News Details

Reported diluted EPS $1.02; adjusted diluted EPS +20% to $1.03

2014 full-year adjusted EPS forecast range narrowed to $4.14 to $4.20, +17% to 19%

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL):

2014 SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS:

• Record reported diluted EPS $1.02
• Record adjusted EPS $1.03, +20%, excluding special gains and charges and discrete tax items, driven by solid sales growth and strong margin improvement
• Reported sales +7%; acquisition adjusted fixed currency sales +5% led by the Energy, Specialty and Water businesses and the Latin America and Asia Pacific regions

* Operating income is adjusted for special gains and charges; net income and diluted net income per share are adjusted for special gains and charges and discrete tax items.

Ecolab Inc. delivered strong second quarter earnings as continued sales growth and margin expansion led to a 20% adjusted earnings per share increase over last year.

CEO comment
Commenting on the quarter, Douglas M. Baker, Jr., Ecolab’s chairman and chief executive officer said, “Record second quarter results were driven by solid sales gains and margin expansion that once again reflected the strength of our business model and our continued growth focus.

“Looking to the balance of the year, we expect to outperform market trends as we continue to focus on strong customer relationships, industry-leading innovation, and delivering unmatched personalized service through our outstanding global team. We believe our solid first half momentum coupled with increasing global needs for our comprehensive solutions will drive accelerated second half sales and full-year upper-teens adjusted earnings per share growth this year as well as superior growth for years to come.”

Quarter overview

* Operating income is adjusted for special gains and charges

Ecolab's reported sales rose 7% to a record $3.6 billion in the second quarter of 2014. Fixed currency sales rose 8%; acquisition adjusted fixed currency sales rose 5%.

Acquisition adjusted growth rates generally exclude the results of any acquired business for the first twelve months post acquisition and exclude the results of any divested businesses for the twelve months prior to divestiture. Champion is an exception. Due to the rapid pace at which the business is being fully integrated within our Global Energy segment, including all customer selling activity, discrete financial data specific to the legacy Champion business is not readily available post acquisition. As such, to allow for the most meaningful period-over-period comparison, specific to the Champion transaction, Champion’s results for the comparable period of the prior year have been included for purposes of providing acquisition adjusted growth rates.

Second quarter 2014 reported operating income increased 45% to $512 million. Both reported second quarter 2014 and 2013 results include special gains and charges. Excluding special gains and charges, second quarter 2014 adjusted operating income of $507 million increased 15% compared with second quarter 2013 adjusted operating income. Excluding special gains and charges and at fixed currency rates, second quarter 2014 adjusted fixed currency operating income of $503 million increased 17% when compared with second quarter 2013 adjusted fixed currency operating income. Second quarter 2014 adjusted fixed currency operating income, adjusted for acquisitions, increased 16%.

Second quarter 2014 reported net income attributable to Ecolab increased 46% to $311 million, representing $1.02 per diluted share. Excluding special gains and charges and discrete tax items, second quarter 2014 adjusted net income attributable to Ecolab rose 18% to $314 million, and adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 20% to $1.03, when compared with second quarter 2013 adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.86. Currency translation had a negative impact of $0.02 per share on reported and adjusted diluted earnings per share in the second quarter of 2014.

Segment review
Second quarter 2014 sales for the Global Industrial segment, when measured at fixed currency rates, rose 3% to $1,214 million, led by Water. Fixed currency operating income increased 8% to $162 million compared with the year ago period. Regionally, Latin America and Asia Pacific enjoyed good sales growth, with modest gains in both North America and EMEA. When measured at public currency rates, Global Industrial sales were $1,229 million and operating income was $163 million.

Second quarter 2014 sales for the Global Institutional segment, when measured at fixed currency rates, rose 3% to $1,077 million, led by strong Specialty sales growth. Fixed currency operating income increased 3% to $200 million compared with last year. Sales for the segment showed good growth in Latin America, North America, and Asia Pacific, which more than offset slightly lower sales in EMEA. When measured at public currency rates, Global Institutional sales were $1,086 million and operating income was $201 million.

