VPG Vishay Precision Group Inc

Fiscal 2015 first quarter net revenues of $56.6 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.05. Fiscal 2015 second quarter net revenue guidance of $56 million to $61 million.

Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE: VPG), a leading producer of precision sensors and systems, today announced its results for its fiscal 2015 first quarter ended March 28, 2015.

Ziv Shoshani, VPG’s chief executive officer said, “Revenues this quarter included a $4.4 million negative foreign exchange rate impact versus last year’s first quarter, due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar. Consolidated gross margin improved year-over-year, and our book-to-bill and backlog increased sequentially. We continue to make progress with our organic growth platforms, specifically our advanced sensor line in our Foil Technology Products segment.”

Net revenues for the first quarter of 2015 were $56.6 million, representing a 7.3% decrease from $61.0 million of net revenues for the comparable prior year period. Comparing sequential results, net revenues for the first quarter of 2015 decreased by $4.6 million, or 7.5%, from $61.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Net revenues were negatively impacted by the effect of foreign exchange rates of $4.4 million as compared to the first quarter of 2014 and were negatively impacted by the effect of foreign exchange rates of $2.3 million as compared to the fourth quarter of 2014.

Net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders for the first quarter of 2015 were $0.7 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders for the first quarter of 2014 of $1.7 million, or $0.12 per diluted share.

Adjusted net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders for the first quarter of 2015 were $0.8 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, versus adjusted net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders of $2.0 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the comparable prior year period. Net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders for the first quarter of 2015 include $0.1 million of restructuring costs at one of the company's subsidiaries, versus $0.4 million of acquisition related costs and restructuring costs in the first quarter of 2014, which affect comparability. Foreign exchange rates for the first quarter of 2015 as compared to the prior year period had a negative impact to pretax income of $0.5 million, or $0.03 per diluted share.

Segments

The Foil Technology Products segment revenues were $25.1 million in the first quarter of 2015, down 3.6% from $26.0 million in the first quarter last year, and down 5.9% from $26.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Net revenues were negatively impacted by the effect of foreign exchange rates of $1.7 million as compared to the first quarter of 2014 and were negatively impacted by the effect of foreign exchange rates of $0.7 million as compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. The gross margin for the segment increased to 40.6% for the first quarter of 2015 compared to 37.9% in the first quarter last year, and up from 37.6% in the fourth quarter of 2014. The gross margin increased from the comparable prior year period primarily due to volume and manufacturing efficiencies. The sequential gross margin increase was primarily due to non-recurring, fourth quarter 2014 year-end inventory adjustments.

The Force Sensors segment revenues of $15.2 million in the first quarter of 2015 were down 7.3% compared to $16.4 million in the first quarter last year, and were down 12.5% from $17.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Decreased year-over-year revenues are attributable primarily to $0.8 million of negative exchange rate impact and $0.4 million of lower volume. The decrease in sequential revenues is attributable to lower volume. The gross margin for the segment was 21.9% in the first quarter of 2015 versus 21.3% in the first quarter of 2014 and 22.8% in the fourth quarter of 2014. The gross margin for the quarter increased from the comparable prior year period primarily due to manufacturing efficiencies and an increase in inventories, offset by negative foreign exchange rate effects. The sequential gross margin decreased due to lower volume.

The Weighing and Control Systems segment revenues were $16.3 million in the first quarter of 2015, down 12.3% from $18.6 million in the first quarter last year, and down 5.0% from $17.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Decreased year-over-year revenues were attributable to $2.0 million of negative foreign exchange rate effects and the sequential decrease is attributable to $1.1 million of negative foreign exchange rate effects. The gross margin for the segment was 44.6% in the first quarter of 2015 versus 46.7% in the first quarter of 2014 and 44.3% in the fourth quarter of 2014. The year-over-year decrease in gross margin is primarily due to the negative effects of foreign exchange rates and unfavorable product mix. Sequentially, gross margin is relatively flat.

Outlook

Mr. Shoshani concluded, “Given the diversity of end markets that we serve, some markets are stronger while others are weaker, and assuming a similar exchange rate impact to our revenues, we are forecasting second quarter revenues to be in the range of $56 million to $61 million.”

Conference Call and Webcast

A conference call will be held today (May 5, 2015) at 10:00 a.m. EDT (9:00 a.m. CDT). To access the conference call, interested parties may call 1-888-317-6003 or internationally 1-412-317-6061 and use passcode 1260722, or log on to the investor relations page of the VPG website at www.vpgsensors.com.

A replay will be available approximately one hour after the completion of the call by calling toll-free 1-877-344-7529 or internationally 1-412-317-0088 and by using the passcode: 10063601. The replay will also be available on the investor relations page of the VPG website at www.vpgsensors.com for a limited time.

About VPG

Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (VPG) is an internationally recognized designer, manufacturer and marketer of: components based on its resistive foil technology; sensors; and sensor-based systems specializing in the growing markets of stress, force, weight, pressure, and current measurements. VPG is a market leader of Foil Technology Products, providing ongoing technology innovations in precision foil resistors and foil strain gages, which are the foundation of the company's Force Sensors products and its Weighing and Control Systems. The product portfolio consists of a variety of well-established brand names recognized for precision and quality in the marketplace. To learn more, visit VPG at www.vpgsensors.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

From time to time, information provided by us, including but not limited to statements in this report, or other statements made by or on our behalf, may contain "forward-looking" information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated.

