• First quarter gross margin expanded 80 basis points to 32.3%
• Operating income increased 6% to $12.1 million with a margin of 8.2%, which was up 40 basis points
• Net income per diluted share increased 8% to $0.42; Adjusted net income per share was $0.58, up 5%
• Generated $9.2 million of cash from operations, more than double last year’s first quarter

BUFFALO, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2024-- Allient Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNT) (“Allient” or the “Company”), a global designer and manufacturer of precision and specialty Motion, Controls and Power products and solutions for targeted industries and applications, today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2024. Results include the acquisitions of Sierramotion Inc. in September 2023 and SNC Manufacturing in January 2024.

Dick Warzala, Chairman and CEO, commented, “Our first quarter performance is a testament to the resilience of our diversified business portfolio across various regions. Moreover, our commitment to operational excellence and cost management has bolstered our margins and fueled bottom-line growth along with strong cash flow generation. Given improved lead times, customer order patterns are normalizing to a pre-pandemic environment and excess supply is being taken out of the channel, which has had an impact on order rates. Currently, demand from our end markets is mixed, reflecting the various states of supply normalization within each market, with some pockets of weakness in Europe.”

Mr. Warzala added, “With the introduction of our new strategic mantra, Simplify to Accelerate NOW, we are embarking on a journey to streamline our organizational structure and excising redundancy to optimize all of our operations. By consolidating our brands under the banners of Motion, Controls, and Power, we will ensure a unified approach, enhance clarity in the market, and more effectively serve our diverse global customers.

“In pursuit of sustained earnings growth and additional cash generation, our teams have identified key strategic actions for 2024. These encompass footprint rationalization, simplification of customer interactions and order processing, reduction of product development timelines, and the continued integration of AST, our lean toolkit, throughout Allient. The initiatives are being phased in with initial benefits to be realized in 2024 and continuing for the next 2+ years, supporting our margin expansion in line with our previously stated goal of 100 total basis point annual improvement via gross margin expansion and operating expense reduction. Guided by our mantra and fueled by strategic foresight, we are poised to seize new opportunities, drive operational excellence, and deliver value to our stakeholders."

First Quarter 2024 Results (Narrative compares with prior-year period unless otherwise noted)

Revenue increased 1%, or $1.2 million, to $146.7 million. The impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations was favorable by $0.2 million. Sales to U.S. customers were 58% of total sales compared with 56% in the first quarter last year, with the balance of sales to customers primarily in Europe, Canada and Asia-Pacific. See the attached table for a description of non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliation of revenue excluding foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

Sales in the Vehicle markets increased 12% due to higher demand within commercial automotive, partially offset by lower demand within agricultural vehicles, which primarily reflected softness in Europe, largely influenced by the Ukrainian conflict. Industrial markets sales were up 10% in the quarter, benefiting from recent acquisitions and higher end market demand within industrial automation, electronics and power quality solutions focused on the HVAC markets. Aerospace & Defense sales decreased 22%, largely due to program timing within the space industry. Medical market revenue was down 19% given softer medical mobility demand. Sales through the Distribution channel, which are a small component of total sales, were up 3%.

Gross margin was 32.3%, up 80 basis points from the prior-year period as higher volume, favorable mix and pricing more than offset elevated raw material costs.

Operating costs and expenses were 24.0% of revenue, up 30 basis points, largely due to higher engineering and business development expenses as a result of the recent acquisitions, partially offset by lower general and administrative costs. Operating income increased 6% to $12.1 million, or 8.2% of revenue, compared with $11.4 million, or 7.8% of revenue.

The effective income tax rate was 21.8% and 23.2% for the first quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The lower effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2024 was primarily due to the realization of certain deferred income tax assets that had been reserved in prior years, as well as the impact of the mix of foreign and domestic income. The Company expects its income tax rate for the full year 2024 to be approximately 21% to 23%.

Net income increased 9% to $6.9 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, from $6.3 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. Adjusted net income, which excludes amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions, business development costs and other non-recurring items, increased 7% to $9.5 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, compared with adjusted net income of $8.9 million, or $0.55 per diluted share. See the attached tables for a description of non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliation table for Adjusted Net Income and Diluted Earnings per Share.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation expense, business development costs, and foreign currency gains/losses (“Adjusted EBITDA”) was $20.0 million, up $1.0 million or 5%. As a percentage of revenue, Adjusted EBITDA was 13.7%, up 60 basis points. The Company believes that, when used in conjunction with measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure, helps in the understanding of its operating performance. See the attached table for a description of non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliation table for Adjusted EBITDA.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Review

Cash and cash equivalents were $31.5 million compared with $31.9 million at year-end 2023. Cash provided by operating activities increased to $9.2 million compared with $3.6 million in the prior year’s first quarter, which reflected higher net income and improved working capital.

Capital expenditures were $3.0 million for the quarter and largely focused on new customer projects. The Company expects 2024 capital expenditures to be in the range of $13 million to $17 million. The increase in cash used in investing activities in the first quarter of 2024 relates to $20 million in cash paid for the acquisition of SNC. Also included in investing activities for the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, was a deferred payment of $6.25 million for a prior acquisition.

On March 1, 2024, the Company extended the maturity of its existing $280 million revolving credit facility for five years to March 2029. Borrowings for the revolving facility will bear interest on a sliding-scale rate based on leverage of 1.25% to 2.50% over SOFR. In addition, the Company entered into a $150 million fixed-rate private shelf facility under which $50.0 million of borrowings occurred on March 21, 2024. The fix-rate debt will bear interest at 5.96% and will mature on March 21, 2031.

