TAMPA, Fla., May 6, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quality Distribution, Inc. (Nasdaq:QLTY) ("Quality") today reported the results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2009. Revenue excluding fuel surcharge was down 21.2% for the first quarter of 2009, compared to the first quarter of 2008, due to a continued softness in demand.
The net loss for the first quarter of 2009 was $0.3 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1.9 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the same quarter in 2008. The first quarter of 2009 contains a pre-tax restructuring charge of $0.6 million and a pre-tax gain of $0.7 million on early debt extinguishment. The first quarter of 2008 contains $1.0 million in pre-tax gains from property sales. Applying a normalized tax rate of 39% and excluding adjustment items, the Company would have had an adjusted net loss per diluted share of $0.01 for the first quarter of 2009, compared to an adjusted net loss per diluted share of $0.13 for the first quarter of 2008.
Gary Enzor, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Since last quarter we increased availability, reduced debt and reduced interest expense. We also improved operating income versus the same period last year despite the continued trucking volume challenge. In this quarter, we generated $13.7 million of net operating cash flow, $16.6 million better than first quarter of 2008, and we continued to strengthen our business platform while retaining our financial flexibility. We remain cautious due to volume softness, but we are encouraged by the results of our many cost initiatives implemented in 2008 and continuing into this year."
Steve Attwood, Chief Financial Officer, commented further, "Our positive operating cash flow enabled us to reduce total debt, net of cash, by $12.5 million this quarter. At the end of the quarter, total availability was $47.5 million, which includes availability under our revolving credit facility of $43.0 million, plus cash, in excess of operating needs, of $4.5 million. Our efforts to dramatically reduce costs continue to strengthen our balance sheet."
Quality will host a conference call for investors to discuss these results on Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The toll free dial-in number is 877-856-1968; the toll number is 719-325-4831; the passcode is 1448173. A replay of the call will be available through June 5, 2009, by dialing 888-203-1112; passcode: 1448173. A webcast of the conference call may be accessed in the Investor Relations section of Quality's website at www.qualitydistribution.com or http://investor.shareholder.com/qualitydistribution/events.cfm. Copies of this earnings release and other financial information about Quality may be accessed in the Investor Relations section of Quality's website at www.qualitydistribution.com. The Company regularly posts or otherwise makes available information on the Investor Relations section that may be important to investors.
Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Quality Distribution, Inc. through its subsidiaries, Quality Carriers, Inc. and Boasso America Corporation, and through its affiliates and owner-operators, provides bulk transportation and related services. Quality also provides tank cleaning services to the bulk transportation industry through its QualaWash(r) facilities. Quality Distribution is an American Chemistry Council Responsible Care(r) Partner and is a core carrier for many of the Fortune 500 companies that are engaged in chemical production and processing.
The Quality Distribution, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5285
This release contains certain forward-looking information that is subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements. Without limitation, additional risks and uncertainties regarding forward-looking statements include the Company's substantial leverage and restrictions contained in our debt instruments; economic factors; turmoil in the credit and capital markets; downturns in customers' business cycles or in the national economy; the cyclical nature of the transportation industry; claims exposure and insurance costs; adverse weather conditions; dependence on affiliates and owner-operators; changes in government regulation including transportation, environmental and anti-terrorism laws; the Company's environmental remediation costs; fluctuations in fuel pricing or availability; increases in interest rates; potential disruption at U.S. ports of entry; changes in senior management; the Company's ability to achieve projected operating objectives and debt reduction in 2009; its ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses or integrate affiliate businesses converted to Company-controlled operations; the Company's ability to achieve projected reductions in payroll-related costs; increased unionization, which could increase our operating costs or constrain operating flexibility; the potential loss of our ability to use net operating losses to offset future income due to a change of control; and the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified drivers. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures, including but not limited to risk factors contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any obligations to update any forward-looking statement as a result of developments occurring after the date of this release.
