MKS Instruments Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Financial Results

Quarterly revenue of $500 million, a sequential increase of 8%; semiconductor revenue sequential increase of 22%Quarterly Non-GAAP net earnings of $66 million, or $1.20 diluted shareQuarterly GAAP net income of $43 million, or $0.77 per diluted shareCompleted $50 million voluntary principal prepayment on January 24, 2020             ANDOVER, Mass., Jan. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI), a global provider of technologies that enable advanced processes and improve productivity, today reported fourth quarter and full year 2019 financial results.“We are very pleased with our strong financial performance in the quarter. Our top line growth exceeded our expectations, driven by strong sequential growth in our Semiconductor Market revenue, which increased 22% in the quarter. We believe the increasing breadth of our technology portfolio, and our commitment to innovation and operational excellence uniquely position MKS to address a broad range of growing advanced semiconductor applications. Semiconductor revenue increased across all divisions, confirming our strategy of SAM expansion over the past four years,” said John TC Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer.Mr. Lee added, “Within the Light and Motion and Vacuum and Analysis Divisions, we are encouraged by the continued stabilization of our Advanced Markets revenue, which has been impacted by geopolitical and trade headwinds, and we are particularly excited about the new market opportunities our recently acquired Equipment and Solutions Division provides us.”“We continue to manage our business with a focus on sustainable and profitable growth to achieve strong operating leverage in our financial model. In the quarter, while revenue was above the high-end of our expectations, we continued to manage our cost structure, resulting in non-GAAP operating expenses coming in favorable to the midpoint of our guidance,” said Seth H. Bagshaw, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.Mr. Bagshaw added, “We are also pleased to announce that on January 24th, we completed a $50 million voluntary principal prepayment on our secured term loan for a total of $150 million in voluntary prepayments since the acquisition of Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. less than a year ago. The cumulative impact of our voluntary prepayments and our successful term loan repricing last quarter, results in a reduction of our annualized interest expense by over $9 million, based on current interest rates.”First Quarter 2020 Outlook Based on current business levels, the Company expects that revenue in the first quarter of 2020 could range from $495 to $545 million. At these volumes, GAAP net income could range from $0.82 to $1.18 per diluted share and non-GAAP net earnings could range from $1.14 to $1.49 per diluted share.Conference Call DetailsA conference call with management will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time). To access a live webcast of the conference call and the related presentation materials management will refer to during the call, visit MKS’ website at www.mksinst.com and click on Company – Investor Relations – Investors Overview. The webcast and related presentation materials will be listed in the calendar of events. To participate by telephone, please dial (877) 212-6076 for domestic callers or (707) 287-9331 for international callers and provide the operator with Conference ID (9981719), and access the presentation materials on MKS’ website. An archive of the webcast and related presentation materials will be available on MKS’ website.About MKS InstrumentsMKS Instruments, Inc. is a is a global provider of instruments, subsystems and process control solutions that measure, monitor, deliver, analyze, power and control critical parameters of advanced manufacturing processes to improve process performance and productivity for our customers. Our products are derived from our core competencies in pressure measurement and control, flow measurement and control, gas and vapor delivery, gas composition analysis, residual gas analysis, leak detection, control technology, ozone generation and delivery, power, reactive gas generation, vacuum technology, lasers, photonics, sub-micron positioning, vibration control, optics, and laser-based manufacturing solutions. We also provide services relating to the maintenance and repair of our products, installation services and training. Our primary served markets include semiconductor, industrial technologies, life and health sciences, and research and defense. Additional information can be found at www.mksinst.com.Use of Non-GAAP Financial ResultsThis release includes measures that are not in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“Non-GAAP measures”). These Non-GAAP measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as a substitute for, MKS’ reported GAAP results, and may be different from Non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, these Non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. MKS management believes the presentation of these Non-GAAP measures is useful to investors for comparing prior periods and analyzing ongoing business trends and operating results. For further information regarding these Non-GAAP measures, please refer to the tables presenting reconciliations of our Non-GAAP results to our U.S. GAAP results and the “Notes on our Non-GAAP Financial Information” at the end of this press release.Fourth