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DMC Global Inc. (BOOM)

Q4 2015 Earnings Call· Thu, Mar 10, 2016

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Greetings and welcome to the DMC 2015 Fourth Quarter Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. It’s now my pleasure to introduce you to Geoff High, Vice President of Investor Relations. Thank you. Mr. High, you may begin.

Geoff High

Analyst

Hello, and welcome to DMC’s fourth quarter conference call. Presenting today are President and CEO, Kevin Longe and Chief Financial Officer, Mike Kuta. Kevin and Mike are joining us from our manufacturing facility in Liebenscheid, Germany. I would like to remind everyone that matters discussed during this call may include forward-looking statements that are based on our estimates, projections and assumptions as of today’s date and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are disclosed in our filings with the SEC. Our business is subject to certain risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. DMC assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events. A webcast replay of today’s call will be available at dmcglobal.com after the call. In addition, a telephone replay will be made available approximately 2 hours after the call. Details for listening to the replay are available in today’s news release. And so with that, I would like to turn the call over to Kevin. Kevin?

Kevin Longe

Analyst

Thanks, Geoff and hello to everyone joining us today. The fourth quarter of 2015 was marked by deteriorating conditions in the global energy sector from which we derived more than two-thirds of our revenue. The industry saw deep sequential declines in crude prices, active drilling rigs and well completion activity. In light of this environment, most exploration and production companies were planning sharp cuts to their 2016 capital spending programs. Against this backdrop, we reported fourth quarter sales of $41.9 million, which was a 6% sequential improvement versus the third quarter. Sales were down 20% versus the 2014 fourth quarter or 15%, excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange translation. We have forecasted a year-over-year top line decline of 25% to 30% for the quarter, but sales at DynaEnergetics, our oilfield products business, were better than expected. DynaEnergetics reported fourth quarter sales of $18.6 million, which was up 2% sequentially and down 37% versus last year’s fourth quarter. Excluding foreign currency translation impact, sales declined 33% year-over-year. Growing demand for the DynaSelect switch detonator was the primary driver of the sales improvement. In the current environment, oil and gas service companies and their customers are seeking opportunities to lower costs and improve operating efficiencies. The DynaSelect detonator, which offers industry leading performance, reliability and safety is attracting new customers and generating an expanded use by existing users. Sales at our NobelClad, our explosive welding business, were $23.3 million. This was a 9% sequential improvement over the third quarter and a 3% increase versus the fourth quarter of 2014. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, NobelClad sales increased 8% year-over-year. Consolidated gross margin was 23%, excluding $6.2 million of accrued reserves for potential antidumping duties and a reserve adjustment of $1.3 million for the slow moving inventory of DynaEnergetics. As…

Mike Kuta

Analyst

Thanks Kevin and good afternoon everyone. Starting with our expenses, our efforts to streamline our cost structure during the past year to reduce selling, general and administrative expense by 25% versus last year’s fourth quarter, SG&A was $8.4 million or 20% of sales versus $11.2 million or 22% of sales in last year’s fourth quarter. Amortization expense was $1 million or 2% of sales versus $1.3 million or 3% of sales in last year’s fourth quarter. We reported a small income tax benefit from continuing operations relative to our pretax operating loss. We have mentioned previously that several of our business entities are in a cumulative loss position and we have recorded valuation allowances against the associated prior tax benefits. When these businesses transition to profitability, we will reverse the allowances. Looking at our balance sheet, we ended 2015 with cash and cash equivalents of $6.3 million. We ended the year with net debt of $21.2 million, which was down 23% from the end of the third quarter. In December 2015, we amended our revolving credit agreement with our bank syndicate. Modifications to our loan covenants have provided us with the addition financial flexibility during the period of challenging market conditions. For the full fiscal year, we generated cash from operations of $1.6 million. This represents an $8 million swing from the 2015 nine months period, during which we had used cash from operations of $6.4 million. With respect to guidance, there remains considerable uncertainty about the timing of a recovery in oil and gas industry, which is the primary end market of both of our businesses. However, we continue to anticipate the second half of the year will represent an improvement over the first. We currently expect sales for the full fiscal year will be comparable to the $166.9 million we reported in 2015. We expect full year gross margin in the range of 24% to 26% versus the 25% reported in 2015. For the first quarter, we anticipate sales will be down 8% to 12% versus the $40.8 million we reported in the 2015 first quarter. The expected decline relates to sharp capital spending cuts by most exploration and production companies, particularly in North America, which is our largest geographic market. First quarter gross margin is expected in the range of 22% to 24% versus the 31% reported in last year’s first quarter. The anticipated decline reflects the less favorable project mix at NobelClad and a lower proportion of higher margin sales from DynaEnergetics. Selling, general and administrative expenses are expected to be totaled $5 million for the first quarter, while amortization expense is expected to be approximately $1 million. And now we are ready to take any questions. Operator?

