GlobeNewswire Inc | Feb 18, 2021 07:30AM EST

February 18, 2021

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Feb. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bel Fuse Inc. (Nasdaq: BELFA and BELFB) today announced preliminary financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2020.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Highlights

? Net sales of $116.1 million, up0.9%fromQ4-19 despiteCOVID-related challenges? Gross profit margin of25.3%, up from 21.1%in Q4-19led by improvement in Power Solutions and Protection product groupmargins? Net earnings of $3.6million versus a net loss of $(6.4)million in Q4-19? Adjusted EBITDA of $7.8 million, representing an increase of 157% compared to Q4-19? Realized $1.4 million of cost savings during Q4-20 under global cost reduction program

Full Year 2020 Highlights

Net sales of $465.8million, down5.4%from 2019largely driven by an $18.8? million, or 60%, decline in commercial aerospace sales and COVID-related challenges? Gross profit margin of 25.7%, up from 22.3%in 2019, driven by strong performance across all segments? Global cost reduction program resulting in $6.1 million of savings during 2020? Net earnings of $12.8million versus a net loss of $(8.7)million in 2019? Adjusted EBITDA of $32.3 million, an improvement of over 24% from 2019? Ended year with $32.9 million in net debt, a 55% decline as compared to the 2019 year-end level

Subsequent Items

Announced two acquisitions in January 2021 (rms Connectors and EOS) for a? combined purchase price of $15.5 million, financed through cash and lines of credit with our banks? Appointment of Farouq Tuweiq as Chief Financial Officer effective February 15, 2021

Non-GAAP financial measures, such as Non-GAAP net earnings, Non-GAAP EPS, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, exclude a gain on sale of property, costs associated with ERP system implementation costs, restructuring charges, the impact of a non-cash goodwill impairment charge, and non-cash charges associated with the liquidation of foreign subsidiaries. Please refer to the financial information included with this press release for reconciliations of GAAP financial measures to Non-GAAP financial measures and our explanation of why we present Non-GAAP financial measures.

CEO CommentsDaniel Bernstein, President and CEO, said, "We are pleased to report another quarter of improved profitability versus what was experienced in 2019. Our fourth quarter sales, while only marginally higher than in the fourth quarter of 2019, gave us margin benefits from a stronger mix of product, enabling a $5 million increase in gross profit on a $1 million increase in sales. The Power Solutions and Protection group benefited from a full quarter of CUI sales and steady growth within e-mobilityduring the 2020 period, coupled with the elimination of low-margin power products from our portfolio. Military sales grew by 60% from fourth quarter 2019, mitigating the impact of lower demand from our commercial aerospace products during the 2020 quarter. While sales of our Magnetic Solution products were down 22% in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to the 2019 quarter, we saw a rebound in bookings for this group in the fourth quarter of 2020, a strong indicator for potential rebound in the near term.

"On the cost side, Bel's continued dedication to and successful execution ofits global cost reduction program has resulted in a streamlined organization and leaves the Company well-positioned for further margin expansion once overall sales rebound. During the fourth quarter, we sold our Switzerland facility at a gain of $1.9 million. This facility closure and other actions implemented by the end of 2020 areexpected to result in$4.4 million of cost savings in 2021, which will be incrementalto the $6.1 million that we have already successfully taken out of our ongoing cost structure during the past year. We are proud of the margin progress weve made, and still believe there is more benefit to come as demand in many of our markets continues to recover.

"In January 2021, Bel announced two acquisitions that are strategic to our future growth plans. The acquisition of rms Connectors enabled us to increaseour market share within the commercial aerospace end market, and we anticipate rms to be accretive to Bel's EBITDA by June 2021as operations transition to a nearby Bel facility. The acquisition of EOS Power, expected to close late in the first quarter, will broaden Bel's power product portfolio with industrial and medical products. Importantly, this acquisition will extend our manufacturing footprint outside of China with a turnkey operation and will provide access to the fast-growing India market for all of Bel's products. These two acquisitions, which were executed at favorable valuations for us, fit squarely into Bel's growth strategy by increasing market share while diversifying our product portfolios and geographic footprint.