Global Energy segment sales, when measured at fixed currency rates, grew 20% to $1,051 million in the second quarter 2014 and fixed currency operating income increased 44% to $157 million. Acquisition adjusted fixed currency sales grew 8% reflecting good growth in both the upstream and downstream markets; acquisition adjusted fixed currency operating income increased 40%, including synergies. When measured at public currency rates, Global Energy sales were $1,061 million and operating income was $158 million.

Other segment sales, when measured at fixed currency rates, increased 7% to $191 million in the second quarter. Fixed currency operating income increased 7% to $30 million. When measured at public currency rates, Other segment reported sales were $192 million and reported operating income was $30 million.

The Corporate segment also includes special gains and charges. Special gains and charges for the second quarter of 2014 were a net gain of $5 million ($5 million after-tax) and primarily consisted of gains from a favorable licensing settlement, partially offset by restructuring charges and Champion integration costs. Special gains and charges for the second quarter 2013 were a net charge of $89 million ($65 million after-tax).

The reported income tax rate for the second quarter 2014 was 29.4% and compared with the reported rate of 24.6% in the second quarter 2013. Excluding the tax rate impact of special gains and charges and discrete tax items, the adjusted income tax rate was 27.9% in the second quarter 2014 compared with 28.5% for the same period last year. The improved adjusted tax rate was the result of favorable geographic income mix which more than offset the expired U.S. Research & Development (R&D) tax credit.

Ecolab reacquired 0.8 million shares of its common stock during the second quarter.

Business Outlook
2014
Ecolab now expects its 2014 full-year adjusted earnings per share forecast to be in the $4.14 to $4.20 range, representing a 17% to 19% increase over the prior year. Previously, the expected 2014 full-year adjusted earnings per share forecast range was $4.10 - $4.20. Please note our tax rate forecast for the full year assumes passage of the R&D tax credit in the fourth quarter.

Our detailed outlook for the full year 2014 is as follows:

We continue to expect special gains and charges for the full year 2014 to be approximately a $0.25 per share net charge, primarily driven by restructuring charges, integration costs and discrete tax items recorded to date. Amounts do not reflect future discrete tax items for 2014 that are not currently quantifiable or the impact of a potential Venezuelan devaluation charge.

2014 – Third Quarter
Ecolab expects third quarter adjusted earnings per share in the $1.18 to $1.22 range, representing a 13% to 17% increase when compared with adjusted earnings per share of $1.04 a year ago.

Our detailed outlook for the third quarter 2014 is as follows:

We expect third quarter 2014 special gains and charges, including restructuring charges and integration costs, to be a net charge of approximately $0.05 per share.

Reported third quarter 2013 diluted earnings per share of $1.00 included special gains and charges and discrete tax items. Excluding these items, third quarter 2013 adjusted diluted earnings per share were $1.04.

About Ecolab
A trusted partner at more than one million customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. With 2013 sales of $13 billion and 45,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions and on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use and improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. For more Ecolab news and information, visit www.ecolab.com.

Ecolab will host a live webcast to review the second quarter earnings announcement and earnings guidance today at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The webcast, along with related presentation slides, will be available to the public on Ecolab's website at www.ecolab.com/investor. A replay of the webcast and related materials will be available at that site. Listening to the webcast requires Internet access and a compatible streaming media player.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This communication contains certain statements relating to future events and our intentions, beliefs, expectations and predictions for the future which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words or phrases such as “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “we believe,” “we expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “target,” “forecast” (including the negative or variations thereof) or similar terminology used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions or events generally identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our financial and business performance and prospects, including forecasted 2014 third quarter and full-year business results, including sales growth, adjusted gross margin, SG&A ratios to sales, interest expense, adjusted effective tax rate, adjusted earnings per share and diluted shares outstanding; special gains and charges, including restructuring charges and integration costs; and passage of the U.S. R&D Tax Credit during fourth quarter 2014. These statements are based on the current expectations of management of the company. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements included in this communication. In particular, the ultimate results of any restructuring, integration and business improvement actions, including cost synergies, depend on a number of factors, including the development of final plans, the impact of local regulatory requirements regarding employee terminations, the time necessary to develop and implement the restructuring and other business improvement initiatives and the level of success achieved through such actions in improving competitiveness, efficiency and effectiveness. In addition, as it relates to the Nalco and Champion transactions, these risks and uncertainties include problems that may arise in successfully integrating the businesses of the company and Nalco Champion, which may result in the combined business not operating as effectively and efficiently as expected.

