Form 8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 


FORM 8-K

 


CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT

TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) October 25, 2006

 


WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 


Delaware

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

1-13782   25-1615902
(Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

1001 Airbrake Avenue

Wilmerding, Pennsylvania

  15148
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(412) 825-1000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 25, 2006, the Company issued a press release reporting, among other things, the Company’s financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2006. A copy of this press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 2.02 by reference.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information furnished pursuant to this Item 2.02 in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing, and as set forth in Item 8.01 herein.

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On October 25, 2006, the Company issued a press release providing, among other things, updated earnings guidance for fiscal year 2006. A copy of the press release is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1 and the second and third paragraphs thereof are incorporated into this Item 8.01 by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibit is furnished or filed, as applicable, with this report on Form 8-K:

 

Exhibit No.  

Description

99.1   Press release dated October 25, 2006.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE

TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

By:  

/s/ Alvaro Garcia-Tunon

  Alvaro Garcia-Tunon
  Chief Financial Officer

Date: October 25, 2006


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Number     

Description

 

Method of Filing

99.1      Press release dated October 25, 2006.   Filed herewith.
Press release dated October 25, 2006

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO   

1001 Air Brake Avenue

Wilmerding, PA 15148

Phone: 412.825.1543

Fax: 412.825.1789

  

Press

Release

Contact:    Tim Wesley at (412) 825-1543

Wabtec Reports Third Quarter Sales And EPS Growth, And Strong Cash Flow;

Raises 2006 Annual Guidance To EPS Of $1.70-$1.73 Excluding Restructuring

WILMERDING, Pa., Oct. 25, 2006 — Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) today announced third quarter 2006 earnings per diluted share of 35 cents including expenses of 9 cents per diluted share for a previously announced restructuring plan. Excluding these expenses, the company’s third quarter 2006 earnings per diluted share were 44 cents, more than 40 percent higher than the year-ago quarter. This was the 10th consecutive quarter the company has reported an earnings increase.

Wabtec also raised its 2006 annual guidance to earnings per diluted share of between $1.70-$1.73 excluding restructuring expenses, with annual sales expected to be between $1.06-$1.07 billion.

“Our strong performance in the third quarter and the outlook for the rest of the year give us the confidence to raise our guidance,” said Albert J. Neupaver, Wabtec’s president and chief executive officer. “We’re benefiting from strong, stable demand in our freight rail markets; growth in the transit market; internal cost-improvement programs; and our growth strategies. These positive drivers, combined with a multi-year backlog of more than $1 billion, make us optimistic about Wabtec’s future prospects as we position the company to achieve our long-term financial goal, which is to average annual double-digit growth in earnings per diluted share.”

2006 Third Quarter Results

During the quarter, the company recognized restructuring expenses of $6.8 million, or 9 cents per diluted share, primarily for pension-related accounting charges and fixed asset writedowns for the downsizing of two Canadian plants. The company expects to realize a payback of less than one year on cash restructuring expenses. Also during the third quarter, Wabtec recorded other charges of $2.2 million for warranty and inventory items, and it recognized a separate tax benefit of $1.4 million.

Sales in the 2006 third quarter increased 5 percent compared to the prior-year quarter, to $268.9 million. Transit Group sales grew 15 percent, primarily due to increased sales of commuter locomotives. Sales in the Freight Group increased 1 percent, as demand has remained stable at a high level. Cost of sales of $202.7 million included $6.3 million of the restructuring expenses and the other charges of $2.2 million, which resulted in a gross margin of 24.6 percent. Excluding these items, gross margin was 27.8 percent, compared to 26.2 percent in the year-ago quarter.


LOGO   

1001 Air Brake Avenue

Wilmerding, PA 15148

Phone: 412.825.1543

Fax: 412.825.1789

  

Press

Release

Operating expenses were 3 percent higher, mainly due to the recognition of stock-based compensation expense under FAS-123 (R), which the company adopted at the beginning of this year, and $541,000 of amortization expense related to the restructuring. The company’s operating margin (income from operations divided by net sales) for the quarter was 9.5 percent. Excluding the restructuring expenses and other charges, the operating margin for the quarter was 12.8 percent, compared to 10.7 percent in the year-ago quarter.

