Steel Partners Holdings Reports Second Quarter Financial Results

Second Quarter 2024 Results

• Revenue was $533.2 million, an increase of 6.4% as compared to the same period in the prior year
• Net income was $124.9 million, an increase of 113.2% as compared to the same period in the prior year
• Net income attributable to common unitholders was $116.3 million, or $4.85 per diluted common unit
• Adjusted EBITDA^* totaled $83.8 million; Adjusted EBITDA margin^* was 15.7%
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $69.0 million
• Adjusted free cash flow^* totaled $38.6 million
• Total debt at quarter-end was $78.7 million; net cash*, which includes, among other items, pension and preferred unit liabilities, and long-term investments was $53.7 million

YTD 2024 Results

• Revenue was $1.0 billion, an increase of 6.7% as compared to the same period in the prior year
• Net income was $159.7 million, an increase of 91.5% as compared to the same period in the prior year
• Net income attributable to common unitholders was $150.6 million, or $6.34 per diluted common unit
• Adjusted EBITDA^* totaled $142.4 million; Adjusted EBITDA margin^* was 14.1%
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $266.4 million
• Adjusted free cash flow^* totaled $62.5 million

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 2024-- Steel Partners Holdings L.P. (NYSE: SPLP) (the “Company”), a diversified global holding company, today announced operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024. The financial results of Steel Connect, Inc. ("Steel Connect" or "STCN") have been included in the Company's consolidated financial statements since May 1, 2023.

"Steel Partners has continued to see record revenue, which is driven by the improved performance of our Diversified Industrial, Financial Services, and Supply Chain segments," said Executive Chairman Warren Lichtenstein. "Our continued discipline around capital allocation has driven free cash flow generation, allowing us to buy back units and pay down over $100 million of debt since the beginning of the year."

Results of Operations

During the current quarter, the Company recorded a $71.5 million non-cash accounting adjustment to net income as a result of a release of a portion of Steel Connect's valuation allowance for certain pre-existing deferred tax assets. The release resulted in a one-time non-cash adjustment to income tax benefit of $71.5 million. This adjustment to net income has no cash impact and is not expected to reoccur.

Comparison of the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited)

Revenue

Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2024 increased $32,234, or 6.4%, as compared to the same period last year. This increase was due to $19,448 or 6.2%, higher net sales from the Diversified Industrial segment, $15,896, or 52.7% from the favorable impact of consolidation of the Supply Chain segment, and $10,209, or 9.7% higher revenue from the Financial Services segment. These increases were partially offset by $13,319, or 26.5%, lower net revenue from the Energy segment.

Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2024 increased $63,209, or 6.7%, as compared to the same period last year, as a result of higher revenue of $27,383, or 13.8% from the Financial Services segment and higher net sales of $7,462, or 1.2% from the Diversified Industrial segments, as well as higher revenue of $57,926 or 191.9% from the Supply Chain segment, primarily driven by favorable impact of the consolidation, partially offset by lower net revenue of $29,562, or 30.0% from the Energy segment.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold for the three months ended June 30, 2024 increased $13,797, or 4.8%, as compared to the same period last year, resulting from consolidation of the Supply Chain segment and higher net sales from the Diversified Industrial segment, partially offset by the impact of lower net revenue from the Energy segment.

Cost of goods sold for the six months ended June 30, 2024 increased $26,660, or 4.8%, as compared to the same period last year, resulting from consolidation of the Supply Chain segment and higher net sales from the Diversified Industrial segment, partially offset by the impact of lower net revenue from the Energy segment.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") for the three months ended June 30, 2024 increased $3,335, or 2.4%, as compared to the same period last year. The increase was primarily due to higher expenses from the Financial Services segment of $3,200. The increase for the Financial Services segment was primarily due to higher credit performance fees due to higher credit risk transfer ("CRT") balances and higher personnel expenses related to incremental headcount.

SG&A for the six months ended June 30, 2024 increased $23,673, or 9.4%, as compared to the same period last year. The increase was primarily driven by higher SG&A expenses from the Financial Services segment of $14,900 as discussed above and the impact from consolidation of the Supply Chain segment of $11,500.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased $4,146, or 71.1% and $8,738 or 73.9% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to the same period last year. The decrease for the three and six month periods was primarily due to significantly lower average debt outstanding.

Realized and Unrealized Gains on Securities, Net

The Company recorded gains of $986 and $5,054 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to losses of $3,121 and $2,514 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. These gains and losses were due to unrealized gains and losses related to the mark-to-market adjustments on the Company's portfolio of securities.

All Other Expense, Net

All other expense, net totaled $23,608 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $17,757 in the same period of 2023 and $47,511 for the six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $38,128 in the same period of 2023. The incremental all other expense, net for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was primarily due to an increase of $4,704 of higher finance interest expense. Higher all other expense, net for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was primarily due to an increase of $14,926 higher finance interest expense, partially offset by $7,936 lower provisions for credit losses related to the Financial Services segment, as compared to the same period of 2023.

