YOUNGSVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Xerium Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:XRM), a leading, global provider of industrial consumable products and services, today reported second quarter 2017 financial results.

Mark Staton, President and Chief Executive Officer said, “We reported a strong result in the second quarter of 2017, marking a notable margin improvement as our restructuring efforts wind down and our global facilities shift to execution and efficiency. This led to a solid adjusted EBITDA result of $27.2 million during the period, with a 30 basis point improvement in margin to 22.6%.”

Staton added, “We are now better positioned in the right geographies with enhanced capabilities in growing end-markets, and our business generates attractive adjusted EBITDA margins. Going forward our priorities are very clear, to maximize adjusted EBITDA growth and free cash flow from our enhanced platform, and aggressively pursue balance sheet improvement.”

Q2 Financial Highlights:

Q2 net sales were $120.3 million, a decrease of (1.2%) year-over-year on a constant currency basis (see Table 1). The decrease was driven by a constant currency sales decrease of (0.9%) in roll covers and (1.4%) in machine clothing. The sales decline relative to the prior-year period was due to weaker spreader roll sales in Europe and competitive pricing pressure in our Asian machine clothing business.

Q2 2017 gross profit was $48.9 million, or 40.6% of net sales, compared to $48.2 million, or 38.9% of net sales, in Q2 2016. Machine clothing gross margin improved to 43.7% in Q2 2017 from 41.6% in Q2 2016. The increase in gross profit margin was primarily due to production efficiencies partially offset by competitive pricing pressure in Asia. Rolls and service gross margin improved to 36.1% in Q2 2017 from a gross margin of 34.7% in Q2 2016 due to production efficiencies.

SG&A expenses (including Selling, G&A and R&D expenses) were $33.1 million, or 27.5% of net sales, in Q2 2017 versus $30.7 million, or 24.8% of net sales, in Q2 2016. The increase in SG&A expenses was due to incremental one-time CEO transition costs of $3.0 million incurred in Q2 of 2017, partially offset by cost-reduction initiatives.

Q2 2017 basic loss per share was $(0.21) versus Q2 2016 basic earnings per share of $0.13. Basic adjusted earnings per share (see Table 3) were $0.08 in Q2 2017 compared to $0.31 in Q2 2016 as a result of higher interest and income tax expenses, partially offset by improved operations.

GAAP income from operations in the second quarter of 2017 was $14.9 million, or 12.4% of sales, up $0.2 million, or 1.7% compared to Q2 2016. Q2 2017 adjusted EBITDA declined to $27.2 million, or 22.6% of net sales, due to negative currency effects, compared to $27.7 million, or 22.3% of net sales in 2016. Adjusted EBITDA increased 1.1% on a constant currency basis (see Table 2). The slight operational increase was driven by operational efficiencies, partially offset by lower sales. In addition to interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted EBITDA excludes expenses related to the Company’s restructuring activities, plant start-up costs, stock-based compensation, unrealized foreign currency gains and losses and non-recurring expenses, including CEO transition costs. For a full reconciliation, refer to Table 4.

Cash taxes were $3.0 million in Q2 2017, compared to $3.9 million in Q2 of 2016. Cash taxes are primarily impacted by income the Company earns in tax paying jurisdictions relative to income it earns in non tax-paying jurisdictions, primarily the United States.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $10.2 million and free cash flow was $7.1 million (see Table 5) during the second quarter of 2017. Free cash flow is expected to improve substantially in the second half of 2017, as a result working capital reductions, lower capital expenditures, and lower cash restructuring costs.

Net debt was $519.7 million at the end of Q2 2017 compared to $511.7 million at the end of Q4 2016. The Company's net debt leverage ratio is 5.3x (see Table 6). The Company plans to utilize its free cash flow to pay down debt and de-lever over the remainder of its debt maturities.

2017 Outlook

The first half of 2017 demonstrated a stable market environment, coupled with modestly improving sales trends. In the second half of 2017, the Company currently expects continued stability with some moderating influences to margin performance and volume. The Company reiterates previously disclosed guidance for 2017 full-year adjusted EBITDA to approximate at least 2016 levels.