The company had net interest income of $196,000, compared to net interest expense of $2.2 million in the year-ago quarter, due to higher interest rates on a higher cash balance in 2006. Other expense decreased due to a lower foreign exchange translation loss. The company’s effective tax rate was 31 percent, compared to a normal rate of about 36 percent, due to the tax benefit of $1.4 million from the successful resolution of certain outstanding tax issues from prior years.

At Sept. 30, 2006, the company had cash of $247.6 million and debt of $150 million, compared to cash of $141.4 million and debt of $150 million at Dec. 31, 2005. During the quarter, Wabtec repurchased 502,400 shares of company stock at a cost of $13.5 million, as part of a $50 million share repurchase program authorized by the Board of Directors in July. Through the first nine months of 2006, Wabtec has increased cash by more than $100 million, even including cash for the shares repurchased.

Following the end of the quarter, Wabtec completed the acquisition of Schaefer Equipment, Inc., for $36 million in cash. Schaefer Equipment, the leading manufacturer of forged brake rigging components for freight cars, has annual sales of about $30 million. Wabtec expects the transaction to be accretive immediately.

“Schaefer Equipment broadens our line of engineered brake components and supports our strategy to provide customers with a complete line of braking solutions to meet their needs,” Neupaver said. “We are continuing to evaluate other potential acquisition candidates that fit our disciplined financial and strategic criteria, as we use our strong balance sheet and cash flow to grow the company and build long-term shareholder value.”

Wabtec Corporation (www.wabtec.com) is a global provider of value-added, technology-based products and services for the rail industry.

This release contains forward-looking statements, such as statements regarding the company’s expectations about future earnings and market conditions. Actual results could differ materially from the results suggested in any forward-looking statement. Factors that could cause or contribute to these material differences include, but are not limited to, a slowdown in the North American economy; a decrease in freight or passenger rail traffic; an increase in manufacturing costs, especially raw materials; and other factors contained in the company’s regulatory filings, which are herein incorporated by reference. The company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements or advise of changes in the assumptions on which they were based.

The company will conduct a conference call with analysts at 10 a.m., eastern time, today. To listen to the call via webcast, please go to www.wabtec.com.


WABTEC CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 AND 2005

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

(UNAUDITED)

 

     Third
Quarter
2006
    Third
Quarter
2005
    For the
Nine Months
2006
    For the
Nine Months
2005
 

Net sales

   $ 268,889     $ 255,670     $ 793,200     $ 763,767  

Cost of sales

     (202,691 )     (188,701 )     (575,171 )     (573,611 )
                                

Gross profit

     66,198       66,969       218,029       190,156  

Selling,general and administrative expenses

     (31,293 )     (30,813 )     (97,591 )     (90,448 )

Engineering expenses

     (8,068 )     (7,995 )     (24,206 )     (24,848 )

Amortization expense

     (1,362 )     (896 )     (3,088 )     (2,940 )
                                

Total operating expenses

     (40,723 )     (39,704 )     (124,885 )     (118,236 )

Income from operations

     25,475       27,265       93,144       71,920  

Interest income (expense), net

     196       (2,235 )     (1,348 )     (6,884 )

Other income (expense), net

     (139 )     (1,234 )     (1,285 )     (3,070 )
                                

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     25,532       23,796       90,511       61,966  

Income tax expense

     (7,791 )     (8,300 )     (30,920 )     (22,194 )
                                

Income from continuing operations

     17,741       15,496       59,591       39,772  

Discontinued operations

        

(Loss) income from discontinued operations (net of tax)

     (370 )     (420 )     (1,029 )     (297 )
                                

Net income

   $ 17,371     $ 15,076     $ 58,562     $ 39,475  
                                
Earnings Per Common Share         
Basic         

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.36     $ 0.33     $ 1.23     $ 0.85  

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

     —         (0.01 )     (0.02 )     —    

Net income

   $ 0.36     $ 0.32     $ 1.21     $ 0.85  
Diluted         

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.36     $ 0.32     $ 1.22     $ 0.84  

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     (0.02 )     (0.01 )

Net income

   $ 0.35     $ 0.31     $ 1.20     $ 0.83  

Weighted average shares outstanding

        

Basic

     48,689       47,574       48,309       46,664  
                                

Diluted

     49,293       48,311       48,905       47,409  
                                
Sales by Segment         

Freight Group

   $ 179,474     $ 178,083     $ 555,576     $ 525,322  

Transit Group

     89,415       77,587       237,624       238,445  
                                

Total

   $ 268,889     $ 255,670     $ 793,200     $ 763,767