READING, Pa., May 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EnerSys (NYSE: ENS), the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, announced today results for its fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2019, which ended on March 31, 2019.

Net earnings attributable to EnerSys stockholders (“Net earnings”) for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 were $18.5 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, which included an unfavorable highlighted net of tax impact of $43.6 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, from highlighted items described in further detail in the tables shown below, reconciling non-GAAP adjusted financial measures to reported amounts. Included in the $43.6 million are $27.3 million, which were previously disclosed in our recent filings.

Net earnings attributable to EnerSys stockholders for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 were $54.0 million, or $1.27 per diluted share, which included a favorable highlighted net of tax impact of $1.5 million or $0.03 per share from highlighted items described in further detail in the tables shown below, reconciling non-GAAP adjusted financial measures to reported amounts. The $1.5 million net of tax impact included a tax benefit of $9.6 million for the release of a foreign valuation allowance, partially offset by a $4.1 million tax expense related to the recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”).

Excluding these highlighted items, adjusted Net earnings per diluted share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, on a non-GAAP basis, were $1.43 which compared to guidance of $1.41 to $1.45 per diluted share for the fourth fiscal quarter given by the Company on February 6, 2019. These earnings compare to the prior year fourth quarter adjusted Net earnings of $1.24 per diluted share. Please refer to the section included herein under the heading “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a discussion of the Company’s use of non-GAAP adjusted financial information, which include tables reconciling GAAP and non-GAAP adjusted financial measures for the quarters and twelve months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 were $796.6 million, an increase of 17% from the prior year fourth quarter net sales of $683.0 million and a 17% sequential quarterly increase from the third quarter of fiscal 2019 net sales of $680.0 million. The increase in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter was the result of a 20% increase due to the Alpha acquisition and a 1% increase each in pricing and organic volume, partially offset by a 5% decrease in foreign currency translation impact. The 17% sequential quarterly increase was primarily due to a 16% increase due to acquisitions and a 2% increase in organic volume, partially offset by a 1% decrease in pricing.

As previously disclosed, EnerSys completed the acquisition of subsidiaries and assets from the Alpha Group on December 7, 2018. For the period ended March 31, 2019 that EnerSys owned Alpha, the contribution of the acquisition was $162.5 million to net sales and $(1.3) million to Net earnings. Excluding the one-time transaction costs, purchase accounting related temporary impacts on inventory valuation, integration and restructuring costs, as well as the amortization of intangible assets, the contribution to net earnings would have been $6.4 million.

The Company’s operating results for its business segments for the fourth quarters of fiscal 2019 and 2018 are as follows:

EMEA -Europe, Middle East and Africa

Net earnings for the twelve months of fiscal 2019 were $160.2 million, or $3.73 per diluted share, which included an unfavorable net of tax impact of $51.9 million, or $1.20per diluted share, from cash and non-cash charges from highlighted items described in further detail in the tables shown below, reconciling non-GAAP adjusted financial measures to reported amounts.

Net earnings for the twelve months of fiscal 2018 were $119.6 million, or $2.77 per diluted share, which included an unfavorable net of tax impact of $80.9 million or $1.88 per diluted share from highlighted items described in further detail in the tables shown below, reconciling non-GAAP adjusted financial measures to reported amounts. The $80.9 million net of tax impact includes an estimated net tax expense of $81.4 million comprised of a one-time transition tax expense of $97.5 million, a tax benefit related to the remeasurement of U.S. deferred taxes of $14.1 million, and a tax benefit of $2.0 million related to the reduction of the fiscal 2018 effective federal tax rate of 31.5%, on account of the Tax Act.

Adjusted Net earnings for the twelve months of fiscal 2019, on a non-GAAP basis, were $4.93 per diluted share. This compares to the prior year twelve months adjusted Net earnings of $4.65 per diluted share. Please refer to the section included herein under the heading “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a discussion of the Company's use of non-GAAP adjusted financial information.

Net sales for the twelve months of fiscal 2019 were $2,808.0 million, an increase of 9% from the net sales of $2,581.8 million in the comparable period in fiscal 2018. This increase was the result of a 6% increase due to the Alpha acquisition, a 3% increase in organic volume and a 2% increase in pricing, partially offset by a 2% decrease in foreign currency translation impact.

The Company's operating results for its business segments for the twelve months of fiscal years 2019 and 2018 are as follows:

EMEA -Europe, Middle East and Africa

“In the months leading up to our February 2017 Investor Day we identified several industry trends that, if capitalized on, would establish EnerSys as the unquestioned leader in stored energy solutions for many years to come. We knew the process to reposition the Company would not be easy, with many ups and downs expected along the way, but we embarked on that journey because it was in the best long-term interest of our customers, our employees and our shareholders. After ten quarters of significant investments focused on our long-term future, EnerSys is significantly better positioned today to broaden our addressable markets and compete with any company in the world. For example, EnerSys has invested tens of millions of dollars into leading-edge, maintenance-free Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) and lithium products to expand our share in a multitude of markets, including long-haul trucking. The market response has been overwhelming, and we remain sold out of TPPL capacity. The Alpha acquisition that closed in December 2018 further expands our addressable markets into broadband powering, 5G small cell site powering and off-grid solar, and accelerates our new energy storage systems product roadmap. In addition, the Alpha acquisition has generated positive synergies, including cross-selling, which provides our large Telecom customers with a one-stop-shop for full DC power system Engineer, Furnish and Install capabilities. I remain very excited about the future of the Company.” Mr. Shaffer added, “We maintain our previously announced guidance for our first quarter of fiscal 2020 adjusted net earnings per diluted share of $1.30 to $1.34, which excludes an expected charge of $0.22 primarily from highlighted items related to restructuring programs, ERP system implementation expenses and amortization of Alpha's identified intangible assets.”

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, ("GAAP"). EnerSys'management uses the non-GAAP measure “adjusted Net earnings” as applicable, in their analysis of the Company's performance. This measure, as used by EnerSys in past quarters and years, adjusts Net earnings determined in accordance with GAAP to reflect changes in financial results associated with the Company's restructuring initiatives and other highlighted charges and income items. Management believes the presentation of this financial measure reflecting these non-GAAP adjustments provides important supplemental information in evaluating the operating results of the Company as distinct from results that include items that are not indicative of ongoing operating results and overall business performance; in particular, those charges that the Company incurs as a result of restructuring activities, impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles and other assets, acquisition activities and those charges and credits that are not directly related to operating unit performance, such as significant legal proceedings, ERP system implementation, amortization of Alpha related intangible assets and tax valuation allowance changes, including those related to the adoption of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Because these charges are not incurred as a result of ongoing operations, or are incurred as a result of a potential or previous acquisition, they are not as helpful a measure of the performance of our underlying business, particularly in light of their unpredictable nature and are difficult to forecast.

Income tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments are calculated using the applicable statutory tax rate for the jurisdictions in which the charges (benefits) are incurred, while taking into consideration any valuation allowances. For those items which are non-taxable, the tax expense (benefit) is calculated at 0%.

This non-GAAP disclosure has limitations as an analytical tool, should not be viewed as a substitute for Net earnings determined in accordance with GAAP, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP, nor is it necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Management believes that this non-GAAP supplemental information will be helpful in understanding the Company's ongoing operating results. This supplemental presentation should not be construed as an inference that the Company's future results will be unaffected by similar adjustments to Net earnings determined in accordance with GAAP.

Included below is a reconciliation of non-GAAP adjusted financial measures to reported amounts. Non-GAAP adjusted Net earnings are calculated excluding restructuring and other highlighted charges and credits. The following tables provide additional information regarding certain non-GAAP measures: