Form 8-K

 

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) April 23, 2004

 


 

WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware   1-13782   25-1615902

(State or Other

Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

1001 Air Brake Avenue, Wilmerding, Pennsylvania   15148
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code (412)-825-1000

 



Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description


Exhibit 99.1    Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation Press Release dated April 23, 2004 announcing matter referenced in Item 12.

 

Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

The following information is being furnished pursuant to Item 12 of Form 8-K, “Results of Operations and Financial Condition”. This information shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

On April 23, 2004, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation issued a press release reporting the financial results of the company for the quarter ended March 31, 2004. A copy of the press release is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated into this Item 12 by reference.


SIGNATURE

 

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

 

       

WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE

TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

(Registrant)

Date:   April 26, 2004       By:   /s/    Alvaro Garcia-Tunon        
               
            Name:   Alvaro Garcia-Tunon
            Title:   Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description and Method of Filing


99.1    Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation Press Release dated April 23, 2004 announcing matter referenced in Item 12, filed herewith.
Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO  

1001 Air Brake Avenue

Wilmerding, PA 15148

Phone: 412.825.1543

Fax: 412.825.1789

  LOGO

 

Contact: Tim Wesley at (412) 825-1543

 

Wabtec Reports First Quarter Results; Affirms Previous 2004 Earnings Guidance

 

WILMERDING, Pa., April 23, 2004 — Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) today reported earnings per diluted share of 11 cents, net income of $4.8 million and EBITDA of $16.8 million for the 2004 first quarter. In the year-ago first quarter, the company had earnings per diluted share of 13 cents, net income of $5.7 million and EBITDA of $17 million.

 

The company also affirmed its previous guidance for 2004 full-year earnings per diluted share of about 70 cents, a growth rate of 35 percent compared to 2003.

 

“We currently expect to meet our earnings goal for the year,” said William E. Kassling, Wabtec’s chairman. “Our view is based on several positive indicators in the North American freight rail market, including growth in rail traffic, and strong orders for new freight cars and locomotives. In fact, based on first quarter orders of about 18,000 units, we now expect 2004 freight car deliveries to be about 41,000, which is higher than our original estimate of 36,000. This gives us confidence that our 2004 revenues will slightly exceed our original forecast of about $750 million. Looking beyond 2004, we remain bullish about our prospects as we continue to implement our strategic growth plans.”

 

2004 First Quarter Results

 

Sales were 11 percent higher than the prior-year quarter. In the Freight Group, sales increased 9 percent, mainly due to higher sales of freight car components in North America and electronics components in the United Kingdom. Transit Group sales were 16 percent higher, mainly due to increased sales of rail door assemblies.

 

The company’s gross margin was 25.2 percent, compared to 26.7 percent in the prior-year quarter. The lower margin resulted from three factors: increased manufacturing costs due to higher steel prices and the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rates on the company’s Canadian operations, inefficiencies related to the closing and relocation of an electronics plant from Canada to the U.S., and the ramp-up of low-margin rail door contracts in the Transit Group. The company is taking actions to improve margins in future quarters, including price increases and ongoing initiatives to increase productivity and efficiency.

 

Operating expenses were 9 percent higher, primarily due to higher medical and insurance costs. Interest expense increased by $604,000, due to the company’s sale of senior notes in August 2003. The notes enabled the company to convert short-term, variable-rate debt into fixed-rate debt at an attractive long-term interest rate. Other expense decreased 20 percent, and the company had an effective tax rate of 36.5 percent in both quarters.

 

Debt, net of cash, was $132 million (34 percent of total capital) at March 31, 2004, $179 million (46 percent of total capital) at March 31, 2003 and $120 million (33 percent of total capital) at Dec. 31, 2003. Net debt increased since year-end due to higher receivables and inventory.

 

Wabtec Corporation (www.wabtec.com) is one of North America’s largest providers of value-added, technology-based products and services for the rail industry.

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements, such as the statements regarding the company’s expectations about future earnings. The company’s 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 rail 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 MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2004 AND 2003

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

(UNAUDITED)

 

     First
Quarter
2004


    First
Quarter
2003


 

Net sales

   $ 188,228     $ 169,523  

Cost of sales

     (140,710 )     (124,247 )
    


 


Gross profit

     47,518       45,276  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     (26,440 )     (23,707 )

Engineering expenses

     (8,812 )     (8,268 )

Amortization expense

     (783 )     (1,000 )
    


 


Total operating expenses

     (36,035 )     (32,975 )

Income from operations

     11,483       12,301  

Interest expense

     (3,003 )     (2,399 )

Other expense, net

     (910 )     (1,136 )
    


 


Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     7,570       8,766  

Income tax expense

     (2,763 )     (3,200 )
    


 


Income from continuing operations

     4,807       5,566  

Discontinued operations

                

Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)

     —         117  
    


 


Net income

   $ 4,807     $ 5,683  
    


 


Earnings Per Common Share                 
Basic                 

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.11     $ 0.13  

Income from discontinued operations

     —         —    

Net income

   $ 0.11     $ 0.13  
Diluted                 

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.11     $ 0.13  

Income from discontinued operations

     —         —    

Net income

   $ 0.11     $ 0.13  

Weighted average shares outstanding

                

Basic

     44,661       43,453  
    


 


Diluted

     45,336       43,599  
    


 


Sales by Segment                 

Freight Group

   $ 134,000     $ 122,634  

Transit Group

     54,228       46,889  
    


 


Total

   $ 188,228     $ 169,523  
    


 


EBITDA Reconciliation                 

Net income

   $ 4,807     $ 5,683  

Interest expense

     3,003       2,399  

Income tax expense

     2,763       3,200  

Depreciation

     5,470       4,717  

Amortization

     783       1,000  
    


 


EBITDA

   $ 16,826     $ 16,999