Fairmount Santrol Announces Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2017 Results


FOURTH-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

  • Volumes of 3.4 million tons, with Proppant Solutions volumes of 2.8 million tons
  • Revenues of $273.9 million, with Proppant Solutions revenues of $245.2 million

FULL-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Net income of $53.8 million, or $0.23 per diluted share
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA of $206.3 million

CHESTERLAND, Ohio, March 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fairmount Santrol (NYSE:FMSA), a leading provider of high-performance sand and sand-based product solutions, today announced results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017.

Fourth-Quarter 2017 Results

Total Company volumes sold were 3.4 million tons for the quarter, down 3% from the third quarter of 2017 and an increase of 38% from 2.4 million tons in the fourth quarter of 2016. Fourth-quarter 2017 revenues were $273.9 million, down 2% from $280.1 million in the third quarter of 2017 and nearly double from $140.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.

For fourth-quarter 2017, the Company had net income of $19.9 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared with net income of $34.9 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2017. Net loss for fourth-quarter 2016 was $19.9 million, or $(0.09) per diluted share.

Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $63.8 million compared to the Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2017 of $73.7 million. In the fourth quarter of 2016, Adjusted EBITDA was $11.7 million.

Full-Year 2017 Results

Total volumes sold in 2017 were 12.8 million tons, compared with 8.9 million tons in 2016. Full-year 2017 revenues were $959.8 million, compared with $535.0 million in 2016. The increase in revenues was mainly driven by greater demand for proppants in 2017, higher pricing throughout the year and greater sales of higher-priced value-added products in both the Proppant Solutions and Industrial and Recreation segments. 

Net income for full-year 2017 was $53.8 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $140.2 million, or $(0.78) per diluted share, in 2016.

Full-year Adjusted EBITDA for 2017 totaled $206.3 million and included $2.4 million in costs related to plant start-ups and $4.6 million of freight charges to move railcars into the Company’s active fleet. The full-year Adjusted EBITDA for 2016 was a loss of $4.9 million. Inventory write-downs of $10.3 million, restructuring charges of $1.2 million and $17.1 million in professional fees from debt refinancing and equity offerings were not excluded from 2016 Adjusted EBITDA.

“Proppant demand remained robust during the fourth quarter. As anticipated, however, our volumes were impacted by continued capacity constraints, seasonal weather conditions and holiday shutdowns,” said Jenniffer Deckard, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our Industrial & Recreational segment continued its positive 2017 momentum, particularly in selling more value-added products, which contributed to its year-over-year profitability growth. While our overall fourth-quarter earnings were impacted by seasonal items, I am extremely pleased with the Company’s ability to execute on multiple initiatives and to deliver strong profitability growth during 2017.”

Business Segments

Proppant Solutions Segment

For the fourth quarter of 2017, Proppant Solutions volumes were 2.8 million tons, a decrease of 2% from the third quarter of 2017 and more than 50% greater than the prior-year period. Raw frac sand volumes were 2.6 million tons and coated proppant volumes were 213,000 tons, which represent a 2% and 1% sequential decline, respectively, but represent a 47% and 110% increase, respectively, compared with the prior-year period.

Proppant Solutions revenues were $245.2 million in fourth-quarter 2017, a 2% decline compared with $249.8 million in the third quarter of 2017, and a 116% increase compared with $113.4 million in the fourth quarter a year ago. The sequential decline in Proppant Solutions revenues was due to the impact of slightly lower volumes and a higher percentage of sales sold directly from the mine.

Proppant Solutions gross profit decreased to $77.2 million, or $28 per ton, in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $85.1 million, or $30 per ton, in the third quarter of 2017. Proppant Solutions gross profit was lower in the fourth quarter due mainly to a higher cost position as a result of seasonal factors and process engineering changes as well as a mix shift toward trial well sales for Propel SSP®. Gross profit for the segment in the fourth quarter of 2016 was $17.1 million, or $9 per ton.