Additional risks and uncertainties that may affect operating results and business performance are set forth under Item 1A of our most recent Form 10-K and our other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and include the vitality of the markets we serve; the impact of economic factors such as the worldwide economy, capital flows, interest rates and foreign currency risk, including a potential currency devaluation in Venezuela; our ability to integrate the Nalco and Champion transactions and to realize the anticipated benefits of these transactions; our ability to attract and retain high caliber management talent to lead our business; our ability to execute key business initiatives; potential information technology infrastructure failures; exposure to global economic, political and legal risks related to our international operations, including with respect to our operations in Russia; the costs and effects of complying with laws and regulations, including those relating to the environment and to the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and use of our products; the occurrence of litigation or claims, including related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill; our ability to compete with respect to value, innovation and customer support; difficulty in procuring raw materials or fluctuations in raw material costs; our substantial indebtedness; our ability to acquire complementary businesses and to effectively integrate such businesses; restraints on pricing flexibility due to contractual obligations; pressure on operations from consolidation of customers, vendors or competitors; public health epidemics; potential losses arising from the impairment of goodwill or other assets; potential loss of deferred tax assets; potential chemical spill or release; potential class action lawsuits; uncertainty of customer performance, including with respect to our joint venture operations in Kazakhstan; the loss or insolvency of a major customer or distributor; acts of war or terrorism; natural or man-made disasters; water shortages; severe weather conditions; and other uncertainties or risks reported from time to time in our reports to the SEC. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this communication may not occur. We caution that undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Ecolab does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any duty to update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or changes in expectations, except as required by law.

Non-GAAP Financial Information
This news release and certain of the accompanying tables include financial measures that have not been calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures include fixed currency sales, acquisition adjusted fixed currency sales, adjusted gross margins, fixed currency operating income, adjusted operating income, adjusted fixed currency operating income, adjusted fixed currency operating income adjusted for acquisitions, adjusted tax rate, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share.

We provide these measures as additional information regarding our operating results. We use these non-GAAP measures internally to evaluate our performance and in making financial and operational decisions, including with respect to incentive compensation. We believe that our presentation of these measures provides investors with greater transparency with respect to our results of operations and that these measures are useful for period-to-period comparison of results.

We include in special gains and charges items that are unusual in nature, and significant in amount. In order to better allow investors to compare underlying business performance period-to-period, we provide adjusted gross margin, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income attributable to Ecolab and adjusted diluted earnings per share, which excludes special gains and charges and discrete tax items.

The adjusted effective tax rate measure promotes period-to-period comparability of the underlying effective tax rate because the amounts excluded do not necessarily reflect costs associated with historical trends or expected future results.

We evaluate the performance of our international operations based on fixed currency rates of foreign exchange. Fixed currency sales, acquisition adjusted fixed currency sales, fixed currency operating income, adjusted fixed currency operating income and adjusted fixed currency operating income adjusted for acquisitions measures eliminate the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on our international sales, acquisition adjusted sales, operating income, adjusted operating income and acquisition adjusted operating income, respectively, and promote a better understanding of our sales and operating income trends from underlying business performance. Fixed currency amounts included in this release are based on translation into U.S. dollars at the fixed foreign currency exchange rates established by management at the beginning of 2014.

Acquisition adjusted growth rates generally exclude the results of any acquired business for the first twelve months post acquisition and exclude the results of any divested businesses for the previous twelve months prior to divestiture. Champion is an exception. Due to the rapid pace at which the business is being fully integrated within our Global Energy segment, including all customer selling activity, discrete financial data specific to the legacy Champion business is not readily available post acquisition. As such, to allow for the most meaningful period-over-period comparison, specific to the Champion transaction, Champion’s results for the comparable period of the prior year have been included for purposes of providing acquisition adjusted growth rates.

These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. Investors should not rely on any single financial measure when evaluating our business. We recommend that investors view these measures in conjunction with the GAAP measures included in this news release. A reconciliation of reported diluted earnings per share to adjusted diluted earnings per share is provided in the table "Supplemental Diluted Earnings per Share Information" included in this news release.