Free cash flow for 2017 will be impacted by several discrete factors including CEO transition costs incurred during the period. As a result, the Company now expects full-year free cash flow to be in the low-teens range, with second half improvement driven by working capital reductions, reduced capital expenditures, and lower cash restructuring costs.

CONFERENCE CALL

The Company plans to hold a conference call this evening:

To participate on the call, please dial in at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start. A live audio webcast and replay of the call may be found in the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.xerium.com. To follow along with the presentation that will accompany the Company's conference call, please join the webcast by going to www.xerium.com/investorrelations. Click on the webcast link appearing above our conference call details, then click on the link appearing below "Webcast Presentation" on the following page. You may also click here and you will be taken directly to the webcast registration page.

ABOUT XERIUM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Xerium Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:XRM) is a leading, global provider of industrial consumable products and services. Its products and services are consumed during machine operation by its customers. Xerium operates around the world under a variety of brand names, and utilizes a broad portfolio of patented and proprietary technologies to provide customers with tailored solutions and products integral to production, all designed to optimize performance and reduce operational costs. With 28 manufacturing facilities in 13 countries around the world, Xerium has approximately 2,950 employees.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release includes measures of performance that differ from the Company's financial results as reported under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Management of the Company uses supplementary non-GAAP measures, including Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow, Net Debt and Adjusted EPS, internally to assist in evaluating its liquidity and financial and operational performance. Therefore, the Company believes these non-GAAP measures may also be useful to investors and financial analysts. Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow are specifically used in evaluating the ability to service indebtedness and to fund ongoing capital expenditures. Net Debt presents a view of the overall change in leverage from quarter to quarter. Adjusted EPS excludes certain items the Company does not believe to be indicative of on-going business trends in order to better analyze historical and future business trends on a consistent basis. Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow, Net Debt and Adjusted EPS should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss), net cash provided (used in) by operating activities, total debt or net income (loss) per share.

When we provide our expectations for adjusted EBITDA on a forward-looking basis, we exclude certain significant items. A reconciliation of differences between this non-GAAP expectation and the corresponding GAAP measure (expected net income (loss)) generally is not available without unreasonable effort due to potentially high variability, complexity and low visibility as to the significant items, such as taxes, that would be included in the GAAP measure of net income (loss). This item is uncertain and depends on various factors. The variability of the excluded item may have a significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on our future GAAP results. For the same reasons, the company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to the company’s future financial results. Our expectation of full year Free Cash Flow of low-teens assumes operating cash flow of mid-twenties and capital expenditures of low-teens.

For additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of such measures to the most comparable financial measures under GAAP, please see the applicable tables within this press release. In addition, the information in this press release should be read in conjunction with the corresponding exhibits, financial statements and footnotes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2017, our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 31, 2017, and our presentation that will accompany our conference call.

NET SALES

Table 1 summarizes Q2 net sales and the effect of currency translation rates. The column “$ Change Excluding Currency” is calculated taking the difference between Q2 2017 net sales at Q2 2016 FX rates (in US dollars) less Q2 2016 reported net sales

ADJUSTED EBITDA

Table 2 summarizes Q2 adjusted EBITDA and the effect of currency translation rates. The column “$ Change Excluding Currency” is calculated taking the difference between Q2 2017 adjusted EBITDA at Q2 2016 FX rates (in US dollars) less Q2 2016 reported adjusted EBITDA.

BASIC ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

Table 3 represents a reconciliation of basic net (loss) income per share to basic adjusted earnings per share for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:

EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA

EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before interest expense, income tax provision (benefit) and depreciation (including non-cash impairment charges) and amortization.

