HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo., March 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADES) (the "Company" or "ADES") today filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K and reported financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016, including information about its joint-venture partnerships, Tinuum Group, LLC ("Tinuum Group," formerly Clean Coal Solutions, LLC) and Tinuum Services, LLC ("Tinuum Services," formerly Clean Coal Solutions Services, LLC) (collectively "Tinuum"), of which ADES owns 42.5% and 50%, respectively.
Tinuum & Refined Coal (“RC”) Highlights
- Tinuum distributions to ADES were $14.7 million during the fourth quarter and $46.2 million for full year 2016
- Royalty earnings from Tinuum Group were $2.2 million during the fourth quarter and $6.1 million for full year 2016
- Tinuum Group invested tonnage was 10.1 million for the fourth quarter and 41.6 million for full year 2016
- RC Segment operating income was $51.3 million for full year 2016, an increase of $39.1 million from full year 2015
- As of December 31, 2016, future expected aggregated rent payments to Tinuum Group were updated to $590 million through the end of 2021
- Expects to close on new lease with existing investor for an additional RC facility by end of first quarter, which will result in 14 total invested RC facilities
ADES Consolidated Highlights
- Recognized consolidated revenue of $3.6 million during the fourth quarter and $50.6 million for full year 2016
- General and administrative operating costs (i.e., non-cost of revenue expenses) for the fourth quarter were $5.4 million and $26.9 million for full year 2016, a reduction of over 59% and 53%, respectively, from the comparable periods in 2015
- Consolidated net income was $75.8 million for the fourth quarter and $97.7 million for full year 2016; pretax income was $14.2 million for the fourth quarter and $36.7 million for full year 2016
- Deferred tax asset valuation allowance decreased $72.4 million due to the 2016 utilization of $11.0 million and fourth quarter release of $61.4 million of our previously recorded deferred tax asset valuation allowance
- Ended 2016 with a cash balance of $13.2 million, an increase of $5.6 million since September 30, 2016
- Concluded strategic review process for Emissions Control (“EC”) business with a decision to retain business segment
- Announced an expected quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, expected to commence during the second quarter of 2017, if and when declared by our board
L. Heath Sampson, President and CEO of ADES commented, “We set bold and aspirational goals at the beginning of 2016 and I’m proud to say that we exceeded almost all of our strategic priorities throughout the course of the year. We put legacy issues behind us, we relisted on the NASDAQ exchange, we eliminated our debt and substantially increased our liquidity position. We also exceeded our initial refined coal distribution expectations with the collection of over $45 million during 2016 from our investment in Tinuum. Lastly, we reduced our operating expenses by over 50% through organizational realignment and enter 2017 with a very lean cost and highly functional organizational structure. I’m very proud of all of our associates at ADES and Tinuum, led by their President and CEO Ron Eller, and I thank them all for their hard work throughout the year in helping us achieve our objectives. Although we closed on a number of new refined coal facilities in 2016, our high expectations were dampened by challenging political headwinds against refined coal production in the U.S. I look forward to capitalizing on the improving 2017 environment and enabling coal fired utilities and tax equity investors to produce cleaner power for the benefit of the American people.”
Sampson continued, “We also have concluded our strategic alternatives review of our EC business at this time. After a thorough analysis of the assets in the business and the market for our offerings, we have elected to continue to operate EC as a portion of our overall business. While we received a number of inquiries into various components of our portfolio and held many serious conversations with regards to a potential transaction involving the whole business or individual assets held within, we felt that no offer matched the value that we felt was appropriate for this business. We will continue to market and grow our offering within the EC business, while maintaining a lean cost structure that allows the segment to be profitable and stand alone. Additionally, we will continually evaluate other alternatives that support shareholder value."
Fourth Quarter & Full Year Results
Fourth quarter revenues and costs of revenues were $3.6 million and $3.5 million, compared with $13.2 million and $7.2 million respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2015. Full year 2016 revenues and costs of revenues were $50.6 million and $39.8 million, compared with $62.7 million and $47.6 million respectively, for full year 2015. The decrease in revenues during both the fourth quarter and full year 2016 was primarily the result of the completion of fewer equipment contracts as the regulatory deadline for compliance has passed, partially offset by an increase in chemical sales.