Total debt of $240.2 million was up $21.8 million from year-end 2023, largely reflecting the SNC acquisition. Debt, net of cash, was $208.7 million, or 43.9% of net debt to capitalization. The Company’s leverage ratio, as defined in its credit agreement, was 2.89x at quarter-end.

Orders and Backlog Summary ($ in thousands)

First quarter orders increased 16% sequentially, due to recent acquisitions along with higher bookings for industrial automation and power quality projects, and the ramp of new commercial automotive programs. Foreign currency translation had a favorable $0.3 million impact on first quarter orders compared with the prior-year period.

The sequential decline in backlog reflects the continued improvements within the supply chain, which has enabled the reduction of long-lead times for industrial market projects. The time to convert the majority of the backlog to sales is approximately three to nine months.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 10:00 am ET. During the conference call, management will review the financial and operating results and discuss Allient’s corporate strategy and outlook. A question and answer session will follow.

To listen to the live call, dial (201) 389-0920. In addition, the webcast and slide presentation may be found at: www.allient.com/investors.

A telephonic replay will be available from 2:00 pm ET on the day of the call through Thursday, May 16, 2024. To listen to the archived call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter replay pin number 13745675 or access the webcast replay via the Company’s website. A transcript will also be posted to the website once available.

About Allient Inc.

Allient (Nasdaq: ALNT) is a global engineering and manufacturing enterprise that develops solutions to drive the future of market-moving industries, including medical, life sciences, aerospace and defense, industrial automation, robotics, semi-conductor, transportation, agriculture, construction and facility infrastructure. A family of globally responsible companies, Allient takes a One-Team approach to “Connect What Matters” and provides the most robust, reliable, and high-value products and systems by utilizing its core Motion, Controls, and Power technologies and platforms.

Headquartered in Buffalo, N.Y., Allient employs more than 2,600 team members around the world. To learn more, visit www.allient.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The statements in this news release that relate to future plans, events or performance are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance, or achievements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements the Company makes regarding expected operating results, anticipated levels of capital expenditures, the Company’s belief that it has sufficient liquidity to fund its business operations, and expectations with respect to the conversion of backlog to sales. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on the Company’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the Company’s business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company’s control. The Company’s actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, general economic and business conditions, conditions affecting the industries served by the Company and its subsidiaries, conditions affecting the Company's customers and suppliers, competitor responses to the Company's products and services, the overall market acceptance of such products and services, the pace of bookings relative to shipments, the ability to expand into new markets and geographic regions, the success in acquiring new business, the impact of changes in income tax rates or policies, commercial activity and demand across our and our customers’ businesses, global supply chains, the prices of our securities and the achievement of our strategic objectives, the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, the ability to successfully integrate an acquired business into our business model without substantial costs, delays, or problems, and other factors disclosed in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible for us to predict the occurrence of those matters or the manner in which they may affect us. The Company has no obligation or intent to release publicly any revisions to any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

ALLIENT INC.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

In addition to reporting revenue and net income, which are U.S. generally accepted accounting principle (“GAAP”) measures, the Company presents Revenue excluding foreign currency exchange rate impacts, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, business development costs, and foreign currency gains/losses), which are non-GAAP measures.

The Company believes that Revenue excluding foreign currency exchange rate impacts is a useful measure in analyzing organic sales results. The Company excludes the effect of currency translation from revenue for this measure because currency translation is not fully under management’s control, is subject to volatility and can obscure underlying business trends. The portion of revenue attributable to currency translation is calculated as the difference between the current period revenue and the current period revenue after applying foreign exchange rates from the prior period. Organic revenue is reported revenues adjusted for the impact of foreign currency and the revenue contribution from acquisitions.

The Company believes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are often a useful measure of a Company’s operating performance and are a significant basis used by the Company’s management to evaluate and compare the core operating performance of its business from period to period by removing the impact of the capital structure (interest), tangible and intangible asset base (depreciation and amortization), taxes, stock-based compensation expense, business development costs, foreign currency gains/losses on short-term assets and liabilities, and other items that are not indicative of the Company’s core operating performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, net cash provided by operating activities or any other measure for determining operating performance or liquidity that is calculated in accordance with GAAP.

The Company’s calculation of Revenue excluding foreign currency exchange impacts for the three months ended March 31, 2024 is as follows:

The Company’s calculation of organic revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024 is as follows:

The Company’s calculation of Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:

ALLIENT INC.
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income and Diluted Earnings per Share to
Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

The Company’s calculation of Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:

____________________________

Adjusted net income and diluted EPS are defined as net income as reported, adjusted for certain items, including amortization of intangible assets and unusual non-recurring items. Adjusted net income and diluted EPS are not a measure determined in accordance with GAAP in the United States, and may not be comparable to the measure as used by other companies. Nevertheless, the Company believes that providing non-GAAP information, such as adjusted net income and diluted EPS are important for investors and other readers of the Company’s financial statements and assists in understanding the comparison of the current quarter’s and current year’s net income and diluted EPS to the historical periods’ net income and diluted EPS.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240508112647/en/

Investor Contacts:
Deborah K. Pawlowski / Craig P. Mychajluk
Kei Advisors LLC
716-843-3908 / 716-843-3832
dpawlowski@keiadvisors.com / cmychajluk@keiadvisors.com

Source: Allient Inc.