Operator

Operator

Thank you. We will now be conducting a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] The first question comes from Edward Marshall of Sidoti & Company. Please go ahead. Ed, your line is open.

Edward Marshall

Analyst

Good afternoon guys. So it’s Sidoti & Company, so you guys know. Listen, I am looking at the interest expense here and it’s relatively high in the quarter, I am wondering if there were some refinancing charges, it doesn’t look like it’s broken out in the one-time table, but I assume that’s probably what that’s related to, do you mind kind of addressing that?

Mike Kuta

Analyst

Yes. Ed, this is Mike. Yes, we had amortization of our existing facility and when we did the refinancing in December and flip our facility down from – U.S. facility down from $90 million to $65 million, we took a pro rata charge for the reduction in the facility device that was originally entered into in February 2015.

Edward Marshall

Analyst

Right. What was that charge?

Mike Kuta

Analyst

The charge was roughly $0.5 million.

Edward Marshall

Analyst

Okay. So if I look at next year, when we look at interest expense would you guys mind kind of walking me through what the interest expense will kind of look like for the full year of 2016?

Mike Kuta

Analyst

Yes. I estimate interest expense in the range of $750,000.

Edward Marshall

Analyst

For the full year?

Mike Kuta

Analyst

Yes.

Edward Marshall

Analyst

Okay. And is there any adjustment – is that assuming any kind of debt reduction?

Mike Kuta

Analyst

It is assuming debt reduction.

Edward Marshall

Analyst

To the tune of what?

Mike Kuta

Analyst

The expected debt reduction for the full year of ‘16 is in the $4 million to $6 million range.

Edward Marshall

Analyst

Okay. If we look at – you mentioned that the detonator was attracting new customers, you also mentioned that your discussions with multiple line customers – multiple wireline customers as well and I am wondering if there is any way to kind of – I know you are probably not willing to kind of discuss who the parties are, but maybe we can kind of quantify it by size, I mean what if it’s relatively large in the industry, we have already talked about that one, are you working with others the equivalent larger, smaller, can you kind of walk us through anything that you can regarding that kind of point and what kind of size we should expect from the size of these customers?

Kevin Longe

Analyst

We are working with primarily customers of Weatherford size and smaller. And they would be the larger wireline companies in the industry outside of the big three, the core.

Edward Marshall

Analyst

And are you – is this specifically to region or – and I think we have talked about this in the past or is this kind of broad coverage base for them? And I guess importantly, does it damage any of the agreements that you have with Weatherford already, considering they are using this for particular market share gains in the period growing against – if you are selling into their customer line, I thought that was against what you had originally thought. So maybe if you can walk me through that to jump over question, but I think you know what I am going at?

Kevin Longe

Analyst

Yes. I mean, there is one or two that we hopefully will bring on that cover a broader geographical territory. And we have priced the product such that the size of the customer and their ability to compete effectively against one another is fair. And actually by having more than one potential supplier of the equipment actually helps the revenue. Otherwise, the E&P companies would feel that they have less choice, if you will.

