Showa Denko KK

TSE:4004

Earnings Call Analysis

Resonac Holdings' Q3 Losses Despite Full-Year Outlook Improvement

Resonac Holdings experienced a decline in semiconductor materials demand, leading to observable setbacks. Sales were down, with net sales decreasing by JPY 91.8 billion from the previous year, and operating income turning negative at JPY 4.3 billion, a JPY 59.1 billion drop year-on-year. Notably, sales volume took a negative JPY 56.4 billion hit, primarily in the Semiconductor and Electronic Materials segment. Despite these challenges, the company adjusted its full-year operating loss forecast to JPY 12 billion, an improvement from its previous JPY 20 billion estimate. The company’s balance sheet showed an increase in total assets to JPY 2.989 trillion and an equity ratio ascent to 27.2%, indicating a stable financial position.

Financial Snapshot: A Mixed Picture with a Promising Outlook

Resonac Holdings, under the leadership of CFO Somemiya, presented a contrasting financial picture for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending December 2023. While year-on-year net sales dipped by JPY 91.8 billion, the company has revised its full-year forecast to a more optimistic note. Initially expecting an operating loss of JPY 20 billion, this was brought down to JPY 12 billion due to concerted cost-reduction efforts and favorable market conditions. Despite setbacks in the Semiconductor and Electronic Materials segment caused by lower demand and manufacturing adjustments, other segments indicated resilience. A particular highlight is the forecasted increase in net sales to JPY 1.290 trillion, which is JPY 20 billion more than the previous projections.

Segment Performance: Navigating Market Challenges

Resonac's Semiconductor and Electronic Materials segment suffered a notable downturn, with net sales falling 27% yearly to JPY 241.7 billion and an operating loss of JPY 12.5 billion. The hardship primarily arose from declining Hard Disk Media sales and semiconductor material demand. Contrarily, Mobility made a turnaround, achieving break-even from a previous loss, driven by auto component sales recovery. Innovation Enabling Materials and Chemicals segments showed mixed results; the former improved profitability despite sales volume declines, and the latter saw higher sales but decreased profits due to inventory valuation differences resulting from high raw material costs in the previous year.

Financial Health: Improved Balance Sheet and Debt Position

The balance sheet strength of the company has been fortified with total assets at JPY 2.989 trillion, up slightly by JPY 5.2 billion. The decrease in total liabilities and an uptick in total net assets to JPY 597.1 billion, likely from approaches to improve cost structures and the advantage of foreign exchange variations, have placed the company in better financial health. Notably, the net debt-to-equity ratio improved from 1.07x to 0.97x, showing a gearing ratio of less than 1, indicating a stronger equity base to support operations.

Structural Reforms: Setting Course for Future Profitability

As part of its future strategy, Resonac is aggressively undertaking structural reforms. A significant decision was made to close the underperforming Taiwanese Hard Disk Media business, aiming for substantial cost optimization. In the Mobility business, the company has initiated corrective actions for unprofitable products by renegotiating with customers or withdrawing from market segments. Out of 47 initially targeted items, 11 have reached a positive conclusion, projecting a JPY 2 billion increase in profitability. Similarly, company-wide, 62% of items identified for profit improvement have been addressed, showing a steadfast commitment to operational efficiency and profit maximization.

Future Earnings: A Cautious Yet Determined Approach

Looking towards the coming fiscal year, Resonac's guidance includes a moderated operating loss of JPY 7.7 billion for Q4, as opposed to the entire year's forecast of JPY 12 billion. The company anticipates further recovery in semiconductor sales, albeit with rising costs from new asset depreciation. Challenges remain in the Chemicals sector due to a shift in oil prices and graphite electrode business conditions. Nonetheless, these projections are part of broader internal reforms that demonstrate a prudent blend of caution and strategic optimism for future performance.

Earnings Call Transcript 2023-Q3

[Hideki Somemiya, executive]

Good evening. I'm Somemiya, CFO of Resonac Holdings. Thank you for your continued interest in our company's financial results. Let me present an overview of the financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year ending in December 2023 based on the handout. Page 2 shows key takeaways for today's briefing. There are 2 points: the first is financial results for 9 months from January to September this year. Semiconductor and Electronic Materials segment posted lower sales and profits than last year due to semiconductor production adjustment and the sluggish demand for data centers. The second point is upward revision of the full year forecast. We now forecast operating loss of JPY 12 billion instead of JPY 20 billion as announced in August this year.

