the negative impact of the Impairment Charge, the Restructuring-Related Costs and the Bad Debt Expense of approximately $0.04 and $1.04 per common share, respectively. By comparison, net loss from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, was $3.0 million or $0.24 per common share, and $2.5 million or $0.20 per common share, respectively.
Segment Results
Sales for the Forged and Cast Engineered Products segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, declined 10% and 9%, respectively, compared to the prior year periods principally due to lower sales of forged engineered products to the oil and gas industry. Operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2019, improved from a year ago due to lower losses at Avonmore as operations were curtailed in anticipation of its sale, which was completed on September 30, 2019. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, decreased by $9.3 million when compared to the same period of the prior year and include the Impairment Charge, certain restructuring-related costs and the Bad Debt Expense. Additionally, while the current year periods have been adversely impacted by the lower sales of forged engineered products, operating results benefited from better pricing for mill rolls, manufacturing efficiencies in the domestic forged operations and lower overhead costs.
Sales for the Air and Liquid Processing segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, were relatively comparable to prior year levels. Operating income decreased approximately 23% and 18% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to prior year levels due principally to a shift in product mix.
Discontinued Operations
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, was $3.4 million or $0.27 per common share, and $9.0 million or $0.72 per common share, respectively. This compares to anet-of-tax loss of $3.4 million or $0.28 per common share, and $5.2 million or $0.42 per common share, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. The losses reflect the operations of the Corporation’s former Canadian subsidiary, ASW Steel Inc. (“ASW”), which was sold on September 30, 2019.
CEO Commentary
Commenting on the quarter’s results, Brett McBrayer, Ampco-Pittsburgh’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “The highlight of the quarter was closing the divestitures of both our Avonmore, PA cast roll facility and of ASW, our former Canadian specialty steel business. These important actions remove what have been significant financial headwinds for us. The company’s underlying performance improved year-over-year in a seasonally weaker quarter, which included the impact of scheduled, proactive plant shutdowns in the U.S. and Europe to maintain asset reliability. We continue to benefit from our operational improvement initiatives, as evidenced by the improved adjusted results compared to prior year, despite a significant sales downturn in our frac block business. During the quarter, we also initiated the next phase of operational efficiency improvements at our European cast roll plants.”
Teleconference Access
Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation (NYSE: AP) will hold a conference call on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) to discuss its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. The Corporation encourages participants topre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time via this link:http://dpregister.com/10136020. Those without internet access or unable topre-register should dial in at least five minutes before the start time using:
| · | | ParticipantDial-in (Toll Free):1-844-308-3408 |
| · | | Participant InternationalDial-in:1-412-317-5408 |