Such statements are based on current expectations only, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, expected, estimated, or projected. Among the factors that could cause actual results to materially differ include: general business and economic conditions, changes in the current pace of economic recovery, including if such recovery stalls or does not continue as expected; difficulties or delays in completing acquisitions and integrating acquired companies, the inability to realize anticipated synergies and expansion possibilities, difficulties in new product development; changes in competition and technology in the markets that we serve and the mix of our products required to address these changes; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; difficulties in implementing our ERP system and the associated impact on manufacturing efficiencies and customer satisfaction; difficulties in implementing our cost reduction strategies such as underutilization of production facilities, labor unrest or legal challenges to our lay-off or termination plans, operation of redundant facilities due to difficulties in transferring production to lower-labor-cost countries; and other factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services, and prices that are set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    VISHAY PRECISION GROUP, INC. Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited - In thousands, except per share amounts)   Fiscal quarter ended

March 28,2015

March 29,2014

  Net revenues $ 56,608 $ 61,041 Costs of products sold   35,829     38,994   Gross profit 20,779 22,047 Gross profit margin 36.7 % 36.1 %   Selling, general, and administrative expenses 18,733 18,700 Restructuring costs   78     324   Operating income 1,968 3,023 Operating margin 3.5 % 5.0 %   Other income (expense): Interest expense (184 ) (212 ) Other   (958 )   (542 ) Other income (expense) - net   (1,142 )   (754 )   Income before taxes 826 2,269   Income tax expense   143     496     Net earnings 683 1,773 Less: net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests   (13 )   67   Net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders $ 696   $ 1,706     Basic earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders $ 0.05 $ 0.12 Diluted earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders $ 0.05 $ 0.12   Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 13,746 13,752 Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 13,960 13,958     VISHAY PRECISION GROUP, INC. Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (In thousands)  

March 28,2015

December 31,2014

(Unaudited) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 70,212 $ 79,642 Accounts receivable, net 36,707 37,514 Inventories: Raw materials 14,737 15,017 Work in process 21,710 20,498 Finished goods   19,196     18,798   Inventories, net 55,643 54,313   Deferred income taxes 5,024 5,003 Prepaid expenses and other current assets   11,239     10,566   Total current assets 178,825 187,038   Property and equipment, at cost: Land 1,845 1,893 Buildings and improvements 49,813 50,266 Machinery and equipment 79,797 79,109 Software 6,855 6,837 Construction in progress 2,536 3,786 Accumulated depreciation   (90,911 )   (89,909 ) Property and equipment, net 49,935 51,982   Goodwill 11,890 12,788   Intangible assets, net 15,856 17,489   Other assets   20,659     20,590   Total assets $ 277,165   $ 289,887     Liabilities and equity Current liabilities: Trade accounts payable $ 10,298 $ 10,371 Payroll and related expenses 14,302 14,252 Other accrued expenses 13,338 16,590 Income taxes 387 2,197 Current portion of long-term debt   5,370     5,120   Total current liabilities 43,695 48,530   Long-term debt, less current portion 16,185 17,713 Deferred income taxes 643 1,756 Other liabilities 7,288 7,658 Accrued pension and other postretirement costs   12,727     13,072   Total liabilities   80,538     88,729     Commitments and contingencies   Equity: Common stock 1,275 1,273 Class B convertible common stock 103 103 Treasury stock (1,263 ) (32 ) Capital in excess of par value 189,621 189,532 Retained earnings 37,196 36,500 Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (30,510 )   (26,452 ) Total Vishay Precision Group, Inc. stockholders' equity 196,422 200,924 Noncontrolling interests   205     234   Total equity   196,627     201,158   Total liabilities and equity $ 277,165   $ 289,887       VISHAY PRECISION GROUP, INC. Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited - In thousands)   Three fiscal months ended

March 28,2015

March 29,2014

  Operating activities Net earnings $ 683 $ 1,773 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 2,756 2,849 Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment 2 (3 ) Share-based compensation expense 267 222 Inventory write-offs for obsolescence 480 438 Other (291 ) 486 Net changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (459 ) (1,506 ) Inventories (2,684 ) (286 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (706 ) (316 ) Trade accounts payable 121 237 Other current liabilities   (3,566 )   (1,855 ) Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities   (3,397 )   2,039     Investing activities Capital expenditures (1,782 ) (1,878 ) Proceeds from sale of property and equipment   —     3   Net cash used in investing activities   (1,782 )   (1,875 )   Financing activities Principal payments on long-term debt and capital leases (1,280 ) (1,035 ) Purchase of treasury stock (1,231 ) — Distributions to noncontrolling interests   (16 )   (18 ) Net cash used in financing activities (2,527 ) (1,053 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (1,724 )   145   Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (9,430 ) (744 )     Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   79,642     72,785   Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 70,212   $ 72,041       VISHAY PRECISION GROUP, INC. Reconciliation of Consolidated Adjusted Gross Profit Margin (Unaudited - In thousands)   Fiscal quarter ended

March 28,2015

March 29,2014

Gross profit $ 20,779 $ 22,047 Gross profit margin 36.7 % 36.1 %  

Reconciling items affecting gross profit margin

Acquisition purchase accounting adjustments — 39     Adjusted gross profit $ 20,779   $ 22,086   Adjusted gross profit margin 36.7 % 36.2 %     VISHAY PRECISION GROUP, INC. Reconciliation of Adjusted Earnings Per Share (Unaudited - In thousands, except per share data)   Fiscal quarter ended

March 28,2015

March 29,2014

Net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders $ 696 $ 1,706  

Reconciling items affecting operating margin

Acquisition purchase accounting adjustments — 39 Acquisition costs — — Restructuring costs 78 324  

Reconciling items affecting income tax expense

Tax effect of adjustments for purchase accounting and restructuring costs   16   92 Adjusted net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders $ 758 $ 1,977   Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 13,960 13,958   Adjusted net earnings per diluted share $ 0.05 $ 0.14

VPGWendy WilsonSenior Director Investor Relations and Corporate Communications919-374-5501wendy.wilson@vpgsensors.com