B/E Aerospace Third Quarter 2011 Results

B/E Aerospace (Nasdaq: BEAV), the world’s leading manufacturer of aircraft cabin interior products and the world’s leading distributor of aerospace fasteners and consumables, today announced third quarter 2011 financial results.

THIRD QUARTER 2011 HIGHLIGHTS VERSUS THIRD QUARTER PRIOR YEAR

Revenues of $636.0 million increased 28.5 percent.
Operating earnings increased 34.4 percent and operating margin of 17.6 percent expanded 80 basis points.
Earnings before income taxes increased 38.8 percent.
Net earnings were $65.4 million. Earnings per diluted share were $0.64, an increase of 56.1 percent.
Full-year 2011 guidance increased by $0.10 per share to approximately $2.20 per diluted share, reflecting an increase of approximately 55 percent as compared with 2010 earnings per diluted share, and approximately $0.30 per share or 16 percent higher than the 2011 guidance the Company provided in October of 2010.
The Company issues initial full-year 2012 guidance of approximately $2.65 per diluted share, representing a year-over-year increase of approximately 20 percent (24 percent on a comparable tax rate basis).
THIRD QUARTER CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Third quarter 2011 revenues of $636.0 million increased $141.0 million, or 28.5 percent, as compared with the same period of the prior year. Third quarter 2011 results reflect the acquisitions of TSI Group, Inc., Satair A/S’s aerospace fastener distribution business and LaSalle Lighting (recent acquisitions). Revenue growth for the third quarter of 2011, excluding recent acquisitions, was approximately 17 percent.

Third quarter 2011 operating earnings of $112.1 million increased 34.4 percent on the aforementioned 28.5 percent increase in revenues. Operating margin was 17.6 percent and expanded 80 basis points as compared with the prior year period. Operating earnings growth and operating margin expansion were driven by the higher sales volume, improved revenue mix and ongoing operational efficiency initiatives.

Third quarter 2011 earnings before income taxes of $85.9 million increased 38.8 percent as compared with the prior year period. Income taxes in the current year period were positively impacted by one-time tax benefits of approximately $5.7 million.

Third quarter 2011 net earnings and earnings per diluted share were $65.4 million and $0.64, respectively, increases of 59.5 percent and 56.1 percent, respectively, as compared with the third quarter of 2010.

Third quarter 2011 free cash flow was $69.0 million and represents a free cash flow conversion ratio of 105.5 percent of net earnings. For the first nine months of 2011, free cash flow was $178.5 million and the free cash flow conversion ratio was 104.7 percent.

Commenting on the Company’s recent performance, Amin J. Khoury, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of B/E Aerospace said, “Demand for our products is increasing consistent with the start of what is expected to be a very strong new aircraft delivery cycle. Our solid nine month year-to-date results include revenues up 28 percent, operating earnings up 36 percent, earnings per share up 51 percent and a free cash flow conversion ratio of 105 percent. Our nine-month operating margin of 17.3 percent, a 110 basis point improvement, was driven by substantial margin expansion in both our commercial aircraft and business jet segments which more than offset the margin drag from the recent acquisitions in the consumables segment which have not yet been integrated. As a result of our solid year-to-date results we are increasing our full-year 2011 guidance to approximately $2.20 per diluted share.”

“Based on our record backlog, both booked and awarded but unbooked, of almost $7 billion, our expectation for continued growth in global passenger travel and attendant increases in capacity, and our expectation of significantly higher levels of wide-body aircraft deliveries, we have established our 2012 earnings guidance at $2.65 per diluted share, an increase of approximately 24 percent on a comparable tax rate basis,” concluded Mr. Khoury.

Free cash flow and free cash flow conversion ratio are non-GAAP financial measures. For more information see “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

THIRD QUARTER SEGMENT RESULTS

Third quarter 2011 commercial aircraft segment (CAS) revenues of $333.1 million increased 33.1 percent as compared with the prior year period. CAS third quarter 2011 operating earnings of $56.6 million increased 46.3 percent. Operating margin of 17.0 percent expanded 150 basis points as compared with the prior year period, due to an improved revenue mix and ongoing operational efficiency initiatives.

Third quarter 2011 consumables management segment (CMS) revenues of $238.7 million increased 23.6 percent. CMS operating earnings of $47.6 million increased 17.5 percent and operating margin was 19.9 percent. Current period operating margin reflects the recent acquisitions of Satair and LaSalle, which have lower operating margins than the legacy CMS business. Organic operating margin, excluding recent acquisitions, for the third quarter of 2011 was approximately 21.2 percent, up 20 basis points as compared with the prior year period. Organic revenue growth, excluding recent acquisitions, was approximately 9 percent, and excluding both recent acquisitions and sales to military and business jet customers was approximately 15 percent.

Third quarter 2011 business jet segment revenues of $64.2 million increased 24.2 percent as compared with the prior year period. Operating earnings of $7.9 million increased $3.7 million or 88.1 percent as compared with the prior year period. Current period operating margin of 12.3 percent expanded by 420 basis points, reflecting both the increase in revenues and an improved mix of revenues.