Quarter 2019 Financial Results  Net revenues in the fourth quarter of 2019 were $500 million, an increase of 8% from $462 million in the third quarter of 2019, and an increase of 8% from $461 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. The increase in net revenues was driven largely by increased demand from customers in the Semiconductor Market. Net revenues in the Semiconductor Market were $272 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, a sequential increase of 22%. Net revenues in Advanced Markets were $228 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, a sequential decrease of 5%, and in-line with expectations.Net income in the fourth quarter of 2019 was $43 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, compared to net income of $47 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2019, and $72 million, or $1.32 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2018.Net income in the fourth quarter of 2019 included acquisition and integration costs of $2 million associated with the acquisition of Electro Scientific Industries, Inc., (“ESI”) and $2 million of restructuring and other costs.Non-GAAP net earnings, which exclude special charges and credits, were $66 million, or $1.20 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to $62 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2019, and $84 million or $1.54 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2018.Full Year 2019 Financial ResultsNet revenues in 2019 were $1.9 billion, a decrease of 8% from $2.1 billion in 2018, driven largely by softness in the Semiconductor Market during the first half of 2019, as well as geopolitical and cyclical headwinds. Net revenues in the Semiconductor Market were $929 million, a decrease of 19% compared to 2018, while net revenues from Advanced Markets, which included contribution from ESI of $151 million, were $971 million, an increase of 4% compared to 2018.Net revenues for the Vacuum and Analysis Division were $990 million in 2019, a decrease of 21% from $1.3 billion in 2018. The decline was driven largely by softness in the Semiconductor Market during the first half of 2019. Net revenues for the Light and Motion Division were $726 million in 2019, a decrease of 11% from $814 million in 2018, driven largely by lower shipments to industrial manufacturing customers. Net revenues for the Equipment and Solutions Division were $184 million in 2019.Net income in 2019 was $140 million, or $2.55 per diluted share, compared to net income of $393 million, or $7.14 per diluted share in 2018.Non-GAAP net earnings, which exclude special charges and credits, were $249 million, or $4.52 per diluted share, in 2019, compared to $430 million, or $7.83 per diluted share, in 2018.Additional Financial InformationAt December 31, 2019, the Company had $524 million in cash and short-term investments, $892 million of secured term loan principal outstanding and an unused $100 million asset-based line of credit. During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company paid a dividend of $11 million or $0.20 per diluted share.Voluntary Principal PrepaymentOn January 24, 2020, the Company completed a $50 million voluntary principal prepayment on its secured term loan, reducing the outstanding principal to $842 million. This voluntary prepayment results in annualized interest savings of approximately $1.8 million, based on current interest rates.SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the future financial performance, business prospects and growth of MKS. These statements are only predictions based on current assumptions and expectations. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “will,” “projects,” “intends,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “continues” and similar expressions) should be considered to be forward-looking statements. Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements set forth herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are the conditions affecting the markets in which MKS operates, including the fluctuations in capital spending in the semiconductor industry and other advanced manufacturing markets, fluctuations in sales  to our major customers, the ability of MKS to successfully integrate ESI’s operations and employees, unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the ESI acquisition, MKS’ ability to realize anticipated synergies and cost savings from the ESI acquisition, the terms of our term loan, competition from larger or more established companies in MKS’ markets; MKS’ ability to successfully grow ESI’s business; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the ESI acquisition, the challenges, risks and costs involved with integrating the operations of the other companies we have acquired, the Company’s ability to successfully grow our business, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, dependence on new product development, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, manufacturing and sourcing risks, volatility of stock price, international operations, financial risk management, and the other factors described in MKS’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the SEC. MKS is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this press release.
Company Contact
David Ryzhik
Vice President, Investor Relations
Telephone: (978) 557-5180
Email: [email protected]


The following supplemental Non-GAAP earnings information is presented to aid in understanding MKS’ operating results:



 MKS Instruments, Inc.