Industrial and Recreational Products Segment

Industrial and Recreational volumes were 582,000 tons in fourth-quarter 2017, down slightly from the prior year’s fourth quarter. The decrease in volumes over the prior-year period was driven by a shift in sales efforts toward value-added products and away from certain higher-volume, low-margin sales.

Revenues for the segment were $28.7 million in fourth-quarter 2017, a 6% increase from $27.1 million in the fourth quarter a year ago. The increase in revenue was due to annual price increases and a continued focus on higher-priced and higher-margin products. For full-year 2017, Industrial and Recreational revenues were $125.0 million, a 5% increase from $118.9 million for the prior-year period. 

Gross profit for the segment was $12.4 million, or 43% of sales, in fourth-quarter 2017, compared with $11.2 million, or 41% of sales, in the fourth quarter of 2016. For full-year 2017, Industrial and Recreational gross profit was $56.0 million, or 45% of sales, compared to $48.8 million, or 41% of sales, in 2016. The Industrial and Recreational segment delivered strong quarterly and year-over-year improvement in gross margin as a result of higher pricing, reductions in operating costs per ton and a continued mix shift toward higher-margin products.

Balance Sheet and Other Information

For full-year 2017, net cash provided by operating activities was $144.8 million, which was due to higher operating results offset by a use of cash for working capital. Net cash used in financing activities was $112.6 million, which included debt prepayments of $132.7 million in the second and fourth quarters of 2017 and $13.3 million in costs to refinance the term debt in the fourth quarter. Capital expenditures, including stripping costs, were $69.6 million for 2017 and, in addition, the Company made $30.0 million in leasehold interest payments for our Kermit, Texas, mine site during the year. As of December 31, 2017, cash and cash equivalents totaled $128.0 million, and total debt was $748.9 million.

Conclusion

Deckard concluded, “2017 was a year of significant accomplishments for our organization, driven by the excellent work of our team to both commercially capitalize on improving market dynamics and to enhance our capital structure. We are poised to continue this positive momentum in 2018 following the signing of a long-term lease and construction of a Permian Basin sand facility in Kermit and the announcement of our definitive agreement to merge with Unimin Corporation. We look forward to working with Unimin to create a premier provider of proppant and industrial materials solutions, which we believe will be well positioned for long-term success and higher value for our shareholders.”

Use of Certain GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company defines EBITDA as net income before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation, depletion and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA before non-cash stock-based compensation, asset impairments, and certain other income or expenses. The Company believes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful because they allow management to more effectively evaluate our operational performance and compare the results of our operations from period to period without regard to our financing costs or capital structure.

Conference Call

Fairmount Santrol will host a conference call and live webcast for analysts and investors today, March 8, 2018, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the Company's 2017 fourth-quarter and full-year financial results. Investors are invited to listen to a live audio webcast of the conference call, which will be accessible on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website. To access the live webcast, please log in 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to download and install any necessary audio software. An archived replay of the call will also be available on the website. The call can also be accessed live by dialing (833) 287-7902 or, for international callers, (647) 689-4466. The conference ID for the call is 7859636. A replay will be available on the website and can be accessed by dialing (800) 585-8367 or (416) 621-4642. The passcode for the replay is 7859636. The replay of the call will be available through March 15, 2018.

About Fairmount Santrol

Fairmount Santrol is a leading provider of high-performance sand and sand-based products used by oil and gas exploration and production companies to enhance the productivity of their wells. The Company also provides high-quality products, strong technical leadership and applications knowledge to end users in the foundry, building products, water filtration, glass, and sports and recreation markets. Its expansive logistics capabilities include a wide-ranging network of distribution terminals and railcars that allow the Company to effectively serve customers wherever they operate. As one of the nation’s longest continuously operating mining organizations, Fairmount Santrol has developed a strong commitment to all three pillars of sustainable development, People, Planet and Prosperity. Correspondingly, the Company’s motto and action orientation is: “Do Good. Do Well.” For more information, visit FairmountSantrol.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent the Company’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events, and it is possible that the results described in this press release will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors include: legal, regulatory and other matters that may affect the timing of the Company’s ability to complete the proposed merger with Unimin Corporation, or Unimin, if at all, including the inability to complete the proposed merger due to the failure to obtain Company stockholder approval or governmental or regulatory clearances; prior to the completion of the proposed merger, Fairmount Santrol’s and/or Unimin’s respective businesses experiencing disruptions due to transaction-related uncertainty or other factors making it more difficult to maintain relationships with employees, business partners or governmental entities; the ability of Unimin and the Company to integrate their businesses successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies and the anticipated cost, timing and complexity of integration efforts; the future financial performance, anticipated liquidity and capital expenditures of the combined company and other risks related to the operation of the combined company; changes in prevailing economic conditions, including continuing pressure on and fluctuations in demand for, and pricing of, the Company’s products; loss of, or reduction in business from the Company’s largest customers or their failure to pay the Company; possible adverse effects of being leveraged, including interest rate, event of default or refinancing risks, as well as potentially limiting the Company’s ability to invest in certain market opportunities; the level of cash flows generated to provide adequate liquidity; the Company’s ability to successfully develop and market new products, including Propel SSP®; the Company’s rights and ability to mine its property and the Company’s renewal or receipt of the required permits and approvals from government authorities and other third parties; the Company’s ability to implement and realize efficiencies from capacity expansion plans, facility reactivation and cost reduction initiatives within its time and budgetary parameters; expectations regarding results of railcar contract renegotiations; increasing costs or a lack of dependability or availability of transportation services or infrastructure and geographic shifts in demand; changing legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to the Company’s business, including environmental, mining, health and safety, licensing, reclamation and other regulation relating to hydraulic fracturing (and changes in their enforcement and interpretation); silica-related health issues and corresponding litigation; seasonal and severe weather conditions; and other operating risks that are beyond the Company’s control.

 Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all such factors. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The risk factors and other factors noted in the Company’s filings with the SEC could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

Additional Information

In connection with the proposed merger, a registration statement on Form S-4 will be filed publicly with the SEC. FAIRMOUNT SANTROL STOCKHOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS THAT WILL BE PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER. The final proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to stockholders of Fairmount Santrol. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents free of charge at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov, or from Fairmount Santrol at its website, FairmountSantrol.com, or by contacting Indrani Egleston at 440-214-3219 or Matthew Schlarb at 440-214-3284.

Participants in Solicitation

Fairmount Santrol and its respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed merger. Information concerning Fairmount Santrol’s participants is set forth in the proxy statement, dated April 6, 2017, for Fairmount’s 2017 Annual Meeting of stockholders as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed merger will be included in the registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.


       
Fairmount Santrol      
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)      
(unaudited)      
  Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
  2017
 2016
 2017
 2016
             
  (in thousands, except per share amounts) (in thousands, except per share amounts) 
             
Revenues $273,936  $140,531  $959,795  $535,013 
Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation, depletion,            
and amortization shown separately)  184,288   112,248   659,758   459,714 
             
Operating expenses            
Selling, general and administrative expenses(A)  33,802   18,580   113,240   79,140 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense  19,682   17,875   79,144   72,276 
Asset impairments  -   2,494   -   93,148 
Restructuring charges  -   -   -   1,155 
Other operating expense (income)  1,227   (367)  (1,072)  8,899 
Income (loss) from operations  34,937   (10,299)  108,725   (179,319)
             
Interest expense  18,778   15,324   56,408   65,367 
Loss (gain) on debt repurchase and extinguishment, net  2,898   (5,110)  2,898   (5,110)
Other non-operating income  -   (5)  -   (10)
Income (loss) before benefit from income taxes  13,261   (20,508)  49,419   (239,566)
             
Benefit from income taxes  (6,792)  (655)  (4,666)  (99,441)
Net income (loss)    20,053      (19,853)    54,085      (140,125)
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest  104   52   297   67 
Net income (loss) attributable to Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc. $   19,949   $   (19,905) $   53,788   $   (140,192)
             
Earnings (loss) per share            
Basic $0.09  $(0.09) $0.24  $(0.78)
Diluted $0.09  $(0.09) $0.23  $(0.78)
             
Weighted average number of shares outstanding            
Basic  224,130   212,609   223,993   179,429 
Diluted  228,242   212,609   229,084   179,429 
             
(A) - Stock compensation expense of $2,490 and $1,504 for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $10,071 and $8,870 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, are included within selling, general, and administrative expenses. Additionally, SG&A includes Merger-related expenses of $6.8 million in the three months ended December 31, 2017 and $8.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2017.
 