"Visibility continues to be limited as a result of COVID and long lead times for semiconductors and certain components andthese factors may affect our organic growth for2021. We believe, however, that the incremental contributionfrom the two new acquisitions coupled with continued actions under our global cost savings initiative will bode well for further profitability in the coming year,"concluded Mr. Bernstein.

Conference CallBel has scheduled a conference call at 11:00 a.m. ET today. To participate in the conference call, investors should dial800-430-8332, or 323-289-6581if dialing internationally. The presentation will additionally be broadcast live over the Internet and will be available at https://ir.belfuse.com/events-and-presentations. The webcast will be available via replay for a period of 20 days at this same Internet address. For those unable to access the live call, a telephone replay will be available at 844-512-2921, or 412-317-6671 if dialing internationally, using access code 3388016 after 2:00 p.m. ET, also for 20 days.

About BelBel (www.belfuse.com) designs, manufactures and markets a broad array of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits. These products are primarily used in the networking, telecommunications, computing, military, aerospace, transportation and broadcasting industries. Bel's product groups include Magnetic Solutions (integrated connector modules, power transformers, power inductors and discrete components), Power Solutions and Protection (front-end, board-mount and industrial power products, module products and circuit protection), and Connectivity Solutions (expanded beam fiber optic, copper-based, RF and RJ connectors and cable assemblies). The Company operates facilities around the world.

Forward-Looking StatementsNon-historical information contained in this press release (including the statements regarding potential rebound of Magnetic Solution and overall product sales, the anticipated impact of the global cost reduction initiative on Bels positioning for further margin expansion, anticipated cost savings resulting from the closing on the sale of the Switzerland facility, potential benefits to Bels margins resulting from recovery of demand in Bels markets, the anticipated impact of the rms Connectors acquisition including on Bels EBITDA, the anticipated impact of the EOS Power acquisition including the timing of the closing thereof, factors that may affect Bels organic growth for 2021 including continuing limited visibility as a result of COVID and long lead times for semiconductors and certain components, and the incremental contribution from the two new acquisitions coupled with the global cost savings initiative boding well for further profitability in the coming year) are forward-looking statements (as described under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from Bel's projections. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements are: the market concerns facing our customers; the continuing viability of sectors that rely on our products; the effects of business and economic conditions; the success of efforts to contain and otherwise respond to the Coronavirus; difficulties associated with integrating previously acquired companies; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; product development, commercialization or technological difficulties; the regulatory and trade environment; risks associated with foreign currencies; uncertainties associated with legal proceedings; the market's acceptance of the Company's new products and competitive responses to those new products; our ongoing evaluation of the consequences of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; the impact of changes to U.S. trade and tariff policies; and the risk factors detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. In light of the risks and uncertainties impacting our business, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will in fact prove to be correct. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements.

Non-GAAP Financial MeasuresThe non-GAAP measures identified in this press release as well as in the supplementary information to this press release (Non-GAAP net earnings, Non-GAAP EPS, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA) are not measures of performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). These measures should not be considered a substitute for, and the reader should also consider, income from operations, net earnings, earnings per share and other measures of performance as defined by GAAP as indicators of our performance or profitability. Our non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other similarly-titled captions of other companies due to differences in the method of calculation. We present results adjusted to exclude the effects of certain unusual or special items and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under U.S. GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods. We may use Non-GAAP financial measures to determine performance-based compensation and management believes that this information may be useful to investors.

Website InformationWe routinely post important information for investors on our website,www.belfuse.com, in the "Investor Relations" section. We use our website as a means of disclosing material, otherwise non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investor Relations section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

[Financial tables follow]

Bel Fuse Inc.Supplementary Information(1)Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations(in thousands, except per share amounts)(unaudited)

