Key Highlights

•Fourth quarter operating income from continuing operations of $42 million, up 77% over the fourth quarter of 2011

•Fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of $72 million, up 37% over the fourth quarter of 2011

•Achieved full year 2012 as reported operating margins of 10.4% and full year adjusted EBITDA margins of 15.3%, both the highest since emergence

•Management issues 2013 guidance

LANCASTER, Pa. - Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE: AWI), a global leader in the design and manufacture of floors and ceilings, today reported fourth quarter and full year 2012 results and issued 2013 guidance.

Consolidated net sales for the fourth quarter decreased by approximately $10 million, or 2%, compared to the prior year period. Excluding approximately $4 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact for the quarter, sales declined approximately 1% compared to the prior year period. Improvements in price offset volume declines and unfavorable mix. The sale of the Patriot wood flooring distribution business which occurred in the third quarter of 2012, negatively impacted sales for the fourth quarter of 2012 by approximately $7 million when compared to the same period in 2011.

Operating income increased in spite of lower sales volumes, primarily due to cost reduction actions taken under the company's cost savings program, which resulted in lower manufacturing and core SG&A expenses when compared to the same period last year. Net income and diluted earnings per share were impacted by a higher effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2012 primarily due to foreign tax credit benefits recorded in the fourth quarter of 2011.

"I'm pleased to announce that adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was up 37% over the prior year as we delivered results in line with our previously issued guidance, despite a choppy market environment," said Matt Espe, President and CEO. "We also made significant progress throughout 2012 on our strategic initiatives, including the design and construction of our emerging markets plants and the divestiture of non-core assets. For the full year, we also achieved record safety results and the highest adjusted EBITDA margins, at 15.3%, since emergence from bankruptcy."

*The Company uses the above non-GAAP adjusted measures, as well as other non-GAAP measures mentioned below, in managing the business and believes the adjustments provide meaningful comparisons of operating performance between periods. Adjusted operating income, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted EPS exclude the impact of foreign exchange, restructuring charges and related costs, impairments, and certain other nonrecurring gains and losses. Free cash flow is defined as cash from operations and dividends received from the WAVE joint venture, less expenditures for property and equipment, less restricted cash, and is adjusted to remove the impact of cash used or proceeds received for acquisitions and divestitures. The company believes free cash flow is useful because it provides insight into the amount of cash that the Company has available for discretionary uses, after expenditures for capital commitments and adjustments for acquisitions/divestitures. Adjusted figures are reported in comparable dollars using the budgeted exchange rate for 2012, and are reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measures in tables at the end of this release.

In spite of sales declining 1% on a constant foreign exchange basis, adjusted operating income and EBITDA improved by 62% and 37%, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2012 when compared to the prior year period. These improvements were driven primarily by reductions in manufacturing costs and SG&A expenses, coupled with the impact of better pricing. Adjusted net income and earnings per share also benefited from a reduction in the adjusted effective tax rate from 42% to 40%. Free cash flow declined over the prior year as the special dividend received from WAVE in the fourth quarter of 2011 did not recur and there was less improvement in working capital when compared to the prior year, as the working capital program initiated in 2011 drove one time gains. Increased capital expenditures associated with emerging market investments also negatively impacted free cash flow, even though cash earnings increased.

Net sales improved by approximately 1% when compared to the prior year as higher volumes in the North American commercial business and improvements in price and mix were able to offset volume declines in Europe. Operating income improved primarily due to reductions in manufacturing costs and SG&A expenses and favorable pricing.

The decline in net sales was driven by lower volumes in Europe and in North America, where continued softness in commercial sectors tied to public spending and lower sales in the home center channel negatively impacted volumes. Operating income improved as more favorable mix and reductions in manufacturing costs were able to offset volume declines and start up costs associated with the ramp up of the flooring plant in China.

Net sales declined in the fourth quarter primarily due the divestiture of the Patriot distribution business which occurred in the third quarter of 2012. Overall volumes improved, driven by strong sales in the builder channel which negatively impacted mix. Operating income declined in the fourth quarter as lumber costs increased and higher sales into the builder channel drove increased volumes but less favorable mix, which were only partially offset by reduced manufacturing costs.

Corporate

Unallocated corporate expense of $16.7 million increased from $15.4 million in the prior year due to a $3.5 million lower pension credit, which more than offset reductions in core SG&A expenses.