Fourth quarter other operating expenses were $5.4 million, a decrease of 59% compared to $13.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. Full year other operating expenses were $26.9 million, a decrease of 53% compared to $57.0 million for full year 2015. The decreases during both the fourth quarter and full year 2016 were primarily the result of cost containment initiatives, as well as the conclusion of our restatement efforts in the first half of 2016.
Fourth quarter earnings from equity method investments were $15.5 million, compared to $3.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. Full year earnings from equity method investments were $45.6 million, compared to $8.9 million for full year 2015.
Fourth quarter royalty earnings from Tinuum Group were $2.2 million compared to $2.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. Full year royalty earnings from Tinuum Group were $6.1 million, compared to $10.6 million for full year 2015. Both fourth quarter and full year 2016 declines were the result of reduced RC tonnage and earnings per ton.
Fourth quarter interest expense was $0.6 million, compared to $3.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. Full year interest expense was $5.1 million, compared to $8.4 million for full year 2015. Both fourth quarter and full year 2016 declines were the result of the payoff of the credit agreement during June 2016 and reduced 453A interest expense.
The tax benefit during the fourth quarter was $61.7 million compared to a benefit of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. The full year tax benefit was $60.9 million compared to expense of $20 thousand for full year 2015. Both fourth quarter and full year 2016 impacts were the result of a $61.4 million release of our previously recorded deferred tax asset valuation allowance.
Net income for the fourth quarter was $75.8 million, compared to a net loss of $2.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. Net income for the full year was $97.7 million, compared to a net loss of $30.1 million for full year 2015. The increase in net income for both the fourth quarter and the full year 2016 was primarily driven by the release of a portion of our previously recorded deferred tax asset valuation allowance, as well as higher equity income from the RC business and significantly reduced operating expenses in both the EC business and other corporate expenses.
As of December 31, 2016, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $13.2 million, an increase of 43% compared to $9.3 million as of December 31, 2015. The Company also had $13.7 million in current and long-term restricted cash as of December 31, 2016, compared to $11.7 million as of December 31, 2015.
2017 Outlook
Sampson added, “We enter 2017 with growing confidence in both our pipeline for RC tax equity investment and in the projected cash flows that our currently invested RC facilities will provide. We also believe that components of the EC business are poised for solid growth moving forward, such as our M-Prove chemicals portfolio. As a result of the strength of our business fundamentals, we’re happy to announce that our board has approved the first ever quarterly dividend program in our history and plans to soon declare the first dividend to be paid under this program. Starting in the second quarter we expect to begin paying a quarterly distribution of $0.25 per share. This quarterly dividend program provides the initial step in what we believe will be a well-balanced capital allocation program and we look forward to driving future shareholder value and executing against our strategic plan in 2017. Future dividends will be paid if and when declared by our board, subject to future capital availability."
Conference Call and Webcast Information
The Company has scheduled a conference call to begin at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 14, 2017. The conference call will be webcast live via the Investor section of ADES's website at www.advancedemissionssolutions.com. Interested parties may also participate in the call by dialing (877) 201-0168 (Domestic) or (647) 788-4901 (International) conference ID 39354956. A supplemental investor presentation will be available on the Company's investor relations website prior to the start of the conference call.
About Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc.
Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. serves as the holding entity for a family of companies that provide emissions solutions to customers in the power generation and other industries.
ADA-ES, Inc. (“ADA”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. (“ADES”) that provides emissions control solutions for coal-fired power generation and industrial boiler industries. With more than 25 years of experience developing advanced mercury control solutions, ADA delivers proprietary environmental technologies, equipment and specialty chemicals that enable coal-fueled boilers to meet emissions regulations. These solutions enhance existing air pollution control equipment, maximizing capacity and improving operating efficiencies. Our track record includes securing more than 30 US patents for emissions control technology and systems and selling the most activated carbon injection systems for power plant mercury control in North America. For more information on ADA, and its products and services, visit www.adaes.com or the ADA Blog (http://blog.adaes.com/).
