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Signature Sponsor
May 8, 2020 - NACCO Industries, Inc.® (NYSE: NC) has announced consolidated net income of $6.2 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 compared with consolidated net income of $15.0 million, or $2.15 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The decrease in consolidated net income was primarily due to lower earnings in the Minerals Management and Coal Mining segments, modestly offset by improved earnings in the North American Mining segment and a favorable change in taxes.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a modest effect on NACCO's results of operations and financial condition for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company has continued to operate as an essential business because it supports critical infrastructure industries. The Company has implemented procedures to limit the exposure of employees to the spread of COVID-19, including adjusting shift schedules to promote social distancing, enhanced cleaning and sanitation of equipment, work spaces and common areas, promotion of recommended hygiene practices, limiting workplace access and instituting remote working where possible. While current operations have not been materially affected, the extent to which COVID-19 impacts the Company going forward will depend on numerous factors and future developments that are uncertain.
Maintaining a strong balance sheet and liquidity continues to be a priority. The Company ended the first quarter of 2020 with consolidated cash on hand of $93.7 million and debt of $34.6 million. In addition, at March 31, 2020, the Company had availability of $128.6 million under its $150.0 million revolving credit facility. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company suspended its share repurchase activity in March. Prior to suspending share repurchase activity, the Company had repurchased approximately 32,000 shares at an aggregate purchase price of $1.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020.
As of January 1, 2020, the Company retrospectively changed its computation of segment operating profit to reclassify certain expenses, primarily related to executive and board compensation. These expenses are now included in unallocated items. All prior period segment information has been reclassified to conform to the new presentation. This segment reporting change has no impact on consolidated operating results. Historical financial information presented on this reclassified basis for the four quarters and full-year 2019 is provided on pages 10 to 12.
Coal Mining revenues increased significantly in the first quarter of 2020 over 2019 due to an increase in tons delivered and an increase in pass-through costs at Mississippi Lignite Mining Company.
Despite the increase in revenues, Coal Mining operating profit decreased substantially in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the first quarter of 2019. This change was due to a decrease in results at Mississippi Lignite Mining Company, lower earnings of unconsolidated operations and an increase in operating expenses. The decrease in Mississippi Lignite Mining Company's results was primarily attributable to an increase in the cost per ton delivered, including the recognition of a portion of costs capitalized into inventory. Exceptionally heavy rainfall through most of the first quarter created adverse mining conditions, which limited the ability to sever coal. A reduction in tons severed caused an increase in the cost per ton, and a decrease in inventory since more tons were sold than produced during the first quarter of 2020. The decrease in earnings of unconsolidated operations was mainly due to fewer coal tons delivered as a result of changes in customer demand. Operating expenses increased primarily as a result of higher outside services and professional fees.
Coal Mining Outlook - 2020
In 2020, the Company expects coal deliveries and Coal Mining operating profit to be comparable to 2019. In the prior year, the Company recorded a $2.5 million unfavorable adjustment to mine reclamation liabilities at Centennial Natural Resources. Excluding the impact of this item, 2020 operating profit is expected to decrease from 2019 as a result of lower first quarter results and an expected increase in operating expenses mainly due to higher professional fees and increased spending on enhanced information systems and platforms. The decrease in operating profit is expected to be partially offset by an anticipated improvement in Mississippi Lignite Mining Company results.
The improvement in Mississippi Lignite Mining Company results is expected to be driven by higher customer demand due to an anticipated increase in the dispatch of the customer's power plant in 2020. If customer demand at Mississippi Lignite Mining Company decreases from expected levels, it could unfavorably affect the Company's 2020 earnings outlook. Mississippi Lignite Mining Company received a notice of force majeure from its customer indicating potential COVID-19-related reductions in demand for electricity by its customer, TVA, and therefore potential reductions in demand for coal; however, no reduction in demand has occurred as of this time.
The evolving COVID-19 pandemic, historically low natural gas prices and the continued increase in renewable generation, particularly wind, could reduce customer demand which would unfavorably affect the Company's 2020 outlook.
Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $24 million in 2020. The Company expects high levels of capital expenditures in 2020 and 2021 primarily related to anticipated spending at Mississippi Lignite Mining Company as it develops a new mine area. These capital expenditures will result in an increase in depreciation that will unfavorably affect operating profit in future periods.
On May 7, 2020, Great River Energy ("GRE"), Falkirk Mine's customer, and the second largest customer of the Company, issued a press release announcing its intent to retire the Coal Creek Station power plant in the second half of 2022 and modify the Spiritwood Station power plant to be fueled by natural gas.
