Quality Distribution, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Year End 2009 Results: Record Annual Net Cash From Operating Activities


TAMPA, Fla., March 10, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quality Distribution, Inc. (Nasdaq:QLTY) ("Quality") today reported the results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. These results include the following highlights:

  • Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $151.3 million, a decrease of 10.0% from $168.1 million for the same quarter in 2008. Total revenue for full year 2009 was $613.6 million, a decrease of 24.7% from $815.3 million for full year 2008. Revenue excluding fuel surcharge for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $135.8 million, a decrease of 6.4% from $145.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Revenue excluding fuel surcharge for 2009 was $559.6 million, a decrease of 16.5% from $669.9 million in 2008.
  • Net income for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $4.6 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to net income of $13.0 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, for the same quarter in 2008. Net loss for 2009 was $180.5 million, or $(9.28) per diluted share, compared to net income of $12.1 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for 2008. Fourth quarter 2009 net income includes the following items that Quality does not consider part of regular operating activities:
  • Net gain on early extinguishment of debt – $1.2 million pre-tax income
  • Financing costs related to debt modification – $2.3 million pre-tax expense
  • Gain on sale of tank wash assets – $7.1 million pre-tax income
  • Charge for restructuring costs – $1.4 million pre-tax expense
  • Net cash from operating activities for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $10.5 million and $39.8 million for the full year 2009.
  • Adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.01 for the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to an adjusted net loss of $(0.01) for the same quarter in 2008, and was $0.07 adjusted net income per diluted share for full year 2009 compared to $0.02 for full year 2008. Adjusted net income is derived by applying a normalized tax rate of 39% and excluding adjustment items that quality does not consider part of regular operating activities in both years.

Additional 2009 highlights include:

  • Free cash flow of $10.5 million and $39.1 million for the fourth quarter and full year 2009, respectively.
  • EBITDA of $17.7 million and $(95.0) million for the fourth quarter and full year 2009, respectively.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $13.1 million and $50.4 million for the fourth quarter and full year 2009, respectively.

Following the exchange offer completed in the fourth quarter 2009, Quality's debt securities at December 31, 2009 consisted of $0.5 million of Senior Floating Rate Notes, due 2012, $16.0 million of 9% Senior Subordinated Notes, due 2010, $134.5 million of 10% Senior Notes, due 2013 and $81.2 million of 11.75% Senior Subordinated PIK Notes, due 2013.

Gary Enzor, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "In one of our most challenging years, we generated a record amount of cash from operating activities, $20.2 million more than in 2008. With the completion of our private exchange offer and the sale of substantially all of our tank wash assets in 2009, we now have the flexibility to focus on growing our company and providing value to our shareholders. This is exciting for Quality, as we've never been better positioned to take full advantage of the opportunities that 2010 should provide."   

Quality will host a conference call for investors to discuss these results on March 11, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The toll free dial-in number is 888-516-2435; the toll number is 719-457-2710; the passcode is 8549639. A replay of the call will be available until April 10, 2010, by dialing 888-203-1112; passcode 8549639.  A webcast of the conference call can be accessed at http://investor.shareholder.com/qualitydistribution/events.cfm. Copies of this press release and other financial information about Quality may be accessed in the Investor Relations section of our website at www.qualitydistribution.com. Quality regularly posts or otherwise makes available information on the Investor Relations section that may be important to investors.

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Quality, through its subsidiaries, Quality Carriers, Inc. and Boasso America Corporation, and through its affiliates and owner-operators, provides bulk transportation and related services. Quality is an American Chemistry Council Responsible Care® 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 press release and the oral public statements made by a Quality representative during the webcasts announced in this press release may contain 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 effect of local and national economic, credit and capital market conditions on the economy in general, and on the industries in which we operate in particular; access to available and reasonable financing on a timely basis; the availability and price of diesel fuel; adverse weather conditions; competitive rate fluctuations; our substantial leverage and restrictions contained in our debt arrangements and interest rate fluctuations in our floating rate indebtedness; the cyclical nature of the transportation industry due to various economic factors such as excess capacity in the industry, the availability of qualified drivers, changes in fuel and insurance prices, interest rate fluctuations, and downturns in customers' business cycles and shipping requirements; changes in demand for our services due to the cyclical nature of our customers' businesses; potential disruption at U.S. ports of entry; our dependence on affiliates and owner-operators and our ability to attract and retain drivers; changes in the future, or our inability to comply with, governmental regulations and legislative changes affecting the transportation industry; our material exposure to both historical and changing environmental regulations and the increasing costs relating to environmental compliance; our liability as a self-insurer to the extent of our deductibles, as well as our ability or inability to reduce our claims exposure through insurance due to changing conditions and pricing in the insurance marketplace; the cost of complying with existing and future anti-terrorism security measures enacted by federal, state and municipal authorities; increased unionization, which could increase our operating costs or constrain operating flexibility; changes in senior management; our ability to successfully manage workforce restructurings and affiliate conversions; changes in planned or actual capital expenditures due to operating needs, changes in regulation, covenants in our debt arrangements and other expenses, including interest expense; potential future impairment charges; the potential loss of our ability to use net operating losses to offset future income and interests of Apollo, our largest shareholder, which may conflict with your interests. 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