QLTYE
QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In 000's) Except Per Share Data Unaudited Three months ended March 31, --------------------------- 2009 2008 ------------ ------------ OPERATING REVENUES: Transportation $ 111,027 $ 149,259 Other service revenue 27,608 26,745 Fuel surcharge 11,097 32,497 --------------------------- Total operating revenues 149,732 208,501 --------------------------- OPERATING EXPENSES: Purchased transportation 81,891 119,972 Compensation 23,211 28,604 Fuel, supplies and maintenance 17,540 30,133 Depreciation and amortization 5,335 4,896 Selling and administrative 7,145 9,248 Insurance claims 4,049 5,562 Taxes and licenses 1,337 1,217 Communications and utilities 2,734 3,616 Gain on disposal of property and equipment (103) (544) Restructuring costs 600 -- --------------------------- Total operating expenses 143,739 202,704 --------------------------- Operating income 5,993 5,797 Interest expense 7,000 9,151 Interest income (103) (117) Gain on extinguishment of debt (675) -- Other expense 143 10 --------------------------- Loss before taxes (372) (3,247) Benefit from income taxes (70) (1,328) --------------------------- Net loss $ (302) $ (1,919) =========================== PER SHARE DATA: Net loss per common share Basic $ (0.02) $ (0.10) =========================== Diluted $ (0.02) $ (0.10) =========================== Weighted average number of shares Basic 19,215 19,064 Diluted 19,215 19,064 QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In 000's) Unaudited March 31, December 31, 2009 2008 ------------ ------------ ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 7,092 $ 6,787 Accounts receivable, net 76,712 81,612 Prepaid expenses 11,932 12,922 Deferred tax assets, net 14,707 14,707 Other 8,026 7,950 ------------ ------------ Total current assets 118,469 123,978 Property and equipment, net 144,349 148,692 Goodwill 173,519 173,519 Intangibles, net 22,272 22,698 Non-current deferred tax assets, net 22,654 22,636 Other assets 9,646 10,580 ------------ ------------ Total assets $ 490,909 $ 502,103 ============ ============ LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Current maturities of indebtedness $ 3,446 $ 8,361 Current maturities of capital lease obligations 8,115 7,994 Accounts payable 15,105 16,126 Affiliates and independent owner- operators payable 11,155 7,649 Accrued expenses 23,075 25,357 Environmental liabilities 4,507 4,819 Accrued loss and damage claims 9,338 8,705 ------------ ------------ Total current liabilities 74,741 79,011 Long-term indebtedness, less current maturities 324,130 330,409 Capital lease obligations, less current maturities 14,697 15,822 Environmental liabilities 6,738 6,035 Accrued loss and damage claims 12,336 12,815 Other non-current liabilities 25,122 25,158 ------------ ------------ Total liabilities 457,764 469,250 Redeemable noncontrolling interest 1,833 1,833 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Common stock 363,101 362,945 Treasury stock (1,580) (1,580) Accumulated deficit (114,336) (114,034) Stock recapitalization (189,589) (189,589) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (26,050) (26,488) Stock subscriptions receivable (234) (234) ------------ ------------ Total shareholders' equity 31,312 31,020 ------------ ------------ Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and shareholders' equity $ 490,909 $ 502,103 ============ ============ RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS TO TAX EFFECTED AND ADJUSTED NET LOSS AND RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS PER SHARE TO TAX EFFECTED AND ADJUSTED NET LOSS PER SHARE For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 (In 000's) Unaudited
Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Loss and Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Loss per Share (as defined) are presented herein because they are important metrics used by management to evaluate and understand the performance of the ongoing operations of the Company's business. Management uses a 39% tax rate for calculating the benefit from income taxes to normalize the Company's tax rate to that of comparable transportation companies, and to compare Company periods with different effective tax rates. In addition, we adjust Net Loss for significant items that are not regularly recurring. Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Loss and Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Loss per Share are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Loss and Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Loss per Share should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the consolidated statements of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP as an indication of the Company's operating performance or liquidity.
Three months ended Net Loss Reconciliation: March 31, ---------------------------- 2009 2008 ------------- ------------- Net loss $ (302) $ (1,919) Net loss per common share: Basic $ (0.02) $ (0.10) ============================ Diluted $ (0.02) $ (0.10) ============================ Adjustments to net loss: Benefit from income taxes (70) (1,328) Gain on extinguishment of debt (675) -- Restructuring costs 600 -- Gain on property sales -- (967) ---------------------------- Adjusted income before income taxes (447) (4,214) Benefit from income taxes at 39% (174) (1,643) ---------------------------- Tax effected and adjusted net loss $ (273) $ (2,571) ============================ Tax effected and adjusted net loss per common share: Basic $ (0.01) $ (0.13) ============================ Diluted $ (0.01) $ (0.13) ============================ Weighted average number of shares: Basic 19,215 19,064 Diluted 19,215 19,064