As noted in its press release, GRE is willing to consider opportunities to sell Coal Creek Station. NACCO is actively engaged in the exploration of options that could, if successful, allow for transfer of ownership of the power plant to one or more third parties, which would preserve jobs at both Coal Creek Station and the Falkirk Mine. The Company believes Coal Creek Station is an efficient, economic and attractive generation and capacity asset, and its continued long-term operation is in the best interests of the employees and the local community. Further, the Company believes Coal Creek Station, as a continuous generation asset with reliable onsite fuel supply, is critical to the long-term reliability of the electricity grid on which its power is transmitted.
Falkirk Mine is the sole supplier of lignite coal to Coal Creek Station pursuant to a long-term contract under which Falkirk also supplies approximately 0.3 million tons of lignite coal per year to Spiritwood Station. Falkirk has approximately 480 employees, and, in 2019, delivered a total of 7.4 million tons of lignite coal and contributed approximately $16 million to NACCO's Earnings from Unconsolidated Operations. The closure of Coal Creek Station would have a material adverse effect on the long-term earnings of NACCO Industries. The terms of the contract between the Company and GRE specify that GRE is responsible for all costs related to mine closure, including but not limited to, final mine reclamation costs, post-retirement medical benefits and pension costs with respect to Falkirk employees.
North American Mining Results
North American Mining revenues increased moderately and operating profit improved significantly, primarily due to new mining contracts entered into since March 31, 2019 and an increase in tons delivered to existing customers.
North American Mining Outlook
In 2020, North American Mining expects limestone deliveries to increase and full-year operating results to improve significantly over 2019. Operating profit is expected to benefit from earnings associated with new limestone mining contracts.
Capital expenditures are expected to total $8 million in 2020, primarily for the acquisition, relocation and refurbishment of draglines.
In 2019, North American Mining's subsidiary, Sawtooth Mining, LLC, entered into a mining agreement to serve as the exclusive contract miner for the Thacker Pass lithium project in northern Nevada, owned by Lithium Nevada, Corp., a subsidiary of Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC). Lithium Nevada is in the process of securing permits and currently expects to commence construction in 2021 and production of lithium products in 2023.
Minerals Management Results
First quarter 2020 Minerals Management revenues and operating profit decreased significantly from the comparable 2019 period. The first quarter of 2019 included significant royalty income generated by a large number of new gas wells put into commission during 2018 and in early 2019. These wells are operated by third parties to extract natural gas from the Company's Ohio Utica shale mineral reserves. Since new wells have high initial production rates and follow a natural decline before settling into relatively stable, long-term production, royalty income in 2020 decreased substantially from 2019 levels.
Minerals Management Outlook
The Minerals Management segment derives income from royalty-based leases under which lessees make payments to the Company based on their sale of natural gas and, to a lesser extent, oil, natural gas liquids and coal, extracted primarily by third parties. The 2019 results included significant royalty income generated by a large number of new gas wells put into commission during 2018 and early in 2019. Because new wells have high initial production rates and follow a natural decline before settling into relatively stable, long-term production, royalty income in 2020 is expected to decrease and be substantially lower than 2019 levels. The Company expects that a significant portion of this decrease in earnings will occur in the first half of 2020 as comparisons are made to historically high income levels in the first half of 2019. The reduction in royalty income is based on expected lower natural gas prices, fewer expected new wells and the natural production decline that occurs early in the life of a well. Natural gas pricing declines and reduced business activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in higher-than-average natural gas inventory market levels. A sustained decline in natural gas pricing could unfavorably affect the Company's outlook.
Decline rates for individual wells can vary due to factors like well depth, well length, formation pressure and facility design. In addition, royalty income can fluctuate favorably or unfavorably in response to a number of factors outside of the Company's control, including the number of wells being operated by third parties, fluctuations in commodity prices (primarily natural gas), fluctuations in production rates associated with operator decisions, regulatory risks, the Company's lessees' willingness and ability to incur well-development and other operating costs, and changes in the availability and continuing development of infrastructure.
Consolidated Outlook
Consolidated net income in 2020 is expected to decrease significantly compared with 2019, predominantly due to the substantial decrease in Minerals Management's results, the absence of income of $2.7 million pre-tax associated with a prior India venture recorded in 2019 and an anticipated mark-to-market loss on invested assets of Bellaire's Mine Water Treatment Trust compared with a gain in 2019. These items are expected to be partially offset by a favorable change in taxes, an improvement in earnings at the North American Mining segment and a reduction in Unallocated costs primarily due to lower employee-related costs.