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS  
(In 000's) Except Per Share Data  
Unaudited  
           
           
  Three months ended
December 31, 
Year ended
December 31, 
 
     
  2009 2008 2009 2008  
           
OPERATING REVENUES:          
Transportation  $111,104 $120,016 $454,658 $565,814  
Other service revenue  24,713 25,123 104,954 104,039  
Fuel surcharge  15,469 22,947 53,997 145,437  
Total operating revenues  151,286 168,086 613,609 815,290  
OPERATING EXPENSES:          
Purchased transportation  100,270 90,445 373,539 466,823  
Compensation  15,164 25,592 76,955 109,110  
Fuel, supplies and maintenance  12,857 21,152 62,448 114,351  
Depreciation and amortization  4,524 5,567 20,218 21,002  
Selling and administrative  4,958 9,321 24,572 35,836  
Insurance costs  3,043 3,370 14,119 14,999  
Taxes and licenses  482 1,200 3,578 5,242  
Communications and utilities  1,125 2,607 7,910 12,716  
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment  436 (260) 450 (3,092)  
Gain on sale of tank wash assets (7,130)  -- (7,130)  --  
Impairment charge   --  -- 148,630  --  
Restructuring costs  1,391 1,250 3,496 5,325  
Total operating expenses  137,120 160,244 728,785 782,312  
           
Operating income (loss)  14,166 7,842 (115,176) 32,978  
           
 Interest expense  8,355 9,300 28,335 35,546  
 Interest income  (77) (93) (288) (426)  
 Gain on early extinguishment of debt  (1,195) (16,532) (1,870) (16,532)  
 Write-off of debt issuance costs  20 283 20 283  
 Other expense (income)  2,196 (3,116) 1,912 (2,945)  
 Income (loss) before income taxes  4,867 18,000 (143,285) 17,052  
 Provision for (benefit from) income taxes  298 5,038 37,249 4,940  
Net income (loss)  $4,569 $12,962 $(180,534) $12,112  
           
PER SHARE DATA:          
Net income (loss) per common share           
 Basic  $0.23 $0.67 $(9.28) $0.63  
 Diluted  $0.21 $0.66 $(9.28) $0.62  
           
Weighted average number of shares           
 Basic  19,679 19,387 19,449 19,379  
 Diluted  21,322 19,523 19,449 19,539  
 
QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In 000's)
Unaudited
     
  December 31,
2009
December 31,
2008
     
ASSETS    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents  $5,633 $6,787
Accounts receivable, net  69,625 81,612
Prepaid expenses  8,584 12,922
Deferred tax assets, net  5,506 14,707
Other  4,420 7,950
 Total current assets  93,768 123,978
Property and equipment, net  127,329 148,692
Goodwill  27,023 173,519
Intangibles, net  18,467 22,698
Non-current deferred tax asset, net  -- 22,636
Other assets  13,029 10,580
 Total assets  $279,616 $502,103
     
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST AND SHAREHOLDERS' (DEFICIT) EQUITY 
Current liabilities:    
Current maturities of indebtedness  $19,866 $8,361
Current maturities of capital lease obligations  5,322 7,994
Accounts payable  6,182 16,126
Affiliates and independent owner-operators payable  9,734 7,649
Accrued expenses  21,378 25,357
Environmental liabilities  3,408 4,819
Accrued loss and damage claims  8,862 8,705
Total current liabilities  74,752 79,011
     
 Long-term indebtedness, less current maturities  284,253 330,409
 Capital lease obligations, less current maturities  11,843 15,822
 Environmental liabilities  8,241 6,035
 Accrued loss and damage claims  10,534 12,815
 Other non-current liabilities  28,896 25,158
Total liabilities  418,519 469,250
     
Redeemable noncontrolling interest  1,833 1,833
     
SHAREHOLDERS' (DEFICIT) EQUITY     
Common stock  364,046 362,945
Treasury stock  (1,580) (1,580)
Accumulated deficit  (294,568) (114,034)
Stock recapitalization  (189,589) (189,589)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (25,587) (26,488)
Stock purchase warrants  6,696 --
Stock subscriptions receivable  (154) (234)
Total shareholders' (deficit) equity  (140,736) 31,020
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and
shareholders' (deficit) equity 
$279,616 $502,103
 
RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) TO TAX EFFECTED AND ADJUSTED NET INCOME(LOSS), EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA, RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE TO TAX EFFECTED AND ADJUSTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE AND RECONCILIATION OF CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW 
For the Three Months and the Year Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
(In 000's)
Unaudited
         
Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) per Share, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow (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. For Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Income (Loss), management uses a 39% tax rate for calculating the provision for 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 Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) per Share for significant items that are not part of regular operating activities. These adjustments include restructuring charges related to a plan of restructure which began in the second quarter of 2008 and which we expect to conclude in 2010, gain on sales of certain assets and property, gain on early extinguishment of debt, write off of debt issuance costs, refinancing costs, impairment charges and gain on pension settlement. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are used by management to evaluate the Company's operating performance independent of expenses that are not from operations. For EBITDA, Net Income (Loss) is adjusted for provision for (benefit from) income tax, depreciation and amortization and interest expense. To calculate Adjusted EBITDA, we calculate EBITDA from Net Income, which is then further adjusted for significant items that are not part of regular operating activities, including the restructuring charges related to a plan of restructure which began in the second quarter of 2008 and which we expect to conclude in 2010, gain on sales of certain assets and property, gain on early extinguishment of debt, write off of debt issuance costs, refinancing costs, impairment charges and gain on pension settlement to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA. Free Cash Flow is used by management to evaluate the Company's financial performance independent of cash used to maintain or expand its asset base. Cash Flows from Operating Activities are adjusted for capital expenditures net of proceeds from sales of property and equipment ("Net Capex") to arrive at Free Cash Flow. Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) per Share, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Tax Effected and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) per Share, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow 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.
         
Net Income (Loss) Reconciliation:  Three months ended
December 31, 
Year ended
December 31, 
  2009 2008 2009 2008
         
Net income (loss) $4,569 $12,962 $(180,534) $12,112
         
Net income (loss) per common share:        
 Basic $0.23 $0.67 $(9.28) $0.63
 Diluted $0.21 $0.66 $(9.28) $0.62
         
Adjustments to net income (loss):        
 Provision for income taxes  298 5,038 * 37,249 4,940
 Gain on sale of tank wash assets (7,130) -- (7,130) --
 Gain on early debt extinguishment (1,195) (16,532) (1,870) (16,532)
 Write off of debt issuance costs 20 283 20 283
 Refinancing costs 2,323 -- 2,323 --
 Restructuring costs 1,391 1,250 3,496 5,325
 Impairment charges -- -- 148,630 --
 Gain on property sales -- -- -- (2,128)
 Gain on pension settlement -- (3,410) -- (3,410)
Adjusted income (loss) before income taxes 276 (409) 2,184 590
 Provision for (benefit from) income taxes at 39%  108 (160) 852 230
 Tax effected and adjusted net income (loss) $168 $(249) $1,332 $360
         
Tax effected and adjusted net income (loss) per
common share:
       
 Basic $0.01 $(0.01) $0.07 $0.02
 Diluted $0.01 $(0.01) $0.07 $0.02
 Weighted average number of shares:        
 Basic 19,679 19,387 19,449 19,379
 Diluted 21,322 19,523 19,449 19,539
         
         
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:  Three months ended
December 31, 
Year ended
December 31, 
  2009 2008 2009 2008
         
Net income (loss) $4,569 $12,962 $(180,534) $12,112
         
Adjustments to net income (loss):        
 Provision for income taxes  298 5,038 * 37,249 4,940
 Depreciation and amortization 4,524 5,567 20,218 21,002
 Interest expense, net 8,278 9,207 28,047 35,120
   EBITDA 17,669 32,774 (95,020) 73,174
         
 Gain on sale of tank wash assets (7,130) -- (7,130) --
 Gain on early debt extinguishment (1,195) (16,532) (1,870) (16,532)
 Write off of debt issuance costs 20 283 20 283
 Refinancing costs 2,323 -- 2,323 --
 Restructuring costs 1,391 1,250 3,496 5,325
 Impairment charges -- -- 148,630 --
 Gain on property sales -- -- -- (2,128)
 Gain on pension settlement -- (3,410) -- (3,410)
   Adjusted EBITDA $13,078 $14,365 $50,449 $56,712
         
         
Free Cash Flow:  Three months ended
December 31, 
Year ended
December 31, 
  2009 2008 2009 2008
Cash from operating activities $10,543 $8,928 $39,756 $19,593
         
Adjustments to cash from operating activities:        
 Net capital expenditures (59) 1,926 (689) (8,443)
   Free cash flow $10,484 $10,854 $39,067 $11,150
         
* This amount includes a $37.3 million increase to deferred tax expense related to a net adjustment to the balance of the valuation allowance which occurred as a result of change in realizability of the related net deferred tax asset in future years.


            

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