Press Releases

CANTON, Ohio: Feb. 2, 2010 — The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR) today reported sales of $3.1 billion for 2009, a decrease of 38 percent from a year ago. The sales comparison, which excludes for both periods the results of the Needle Roller Bearings business sold in December (accounted for as “discontinued operations”), reflects weak demand and lower surcharges, partially offset by improved pricing. 

In 2009, the company incurred a full-year loss of $134.0 million, or $1.39 per share, including a loss of $72.6 million, or $0.75 per share, from the Needle Roller Bearings business. Net of non-controlling interest, the company’s continuing operations incurred a loss of $61.4 million, or $0.64 per share for the year, compared with income of $278.9 million, or $2.89 per diluted share, a year ago. 

Excluding special items, full-year net income in 2009 was $30.7 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, including a loss of $20.2 million, or $0.21 per share, from discontinued operations. Net of non-controlling interest, income from the company’s continuing operations for 2009 was $50.9 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, excluding special items, compared with $295.0 million, or $3.06 per diluted share, in the prior year. The change in full-year earnings reflects lower sales volume, surcharges and manufacturing utilization, partially offset by pricing, cost reductions, lower material costs and LIFO income (last-in, first-out inventory accounting). 

Special items for 2009, net of tax, amounted to $164.6 million of expense, compared with $45.8 million in the prior year. The items in 2009 include asset impairment charges of $49.7 million in Mobile Industries; a loss on the sale of the Needle Roller Bearings business of $37.8 million; impairment charges of $20.8 million in Process Industries for consolidation of bearing operations; and severance costs of $56.4 million associated with the company’s cost-reduction efforts. Special items in the prior year consisted primarily of a goodwill impairment charge in the Mobile Industries segment. 

Table 1:  2009 Net (Loss) Income and Diluted Earnings Per Share (a)

(a) Dollars in millions, except per-share data. “Adjusted” earnings per share exclude the impact of impairment and restructuring, manufacturing rationalization/reorganization and special charges and credits.

“The global economic environment made 2009 an extremely challenging year for The Timken Company, which is reflected in the reduction in our sales and earnings,” said James W. Griffith, Timken president and chief executive officer. “However, we responded quickly to the downturn, taking actions that helped generate record free cash flow. We continued shifting our portfolio towards attractive markets, strengthening our balance sheet and improving our operating capabilities. Today we are better positioned to leverage an economic recovery.”

During 2009, the company took actions in response to the global economic recession while executing its portfolio management initiatives. The company:

• Realigned the organization to improve focus on target markets, right-sized the company through structural cost reductions and limited discretionary spending;
• Enhanced customer service capabilities and drove supply-chain efficiencies with further deployment of its “Project ONE” enterprise initiative to standardize and streamline systems and processes;
• Completed the sale of its Needle Roller Bearings business, for which Timken received approximately $330 million, including retained receivables;
• Generated $577 million of net cash provided by operating activities and record free cash flow of $419 million; and
• Strengthened its balance sheet and liquidity, completing three financings, including a  $500-million unsecured Senior Credit Facility; a $100-million accounts-receivable securitization facility; and a $250-million public offering of 6.00% unsecured Senior Notes, due 2014.

Fourth-Quarter Results

For the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2009, sales were $774.6 million, a decrease of 29 percent from the same period a year ago. The reduction reflects weaker demand across most of the company’s end markets and lower surcharges, while favorable pricing and currency partially offset the sales decline.

The company incurred a loss of $0.21 per share in the fourth quarter, which included a loss of $0.13 per share from discontinued operations. Special items recorded in the fourth quarter totaled $0.61 per share, including an after-tax asset impairment charge in the company’s Mobile Industries segment of $55.9 million, or $0.58 per share. 

Excluding special items, fourth-quarter 2009 income was $0.40 per diluted share, including $0.09 per diluted share from discontinued operations. Net of non-controlling interest, income from continuing operations, excluding special items, was $0.31 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with $0.15 for the same period last year. Benefits from pricing, cost reductions, lower material costs and LIFO income were partially offset by lower sales volume, manufacturing underutilization and reduced surcharges. 