Let me now move on to the agenda items, starting with Q3 financial results. Slide 4 shows consolidated cumulative results from January to September 2023 compared to the same period of the previous year. Before going into details, please be aware that the figures on these slides have been modified due to retroactive adjustments made in the accounting process. This was caused by the change in accounting standards of the former Showa Denko Materials from IFRS to Japanese GAAP after the transition to a holding company structure. Please refer to the table on the left-hand side of the slide. Net sales were JPY 942.3 billion, down JPY 91.8 billion year-on-year. Operating income was negative JPY 4.3 billion, down JPY 59.1 billion year-on-year. Ordinary income was negative JPY 7.1 billion, down JPY 72.5 billion year-on-year. Net income attributable to owners of the parent was negative JPY 6.4 billion, down JPY 43 billion year-on-year. EBITDA was JPY 77.5 billion, down JPY 58.3 billion year-on-year. EBITDA margin deteriorated by 4.9 percentage points to 8.2%.

On the right-hand side of this slide is the results based on ongoing businesses and year-on-year changes. The figures exclude the results of the Diagnostics business, which was transferred in July this year in addition to ISOLITE -- compared to the same period of last year, net sales are down JPY 67.7 billion, operating income is down JPY 59.4 billion and EBITDA and EBITDA margin declined by JPY 58.5 billion and 5.1 percentage points, respectively.

Slide 5 shows the variance analysis between operating loss of JPY 4.3 billion for the first 9 months of this fiscal year and operating income of JPY 54.7 billion for the same period last year. The breakdown of approximately JPY 60 billion is as follows: sales volume was negative JPY 56.4 billion. Most of the decline was due to lower sales in the Semiconductor and Electronic Materials segment, which was caused by a significant volume decline in Hard Disk Media and the lower sales of semiconductor materials compared to the same period last year. Sales price was negative JPY 8.9 billion. The main reason for this is the negative impact of the year-on-year decline in crude oil prices on the Olefins and Derivatives. In most businesses, other than Olefins and Derivatives, sales price was a positive factor for operating income due to the benefits of the weaker yen as well as the effect of price hikes to pass on the impact of material price increases to customers.

Next, variable and fixed cost was positive JPY 18.5 billion, reflecting the positive impact of lower oil prices. There is always a difference when it comes to cost between different segments. But in those businesses with significant sales declines, costs increased mainly due to lower capacity utilization. Lastly, others was negative JPY 12.1 billion, including inventory valuation difference losses for Graphite Electrodes and Olefin and Derivatives as well as loss on disposal at the Hard Disk business.

Next is results by segment. Slide 6 shows year-on-year comparisons of net sales, operating income and EBITDA by segment. Although the year-on-year comparisons are impacted by the decline in sales and profits of Semiconductor and Electronic Materials, which are shown at the top of the slide, there are some positive factors in individual segments such as elimination of deficits in Mobility and the solid performances of Innovation Enabling Materials. Slide 7 through 10 show a summary of results by segment. I won't go into details. But for detailed information, please refer to performance overview commentary on the right-hand side of each slide.

As for Semiconductor and Electronic Materials, on Page 7, net sales are down 27% year-on-year to JPY 241.7 billion. Operating income is down JPY 53 billion year-on-year. to an operating loss of JPY 12.5 billion. There are 2 reasons: the first reason is the sluggish performance of Hard Disk Media, which is included in Device Solutions and the resulting loss on inventory disposal and inventory valuation of approximately JPY 6 billion. The second reason is the sluggish sales of semiconductor materials, which are on gradual recovery trend but not yet returned to the level before the adjustment phase.

Next is Mobility on Page 8. Sales declined 2% year-on-year to JPY 131.6 billion, while operating income improved JPY 1.5 billion to JPY 0, bringing the segment back into the black. The improvement was driven by automotive components, where sales increased due to a recovery of auto production, albeit in varying degree in each region. Sales of Lithium-ion Battery Materials declined as some products were affected by sluggish demand from the consumer market.

Page 9 shows Innovation Enabling Materials. Net sales declined 10% year-on-year to JPY 95.5 billion, while operating income was solid at JPY 8.3 billion, up JPY 0.7 billion from the same period last year. This year, the company passed on the impact of higher material prices since last year. And despite some volume declines, the overall margin improved with an EBITDA margin of 15.3% this year. Page 10 shows the results of Chemicals. Net sales increased 2% year-on-year to JPY 384.7 billion, while operating income decreased JPY 9.1 billion to JPY 10.2 billion. First of all, with regard to Olefin and Derivatives, sales increased year-on-year due to the once in full year shutdown maintenance last year. Profits are also up, benefiting from higher crude oil prices in the third quarter. As for chemical products, both sales and profit increased as a result of the price pass-through of high raw material and fuel prices experienced last year.

