Graham Corporation Reports Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Results

Graham Corporation (NYSE: GHM), a global business that designs, manufactures and sells critical equipment for the oil refining, petrochemical and defense industries, today reported financial results for its first quarter ended June 30, 2020. Graham’s current fiscal year ends March 31, 2021 ("fiscal 2021”). Financial results for its fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 ("fiscal 2020”) include the commercial nuclear utility business, which was divested on June 24, 2019 (the "divested business”).

James R. Lines, Graham’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our first quarter was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic downturn it generated and the effect of the actions we implemented to provide for the safety of our employees and our community. Our team has been resilient and, although we began the quarter at just 10% of normal staffing capacity, we successfully increased gradually back to normal capacity by early June. We averaged about 50% of normal staffing capacity during the quarter because of our proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, our margins and bottom line were heavily impacted.”

Mr. Lines continued, "As we think about fiscal 2021, our expectation is that our second quarter will improve sequentially. Due to the timing of backlog conversion, we expect the back half of fiscal 2021 to be significantly better than the first half generating a larger contribution of total expected revenue. Approximately 60% of our backlog will convert to revenue this fiscal year, which reinforces our guidance. In addition, we are encouraged by the pipeline activity that we are addressing in both the defense industry and emerging markets, specifically India. Despite challenging energy and petrochemical markets, we believe that our opportunities in the defense industry will enable our backlog to grow in fiscal 2021 which will position us well for a stronger fiscal 2022.”

First Quarter Fiscal 2021 Sales Summary

(Compared with the prior-year period unless noted otherwise. See accompanying financial tables for a breakdown of sales by industry and region)

Net sales were $16.7 million compared with $20.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. Revenue declined due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The effect on sales from limited manufacturing capacity was somewhat offset by the completion of a project based in China that had been delayed from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 into the first quarter of fiscal 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in China. This project represented nearly 30% of sales in the quarter.

Sales to the defense markets were up $1.4 million to $3.5 million and represented 21% of total sales. Sales to the chemical/petrochemical market increased $0.9 million to $8.0 million. Sales to the refining market declined $4.8 million to $2.7 million and sales to other commercial markets were down $1.4 million to $2.5 million.

From a geographic perspective, domestic sales were 56% of total sales compared with 70% in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. International sales were 44% of total sales, compared with 30% in the prior-year period.

Fluctuations in Graham’s sales among geographic locations and industries can vary measurably from quarter-to-quarter based on the timing and magnitude of projects. Graham does not believe that such quarter-to-quarter fluctuations are indicative of business trends, which it believes are more apparent on a trailing twelve-month basis.

First Quarter Fiscal 2021 Performance Review*(Compared with the prior-year period unless noted otherwise)

*Graham believes that EBITDA (defined as consolidated net income before net interest income, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization), and EBITDA margin (EBITDA as a percentage of sales), which are non-GAAP measures, help in the understanding of its operating performance. Moreover, Graham’s credit facility also contains ratios based on EBITDA. See the attached table on page 8 for additional important disclosures regarding Graham’s use of EBITDA and EBITDA margin as well as the reconciliation of net income to EBITDA.

Gross margin was 9.4% due to low volume and the continuation of wages and benefits throughout the COVID-19-related capacity reductions.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A”) expenses, excluding amortization, were down $0.7 million, or 14%, to $3.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The prior-year’s quarter included $0.6 million for the divested business. SG&A, excluding amortization, as a percent of sales for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 were 23% and 22%, respectively.

Strong Balance Sheet with Ample Liquidity

Cash, cash equivalents and investments at June 30, 2020 were $67.2 million, compared with $73.0 million on March 31, 2020.

Net cash used by operating activities for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was $4.4 million, comparable with $4.8 million of cash used for the first quarter of fiscal 2020.

Capital spending was $0.3 million, similar to the prior-year period. The Company expects capital expenditures for fiscal 2021 to be between $2.0 million and $2.5 million, of which 80% to 85% is expected to be for machinery and equipment and the remainder to be used for other items.

Dividend payments were $1.1 million and $1.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, respectively.

As of June 30, 2020, Graham had no debt, $14.9 million of outstanding letters of credit and approximately $24.1 million of availability on its lines of credit.

Orders and Backlog

Orders for the quarter were $11.5 million, down $3.6 million compared with the prior year’s quarter. Orders in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 included $3.0 million related to the divested business.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted capital spending decisions by Graham’s customers, primarily in North America, during the quarter. As a result, chemical and petrochemical orders were down $5.5 million. However, refining orders increased $5.8 million, reflecting demand in China. Defense orders were down $1.2 million because of timing related to the release of projects. We believe that the pipeline of available opportunities in the defense industry is strong, although the timing of orders in this industry can be variable.