Table 2:  Fourth-Quarter 2009 Net (Loss) Income and Diluted Earnings Per Share (a)

(a) Dollars in millions, except per-share data. “Adjusted” earnings per share exclude the impact of impairment and restructuring, manufacturing rationalization/reorganization and special charges and credits.

Total debt was $513 million as of Dec. 31, 2009, or 24.3 percent of capital. At year-end, the company’s cash position was $756 million, or $243 million in excess of total debt. This compares with net debt of $490 million as of Dec. 31, 2008. The improvement reflects strong free cash flow of $419 million driven primarily by working capital reductions as well as proceeds from the sale of the Needle Roller Bearings business.

The following business results for all periods reflect continuing operations, excluding special items:

Bearings and Power Transmission Group Results

Full-year sales in 2009 for the Bearings and Power Transmission Group were $2.5 billion, down 26 percent compared with the prior year. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for 2009 were $221.4 million, a decrease of 25 percent from 2008. 

Sales in the fourth quarter of 2009 were $613.2 million, down 18 percent from the fourth quarter of 2008. EBIT in the fourth quarter was $71.5 million, an increase of 50 percent from the prior-year period. 

Mobile Industries Segment Results

Mobile Industries sales were $1.25 billion in 2009, down 30 percent from $1.77 billion a year ago. The sales results reflect weaker demand among its market sectors and currency, partially offset by favorable pricing. 

EBIT for the year was $30.5 million, down 15 percent from $35.8 million in 2008, as benefits from pricing, cost-reduction initiatives and lower material costs were partially offset by lower demand. 

Fourth-quarter sales for the Mobile Industries segment in 2009 were $324.6 million, compared with $374.3 million in the same period last year. The 13-percent decrease reflected lower unit volume in most market sectors, partially offset by favorable pricing and currency. EBIT in the fourth quarter was $31.1 million, up from a loss of $7.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Cost-reduction initiatives, increased pricing, lower material costs and LIFO income more than offset the decline in demand. The company also resolved a pricing dispute and certain non-income tax matters during the quarter, which together added approximately $15 million to EBIT.

Process Industries Segment Results

Sales for the Process Industries segment were $808.7 million in 2009, down 31 percent from $1.17 billion a year ago. Lower demand across most industrial market sectors and currency more than offset favorable pricing. Sales declines were most prominent in the industrial distribution channel. 

EBIT for the year decreased to $118.5 million, down 46 percent from $218.7 million in 2008. Lower EBIT primarily resulted from volume and currency, partially offset by pricing and cost-reduction initiatives. 

Sales in the fourth quarter of 2009 were $189.6 million, a decline of 29 percent from $268.3 million in the same period a year ago. The decline in sales reflects a broad-based drop in industrial demand, especially in the power-transmission sector and across the industrial distribution channel. This was partially offset by favorable pricing and currency. EBIT in the fourth quarter was $23.9 million, down 37 percent from $37.7 million in the same period of 2008. The decline in volume was partially offset by cost-reduction initiatives, pricing, lower material costs, and LIFO income. 

Aerospace and Defense Segment Results

Sales for the Aerospace and Defense segment were $417.7 million in 2009, up one percent from $412.0 million a year ago. The increase was driven primarily by pricing and an acquisition, partially offset by reduced demand across commercial and general aviation markets. 
 

EBIT for the year increased to $72.4 million, up 75 percent from $41.5 million in 2008. The benefits from cost-reduction initiatives, LIFO income and pricing were partially offset by the impact of lower demand. 

Sales in the fourth quarter of 2009 were $98.9 million, versus $109.7 million in the prior-year period. The 10-percent decline reflects reduced demand in the commercial and general aviation markets. EBIT in the fourth quarter was $16.5 million, down 5 percent from the same period in the prior year, as benefits from cost-reduction initiatives, LIFO income and favorable pricing were offset by lower demand.

Steel Group Results

Sales for the Steel Group, including inter-group sales, were $714.9 million in 2009, a decrease of 61 percent from $1.85 billion last year, with 50 percent fewer shipped tons. The greatest market declines were from the industrial and energy sectors. Surcharges declined approximately $555 million from a year ago. 