 


     
     
Fairmount Santrol    
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows    
(unaudited)    
  Year Ended December 31,
  2017
 2016
     
  (in thousands)
     
Net income (loss) $54,085  $(140,125)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:    
Depreciation and depletion  71,397   67,614 
Amortization  12,784   11,641 
Reserve for doubtful accounts  (387)  1,851 
Write-off of deferred financing costs  389   2,618 
Loss (gain) on debt repurchase and extinguishment, gross  2,898   (8,178)
Asset impairments  -   93,148 
Inventory write-downs and reserves  1,266   10,302 
Loss on disposal of fixed assets  846   420 
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps  14   - 
Deferred income taxes and taxes payable  (5,634)  (82,732)
Stock compensation expense  10,071   8,870 
Change in operating assets and liabilities:    
Accounts receivable  (77,587)  (4,385)
Inventories  (19,144)  7,543 
Prepaid expenses and other assets  (2,398)  11,496 
Refundable income taxes  20,154   5,428 
Accounts payable  18,575   4,196 
Accrued expenses  51,874   11,718 
Deferred revenue  5,585   75 
Net cash provided by operating activities    144,788      1,500  
     
Cash flows from investing activities    
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets  4,939   5,670 
Capital expenditures and stripping costs  (69,573)  (30,597)
Leasehold interest payments for sand reserves  (30,000)  - 
Earnout payments  (4,170)  (1,287)
Net cash used in investing activities    (98,804)    (26,214)
     
Cash flows from financing activities    
Proceeds from borrowings on term loan  689,500   - 
Payments on term loans  (6,469)  (10,840)
Prepayments on term loans  (832,655)  (155,926)
Repurchase of term loans  -   (216,000)
Fees for debt restructure and repurchase of term loans  (2,790)  (450)
Payments on capital leases and other long-term debt  (4,752)  (5,947)
Proceeds from borrowing on revolving credit facility  50,000   - 
Payments on revolving credit facility  (5,000)  - 
Proceeds from option exercises  845   6,438 
Proceeds from primary stock offering  -   439,556 
Tax payments for withholdings on share-based awards exercised or distributed  (1,321)  (8,092)
Tax effect of share-based awards exercised, forfeited, or expired  -   (1,100)
Transactions with non-controlling interest  -   (842)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities    (112,642)    46,797  
     
Change in cash and cash equivalents related to assets classified as held-for-sale  -   1,376 
Foreign currency adjustment  556   (876)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents    (66,102)    22,583  
     
Cash and cash equivalents:    
Beginning of period    194,069      171,486  
End of period $   127,967   $   194,069  
     
     


    
Fairmount Santrol   
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets   
(unaudited)   
  December 31, 2017
 December 31, 2016
       
  (in thousands)
Assets      
Current assets      
Cash and cash equivalents $127,967  $194,069 
Accounts receivable, net  156,916   78,942 
Inventories, net  70,528   52,650 
Prepaid expenses and other assets  6,841   7,065 
Refundable income taxes  924   21,077 
Total current assets  363,176   353,803 
       
Property, plant and equipment, net  785,513   727,735 
Deferred income taxes  350   1,244 
Goodwill  15,301   15,301 
Intangibles, net  93,268   95,341 
Other assets  7,711   9,486 
Total assets $   1,265,319   $   1,202,910  
       
Liabilities and Equity      
Current liabilities      
Current portion of long-term debt $19,189  $10,707 
Accounts payable  70,633   37,263 
Accrued expenses  74,007   26,110 
Deferred revenue  5,660   75 
Total current liabilities  169,489   74,155 
       