Tinuum Group, LLC is a 42.5% owned joint venture by ADA that provides ADA’s patented Refined Coal (“RC”) CyClean™ technology to enhance combustion of and reduce emissions of NOx and mercury from coals in cyclone boilers and ADA’s patent pending M-45™ and M-45-PC™ technologies for Circulating Fluidized boilers and Pulverized Coal boilers respectively. www.tinuumgroup.com
Caution on Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which provides a "safe harbor" for such statements in certain circumstances. The forward-looking statements include statements or expectations regarding the timing, availability and content of the presentation; future expected aggregate rent payments to Tinuum Group and its ability to continue to scale its business; expectations on closing of new leases of RC facilities; expectations about the amount and timing of future dividend payments; expectations about future cash flows; and related matters. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions of the Company’s management. Such statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to, changes and timing in laws, regulations, IRS interpretations or guidance, accounting rules and any pending court decisions, legal challenges to or repeal of them; changes in prices, economic conditions and market demand; the ability of the RC facilities to produce coal that qualifies for tax credits; the timing, terms and changes in contracts for RC facilities, or failure to lease or sell RC facilities; impact of competition; availability, cost of and demand for alternative tax credit vehicles and other technologies; technical, start-up and operational difficulties; availability of raw materials; loss of key personnel; the value of our products, technologies and intellectual property to customers and strategic investors; intellectual property infringement claims from third parties; seasonality and other factors discussed in greater detail in the Company’s filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements and to consult the Company’s SEC filings for additional risks and uncertainties that may apply to our business and the ownership of ADES securities. The Company’s forward-looking statements are presented as of the date made, and the Company disclaims any duty to update such statements unless required by law to do so.
| TABLE 1 | ||||||||
| Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries | ||||||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||||
| As of December 31, | ||||||||
| (in thousands, except share data) | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 13,208 | $ | 9,265 | ||||
| Restricted cash | 13,736 | 728 | ||||||
| Receivables, net | 8,648 | 8,361 | ||||||
| Receivables, related parties, net | 1,934 | 1,918 | ||||||
| Costs in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts | 25 | 2,137 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | 1,357 | 2,306 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 38,908 | 24,715 | ||||||
| Restricted cash, long-term | — | 10,980 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $2,920 and $4,557 | 735 | 2,040 | ||||||
| Investment securities, restricted, long-term | — | 336 | ||||||
| Cost method investment | 1,016 | 2,776 | ||||||
| Equity method investments | 3,959 | 17,232 | ||||||
| Deferred tax assets | 61,396 | — | ||||||
| Other assets | 1,282 | 2,696 | ||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 107,296 | $ | 60,775 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 1,920 | $ | 6,174 | ||||
| Accrued payroll and related liabilities | 2,121 | 5,800 | ||||||
| Current portion of notes payable, related parties | — | 1,837 | ||||||
| Short-term borrowings, net of discount and deferred loan costs, related party | — | 12,676 | ||||||
| Billings in excess of costs on uncompleted contracts | 4,947 | 9,708 | ||||||
| Legal settlements and accruals | 10,706 | 6,502 | ||||||
| Other current liabilities | 4,017 | 7,395 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 23,711 | 50,092 | ||||||
| Long-term portion of notes payable, related parties | — | 13,512 | ||||||
| Legal settlements and accruals, long-term | 5,382 | 13,797 | ||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 2,038 | 8,352 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities | 31,131 | 85,753 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 14) | — | — | ||||||
| Stockholders’ equity (deficit): | ||||||||
| Preferred stock: par value of $.001 per share, 50,000,000 shares authorized, none outstanding | — | — | ||||||
| Common stock: par value of $.001 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 22,322,022 and 21,943,872 shares issued and 22,024,675 and 21,809,164 shares outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively | 22 | 22 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 119,494 | 116,029 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (43,351 | ) | (141,029 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity (deficit) | 76,165 | (24,978 | ) | |||||