The Steel Group incurred a loss of $57.9 million in 2009, compared with EBIT of $264.0 million in 2008. The decline resulted from lower demand and underutilization of manufacturing capacity. Benefits from cost-reduction actions, lower material costs and an approximate $70-million change in LIFO reserve were offset by lower surcharges. The change in LIFO reserve was due to lower year-end inventory quantities and material costs. 

Sales in the fourth quarter, including inter-segment sales, were $173.6 million, a decrease of 53 percent from $371.5 million for the same period a year ago, with approximately 40 percent fewer shipped tons. Weaker end-market demand in the industrial and energy sectors was partially offset by stronger demand in the light-vehicle sector compared with a year ago due to consumer stimulus programs in the U.S. and continued market strengthening in general. Surcharges declined approximately $80 million from the fourth quarter last year. EBIT in the fourth quarter was $2.6 million, up from a loss of $3.5 million in the same period a year ago. Lower material costs, a favorable change in LIFO of approximately $30 million and cost-reduction initiatives more than offset the impact of lower demand. 

Outlook

Overall, the company expects the global economy to grow modestly in 2010 following 2009’s retraction. Timken anticipates an increase in sales of approximately 5 to 10 percent over 2009, driven primarily by stronger shipments in the Steel Group, as customers rebuild inventory levels. The Mobile Industries segment is expected to be up slightly, as increased demand is largely offset by the company’s initiatives to exit low-margin business. Sales in the Process Industries segment are expected to be up slightly, as growth initiatives in energy and Asia more than offset declines in other areas. Aerospace segment sales are expected to decline slightly due to decreases in commercial and general aviation. 

The company expects 2010 earnings, excluding special items, to range from $0.85 to $1.15 per diluted share for the year, compared with $0.53 per diluted share from continuing operations in 2009. 

Conference Call Information

The company will host a conference call for investors and analysts today to discuss financial results. 
 

About The Timken Company

The Timken Company keeps the world turning, with innovative friction management and power transmission products and services, enabling our customers’ machinery to perform more efficiently and reliably. With sales of $3.1 billion in 2009, operations in 26 countries and approximately 17,000 employees, Timken is Where You Turn™ for better performance.

Certain statements in this news release (including statements regarding the company’s forecasts, estimates and expectations) that are not historical in nature are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, the statements related to expectations regarding the company’s future financial performance, including information under the heading “Outlook”, are forward-looking. The company cautions that actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied in forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, including: the finalization of the company’s financial statements for the fourth quarter and full year of 2009; the company’s ability to respond to the changes in its end markets that could affect demand for the company’s products; unanticipated changes in business relationships with customers or their purchases from the company; changes in the financial health of the company’s customers, which may have an impact on the company’s revenues, earnings and impairment charges; fluctuations in raw-material and energy costs and their impact on the operation of the company’s surcharge mechanisms; the impact of the company’s last-in first-out accounting; continued weakness in global economic conditions and financial markets; changes in the expected costs associated with product warranty claims; the impact on operations of general economic conditions, higher or lower raw-material and energy costs, fluctuations in customer demand, and the company’s ability to achieve the benefits of its ongoing programs and initiatives, including, without limitation, the initiative to reduce its employment levels and other costs, the implementation of its Mobile Industries Segment restructuring program and initiatives and the rationalization of the company’s Canton bearing operations. These and additional factors are described in greater detail in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2008, page 44 and in the company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2009. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

The Timken Company

Media Contact: Lorrie Paul Crum
Manager – Global Media and Strategic Communications
Mail Code: GNW-37
1835 Dueber Avenue, S.W.
Canton, OH 44706 U.S.A.
Office: (330) 471-3514 
Mobile:    (330) 224-5021
lorrie.crum@timken.com

Investor Contact: Steve Tschiegg
Director – Capital Markets and Investor Relations
Mail Code: GNE-26
1835 Dueber Avenue, S.W.
Canton, OH 44706 U.S.A.
Office:  (330) 471-7446

steve.tschiegg@timken.com