NINE-MONTH CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, revenues of $1.85 billion increased 27.9 percent as compared with the prior year period. Revenue growth for the first nine months of 2011, excluding the recent acquisitions, was approximately 15.4 percent.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, operating earnings of $318.9 million increased 36.2 percent as compared with the prior year period. Operating margin in the current period of 17.3 percent expanded 110 basis points as compared with the prior year period.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, net earnings were $170.5 million, or $1.67 per diluted share, as compared with $112.1 million, or $1.11 per diluted share, in the prior year period, reflecting a growth rate in earnings per diluted share of 50.5 percent.

NINE-MONTH SEGMENT RESULTS

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, CAS revenues of $951.9 million increased 32.8 percent as compared with the prior year period. CAS operating earnings of $157.8 million increased 44.6 percent. Operating margin of 16.6 percent expanded 140 basis points as compared with the prior year period, primarily due to an improved revenue mix and ongoing operational efficiency initiatives.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, CMS revenues of $709.4 million increased 24.0 percent and operating earnings of $140.5 million increased 21.6 percent, as compared with the prior year period. Operating margin of 19.8 percent decreased 40 basis points as compared with the same period of the prior year, due to the margin drag from recent acquisitions. Organic operating margin, excluding recent acquisitions, was approximately 20.8 percent, up 60 basis points as compared with the prior year period. Organic revenue growth, excluding recent acquisitions, was approximately 8 percent, and excluding both recent acquisitions and sales to military and business jet customers, was approximately 15 percent.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, business jet segment revenues of $183.8 million increased 19.8 percent as compared with the prior year period. Operating earnings of $20.6 million increased $11.0 million or 114.6 percent as compared with the prior year period. Current period operating margin of 11.2 percent expanded by 490 basis points, reflecting both the increase in revenues and an improved mix of revenues.

LIQUIDITY AND BALANCE SHEET METRICS

Third quarter 2011 free cash flow of $69.0 million represents a free cash flow conversion ratio of 105.5 percent. For the first nine months of 2011, free cash flow was $178.5 million and the free cash flow conversion ratio was 104.7 percent. As of September 30, 2011, cash was $264.9 million, net debt, which represents total debt of $1.245 billion less cash, was $980.6 million and the Company’s net debt-to-net capital ratio was 35.0 percent. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had no borrowings outstanding on its $750 million revolving credit facility and has no debt maturities until July 2018.

BOOKINGS/BACKLOG

Bookings during the third quarter of 2011 were approximately $660 million reflecting a book-to-bill ratio of 1.05 to 1. However, total backlog, both booked and awarded but unbooked, expanded to a record $6.95 billion, an increase of approximately 26 percent as compared with September 30, 2010. Booked backlog at the end of the quarter was approximately $3.45 billion, an increase of approximately 21 percent as compared with the Company’s September 30, 2010 backlog and supplier furnished equipment (SFE) backlog increased to approximately $3.5 billion.

“Demand for our products is increasing consistent with the start of what is expected to be a very strong new aircraft delivery cycle. Approximately 60 percent of bookings this quarter were driven by new-buy aircraft. Orders for the nine month year-to-date period were up 38 percent as compared to the prior year period and, as mentioned earlier, our backlog, both booked and awarded but unbooked, reached another record and now stands at almost $7 billion,” commented Mr. Khoury.

OUTLOOK

Commenting on the Company’s outlook, Mr. Khoury stated, “As a result of our solid year-to-date nine-month results we have increased full-year 2011 guidance by approximately $0.10 per share to approximately $2.20 per diluted share, an increase of approximately 55 percent as compared to 2010, and approximately $0.30 per share or 16 percent higher than the 2011 guidance we provided one year ago.”

Mr. Khoury continued, “Based on our record backlog, both booked and awarded but unbooked, of almost $7 billion, our expectation for continued growth in global passenger travel and attendant increases in capacity, and our expectation of significantly higher levels of wide-body aircraft deliveries, we expect strong full-year 2012 earnings of approximately $2.65 per diluted share, representing earnings per share growth of approximately 24 percent on a comparable tax rate basis. Looking further ahead we are optimistic due to our record backlog, the expected robust wide-body delivery cycle and continued global growth in passenger travel.”

The Company’s 2012 financial guidance is as follows:

The Company expects continued total backlog growth in 2012 driven by the strong wide-body aircraft delivery cycle, additional SFE awards, and strong aftermarket demand for retrofit, refurbishment and spares. In addition, we expect continued growth in consumables demand driven primarily by the expected continuing growth in global passenger traffic and capacity.
2012 revenues are expected to be approximately $2.8 billion or approximately 12 percent higher than 2011 expected revenues of approximately $2.5 billion.
The Company expects full-year 2012 earnings of approximately $2.65 per diluted share, representing an increase of approximately 24 percent as compared with expected 2011 earnings per diluted share on a comparable tax rate basis.
2012 free cash flow conversion ratio is expected to be approximately 100 percent of net earnings.