Edward Marshall

Analyst

Got it. Okay, thanks very much.

Operator

Operator

The next question comes from Gerard Sweeney of ROTH Capital. Please go ahead.

Gerard Sweeney

Analyst

Hey, Geoff, Kevin and Mike, thanks for taking my call.

Kevin Longe

Analyst

Yes, hi, Gerry.

Gerard Sweeney

Analyst

I apologize, I jumped on a little bit late just dealing with a couple of things and I caught some of the guidance. I have caught a little bit of the commentaries here and there. And looking at the DynaEnergetics, the system, it sounds like there is a lot of interest in there, but you are quoting some really large headwinds on the, what to say, rig count and just capital spending on the oil side of the equation. As you bring material out and checking things out, I mean, how are you seeing pricing? Is it degrading? Is it – I mean, people are interested in the products? How does that jive with current market conditions and general uptake across the board?

Kevin Longe

Analyst

Yes. The product has generated quite a bit of interest. And in fact, we are very pleased with the reception that it’s receiving. Having said that, we have chosen not to compete on price with DynaStage. The value that DynaStage brings to an E&P company really is significant relative to the price of the perforating system itself. And we would rather – in fact, we have chosen to grow comparison to this year, if you will, by not getting down into the gutter with some of the pricing that we are seeing from less disciplined competitors. And so I would say in order of magnitude, the completion activity first and foremost is impacting the potential opportunity. And within that opportunity our sticking to pricing on value is also hurting the immediate sales of that product line.

Gerard Sweeney

Analyst

Okay.

Kevin Longe

Analyst

And I will answer that, our approach is really to – that’s why the Blum 1 is so important to us is a further education to the market to the operational and safety benefits of DynaStage and DynaSelect.

Gerard Sweeney

Analyst

Got it. So, I mean speaking of completion activity, I mean, you are talking to your customers and others speak things like backlog. I would imagine when a little bit of activity comes back it’s going to come back maybe with some of this backlog on the completion side. Is that the right way to look at it? Are you getting some insight into that with your customers, more just in the tone, tenure, how things are playing out? There is probably some people better positioned than others and just looking to see if you have any sort of incremental view on the industry on a go-forward basis?

Kevin Longe

Analyst

Yes, I can’t say that we have seen it start to come back yet, if you will. We think that the first quarter is going to be a very difficult quarter for us as well as for the industry. And our thoughts is – and time will tell that we believe that the market will come back a little bit slower than it went down that this was going to be an interesting year from E&P companies to wireline service companies to manufacture the products that those who do not have a strong balance sheet, I think we are starting to get late into a downturn and we would expect to see the industry changing as it goes forward and in the stronger companies, which we believe we are one coming out of it with a better market position.

Gerard Sweeney

Analyst

Got it. And then switching over to NobelClad, again I apologize I didn’t get the chance to go through everything and I saw – I heard the $6 million order from Southeast Asia. How is backlog and how are things on that side in terms of we always look an opportunity in the U.S. in terms of cheap natural gas, free refinery CapEx, things like that? Any thoughts comments on that side?

Kevin Longe

Analyst

Yes. As far as the backlog is holding fairly constant and we are very excited about this order that we received, which we will be shipping in, in the – primarily in the second quarter of this year. However, with this order, we are not – it doesn’t change our guidance for the year and we see it more steady this year than accelerating. Part of that is the currency translation from our European sales to the U.S. The other part of it is that commodity prices, metal prices are still quite low, which makes up part of our – significant part of our cost basis and also impacts our revenues.

Gerard Sweeney

Analyst

Got it. Okay, I really appreciate it. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] There are no further questions at this time. I would like to turn the floor back over to Kevin Longe for closing comments.

Kevin Longe

Analyst

Yes. First of all, I would like to thank everybody for their interest in Dynamic Materials and we look forward to keeping you apprised of our progress in 2016 and talking to you after we finished the first quarter. So thank you for joining us.

Operator

Operator

This concludes today’s teleconference.