"Adjusted EBITDA" means, with respect to any period, the total of (A) the consolidated net income for such period, plus (B) without duplication, to the extent that any of the following were deducted in computing such consolidated net income (loss) for such period: (i) provision for taxes based on income or profits, including, without limitation, federal, state, provincial, franchise and similar taxes, including any penalties and interest relating to any tax examinations, (ii) consolidated interest expense, (iii) consolidated depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) reserves for inventory in connection with plant closures, (v) consolidated operational restructuring costs, (vi) noncash charges resulting from the application of purchase accounting, including push-down accounting, (vii) non-cash expenses resulting from the granting of common stock, stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards under equity compensation programs solely with respect to common stock, and cash expenses for compensation mandatorily applied to purchase common stock, (viii) non-cash items relating to a change in or adoption of accounting policies, (ix) non-cash expenses relating to pension or benefit arrangements, (x) expenses incurred as a result of the repurchase, redemption or retention of common stock earned under equity compensation programs solely in order to make withholding tax payments, (xi) amortization or write-offs of deferred financing costs, (xii) any non-cash losses resulting from mark to market hedging obligations (to the extent the cash impact resulting from such loss has not been realized in such period), (xiii) unrealized foreign currency losses and (xiv) other non-cash losses or charges (excluding, however, any non-cash loss or charge which represents an accrual of, or a reserve for, a cash disbursement in a future period), minus (C) without duplication, to the extent any of the following were included in computing consolidated net income (loss) for such period, (i) unrealized foreign currency gains and (ii) non-cash gains with respect to the items described in clauses (vi), (vii), (ix), (xi), (xii) and xiv (other than, in the case of clause (xiv), any such gain to the extent that it represents a reversal of an accrual of, or reserve for, a cash disbursement in a future period) of clause (B) above and (iii) provisions for tax benefits based on income or profits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Adjusted EBITDA, as defined and calculated below, may not be comparable to similarly titled measurements used by other companies.

Consolidated net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that the following, without duplication, shall be excluded in determining consolidated net income (loss): (i) any net after-tax extraordinary or non-recurring gains, losses or expenses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), (ii) the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, (iii) any fees and expenses incurred during such period in connection with the issuance or repayment of indebtedness, any refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument, in each case and (iv) any cancellation of indebtedness income. Table 4 provides a reconciliation from net income (loss), which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted EBITDA Definition Modification

During the 4^th quarter of 2016, the Company modified its definition of Adjusted EBITDA to exclude foreign exchange gains and losses from this non-GAAP measure. This change enhances investor insight into the Company’s operational performance. In previous filings, Q2 2016 Adjusted EBITDA was stated at $27.6 million based on the definition previously used.

FREE CASH FLOW

Table 5 summarizes free cash flow which is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures plus proceeds from disposals of property and equipment.

NET DEBT

Table 6 summarizes net debt which is defined as GAAP total debt less cash and deferred financing fees and net debt leverage which is defined as net debt divided by trailing twelve month Adjusted EBITDA.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words "will", "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "goals," variations of such words, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding our full year EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA performance, anticipated sales performance, capital expenditures, cost savings measures, future efforts to improve overall performance and free cash flow. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may vary materially from the results expressed or implied in such statements. Differences may result from actions taken by us, as well as from risks and uncertainties beyond our control. These risks and uncertainties include the following items: (1) we may not realize the EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA performance we are projecting; (2) our expected sales performance and our backlog of sales may not be fully realized; (3) our cost reduction efforts, including our restructuring activities, may not have the positive impacts we anticipate; (4) our plans to develop and market new products, enhance operational efficiencies and reduce costs may not be successful; (5) market improvement in our industry may occur more slowly than we anticipate, may stall or may not occur at all; (6) variations in demand for our products, including our new products, could negatively affect our revenues and profitability; (7) our manufacturing facilities may be required to quickly increase or decrease production, which could negatively affect our production facilities, customer order lead time, product quality, labor relations or gross margin; and (8) the other risks and uncertainties discussed elsewhere in this press release, our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed on March 1, 2017 and our other SEC filings. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from what we projected. Any forward-looking statement in this press release reflects our current views with respect to future events. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. As discussed above, we are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties related to current economic conditions, and we encourage investors to refer to our SEC filings for additional information. Copies of these filings are available from the SEC and in the investor relations section of our website at www.xerium.com.

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