Income Tax Benefit

The Company recorded income tax benefits of $58,991 and $15,330 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $48,130 and $726 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As a limited partnership, the Company is generally not responsible for federal and state income taxes, and its profits and losses are passed directly to its limited partners for inclusion in their respective income tax returns. Provisions have been made for federal, state, local, and foreign income taxes on the results of operations generated by our consolidated subsidiaries that are taxable entities. The Company's effective tax rate was (43.1%) and (0.8%) for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2024, is primarily due to a non-cash income tax benefit of $71,550 for the reduction in the valuation allowance against Steel Connect's deferred tax assets. Significant differences between the statutory rate and the effective tax rate include the effect of the release of valuation allowances with respect to deferred tax assets, partnership losses for which no tax benefit is recognized, tax expense related to unrealized gains and losses on investment, the effect of tax credits and incentives, and other permanent differences.

Losses of Associated Companies, Net of Taxes

The Company recorded losses from associated companies, net of taxes, of $7 for the six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to losses from associated companies, net of taxes, of $4,837 and $8,804 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively.

Net Income

Net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 were $124,946 and $159,747, as compared to $58,615 and $83,418, for the same periods in 2023, respectively. The increases in net income were primarily due to higher income tax benefits and higher operating income for both periods. See above explanations for further details.

Purchases of Property, Plant and Equipment (Capital Expenditures)

Capital expenditures for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 totaled $8,297, or 1.6% of revenue and $18,363, or 1.8% of revenue, respectively, as compared to $12,843, or 2.6% of revenue and $23,551 or 2.5% of revenue in the same periods of 2023, respectively.

Common Units Repurchase Program

The Company repurchased 43,557 and 977,344 common units for an aggregate purchase price of $1,646 and $41,133 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. As of June 30, 2024, there were approximately 734,276 common units that may yet be purchased under the repurchase program.

Preferred Units Repurchase Program

On February 2, 2024, the Board of SPH GP approved the repurchase of up to 400,000 of the SPLP Preferred Units. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company repurchased 76,146, SPLP Preferred Units for $1,830. The Company did not repurchase any SPLP Preferred Units during the three months ended June 30, 2024. As of June 30, 2024, there were approximately 323,854 preferred units that may yet be purchased under the preferred unit repurchase program.

Additional Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA was $83,807 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $73,606 for the same period of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA increased by $10,201 for the three months ended June 30, 2024. The increase for the three month period was primarily due to 1) higher operating income at the Diversified Industrial segment, primarily driven by higher sales volume; 2) favorable impact of the consolidation of the Supply Chain segment; and 3) higher profit at the Financial Service segment, resulting from higher revenue impact and lower credit loss provisions, partially offset by higher finance interest and higher personnel costs. These increases were partially offset by lower operating income impact at the Energy segment primarily resulting from lower rig hours. For the three months ended June 30, 2024, adjusted free cash flow was $38,585, as compared to $29,495 for the same period in 2023. Higher adjusted free cash flow from the 2024 period was primarily driven by higher Adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted EBITDA was $142,367 for the six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $136,737 for the same period of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA increased by $5,630 for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The increase for the six month period was primarily due to: 1) favorable impact of the consolidated Supply Chain segment; and 2) higher profit at the Financial Service segment, resulting from higher revenue impact and lower credit loss provisions, partially offset by higher finance interest and higher personnel costs. These increases were partially offset by lower operating income impact at the Energy segment primarily resulting from lower rig hours. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, adjusted free cash flow was $62,458, as compared to $62,857 for the same period in 2023.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of June 30, 2024, the Company had approximately $511,600 in availability under its senior credit agreement, as well as $256,427 in cash and cash equivalents, excluding WebBank cash, and approximately $72,838 in long-term investments.

As of June 30, 2024, total debt was $78,688, a decrease of approximately $112,683, as compared to December 31, 2023. As of June 30, 2024, net cash totaled $53,653, a decrease of approximately $2,723, as compared to December 31, 2023. Total leverage (as defined in the Company's senior credit agreement) was approximately 0.8x as of June 30, 2024 versus 1.5x as of December 31, 2023.

About Steel Partners Holdings L.P.

Steel Partners Holdings L.P. (www.steelpartners.com) is a diversified global holding company that owns and operates businesses and has significant interests in various companies, including diversified industrial products, energy, defense, supply chain management and logistics, banking and youth sports. At Steel Partners, our culture and core values of Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, and Commitment guide our Kids First purpose, which is to forge a path of success for the next generation by instilling values, building character, and teaching life lessons through sports.