For the first quarter of 2020, NACCO had a negative effective income tax rate of -1.1%, which resulted in a tax benefit on income, compared with an effective income tax rate of 13.4% and tax expense in the first quarter of 2019. For the full year, NACCO anticipates that its effective tax rate will approximate zero. On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") was enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act contains numerous income tax provisions, including among other items, temporary changes regarding the prior and future utilization of net operating losses. The estimated annual effective income tax rate includes the benefit of utilizing provisions of the CARES Act on the treatment of the 2020 forecasted net tax operating loss.
In 2020, cash flow before financing activities is expected to be a use of cash due to a significant increase in capital expenditures and payments made in the first quarter related to deferred compensation and other payroll liabilities. Consolidated capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $33 million in 2020 compared with $24.7 million in 2019.
In light of COVID-19, the global economic outlook has deteriorated significantly and rapidly. While the Company's operations to date have not been materially affected by the pandemic, future developments, which are highly uncertain and unpredictable, and could include any additional preventive or protective actions taken by governmental authorities, such as extended shelter-in-place orders, business shutdowns or other disruptions, could change the Company's status significantly and rapidly, and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations, supply chain and customers. The extent to which COVID-19 may adversely impact the Company depends on many factors, including but not limited to the severity and duration of the outbreak and the effectiveness of actions taken to contain or mitigate its effects. Any resulting financial impact cannot reasonably be estimated at this time, but could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, the Company may experience material adverse effects due to any resulting economic recession or depression. Additionally, concerns over the economic impact of COVID-19 have caused extreme volatility in financial and other capital markets which has and may continue to adversely impact NACCO's stock price.
One of the Company's core strategies is to pursue activities which can strengthen the resiliency of its existing coal mining operations. The Company works to drive down coal production costs and maximize efficiencies and operating capacity at mine locations to help customers with management fee contracts be more competitive. This benefits both customers and the Company's Coal Mining segment, as fuel cost is the major driver for power plant dispatch. Increased power plant dispatch drives increased demand for coal by the Coal Mining segment's customers, just as lower dispatch reduces demand.
The Company continues to evaluate opportunities to expand its core coal mining business, however opportunities are likely to be very limited. Low natural gas prices and growth in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, could continue to unfavorably affect the amount of electricity dispatched from coal-fired power plants. The political and regulatory environment is not generally receptive to development of new coal-fired power generation projects which would create opportunities to build and operate new coal mines. However, the Company does continue to seek out and pursue opportunities where it can apply its management fee business model to replace legacy operators of existing surface coal mining operations in the United States. Outright acquisitions of existing coal mines or mining companies with exposure to fluctuating coal commodity markets, or structures that would create significant leverage, are outside the Company's area of focus.
The Company is focused on building a strong portfolio of affiliated businesses for diversification. North American Mining continues to expand the scope of its business development activities to grow and diversify by targeting potential customers who require a broad range of minerals and materials. North American Mining also continues to leverage the Company's core mining skills to expand the range of contract mining services provided, in addition to providing comprehensive mining services to operate entire mines when appropriate, as is the case at the new lithium project in Nevada.
The Company's efforts to grow and diversify the Minerals Management segment includes evaluating acquisitions of additional mineral interests or similar investments in the energy industry. The Company's primary initial focus will be on smaller, diversifying acquisitions of mineral interests with a balance of near-term cash flow yields and upside potential from future development. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company's newly formed subsidiary, Catapult Mineral Partners, acquired shares in a public company with a diversified portfolio of royalty producing mineral interests as part of this growth and diversification strategy. The recent dramatic downturn in petroleum prices provided an opportunity to make this investment at an attractive market multiple for a company with a conservative financial position, strong earnings potential and attractive historical dividend yield.
The Company previously formed Mitigation Resources of North America® to create and sell stream and wetland mitigation credits and provide services to those engaged in permittee-responsible mitigation. This business has achieved several early successes and is positioned for additional growth.
The Company is leveraging its core mining skills to develop a strong and diverse portfolio of service-based businesses operating in the mining and natural resources industries. The Company is also committed to maintaining a conservative capital structure while it grows and diversifies without unnecessary risk. Ultimately, diversified strategic growth is the key to increasing free cash flow available to continue to re-invest in and expand the businesses. The Company also continues to maintain the highest levels of customer service and operational excellence, with an unwavering focus on safety and environmental stewardship.
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