FMC reduces third-quarter and full-year 2015 outlook for Brazilian real devaluation

FMC Corporation recently announced that, due to the recent rapid devaluation of the Brazilian real, the company is reducing third-quarter and full-year outlook for its Agricultural Solutions segment.  The company expects third-quarter segment earnings of $59 million and fourth-quarter segment earnings to be in the range of $110 to $130 million.  Assuming an adjusted tax rate of 27 percent, adjusted earnings are expected to be $0.38 per share for the third quarter and in the range of $2.35 to $2.45 per share for the full year.

A rapid devaluation of the Brazilian real, which depreciated over 50 percent versus the U.S. dollar in the past 12 months, and over 25 percent versus the U.S. dollar during the third quarter alone, has created significant headwinds that will continue to impact Agricultural Solutions segment earnings in the second half of 2015.  Customer-held inventory levels remain elevated, limiting FMC's ability to increase prices quickly enough to fully offset the impact of these currency movements.  During the third quarter, FMC recovered approximately 40 percent of the foreign exchange impact through price increases.  The company estimates that the devaluation of the Brazilian real in the second half of 2015 will reduce segment earnings by between $200 million and $240 million, which will be partially offset by price increases of $90 million to $110 million.

FMC is announcing several targeted measures to reduce enterprise-wide operating costs and reorganize the company's operations in Brazil:

•    FMC will reduce corporate costs through workforce reductions, lower discretionary spending and global procurement initiatives. These actions began in September and will be substantially completed by the end of the year.
•    FMC will resize its operations in Brazil to align the business with near-term market conditions. FMC will enhance its focus on proprietary technology platforms and differentiated products, and will rationalize the company's product offerings to eliminate low-margin sales. This portfolio rationalization program, including the previously announced sale of FMC's generic subsidiary, Consagro, will reduce 2015 revenue in Brazil by $250 million compared to 2014. This will enable FMC to further reduce the region's operating costs and enhance its potential to deliver higher future earnings and return on capital. At the completion of this reorganization, FMC's workforce in Brazil will be approximately half its size compared to 2014. All of these actions will be substantially completed by year-end.
•    The Cheminova integration will be accelerated and additional programs to achieve further cost savings will be implemented, commencing immediately. 

FMC now expects total headcount reductions of 800 to 850 positions.  Run-rate cost savings by the middle of 2017 will be $140 million to $160 million, compared to the prior target of $90 million.  The majority of the actions to achieve these savings will be implemented within the next six months.

"We are taking aggressive actions to address the extraordinary operating environment in Brazil," said Pierre Brondeau, FMC president, CEO, and chairman.  "The steps we are announcing today will protect the profitability of the business during this downturn, shrink the capital employed in the region and position FMC to take advantage of a future market recovery.  FMC will be well positioned to deliver solid earnings growth and higher returns beginning in 2016, even in the face of soft market conditions.

"FMC Agricultural Solutions outside of Brazil continues to perform well," Brondeau said.  "On a pro forma basis, FMC Agricultural Solutions outside Latin America is expected to deliver profits in line with prior expectations, demonstrating the strength of FMC's portfolio and technology in a weak global agriculture market.  FMC Health and Nutrition and FMC Lithium are performing as expected, each benefiting from commercial and operating initiatives implemented over the past 12 months.  These business segments are on track to deliver full-year 2015 segment earnings in line with guidance."