses. As a result of the higher debt levels from the refinancing, interest expense in the second quarter of 2012 increased to $9.9 million compared to $5.9 million in the same period last year.

Net income in the current year quarter includes the impact of a normalized effective income tax rate of 40.5% as compared to a tax rate of 0.6% in the prior-year second quarter. Until the fourth quarter of 2011, a full valuation allowance was recorded on the Company’s net deferred tax assets, resulting in substantially no tax provision. A full valuation allowance is no longer required on the Company’s net deferred tax assets, and therefore, a normalized income tax provision was recorded in the second quarter of 2012. However, the Company’s cash tax obligations are expected to remain nominal given its current tax attributes.

Free cash flow was $17.8 million in the second quarter of 2012 as compared to $13.5 million in the same period last year. Strong operating earnings were partially offset by increased working capital investment driven by seasonal finished goods inventory replenishment and additional raw material safety stock for rapid demand response.

Outlook

The Company is revising upward its sales guidance for full-year 2012 as a result of solid execution in the second quarter of 2012 and an increased outlook for residential sales for the third quarter of 2012. Full-year 2012 total net sales are now expected to increase in the low-20% range over the prior year, which represents an increase from the high-teens growth rate previously expected. The higher revenue outlook is primarily attributable to recent major power outage events that occurred in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions in late June and early July. The Company expects these events should result in improved shipments of portable and home standby generators, relative to prior guidance, due to the increased awareness and demand for back-up power. This revised guidance continues to assume no material changes in the macroeconomic environment, as well as no additional major power outage events during the remainder of 2012.

As a result of this higher sales outlook, Adjusted EBITDA for the full-year 2012 is now expected to increase in the high-teens range over the prior year, which is an increase from the mid-teens growth rate previously expected.

As previously announced, the Company’s guidance for interest expense for the full-year 2012 is expected to be in the range of $49.0 to $50.0 million, which includes $45.0 to $45.5 million of debt service costs, at current LIBOR rates, plus approximately $4.5 million for deferred financing cost and original issue discount amortization for the new credit facility. Interest expense during the third quarter of 2012, the first full quarter under the new capital structure, is expected to be approximately $17.1 to $17.3 million, which includes approximately $1.5 million of deferred financing cost and original issue discount amortization.

Mr. Jagdfeld continued, “Major outage events like the ones recently experienced in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions demonstrate the fact that prolonged under investment in the aging electrical grid in the U.S. is leading to more frequent and longer power disruptions for homeowners and businesses. Given the relatively low awareness and penetration of home and light-commercial standby generators, we believe there is significant growth opportunity as the leader in this emerging product category. Our Powering Ahead strategic plan focuses on baseline sales growth within new and existing products and markets, and complements the powerful secular trends that continue to drive our business. Add to this the potential for future recovery in both residential investment and non-residential construction, and we believe Generac is well positioned over the long term to continue driving organic revenue growth, superior margins and strong free cash flow.”

Conference Call and Webcast

Generac management will hold a conference call at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, August 2, 2012 to discuss highlights of this earnings release. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (866) 314-4483 (domestic) or +1 (617) 213-8049 (international) and entering passcode 55783069.

The conference call will also be webcast simultaneously on Generac's website (http://www.generac.com), under the Investor Relations link. The webcast link and supporting materials, if any, will be made available on the Company’s website prior to the start of the call.

Following the live webcast, a replay will be available on the Company's web site. A telephonic replay will also be available approximately one hour after the call and can be accessed by dialing (888) 286-8010 (domestic) or +1 (617) 801-6888 (international) and entering passcode 41917818. The telephonic replay will be available for 30 days.

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About Generac

Since 1959, Generac has been a leading designer and manufacturer of a wide range of generators and other engine powered products. As a leader in power equipment serving residential, light commercial, industrial and construction markets, Generac's power products are available through a broad network of independent dealers, retailers, wholesalers and equipment rental companies. The Company markets and distributes its products primarily under its Generac and Magnum brand names.

Forward-looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release, as well as other information provided from time to time by Generac Holdings Inc. or its employees, may contain forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements give Generac's current expectations and projections relating to the Company's financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "confident," "may," "should," "can have," "likely," "future" and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events.

Any such forward looking statements are not guarantees of performance or results, and involve risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the Company's control) and assumptions. Although Generac believes any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect Generac's actual financial results and cause them to differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, including:

• demand for Generac products;
• frequency and duration of major power outages;
• availability, cost and quality of raw materials and key components used in producing Generac products;
• the impact on our results of the substantial increases in our outstanding indebtedness and related interest expense due to the dividend recapitalization completed in May 2012;
• the possibility that the expected synergies, efficiencies and cost savings of the acquisition of the Magnum Products business will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period;
• the risk that the Magnum Products business will not be integrated successfully;
• competitive factors in the industry in which Generac operates;
• Generac's dependence on its distribution network;
• Generac's ability to invest in, develop or adapt to changing technologies and manufacturing techniques;
• loss of key management and employees;
• increase in product and other liability claims; and
• changes in environmental, health and safety laws and regulations.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, Generac's actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in any forward-looking statements. A detailed discussion of these and other factors that may affect future results is contained in Generac's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Any forward-looking statement made by Generac in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Generac undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Reconciliations to GAAP Financial Metrics

Adjusted EBITDA

The computation of Adjusted EBITDA is based on the definition of EBITDA contained in Generac's credit agreement, dated as of May 30, 2012, which is substantially the same definition that was contained in the Company’s previous credit agreements. To supplement the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with US GAAP, Generac provides a summary to show the computation of Adjusted EBITDA, taking into account certain charges and gains that were taken during the periods presented.

Adjusted Net Income

To further supplement Generac's condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with US GAAP, the Company provides a summary to show the computation of Adjusted net income. Adjusted net income is defined as Net income before provision (benefit) for income taxes adjusted for the following items: cash income tax (expense) benefit, amortization of intangible assets, amortization of deferred financing costs and original issue discount related to the Company's debt, intangible impairment charges, certain transaction costs and other purchase accounting adjustments, and certain non-cash gains and losses.

Free Cash Flow

In addition, we reference free cash flow to further supplement Generac's condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with US GAAP. Free cash flow is defined as Net cash provided by operating activities less Expenditures for property and equipment and is intended to be a measure of operational cash flow taking into account additional capital expenditure investment into the business.

The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, results prepared in accordance with US GAAP. Please see our SEC filings for additional discussion of the basis for Generac's reporting of Non-GAAP financial measures.

SOURCE: Generac Holdings Inc.

Source: Generac Holdings Inc.

Generac Holdings Inc.
York A. Ragen
Chief Financial Officer
(262) 506-6064
InvestorRelations@generac.com
or
Michael W. Harris
Director – Finance and Investor Relations
(262) 544-4811 x2675
Michael.Harris@generac.com