Business Context and Reporting Period
PPG Industries, Inc. filed an unaudited Form 10-Q for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010. PPG is a multinational manufacturer operating across Performance Coatings, Industrial Coatings, Architectural Coatings–EMEA, Optical and Specialty Materials, Commodity Chemicals, and Glass.
Key Financial Metrics
| Metric | Three Months Ended June 30, 2010 | Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 | Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 | Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales | $3,458 million | $3,115 million | $6,584 million | $5,898 million |
| Income before taxes | $412 million | $253 million | $618 million | $142 million |
| Net income attributable to PPG | $272 million | $146 million | $302 million | $35 million |
| Diluted EPS | $1.63 | $0.89 | $1.81 | $0.21 |
| Cash from operating activities | Not provided | Not provided | $367 million | $106 million |
Second-quarter net margin was approximately 7.9%, compared with approximately 4.7% in the prior-year quarter. Six-month net margin was approximately 4.6%, compared with approximately 0.6% in 2009. Cost of sales was 60% of sales in the second quarter and approximately 61% for the six-month period. Selling, general and administrative expense was 21.5% of second-quarter sales and 22.4% of six-month sales.
- Cash and cash equivalents were $784 million at June 30, 2010, compared with $1.057 billion at December 31, 2009.
- Total debt, including capital leases, represented 47% of total debt and equity at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. Balance-sheet debt consisted of $59 million of short-term debt and current maturities and $3.017 billion of long-term debt.
- PPG had no borrowings outstanding under its €650 million revolving credit facility at June 30, 2010; the facility expires in December 2010.
- Six-month capital spending was $93 million, acquisitions used $18 million, dividends paid were $180 million, and treasury-stock purchases were $105 million.
- Cash decreased by $273 million during the first six months, primarily reflecting financing outflows of $476 million, including debt repayments, dividends, and share repurchases.
Material Changes Versus the Prior Comparable Period
- Second-quarter sales increased 11%, with higher volumes contributing 10%. Six-month sales increased 12%, with volumes contributing 11%.
- Second-quarter net income attributable to PPG increased 86% to $272 million; diluted EPS increased to $1.63 from $0.89.
- Six-month net income increased to $302 million from $35 million, and diluted EPS increased to $1.81 from $0.21.
- The six-month comparison benefited materially from the absence of the $186 million business-restructuring charge recorded in the first quarter of 2009. The 2009 charge reduced after-tax income by approximately $141 million, or $0.86 per diluted share.
- Six-month operating cash flow increased by $261 million. Management attributed the improvement to higher earnings and pension contributions of approximately $50 million in 2010 versus approximately $190 million in the first half of 2009.
- Interest expense declined to $46 million in the second quarter and $91 million for six months, from $49 million and $97 million, respectively, due to lower debt balances.
- Industrial Coatings was the largest earnings contributor to the improvement: second-quarter segment income rose to $112 million from $28 million, while six-month segment income rose to $213 million from $12 million.
- Glass improved from a $7 million second-quarter loss to $16 million of income and from a $34 million six-month loss to $13 million of income.
- Commodity Chemicals was weaker for the six months, with segment income declining to $56 million from $125 million because of lower selling prices and inflationary pressures.
Guidance, Outlook, Commentary, Risks, and Unusual Items
- Management stated that operating cash flow and debt capacity were expected to be sufficient to fund operations, capital spending, acquisitions, dividends, debt service, proposed asbestos-settlement payments, share repurchases, and pension contributions.
- PPG expected approximately $150 million of voluntary contributions to U.S. pension plans in 2010 and approximately $90 million of mandatory contributions to non-U.S. plans, of which approximately $50 million had been paid by June 30.
- All remaining actions under the 2008 and 2009 restructuring plans were expected to be completed in the second half of 2010. Restructuring reserves totaled $52 million at June 30, 2010, including $15 million related to the 2008 plan and $37 million related to the 2009 plan.
- A one-time $85 million after-tax charge, or $0.51 per share, was recorded in the first quarter because of U.S. health-care legislation reducing the future tax deductibility of retiree prescription-drug costs. The charge had no 2010 cash impact; management estimated an approximately $4 million after-tax cash impact in 2013, with additional impacts over subsequent years.
- The proposed asbestos settlement remained subject to bankruptcy-court confirmation and appeals. If implemented, PPG would contribute approximately $825 million in cash through 2023, plus shares or cash and certain other assets. The recorded asbestos obligation was $781 million at June 30, 2010, including $545 million current and $236 million non-current.
- Environmental reserves were $282 million at June 30, 2010. Management expected environmental cash outlays of approximately $60 million in 2010 and $50 million to $70 million annually through 2014. Additional reasonably possible but unreserved environmental losses were estimated at $200 million to $300 million.
- PPG was cooperating with a U.S. government investigation into potential export-control violations involving coatings exported to Pakistan in 2006; the outcome and potential effect were not determinable.
- Risks included global economic conditions, raw-material availability and inflation, competition, foreign-exchange movements, integration of acquisitions, restructuring execution, environmental regulation, litigation, and the possibility that the asbestos settlement would not become effective.
- Market risk was generally unchanged, except for cross-currency swaps. Their net liability declined to $14 million from $308 million at December 31, 2009.
- Management reported effective disclosure controls and no material changes in internal control over financial reporting during the quarter.
Important Facts for Investors to Verify
- Confirm the final status, timing, funding requirements, and appeals associated with the proposed Pittsburgh Corning asbestos reorganization and settlement.
- Monitor cash generation against planned dividends, share repurchases, debt maturities, pension contributions, and asbestos payments.
- Assess whether volume recovery and cost reductions are sustainable, particularly in Industrial Coatings and Glass, and whether raw-material inflation or pricing pressure reverses margin gains.
- Review the December 2010 expiration of the €650 million revolving credit facility and PPG’s refinancing or liquidity plans.
- Track environmental remediation developments in New Jersey and Louisiana, including potential costs beyond the $282 million reserve and the $200 million to $300 million unreserved exposure.
- Evaluate the recurring tax effects of the health-care legislation change and the company’s projected effective tax rate.
- Follow the export-control investigation, antitrust proceedings, environmental proceedings, and other litigation for potential penalties or changes in reserves.