Three Months Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Net sales $ 116,130 $ 115,128 $ 465,771 $ 492,412 Cost of sales 86,754 90,782 346,041 382,439 Gross profit 29,376 24,346 119,730 109,973 As a % of net 25.3 % 21.1 % 25.7 % 22.3 %sales Research anddevelopment 5,723 6,726 23,611 26,925 costsSelling,general and 19,565 19,581 78,704 77,416 administrativeexpensesAs a % of net 16.8 % 17.0 % 16.9 % 15.7 %salesImpairment of - - - 8,891 goodwillRestructuring 318 942 601 2,593 chargesGain on sale (1,853 ) - (1,853 ) (4,257 )of property Income (loss)from 5,623 (2,903 ) 18,667 (1,595 )operationsAs a % of net 4.8 % -2.5 % 4.0 % -0.3 %sales Interest (903 ) (1,323 ) (4,746 ) (5,448 )expenseOther income/ (395 ) (1,735 ) (1,785 ) (259 )expense, netEarnings(loss) before 4,325 (5,961 ) 12,136 (7,302 )income taxes Provision for(benefit from) 774 392 (659 ) 1,441 income taxesEffective tax 17.9 % -6.6 % -5.4 % -19.7 %rateNet earnings $ 3,551 $ (6,353 ) $ 12,795 $ (8,743 )(loss)As a % of net 3.1 % -5.5 % 2.7 % -1.8 %sales Weightedaverage number of sharesoutstanding:Class A commonshares - basic 2,145 2,145 2,145 2,167 and dilutedClass B commonshares - basic 10,213 10,130 10,185 10,117 and diluted Net earnings(loss) per common share:Class A commonshares - basic $ 0.27 $ (0.50 ) $ 0.97 $ (0.71 )and dilutedClass B commonshares - basic $ 0.29 $ (0.52 ) $ 1.05 $ (0.71 )and diluted

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2020 ispreliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-Kwith the Securities and Exchange Commission.(2) During the fourth quarter of 2020,the Company changed its financialstatement presentation related to gain/loss on its SERP investments. Thesegains/losses were previously included within cost of sales and selling,general and administrative expense. For the three months and year ended December 31, 2019 presented above, a total of $0.7 million and $2.1 million,respectively, of gains on SERP investments have been reclassified from costof sales and selling, general and administrative expense and are nowincluded within other income/expense, net.

Bel Fuse Inc.Supplementary Information(1)Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets(in thousands, unaudited)

December 31, December 31, 2020 2019Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 84,939 $ 72,289 Accounts receivable, net 71,372 76,092 Inventories 100,133 107,276 Other current assets 23,772 27,524 Total current assets 280,216 283,181 Property, plant and equipment, net 34,501 41,943 Right-of-use assets 14,217 18,504 Goodwill and other intangible 89,755 94,357 assets, netOther assets 35,177 30,932 Total assets $ 453,866 $ 468,917 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 39,774 $ 44,169 Current portion of long-term debt 5,286 5,489 Operating lease liability, current 6,591 7,377 Other current liabilities 35,885 33,183 Total current liabilities 87,536 90,218 Long-term debt 110,294 138,215 Operating lease liability, long-term 8,064 11,751 Other liabilities 62,173 60,682 Total liabilities 268,067 300,866 Stockholders' equity 185,799 168,051 Total liabilities and stockholders' $ 453,866 $ 468,917 equity

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2020 ispreliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-Kwith the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bel Fuse Inc.Supplementary Information(1)Reconciliation of GAAP Net Earnings (Loss)to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA(2)(in thousands, unaudited)

Three Months Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 GAAP Net earnings $ 3,551 $ (6,353 ) $ 12,795 $ (8,743 )(loss)Interest expense 903 1,323 4,746 5,448 Provision for(benefit from) 774 392 (659 ) 1,441 income taxesDepreciation and 4,101 4,206 16,423 16,471 amortizationEBITDA $ 9,329 $ (432 ) $ 33,305 $ 14,617 % of net sales 8.0 % -0.4 % 7.2 % 3.0 % Unusual or special items:Gain on sale of (1,853 ) - (1,853 ) (4,257 )propertyRestructuring 318 942 601 2,593 chargesAcquisition-related 25 232 211 232 costsImpairment of - - - 8,891 goodwillERP systemimplementation - 197 - 1,814 consulting costsLoss on liquidationof foreign - 2,103 - 2,103 subsidiary Adjusted EBITDA $ 7,819 $ 3,042 $ 32,264 $ 25,993 % of net sales 6.7 % 2.6 % 6.9 % 5.3 %

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2020 ispreliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-Kwith the Securities and Exchange Commission.(2) In this press release and supplemental information, we have includedNon-GAAP financial measures, including Non-GAAP net (loss) earnings,Non-GAAP EPS, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. We present results adjusted toexclude the effects of certain specified items and their related tax impact that would otherwise be included under GAAP, to aid in comparisons withother periods. We may use Non-GAAP financial measures to determineperformance-based compensation and management believes that this informationmay be useful to investors.