Finally, Graphite Electrode sales increased due to price hikes, but profits decreased due to the negative impact of the difference between the variation -- inventory variations, meaning that the raw materials of products sold this year were procured last year when prices were high. That was my brief explanation of results by segment.

Slide 11 shows nonoperating income expense, extraordinary profit/losses vis-a-vis last year. Nonoperating results on the left deteriorated by JPY 13.4 billion year-on-year. The biggest factor behind was JPY 10 billion year-on-year deterioration of FX gains. We had JPY 14.8 billion in net extraordinary profit this year, as shown on the right-hand side, which is an improvement of JPY 31.8 billion year-on-year. Gain on sale of business at the top of the slide that contributed to JPY 24.1 billion related to the transfer of the Diagnostics business this year. Other factors include an increase in special severance payments, mainly due to structural reforms of the Hard Disk business. However, since there were losses related to the anti-monopoly law and a loss on business transfer in the previous fiscal year, the total amount has improved year-on-year.

Next, Slide 12 shows consolidated balance sheet. On the left-hand side, total assets are JPY 2.989 trillion as of the end of Q3, an increase of JPY 5.2 billion. The increase in cash and deposits and total tangible fixed assets more than offset the decrease in intangible assets, such as goodwill and other current assets. Total liabilities amounted to JPY 1.518 trillion, a decrease of JPY 17.2 billion, mainly due to a decrease in notes and accounts payables. Total net assets increased JPY 22.4 billion to JPY 597.1 billion. In addition to the payment of dividends in the previous period, net income attributable to owners of the parent was negative, resulting in a decrease in retained earnings and total shareholder security, while the weaker yen led to a large increase in foreign currency transaction adjustments and total accumulated other comprehensive income. Looking at key indicators, net D/E ratio improved from 1.07x to 0.97x, which is less than 1x due to an increase in net assets and cash and deposits. Equity ratio also improved by 0.9 points to 27.2%. As mentioned in the footnote, net D/E ratio calculation takes into account the 50% equity credit attributes of the subordinated loans based on the ratings given by Japan Credit Rating Agency Limited, JCR. That was my brief explanation of the Q3 cumulative financial results.

Next, I would like to explain the revisions we have made to our full year earnings forecast. Page 14 show 2023 consolidated forecast. We have revised our full year forecast from the previous forecast disclosed in August. The new full year forecast is net sales of JPY 1.290 trillion, an increase of JPY 20 billion from the previous forecast. Operating loss of JPY 12 billion, an improvement of JPY 8 billion from the previous forecast of JPY 20 billion. Ordinary loss is expected to be JPY 21 billion, an improvement of JPY 5 billion from the previous forecast. We expect a net loss attributable to owners of the parent of JPY 43 billion, a JPY 6 billion deterioration from the previous forecast. The reason for the deterioration in net income compared to the previous forecast is the inclusion of further restructuring costs in the fourth quarter as an extraordinary loss.

Slide 15 shows the revised forecast for net sales and operating income by segment for each quarter. The revised operating loss for the full year is JPY 12 billion. But for Q4 alone, an operating loss of JPY 7.7 billion is expected. If I focus on Q4 results, operating loss for Semiconductor and Electronic Materials is JPY 1.5 billion. Although sales of semiconductor materials will continue to recover and increase compared to Q3, we expect an increase in costs due to the start of new asset depreciation and other factors. In the Chemicals business, we expect an operating loss due to fading of the benefit of higher crude oil prices enjoyed in Q3 and deteriorating business conditions for graphite electrodes. I would like to now conclude my presentation by reporting on the progress on structural reforms we are promoting.

Please see Slide 16, titled Update On Structure Reforms. There is no sanctuary in these reforms, but our current focus areas are Hard Disk Media business and Mobility business. First of all, in the Hard Disk Media business, where sales volume has been falling sharply this year, we have decided to close our Taiwan production site by the end of this year in order to dramatically improve our cost structure, combined with the production capacity reduction at another site announced at the end of Q1, we have cut about 1/3 of the total production capacity. Next is Mobility business, where 30% of sales were unprofitable. We have selected 47 priority product customer combinations that are unprofitable. We have had a series of discussions with customers in order to either raise prices or withdraw from the market. As of the end of September, we have completed initiatives for 11 products and are on track to improve profitability by about a total of JPY 2 billion. We will continue to negotiate with customers for the remaining items. In the process of these efforts, we have added 1 more priority item to the list, bringing the total to 48.

Lastly, we are taking company-wide measures to eliminate losses through price actions and cost reductions. As of the end of September, we had completed profit improvement measures for 62% of the items on the list. We will further accelerate negotiations and generate results by the end of this year. Page 17 onwards, our appendix. Please refer to them later at your leisure. That concludes my presentation. Thank you very much for your kind attention.