Full Year Results from continuing operations

Excluding approximately $48 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact, sales declined approximately 2% compared to the prior year period. On a consolidated level, improvements in price and mix were unable to offset volume declines. Volumes were negatively impacted by continued softness in commercial markets, particularly in sectors tied to public spending, lower sales into the U.S. home center channel, continued softness in European markets and the sale of the Patriot distribution business.

The improvement in operating income and adjusted EBITDA was driven primarily by reductions in manufacturing and SG&A expenses and improvements in price, which more than offset the impact of lower volumes. As reported operating income was impacted by approximately $25 million of charges associated with the closure of the Mobile, AL building products facility and headcount reductions in European Building Products in 2012, approximately $13 million of costs primarily associated with the closure of the Beaver Falls, PA building products facility in 2011, and approximately $21 million of severance and restructuring related costs in European Flooring in 2011.

The reduction in free cash flow was driven by higher capital expenditures, a reduction in dividends from WAVE as the special dividend received in 2011 did not recur, and less improvement in working capital as the company initiated working capital improvement plans last year which drove one-time gains. These reductions offset increased cash earnings for the year.

Discontinued Operations

In September 2012, the Company announced an agreement to sell its Cabinets business to American Industrial Partners. The sale was completed in October 2012. The transaction was subject to customary working capital adjustments, which are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2013. The financial results of the cabinets business, which have previously been shown as a separate reporting segment, have been reclassified as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

Market Outlook and 2013 Guidance ⁽¹⁾

For 2013, the Company expects U.S. GDP of approximately 2%, which translates into a flat to slightly down commercial opportunity, with continued weakness in education and, to a lesser extent, healthcare. New residential construction should continue to improve and new home starts are expected to be approximately 950,000 in 2013. The Company remains cautious on the outlook for residential repair and remodel activity and expects it to be flat to up slightly despite pent up demand, as consumers seem willing to defer action until they are more confident rather than trade down. In Europe, GDP is expected to show slight positive growth in the U.K., and be flat to down slightly in the Eurozone. This type of operating environment translates into lower sales in those regions, but expected growth in Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia, should disproportionally benefit the ceilings business. In the Pacific Rim, Australia is expected to continue to be a challenge and down year on year, but solid growth is expected in China.

The Company expects 2013 full year sales to be in the $2.7 to $2.8 billion range, up from 2012, and adjusted EBITDA to be in the $390 to $420 million range, or roughly flat with 2012. 2013 adjusted EPS is expected to be $2.30 to $2.60 per diluted share and free cash flow is anticipated to be between $75 and $125 million.

"Given the macro-economic backdrop and the lag between starts and when our products get installed in the cycle, our outlook for 2013 remains tempered, but I'm confident we've built a competitive cost structure and our strategic investments in emerging markets, like China and Russia, will position Armstrong to capitalize on improving economic conditions as world economies begin to recover," said Tom Mangas, Senior Vice President and CFO."

For the first quarter of 2013, sales are expected to be between $600 and $650 million and adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $68 to $83 million.

As a result of improving conditions in the debt capital markets the Company is about to launch a process to refinance its existing credit agreement. The Company anticipates achieving lower interest expense, longer maturities and several minor technical improvements versus the current credit agreement. The Company does not anticipate this transaction will materially change debt levels or liquidity, as the anticipated amount of the refinancing will be $1.025 billion.

⁽¹⁾ Sales guidance includes the impact of foreign exchange. Guidance metrics, other than sales, are presented using 2013 budgeted foreign exchange rates. Adjusted EPS guidance for 2013 is calculated based on an adjusted effective tax rate of 39%.

1. Cash flow information includes cash flows attributable to Cabinets.

Supplemental Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP Results (unaudited)
(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

To supplement its consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), the Company provides additional measures of performance adjusted to exclude the impact of foreign exchange, restructuring charges and related costs, impairments, and certain other gains and losses. Adjusted figures are reported in comparable dollars using the budgeted exchange rate for 2012. The Company uses these adjusted performance measures in managing the business, including communications with its Board of Directors and employees, and believes that they provide users of this financial information with meaningful comparisons of operating performance between current results and results in prior periods. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are appropriate to enhance understanding of its past performance, as well as prospects for its future performance. A reconciliation of these adjustments to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is included in this release and on the Company's website. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most comparable GAAP measures. Non-GAAP financial measures utilized by the Company may not be comparable to non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

1. Cash flow information includes cash flows attributable to Cabinets.

Supplemental Schedule of Geographic Sales from Continuing Operations (unaudited)

(Amounts in millions)

AWI reports Q4 and Full Year 2012 results

Source: Armstrong World Industries