(Financial Tables Follow)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

Supplemental Balance Sheet Data (June 30, 2024 unaudited)

Supplemental Non-GAAP Disclosures

Segment Results (unaudited)

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measurements

The financial data contained in this press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measurements as defined by the SEC, including "Adjusted EBITDA," "Adjusted EBITDA Margin," "Net Cash" and "Adjusted Free Cash Flow." The Company is presenting these non-GAAP financial measurements because it believes that these measures provide useful information to investors about the Company's business and its financial condition. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss from continuing operations before the effects of income or loss from investments in associated companies and other investments held at fair value, interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash pension expense or income, and realized and unrealized gains or losses on securities, and excludes certain non-recurring and non-cash items. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue. The Company defines Net Cash as the sum of total debt, accrued pension liabilities and preferred unit liability, less the sum of cash and cash equivalents (excluding those used in WebBank's banking operations), and long-term investments. The Company defines Adjusted Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by or used in operating activities of continuing operations less the sum of purchases of property, plant and equipment, and net increases or decreases in loans held for sale. The Company believes these measures are useful to investors because they are measures used by the Company's Board of Directors and management to evaluate its ongoing business, including in internal management reporting, budgeting and forecasting processes, in comparing operating results across the business, as internal profitability measures, as components in assessing liquidity and evaluating the ability and the desirability of making capital expenditures and significant acquisitions, and as elements in determining executive compensation.

However, the measures are not measures of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("U.S. GAAP"), and the items excluded from these measures are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. Therefore, these non-GAAP financial measurements should not be considered substitutes for net income or loss, total debt, or cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities. Because Adjusted EBITDA is calculated before recurring cash charges, including realized losses on investments, interest expense, and taxes, and is not adjusted for capital expenditures or other recurring cash requirements of the business, it should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to invest in the growth of the business. There are a number of material limitations to the use of Adjusted EBITDA as an analytical tool, including the following:

• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the Company's tax provision or the cash requirements to pay its taxes;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect income or loss from the Company's investments in associated companies and other investments held at fair value;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the Company's interest expense;
• Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash expenses in the period recorded, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the cash requirements for such replacement;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the Company's net realized and unrealized gains and losses on its investments;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not include non-cash charges for pension expense and equity-based compensation;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not include amounts related to noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not include certain other non-recurring and non-cash items; and
• Adjusted EBITDA does not include the Company's discontinued operations.

In addition, Net Cash assumes the Company's cash and cash equivalents (excluding those used in WebBank's banking operations), marketable securities and long-term investments are immediately convertible in cash and can be used to reduce outstanding debt without restriction at their recorded fair value, while Adjusted Free Cash Flow excludes net increases or decreases in loans held for sale, which can vary significantly from period-to-period since these loans are typically sold after origination and thus represent a significant component in WebBank's operating cash flow requirements.

The Company compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its U.S. GAAP financial measures and using these measures only as supplemental information. The Company believes that consideration of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Net Cash and Adjusted Free Cash Flow, together with a careful review of its U.S. GAAP financial measures, is a well-informed method of analyzing SPLP. Because Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Net Cash and Adjusted Free Cash Flow are not measurements determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP and are susceptible to varying calculations, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Net Cash and Adjusted Free Cash Flow, as presented, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that reflect SPLP's current expectations and projections about its future results, performance, prospects and opportunities. SPLP identifies these forward-looking statements by using words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "estimate," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon the Company's current expectations and projections about future events, and are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause its actual results, performance, prospects, or opportunities in 2024 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation: disruptions to the Company's business as a result of economic downturns; the negative impact of inflation and supply chain disruptions; the significant volatility of crude oil and commodity prices, including from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war or the disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas; the effects of rising interest rates; the Company's subsidiaries' sponsor defined pension plans, which could subject the Company to future cash flow requirements; the ability to comply with legal and regulatory requirements, including environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, banking regulations and other extensive requirements to which the Company and its businesses are subject; risks associated with the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, WebBank, as a result of its Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") status, highly-regulated lending programs, and capital requirements; the ability to meet obligations under the Company's senior credit facility through future cash flows or financings; the risk of recent events affecting the financial services industry, including the closures or other failures of several large banks; the risk of management diversion, increased costs and expenses, and impact on profitability in connection with the Company's business strategy to make acquisitions, including in connection with the Company's recent majority investment in the Supply Chain segment; the impact of losses in the Company's investment portfolio; the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property rights and obtain or retain licenses to use others' intellectual property on which the Company relies; the Company's exposure to risks inherent to conducting business outside of the U.S.; the impact of any changes in U.S. trade policies; the adverse impact of litigation or compliance failures on the Company's profitability; a significant disruption in, or breach in security of, the Company's technology systems or protection of personal data; the loss of any significant customer contracts; the Company's ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; the rights of unitholders with respect to voting and maintaining actions against the Company or its affiliates; potential conflicts of interest arising from certain interlocking relationships amount us and affiliates of the Company's Executive Chairman; the Company's dependence on the Manager and impact of the management fee on the Company's total partners’ capital; the impact to the development of an active market for the Company's units due to transfer restrictions and other factors; the Company's tax treatment and its subsidiaries’ ability to fully utilize their tax benefits; the potential negative impact on our operations of changes in tax rates, laws or regulations, including U.S. government tax reform; the loss of essential employees; and other risks detailed from time to time in filings we make with the SEC. These statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, and no assurance can be given that the actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Investors should read carefully the factors described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's filings with the SEC, including the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K, for information regarding risk factors that could affect the Company's results. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date hereof, and investors should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances, or any other reason.

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Investor Relations
Jennifer Golembeske
212-520-2300
jgolembeske@steelpartners.com

Source: Steel Partners