(ECL-E)

Note:
Effective in the first quarter of 2014, certain employee-related costs from our recently acquired businesses that were historically presented within cost of sales were revised and reclassified to SG&A. These immaterial revisions were made to conform with management's view of the respective costs within the global organizational model. Results for 2013 have been revised to conform to the current year presentation. The reclassification had no impact on net earnings, financial position or cash flows.

Note:
Effective in the first quarter of 2014, Ecolab made immaterial changes to its reportable segments, including the movement of certain customers between reportable segments and updates to the internal allocations of certain supply chain and SG&A expenses related to our centralized functions. Results for 2013 have been revised to conform to the current year presentation and are reflected in the above table for both 2013 and 2014 results.

The Corporate segment includes amortization from the Nalco merger intangible assets and in 2013 certain integration costs for both the Nalco and Champion transactions. The Corporate segment also includes special (gains) and charges reported on the Consolidated Statement of Income.

(1) Special (gains) and charges for 2013 include restructuring charges of $14.1 million, $33.7 million, $8.9 million and $10.2 million, net of tax, in the first, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. Special (gains) and charges for 2013 also include $7.1 million, $17.1 million, $6.7 million and $4.6 million of costs, net of tax, in the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2013, respectively, related to Champion acquisition and integration costs. Special (gains) and charges for 2013 also include $10.5 million, $3.5 million and $11.9 million, net of tax, in the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, for the recognition of Champion inventory fair value step-up. Special (gains) and charges for 2013 also include $2.7 million, $3.0 million, $3.5 million and $5.0 million of costs, net of tax, in the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2013, respectively, related to Nalco integration costs. Special (gains) and charges for the first and fourth quarters of 2013 also include $15.0 million and $1.2 million, net of tax, for the devaluation of Venezuelan currency. Special (gains) and charges for the first quarter of 2013 also includes a net gain of $2.5 million, net of tax, related to other items.

(2) The first quarter 2013 discrete tax net benefit of $15.5 million is driven primarily by net benefits related to the remeasurement of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities and the retroactive extension during first quarter 2013 of the U.S. R&D 2012 credit. The second quarter 2013 discrete tax net benefit of $12.1 million are driven primarily by the release of a valuation allowance related to the realizability of foreign deferred tax assets, law changes within a foreign jurisdiction and recognition of settlements related to our 2009 through 2010 U.S. income tax returns, offset partially by foreign audit adjustments. The third quarter 2013 discrete tax net benefit of $12.5 million primarily includes net benefits from filing our 2012 U.S. federal tax return and the recognition of settlements related to prior year income tax audits, partially offset by the remeasurement of certain deferred tax assets. The fourth quarter 2013 discrete tax net benefits of $1.6 million relate primarily to U.S. and foreign audit settlements and adjustments and net benefits from filing our 2012 U.S. state tax returns, partially offset by net adjustments to deferred tax assets and liabilities.

(3) Special (gains) and charges for 2014 include restructuring charges of $22.8 million and $6.1 million, net of tax, in the first and second quarters, respectively. Special (gains) and charges 2014 also include $4.1 million and $3.4 million of costs, net of tax, in the first and second quarters, respectively, related to Champion integration costs. Special (gains) and charges for 2014 also include $0.9 million and $1.1 million of costs, net of tax, in the first and second quarters, respectively, related to Nalco integration costs. Special (gains) and charges for 2014 also include a gain of $0.5 million, net of tax, in the first quarter related to other items and a gain of $15.9 million, net of tax, in the second quarter related to a favorable licensing settlement and other settlement gains.

(4) The first quarter 2014 discrete tax net expense of $9.9 million is driven primarily by the rate differential on certain prior year shared costs, the remeasurement of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities resulting from a change in the state tax rate for certain entities following the merger of Champion operations and the change of a valuation allowance related to the realizability of foreign deferred tax assets, which collectively more than offset benefits from a foreign country audit settlement. The second quarter 2014 discrete tax net expense of $8.3 million is driven primarily by an update to non-current tax liabilities for global tax audits and an adjustment related to the re-characterization of intercompany payments between our U.S. and foreign affiliates which more than offset the change of valuation allowances based on the realizability of foreign deferred tax assets.

Contacts

Ecolab Inc.
Michael J. Monahan, 651-250-2809
or
Lisa L. Curran, 651-250-2185