Long-term debt  729,741   832,306 
Deferred income taxes  3,606   7,057 
Other long-term liabilities  42,189   38,272 
Total liabilities  945,025   951,790 
       
Equity      
Common stock  2,423   2,422 
Additional paid-in capital  299,912   297,649 
Retained earnings  318,207   264,852 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (15,098)  (19,002)
Treasury stock at cost  (285,520)  (294,874)
Non-controlling interest  370   73 
Total equity  320,294   251,120 
Total liabilities and equity $   1,265,319   $   1,202,910  
       

 

          
Fairmount Santrol         
Segment Reports        Three Months Ended September 30,
(unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31, 
  2017
 2016 2017 2016 2017
            
  (in thousands, except volume amounts) (in thousands, except volume amounts) (in thousands, except volume amounts)
             
Volume (tons)           
Proppant Solutions           
Raw sand  2,564,706  1,743,318  9,495,835  6,044,442  2,616,649
Coated proppant  212,504  101,429  782,126  370,491  214,882
Total Proppant Solutions  2,777,210  1,844,747  10,277,961  6,414,933  2,831,531
            
Industrial & Recreational Products  581,520  586,898  2,478,467  2,503,653  614,738
            
Total volumes    3,358,730     2,431,645     12,756,428     8,918,586     3,446,269
            
Revenues           
Proppant Solutions $245,193 $113,439 $834,749 $416,144 $249,751
Industrial & Recreational Products  28,743  27,092  125,046  118,869  30,299
Total revenues  273,936  140,531  959,795  535,013  280,050
            
Segment gross profit           
Proppant Solutions  77,222  17,082  244,042  26,501  85,101
Industrial & Recreational Products  12,426  11,201  55,995  48,798  14,367
Total segment gross profit  89,648  28,283  300,037  75,299  99,468
            
            

 

          
Fairmount Santrol         
Non-GAAP Financial Measures         
(unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31, Three Months Ended September 30,
  2017
 2016
 2017
 2016
 2017
             
  (in thousands) (in thousands) (in thousands) 
             
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA            
             
Net income (loss) attributable to Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc. $   19,949   $   (19,905) $   53,788   $   (140,192) $    34,944
Interest expense  18,778   15,324   56,408   65,367    12,110
Provision (benefit) for income taxes  (6,792)  (655)  (4,666)  (99,441)   2,754
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense  19,682   17,875   79,144   72,276    20,174
EBITDA    51,617      12,639      184,674      (101,990)     69,982
             
Non-cash stock compensation expense(1)  2,490   1,504   10,071   8,870    2,402
Asset impairments(2)  -   2,494   -   93,148    -
Write-off of deferred financing costs(3)  -   2,618   389   2,618    -
Loss (gain) on debt repurchase and extinguishment(4)  2,898   (8,178)  2,898   (8,178)   -
Merger transaction expenses(5)  6,835   -   8,312   -    1,333
Debt transaction expenses(6)  -   450   -   450    -
Other charges(7)  -   180   -   180    -
Adjusted EBITDA $   63,840   $   11,707   $   206,344   $   (4,902) $    73,717
__________            
             
(1) Represents the non-cash expense for stock-based awards issued to our employees and outside directors.      
          
(2) Non-cash charges associated with the impairment of mineral reserves and other long-lived assets.
          
(3) Represents the write-off of deferred financing fees in relation to term loan prepayment 2017 and term loan repurchases in 2016.
          
(4) Loss related to the extinguishment of term loans in 2017 and gain related to the discount on term loan repurchases in 2016.     
          
(5) Expenses related to the announced Merger with Unimin.  Costs incurred in the second quarter of $144 and in the third quarter of $1,333 were not previously disclosed, as the Merger had not yet been publically announced. 
            
(6) Expenses associated with term loan repurchases.         
          
(7) Loss on the curtailment of a pension plan.         
          

Investor contacts:
Indrani Egleston
440-214-3219
Indrani.Egleston@fairmountsantrol.com

Matthew Schlarb
440-214-3284
Matthew.Schlarb@fairmountsantrol.com