Gibraltar’s Net Sales Increase 21% in Fourth Quarter

Top-Line Growth Reflects Strong Sales of Industrial and Infrastructure Products

Focus on Operational Excellence Drives Strong Full Year EPS Improvement

BUFFALO, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gibraltar Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROCK), a leading manufacturer and distributor of products for building and industrial markets, today reported its financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2011.

Management Comments

“Gibraltar continued to deliver solid results in the fourth quarter of 2011, concluding a year of strong performance despite minimal growth in our traditional core markets,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian Lipke. “Net sales grew 21% for the quarter, including 7% organic growth and 14% growth from recent acquisitions, and 20% for the full year. Adjusted gross margins were up by 180 basis points and 250 basis points for the quarter and the full year, respectively. Excluding special items, adjusted EPS from continuing operations improved modestly for the quarter and significantly for 2011 as a whole.”

“This was another solid operational quarter for Gibraltar, as we continued growing our top line, lowering our breakeven point and enhancing the performance of our business,” said Henning Kornbrekke, President and Chief Operating Officer. “Gibraltar’s growing presence in the industrial and infrastructure markets has enabled us to offset weak demand for housing by selling our products into two of the strongest segments of the economy. Equally important, in our traditional core markets – residential and nonresidential construction and remodeling – we have established Gibraltar as the leader in the majority of our product categories, while increasing our overall market share by launching new products, expanding our geographic coverage and improving our penetration of existing nationwide customer accounts.”

“At the same time, we continued to make consistent progress toward our goal of positioning Gibraltar as the low-cost global supplier in its markets coupled with outstanding customer service,” Kornbrekke said. “Focusing on operational excellence across the Company, we further lowered our cost structure with ongoing lean initiatives, maintained low levels of working capital, and continued to improve our management of commodity costs. In addition, the D.S. Brown and Pacific Award Metals businesses acquired in 2011 made the contributions we expected to Gibraltar’s fourth-quarter growth, operating characteristics, product mix and profitability, and we continued to expand our pipeline of potential future acquisitions.”

Financial Results

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2011 increased 21% to $174.1 million from $144.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, including $20 million in revenues from two second-quarter 2011 acquisitions. Gibraltar’s fourth-quarter 2011 adjusted loss from continuing operations declined to $5.1 million, or $0.17 per share, from a loss of $6.6 million, or $0.22 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2010. Fourth-quarter 2011 adjusted results excluded after-tax special charges of $1.8 million, or $0.05 per share, resulting from acquisition-related costs and exit activity costs related to business restructuring. The adjusted loss from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2010 excluded after-tax special charges totaling $69.8 million, or $2.30 per share, primarily consisting of $62.7 million for intangible asset impairments. Adjusting for these items, the GAAP loss from continuing operations was $6.9 million, or $0.22 per share, in the fourth quarter 2011, compared with a loss of $76.3 million, or $2.52 per share, for the fourth quarter last year.

Adjusted gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2011 increased to 16.6% from 14.8% in the fourth quarter of 2010. The increase was primarily due to favorable purchase price variance, improved efficiencies and the impact of recent acquisitions. Adjusted selling, general and administrative expense increased 25% to $33.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2011 from $26.6 million a year earlier, primarily reflecting additional costs incurred by recent acquisitions and an increase in equity compensation tied to Gibraltar’s stock price improvement.

For the year ended December 31, total net sales for 2011 increased to $766.6 million from $637.5 million a year earlier, a 20% increase which included 9% organic growth. Gibraltar’s full-year 2011 adjusted income from continuing operations was $15.3 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, compared with an adjusted loss from continuing operations of $4.0 million, or $0.13 per share, in 2010. The adjusted results for 2011 excluded after-tax special charges of $6.1 million, or $0.20 per share, for acquisition-related costs, exit activity costs related to business restructuring, and equity compensation declined by Mr. Lipke. The adjusted loss from continuing operations for full-year 2010 excluded after-tax special charges of $71.3 million, or $2.36 per share, largely consisting of $62.6 million for intangible asset impairment. Adjusting for these items, Gibraltar’s GAAP income from continuing operations for 2011 was $9.2 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, compared with a loss of $75.4 million, or $2.49 per diluted share, in 2010.