Bel Fuse Inc.Supplementary Information(1)Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures(2)(in thousands, unaudited)

The following tables detail the impact of certain unusual or special items hadon the Company's net earnings (loss)per common Class A and Class B basic anddiluted shares ("EPS") and the line items these items were included on thecondensed consolidated statements of operations.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2020 Three Months Ended December 31, 2019 Earnings Provision (Loss) Provision NetReconciling Items before for Net Class A Class B earnings for (loss) Class A Class B taxes income earnings EPS(3) EPS(3) before income earnings EPS(3) EPS(3) taxes taxes taxes GAAP measures $ 4,325 $ 774 $ 3,551 $ 0.27 $ 0.29 $ (5,961 ) $ 392 $ (6,353 ) $ (0.50 ) $ (0.52 )Items included in SG&A expenses:Acquisition-related 25 6 19 - - 232 53 179 0.01 0.01 costsERP systemimplementation - - - - - 197 34 163 0.01 0.01 consulting costsGain on sale of (1,853 ) (403 ) (1,450 ) (0.11 ) (0.12 ) - - - - - propertyRestructuring 318 - 318 0.02 0.03 942 222 720 0.06 0.06 chargesLoss on liquidationof foreign - - - - - 2,103 506 1,597 0.12 0.13 subsidiaryNon-GAAP measures $ 2,815 $ 377 $ 2,438 $ 0.18 $ 0.20 $ (2,487 ) $ 1,207 $ (3,694 ) $ (0.30 ) $ (0.30 )

Year Ended December 31, 2020 Year Ended December 31, 2019 Earnings Provision (Loss) Provision NetReconciling Items before for Net Class A Class B earnings for (loss) Class A Class B taxes income earnings EPS(3) EPS(3) before income earnings EPS(3) EPS(3) taxes taxes taxes GAAP measures $ 12,136 $ (659 ) $ 12,795 $ 0.97 $ 1.05 $ (7,302 ) $ 1,441 $ (8,743 ) $ (0.71 ) $ (0.71 )Items included in SG&A expenses:Acquisition-related 211 49 162 0.01 0.01 232 53 179 0.01 0.01 costsERP systemimplementation - - - - - 1,814 335 1,479 0.12 0.12 consulting costsImpairment of - - - - - 8,891 368 8,523 0.67 0.70 goodwillGain on sale of (1,853 ) (403 ) (1,450 ) (0.11 ) (0.12 ) (4,257 ) (979 ) (3,278 ) (0.26 ) (0.27 )propertyRestructuring 601 62 539 0.04 0.04 2,593 502 2,091 0.16 0.17 chargesLoss on liquidationof foreign - - - - - 2,103 506 1,597 0.12 0.13 subsidiaryNon-GAAP measures $ 11,095 $ (951 ) $ 12,046 $ 0.92 $ 0.99 $ 4,074 $ 2,226 $ 1,848 $ 0.12 $ 0.15

(1) The supplementary information included in this press release for 2020 ispreliminary and subject to change prior to the filing of our upcoming AnnualReport on Form 10-Kwith the Securities and Exchange Commission.(2) In this press release and supplemental information, we have includedNon-GAAP financial measures, including Non-GAAP net earnings, Non-GAAP EPS,EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. We present results adjusted to exclude the effectsof certain specified items and their related tax impact that would otherwise beincluded under GAAP, to aid in comparisons with other periods. We may useNon-GAAP financial measures to determine performance-based compensation andmanagement believes that this information may be useful to investors.(3) Individual amounts of earnings per share may not agree to the total due torounding.

Investor Contact: Company Contact:Darrow Associates Daniel Bernsteintel 516.419.9915 Presidentpseltzberg@darrowir.com ir@belf.com