OREANDA-NEWS. A. Schulman, Inc. (Nasdaq-GS: SHLM), a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds, composites, powders and resins, today announced that it has lowered its full-year 2016 adjusted net income guidance range to $1.90 to $1.95 per diluted share reflecting deteriorating market conditions facing the industry in the Company's largest regions in the U.S. and Europe.

"As we move closer to the end of our fourth quarter, it has become apparent that we will not be able to deliver on our adjusted earning per share commitment of $2.40 to $2.45 per diluted share. At the beginning of the quarter, our key end-markets in the U.S. and Europe did not present notable headwinds; however, as the quarter progressed we saw double-digit volume contraction. This softness has continued into August. Our top line was particularly impacted in our Masterbatch Solutions, Engineered Plastics and Engineered Composites product families driven by softness in multiple markets. Similarly, the continued volatility in our major raw materials due to lower oil prices has created further caution in our customers and a reduction in orders," said Bernard Rzepka, president and chief executive officer. "Unfortunately, the weak demand environment has overshadowed the positive impact of several cost reduction and synergy programs that we have been executing throughout the year."

Corresponding with this reduction in adjusted earnings per share, the Company's previous forecast of adjusted EBITDA of $245 to $250 million has been reduced to $225 million to $230 million.

"Our cash flow remains strong and we continue to make good strides in paying down our debt. In July we paid down an additional $18.2 million of debt. Gross debt is now $967 million at the end of July down 14% from the peak of $1.1 billion in June 2015," stated Rzepka. "This progress, combined with over $300 million of available credit under our current credit facility, positions us well to withstand this challenging economic climate as we enter our next fiscal year." 

The Company expects to release fiscal 2016 fourth-quarter and full-year results as well as fiscal 2017 earnings guidance after the market closes on Wednesday, October 26, 2016.  The Company will hold its fiscal 2016 fourth-quarter and full-year earnings conference call on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 10 a.m. Eastern time.

About A. Schulman, Inc.
A. Schulman, Inc. is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Since 1928, the Company has been providing innovative solutions to meet its customers' demanding requirements. The Company's customers span a wide range of markets such as packaging, mobility, building & construction, electronics & electrical, agriculture, personal care & hygiene, sports, leisure & home, custom services and others. The Company employs approximately 4,900 people and has 57 manufacturing facilities globally. A. Schulman reported net sales of approximately $2.4 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015. 

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This release includes certain financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP financial measures include net income per diluted share excluding certain items and adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP financial measures are considered relevant to aid analysis and understanding of the Company's results and business trends. However, non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, nor are they a substitute for, GAAP measures, and tables included in this release reconcile each non-GAAP financial measure with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measures for these purposes are net income per diluted share and operating income. The Company's non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP financial measures, and should be read only in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Cautionary Statements
A number of the matters discussed in this document that are not historical or current facts deal with potential future circumstances and developments and constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts and relate to future events and expectations. Forward-looking statements contain such words as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which management is unable to predict or control, that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements, and that could adversely affect the Company's future financial performance, include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • worldwide and regional economic, business and political conditions, including continuing economic uncertainties in some or all of the Company's major product markets or countries where the Company has operations;
  • the effectiveness of the Company's efforts to improve operating margins through sales growth, price increases, productivity gains, and improved purchasing techniques;
  • competitive factors, including intense price competition;
  • fluctuations in the value of currencies in areas where the Company operates;
  • volatility of prices and availability of the supply of energy and raw materials that are critical to the manufacture of the Company's products, particularly plastic resins derived from oil and natural gas;
  • changes in customer demand and requirements;
  • effectiveness of the Company to achieve the level of cost savings, productivity improvements, growth and other benefits anticipated from acquisitions, joint ventures and restructuring initiatives;
  • escalation in the cost of providing employee health care;
  • uncertainties and unanticipated developments regarding contingencies, such as pending and future litigation and other claims, including developments that would require increases in our costs and/or reserves for such contingencies;
  • the performance of the global automotive and oil and gas markets as well as other markets served;
  • further adverse changes in economic or industry conditions, including global supply and demand conditions and prices for products;
  • operating problems with our information systems as a result of system security failures such as viruses, cyber-attacks or other causes;
  • our current debt position could adversely affect our financial health and prevent us from fulfilling our financial obligations;
  • integration of acquisitions, including most recently Citadel, with our existing business, including the risk that the integration will be more costly or more time consuming and complex or simply less effective than anticipated;
  • our ability to achieve the anticipated synergies, cost savings and other benefits from the Citadel acquisition;
  • substantial time devoted by management to the integration of the Citadel acquisition; and
  • failure of counterparties to perform under the terms and conditions of contractual arrangements, including suppliers, customers, buyers and sellers of a business and other third parties with which the Company contracts.