Adjusted gross margin for the full year 2011 increased to 19.8% from 17.3% in 2010. The increase was primarily due to favorable purchase price variance, improved efficiencies and the impact of recent acquisitions. Adjusted selling, general and administrative expense increased 8% to $106.5 million in 2011 from $98.8 million a year earlier, reflecting additional costs incurred by two businesses acquired in 2011. Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses as a percent of net sales fell to 13.9% in 2011 from 15.5% in 2010.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

• Gibraltar’s liquidity increased again to $170 million as of December 31, 2011, including cash on hand of $54 million and availability under the Company’s revolving credit facility.
• Working capital management continued to be effective, as days of net working capital for 2011, which consists of accounts receivable, inventory and accounts payable, were 63, compared with 60 days for 2010, the modest rise reflecting a longer cash conversion cycle for the two businesses acquired in 2011.
• During the fourth quarter of 2011, Gibraltar amended its Senior Credit Agreement to extend the due date of the $200 million revolving credit facility for five years, reduce the Company’s cost of borrowing, and provide additional financial flexibility. There have been no outstanding borrowings under this facility since September-end 2011.

Outlook

“Over the past three years we have been able to significantly improve Gibraltar’s top- and bottom-line performance during a period of unprecedented weakness in housing and nonresidential construction,” said Lipke. “Taking control of our own destiny, we have expanded our presence in attractive adjacent markets organically and through acquisitions, while gaining share in our traditional core markets, significantly lowering our cost structure, and strengthening our balance sheet. As a result, we believe that Gibraltar is well-positioned to improve margins by leveraging expected incremental sales in 2012 – particularly from our core businesses serving the industrial and infrastructure markets which now represent more than 50% of our business. We also expect to report year-over-year improvement in Gibraltar’s financial results for 2012.”

Fourth-Quarter Conference Call Details

Gibraltar has scheduled a conference call to review its results for the fourth quarter of 2011 tomorrow, February 24, 2012, starting at 9:00 a.m. ET. Interested parties may access the call by dialing [phone] or [phone]. The presentation slides that will be discussed in the conference call are expected to be available this evening, February 23, 2012. The slides may be downloaded from the Gibraltar website: http://www.gibraltar1.com. A web cast replay of the conference call and a copy of the transcript will be available on the website following the call.

About Gibraltar

Gibraltar Industries is a leading manufacturer and distributor of building products, focused on residential and nonresidential repair and remodeling, as well as construction of industrial facilities and public infrastructure. The Company generates more than 80% of its sales from products that hold the #1 or #2 positions in their markets, and serves customers across the U.S. and throughout the world from 41 facilities in 20 states, 3 provinces in Canada, England and Germany. Gibraltar’s strategy is to grow organically by expanding its product portfolio and penetration of existing customer accounts, while broadening its market and geographic coverage through the acquisition of companies with leadership positions in adjacent product categories. Comprehensive information about Gibraltar can be found on its website at http://www.gibraltar1.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Information contained in this news release, other than historical information, contains forward-looking statements and is subject to a number of risk factors, uncertainties, and assumptions. Risk factors that could affect these statements include, but are not limited to, the following: the availability of raw materials and the effects of changing raw material prices on the Company’s results of operations; energy prices and usage; changing demand for the Company’s products and services; changes in the liquidity of the capital and credit markets; risks associated with the integration of acquisitions; and changes in interest and tax rates. In addition, such forward-looking statements could also be affected by general industry and market conditions, as well as general economic and political conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law or regulation.

Non-GAAP Financial Data

To supplement Gibraltar’s consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, Gibraltar also presented certain adjusted financial data in this news release. Adjusted financial data excluded special charges consisting of intangible asset impairment, restructuring primarily associated with the closing and consolidation of our facilities, acquisition-related costs, surrendered equity compensation, deferred tax valuation allowances, and interest expense recognized as a result of our interest rate swap becoming ineffective. These adjustments are shown in the Non-GAAP reconciliation of adjusted operating results excluding special charges provided in the financial statements that accompany this news release. We believe that the presentation of results excluding special charges provides meaningful supplemental data to investors, as well as management, that are indicative of the Company’s core operating results and facilitates comparison of operating results across reporting periods as well as comparison with other companies. Special charges are excluded since they may not be considered directly related to our ongoing business operations. These adjusted measures should not be viewed as a substitute for our GAAP results, and may be different than adjusted measures used by other companies.

Next Earnings Announcement

Gibraltar expects to release its financial results for the three months ending March 31, 2012, on May 2, 2012, and hold its earnings conference call on May 3, 2012, starting at 9:00 a.m. ET.

GIBRALTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share data)
	Three Months Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Net sales	$	174,141		$	144,115		$	766,607		$	637,454
Cost of sales		147,462			128,183			621,492			533,586
Gross profit		26,679			15,932			145,115			103,868
Selling, general, and administrative expense		33,494			27,291			108,957			99,546
Intangible asset impairment		–			77,141			–			76,964
(Loss) income from operations		(6,815	)		(88,500	)		36,158			(72,642	)
Interest expense		5,042			4,363			19,363			19,714
Other (income) expense		(44	)		84			(90	)		(77	)
(Loss) income before taxes		(11,813	)		(92,947	)		16,885			(92,279	)
(Benefit of) provision for income taxes		(4,959	)		(16,609	)		7,669			(16,923	)
(Loss) income from continuing operations		(6,854	)		(76,338	)		9,216			(75,356	)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) before taxes		219			824			13,840			(27,125	)
(Benefit of) provision for income taxes		(30	)		(999	)		6,533			(11,413	)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		249			1,823			7,307			(15,712	)
Net (loss) income	$	(6,605	)	$	(74,515	)	$	16,523		$	(91,068	)
Net (loss) income per share – Basic:
(Loss) income from continuing operations	$	(0.22	)	$	(2.52	)	$	0.30		$	(2.49	)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		0.00			0.06			0.24			(0.52	)
Net (loss) income	$	(0.22	)	$	(2.46	)	$	0.54		$	(3.01	)
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic		30,606			30,327			30,507			30,303
Net (loss) income per share – Diluted:
(Loss) income from continuing operations	$	(0.22	)	$	(2.52	)	$	0.30		$	(2.49	)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		0.00			0.06			0.24			(0.52	)
Net (loss) income	$	(0.22	)	$	(2.46	)	$	0.54		$	(3.01	)
Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted		30,606			30,327			30,650			30,303

GIBRALTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands)
	December 31, 2011			December 31, 2010
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	54,117		$	60,866
Accounts receivable, net of reserve		90,595			70,371
Inventories		109,270			77,848
Other current assets		14,872			20,229
Assets of discontinued operations		–			13,063
Total current assets		268,854			242,377
Property, plant, and equipment, net		151,974			145,783
Goodwill		348,326			298,346
Acquired intangibles		95,265			66,301
Other assets		7,636			16,766
Equity method investment		–			1,345
Assets of discontinued operations		–			39,972
	$	872,055		$	810,890
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	67,320		$	56,775
Accrued expenses		60,687			36,785
Current maturities of long-term debt		417			408
Liabilities of discontinued operations		–			6,150
Total current liabilities		128,424			100,118
Long-term debt		206,746			206,789
Deferred income taxes		55,801			37,119
Other non-current liabilities		21,148			23,221
Liabilities of discontinued operations		–			2,790
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 10,000 shares; none outstanding		–			–
Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 50,000 shares; 30,702 and 30,516 shares issued in 2011 and 2010		307			305
Additional paid-in capital		236,673			231,999
Retained earnings		229,437			212,914
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(3,350	)		(2,060	)
Cost of 281 and 219 common shares held in treasury in 2011 and 2010		(3,131	)		(2,305	)
Total shareholders’ equity		459,936			440,853
	$	872,055		$	810,890

GIBRALTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2011			2010
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	$	16,523		$	(91,068	)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		7,307			(15,712	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		9,216			(75,356	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		26,181			23,964
Provision for deferred income taxes		5,028			(10,629	)
Stock compensation expense		4,642			4,315
Non-cash charges to interest expense		2,328			4,324
Intangible asset impairment		–			76,964
Other non-cash adjustments		3,321			7,252
Increase (decrease) in cash resulting from changes in the following (excluding the effects of acquisitions):
Accounts receivable		(7,612	)		(4,186	)
Inventories		(10,101	)		152
Other current assets and other assets		10,172			1,626
Accounts payable		2,076			12,506
Accrued expenses and other non-current liabilities		4,577			6,259
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations		49,828			47,191
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations		(3,133	)		22,178
Net cash provided by operating activities		46,695			69,369
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(109,248	)		–
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment		(11,552	)		(8,362	)
Purchase of equity method investment		(250	)		(1,250	)
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment		1,226			221
Net proceeds from sale of businesses		67,529			29,164
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities of continuing operations		(52,295	)		19,773
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of discontinued operations		2,089			(384	)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(50,206	)		19,389
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Long-term debt payments		(74,262	)		(58,967	)
Proceeds from long-term debt		73,849			8,559
Payment of deferred financing fees		(1,570	)		(164	)
Purchase of treasury stock at market prices		(826	)		(1,114	)
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation		–			54
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock		34			270
Net cash used in financing activities		(2,775	)		(51,362	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(463	)		(126	)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(6,749	)		37,270
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		60,866			23,596
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	54,117		$	60,866

GIBRALTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Adjusted Statement of Operations (unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data)
		Three Months Ended December 31, 2011
		As Reported In GAAP Statements			Intangible Asset Impairment			Restructuring Costs			Acquisition Related Costs			Adjusted Statement of Operations
Net sales	$	174,141		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	174,141
Cost of sales		147,462			—			(2,219	)		—			145,243
Gross profit		26,679			—			2,219			—			28,898
Selling, general, and administrative expense		33,494			—			(105	)		(216	)		33,173
Loss from operations		(6,815	)		—			2,324			216			(4,275	)
Operating margin		(3.9	)%		0.0	%		1.3	%		0.1	%		(2.5	)%
Interest expense		5,042			—			—			—			5,042
Other income		(44	)		—			—			—			(44	)
Loss before income taxes		(11,813	)		—			2,324			216			(9,273	)
Benefit of income taxes		(4,959	)		—			757			—			(4,202	)
Loss from continuing operations	$	(6,854	)	$	—		$	1,567		$	216		$	(5,071	)
Loss from continuing operations per share – diluted	$	(0.22	)	$	0.00		$	0.05		$	0.00		$	(0.17	)

GIBRALTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Adjusted Statement of Operations (unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data)
		Three Months Ended December 31, 2010
		As Reported In GAAP Statements			Intangible Asset Impairment			Restructuring Costs			Deferred Tax Valuation Allowance			Adjusted Statement of Operations
Net sales	$	144,115		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	144,115
Cost of sales		128,183			—			(5,459	)		—			122,724
Gross profit		15,932			—			5,459			—			21,391
Selling, general, and administrative expense		27,291			—			(647	)		—			26,644
Intangible asset impairment		77,141			(77,141	)		—			—			—
Loss from operations		(88,500	)		77,141			6,106			—			(5,253	)
Operating margin		(61.4	)%		53.5	%		4.3	%		0.0	%		(3.6	)%
Interest expense		4,363			—			—			—			4,363
Other expense		84			—			—			—			84
Loss before income taxes		(92,947	)		77,141			6,106			—			(9,700	)
Benefit of income taxes		(16,609	)		14,485			1,374			(2,400	)		(3,150	)
Loss from continuing operations	$	(76,338	)	$	62,656		$	4,732		$	2,400		$	(6,550	)
Loss from continuing operations per share – diluted	$	(2.52	)	$	2.07		$	0.15		$	0.08		$	(0.22	)

GIBRALTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Adjusted Statement of Operations (unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data)
		Year Ended December 31, 2011
		As Reported In GAAP Statements			Acquisition Related Costs			Surrendered Compensation			Restructuring Costs			Adjusted Statement of Operations
Net sales	$	766,607		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	766,607
Cost of sales		621,492			(2,467	)		—			(3,916	)		615,109
Gross profit		145,115			2,467			—			3,916			151,498
Selling, general, and administrative expense		108,957			(986	)		(885	)		(581	)		106,505
Income from operations		36,158			3,453			885			4,497			44,993
Operating margin		4.7	%		0.5	%		0.1	%		0.6	%		5.9	%
Interest expense		19,363			—			—			—			19,363
Other income		(90	)		—			—			—			(90	)
Income before income taxes		16,885			3,453			885			4,497			25,720
Provision for income taxes		7,669			1,054			—			1,683			10,406
Income from continuing operations	$	9,216		$	2,399		$	885		$	2,814		$	15,314
Income from continuing operations per share – diluted	$	0.30		$	0.08		$	0.03		$	0.09		$	0.50

GIBRALTAR INDUSTRIES, INC. Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Adjusted Statement of Operations (unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data)
		Year Ended December 31, 2010
		As Reported In GAAP Statements			Intangible Asset Impairment			Restructuring Costs			Ineffective Interest Rate Swap			Deferred Tax Valuation Allowance			Adjusted Statement of Operations
Net sales	$	637,454		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	637,454
Cost of sales		533,586			—			(6,361	)		—			—			527,225
Gross profit		103,868			—			6,361			—			—			110,229
Selling, general, and administrative expense		99,546			—			(724	)								98,822
Intangible asset impairment		76,964			(76,964	)		—			—			—			—
(Loss) income from operations		(72,642	)		76,964			7,085			—			—			11,407
Operating margin		(11.4	)%		12.1	%		1.1	%		0.0	%		0.0	%		1.8	%
Interest expense		19,714			—			—			(1,424	)		—			18,290
Other income		(77	)		—			—			—			—			(77	)
Loss before income taxes		(92,279	)		76,964			7,085			1,424			—			(6,806	)
Benefit of income taxes		(16,923	)		14,412			1,634			520			(2,400	)		(2,757	)
Loss from continuing operations	$	(75,356	)	$	62,552		$	5,451		$	904		$	2,400		$	(4,049	)
Loss from continuing operations per share - diluted	$	(2.49	)	$	2.06		$	0.18		$	0.03		$	0.09		$	(0.13	)