Notes on Our Non-GAAP Financial Information
Non-GAAP financial measures adjust GAAP financial measures for the items listed below. These Non-GAAP measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as a substitute for, MKS’ reported GAAP results, and may be different from Non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, these Non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. MKS management believes the presentation of these Non-GAAP measures is useful to investors for comparing prior periods and analyzing ongoing business trends and operating results.Note 1: Acquisition and integration costs during the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, three months ended September 30, 2019 and the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, related to our acquisition of Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. (“ESI”) which closed on February 1, 2019. In addition, during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, we reversed a severance accrual of $1.1 million related to our acquisition of Newport Corporation in April 2016.Note 2: Cost of revenues during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 includes the amortization of the step-up of inventory to fair value as a result of the ESI acquisition.Note 3: We recorded fees and expenses during the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and the three months ended September 30, 2019, related to Amendment No. 6 to our Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of April 29, 2016 (as amended, the “Term Loan Credit Agreement”), which included the fifth repricing of our secured term loan and a consolidation of the two existing tranches into one tranche with a maturity date in February 2026. We also recorded fees and expenses during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 related to Amendment No. 5 to our Term Loan Credit Agreement. We recorded fees and expenses during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 related to previous repricings of our secured term loan.Note 4: We recorded additional interest expense during the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, three months ended September 30, 2019 and the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, related to the amortization of debt issuance costs related to our Term Loan Credit Agreement and our ABL Credit Agreement dated February 1, 2019, as amended on April 26, 2019.Note 5: Restructuring costs during the three months ended December 31, 2019 resulted from the pending closure of a facility in Europe. Additional restructuring costs recorded during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and the three months ended September 30, 2019 consisted primarily of severance costs related to an organization-wide reduction in workforce, the consolidation of service functions in Asia, and the movement of certain products to lower cost regions. In the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, we also recorded a legal settlement from a contractual obligation we assumed as part of our acquisition of Newport Corporation. Restructuring costs during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were primarily comprised of severance costs related to transferring a portion of our shared services functions to a third party, as well as the consolidation of certain shared service functions in Asia. We also recorded environmental costs during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, related to an Environmental Protection Agency-designated Superfund site, which we acquired as part of our acquisition of Newport Corporation.Note 6: During the three months ended September 30, 2019 and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, we recorded a net gain on the sale of two properties in Boulder, CO and three properties in Portland, OR.Note 7: During the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, we recorded an impairment charge related to a minority interest investment in a private company.Note 8: We recorded windfall tax expenses (benefits) during the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019, three months ended September 30, 2019 and the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, on the vesting of stock-based compensation.Note 9: We recorded tax adjustments resulting from additional guidance provided by tax authorities and the enactment of tax reform.Note 10: During the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, we recorded adjustments to tax accruals related to distributions of MKS subsidiaries.Note 11: We recorded taxes on the inter-company sales of assets during the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.             Note 12: Non-GAAP net earnings and Non-GAAP net earnings per diluted share amounts exclude acquisition and integration costs, amortization of the step-up of inventory to fair value, fees and expenses related to our secured term loan, amortization of debt issuance costs, restructuring and other costs, amortization of intangible assets, a gain on the sale of long-lived assets, an asset impairment, windfall tax adjustments related to stock compensation expense, tax reform adjustments, accrued tax on subsidiary distributions, tax costs on the inter-company sale of an asset and the related tax effect of these adjustments to reflect the expected full year effective tax rate in the related period.Note 13: Non-GAAP operating expenses exclude acquisition and integration costs, fees and expenses related to our secured term loan, amortization of intangible assets, restructuring and other costs, a gain on sale of long-lived assets and an asset impairment.Note 14: Non-GAAP income from operations and Non-GAAP operating margin percentages exclude acquisition and integration costs, the amortization of the step-up of inventory to fair value, fees and expenses related to the repricing and amendment of our secured term loan, restructuring and other costs, amortization of intangible assets, a gain on the sale of long-lived assets and an asset impairment.
                                                                                                                                                                 
Note 15: The Non-GAAP gross profit amount and Non-GAAP gross margin exclude the amortization of the step-up of inventory to fair value.
Note 16: EBITDA excludes net interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization of intangible assets.Note 17: Adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation, acquisition and integration costs, the amortization of the step-up of inventory to fair value, fees and expenses related to the repricing and amendment of our secured term loan, restructuring and other costs, a gain on the sale of long-lived assets, an asset impairment and other adjustments as defined in our Term Loan Credit Agreement.Note 18: Non-GAAP adjustments are tax effected at applicable statutory rates resulting in a difference between the GAAP and Non-GAAP tax rates.
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