Domestic orders were 28% of total net orders in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and were 74% in the same prior-year period.

Backlog at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was $107.2 million, compared with $112.4 million at March 31, 2020. The decline reflects first quarter order levels and one project valued at $0.7 million that was cancelled in the quarter. At quarter end, two projects totaling $0.6 million were on hold.

Backlog by industry at March 31, 2020 was approximately:

• 51% for U.S. Navy projects
• 34% for refinery projects
• 12% for chemical/petrochemical projects
• 3% for other industrial applications

The Company expects 60% to 65% of backlog to convert to revenue in the remaining three quarters of fiscal 2021 and that 70% to 75% of its backlog will convert to sales within the next 12 months.

Fiscal 2021 Outlook

Graham is initiating guidance for fiscal 2021. This guidance is based on the assumption that Graham is able to operate its production facility at full capacity, have access to its global supply chain including its subcontractors and with minimal or no additional COVID-19 related disruptions or any other unforeseen events.

• Revenue between $90 million and $95 million
• Gross margin between 20% and 22%
• SG&A expense between $17 million and $18 million
• Effective tax rate of approximately 22%

Webcast and Conference Call

Graham’s management will host a conference call and live webcast today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review its financial condition and operating results for the first quarter of fiscal 2021, as well as its strategy and outlook. The review will be accompanied by a slide presentation which will be made available immediately prior to the conference call on Graham’s website at www.graham-mfg.com under the heading "Investor Relations.” A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation.

Graham’s conference call can be accessed by calling (201) 689-8560. Alternatively, the webcast can be monitored on Graham’s website at www.graham-mfg.com under the heading "Investor Relations.”

A telephonic replay will be available from 2:00 p.m. ET today through Thursday, August 6, 2020. To listen to the archived call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter conference ID number 13705872. A transcript of the call will be placed on Graham’s website, once available.

ABOUT GRAHAM CORPORATION

Graham is a global business that designs, manufactures and sells critical equipment for the energy, defense and chemical/petrochemical industries. Energy markets include oil refining, cogeneration, and alternative power. For the defense industry, the Company’s equipment is used in nuclear propulsion power systems for the U.S. Navy. Graham’s global brand is built upon world-renowned engineering expertise in vacuum and heat transfer technology, responsive and flexible service and unsurpassed quality.

Graham designs and manufactures custom-engineered ejectors, vacuum pumping systems, surface condensers and vacuum systems. Graham’s equipment can also be found in other diverse applications such as metal refining, pulp and paper processing, water heating, refrigeration, desalination, food processing, pharmaceutical, heating, ventilating and air conditioning. Graham’s reach spans the globe and its equipment is installed in facilities from North and South America to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Graham routinely posts news and other important information on its website, www.graham-mfg.com, where additional comprehensive information on Graham Corporation and its subsidiaries can be found.

Safe Harbor Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are identified by words such as "expects,” "estimates,” "confidence,” "projects,” "typically,” "outlook,” "anticipates,” "believes,” "appears,” "could,” "opportunities,” "seeking,” "plans,” "aim,” "pursuit,” "look towards” and other similar words. All statements addressing operating performance, events, or developments that Graham Corporation expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including but not limited to, effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic, expected expansion and growth opportunities within its domestic and international markets, anticipated revenue, the timing of conversion of backlog to sales, market presence, profit margins, tax rates, foreign sales operations, its ability to improve cost competitiveness and productivity, customer preferences, changes in market conditions in the industries in which it operates, the effect on its business of volatility in commodities prices, including, but not limited to, the extreme price volatility seen in the first six months of calendar year 2020, changes in general economic conditions and customer behavior, forecasts regarding the timing and scope of the economic recovery in its markets, its acquisition and growth strategy and its operations in China, India and other international locations, are forward-looking statements. Because they are forward-looking, they should be evaluated in light of important risk factors and uncertainties. These risk factors and uncertainties are more fully described in Graham Corporation’s most recent Annual Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, included under the heading entitled "Risk Factors.”

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of Graham Corporation’s underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those currently anticipated. In addition, undue reliance should not be placed on Graham Corporation’s forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Graham Corporation disclaims any obligation to update or publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure:

EBITDA is defined as consolidated net income before net interest income, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization and EBITDA margin is defined as EBITDA as a percentage of sales. EBITDA and EBITDA margin are not measures determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, commonly known as GAAP. Nevertheless, Graham believes that providing non-GAAP information, such as EBITDA, is important for investors and other readers of Graham's financial statements, as it is used as an analytical indicator by Graham's management to better understand operating performance. Moreover, Graham’s credit facility also contains ratios based on EBITDA. Because EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and is thus susceptible to varying calculations, EBITDA, as presented, may not be directly comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies.

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