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) | $ | 107,296 | $ | 60,775 | ||||
| TABLE 2 | ||||||||||||
| Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries | ||||||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Operations | ||||||||||||
| December 31, | ||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||||||
| Equipment sales | $ | 46,949 | $ | 60,099 | $ | 12,044 | ||||||
| Chemicals | 3,025 | 888 | 391 | |||||||||
| Consulting services and other | 648 | 1,752 | 4,488 | |||||||||
| Total revenues | 50,622 | 62,739 | 16,923 | |||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||
| Equipment sales cost of revenue, exclusive of depreciation and amortization | 37,741 | 45,433 | 9,277 | |||||||||
| Chemicals cost of revenue, exclusive of depreciation and amortization | 1,700 | 601 | 140 | |||||||||
| Consulting services and other cost of revenue, exclusive of depreciation and amortization | 376 | 1,518 | 2,203 | |||||||||
| Payroll and benefits | 12,390 | 23,589 | 20,767 | |||||||||
| Rent and occupancy | 2,168 | 3,309 | 2,468 | |||||||||
| Legal and professional fees | 8,293 | 16,604 | 14,430 | |||||||||
| General and administrative | 3,721 | 6,104 | 6,066 | |||||||||
| Research and development, net | (648 | ) | 5,362 | 1,521 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 979 | 2,019 | 1,865 | |||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 66,720 | 104,539 | 58,737 | |||||||||
| Operating loss | (16,098 | ) | (41,800 | ) | (41,814 | ) | ||||||
| Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||
| Earnings from equity method investments | 45,584 | 8,921 | 42,712 | |||||||||
| Royalties, related party | 6,125 | 10,642 | 6,410 | |||||||||
| Interest income | 268 | 24 | 74 | |||||||||
| Interest expense | (5,066 | ) | (8,402 | ) | (5,725 | ) | ||||||
| Litigation settlement and royalty indemnity expense, net | 3,464 | — | — | |||||||||
| Other | 2,463 | 494 | 26 | |||||||||
| Total other income | 52,838 | 11,679 | 43,497 | |||||||||
| Income (loss) before income tax expense | 36,740 | (30,121 | ) | 1,683 | ||||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | (60,938 | ) | 20 | 296 | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 97,678 | $ | (30,141 | ) | $ | 1,387 | |||||
| Earnings (loss) per common share (Note 1): | ||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 4.40 | $ | (1.37 | ) | $ | 0.06 | |||||
| Diluted | $ | 4.34 | $ | (1.37 | ) | $ | 0.06 | |||||
| Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||
| Basic | 21,931 | 21,773 | 21,554 | |||||||||
| Diluted | 22,234 | 21,773 | 22,079 | |||||||||
| TABLE 3 | ||||||||||||
| Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. and Subsidiaries | ||||||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | ||||||||||||
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 97,678 | $ | (30,141 | ) | $ | 1,387 | |||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||||||
| Deferred tax benefit | (61,396 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 979 | 2,019 | 1,865 | |||||||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs | 1,152 | 987 | 100 | |||||||||
| Debt prepayment penalty | 228 | — | — | |||||||||
| Impairment of property, equipment, inventory and intangibles | 520 | 2,087 | 355 | |||||||||
| Provision for bad debt expense and note receivable | 13 | 633 | 500 | |||||||||
| Interest costs added to principal balance of notes payable | — | 923 | 1,124 | |||||||||
| Consulting expense financed through note payable | — | — | 1,600 | |||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 2,868 | 7,204 | 4,712 | |||||||||
| Clawback of equity awards | — | (325 | ) | — | ||||||||
| Earnings from equity method investments | (45,584 | ) | (8,921 | ) | (42,712 | ) | ||||||
| Gain on sale of equity method investment | (2,078 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Impairment of cost method investment | 1,760 | — | — | |||||||||
| Gain on settlement of note payable, licensed technology, and sales-type lease | (1,910 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Other non-cash items, net | 35 | 285 | 39 | |||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquired businesses: | ||||||||||||
| Receivables | (301 | ) | 8,361 | (3,651 | ) | |||||||
| Related party receivables | (16 | ) | (479 | ) | (809 | ) | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | 1,195 | (107 | ) | (1,877 | ) | |||||||
| Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts | 29,623 | 6,492 | (56,606 | ) | ||||||||
| Other long-term assets | 961 | 205 | (47 | ) | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | (4,254 | ) | (1,340 | ) | 2,328 | |||||||
| Accrued payroll and related liabilities | (2,887 | ) | (102 | ) | 686 | |||||||
| Other current liabilities | (3,105 | ) | (812 | ) | (672 | ) | ||||||
| Billings on uncompleted contracts | (32,272 | ) | (15,186 | ) | 55,621 | |||||||
| Advance deposit, related party | (2,980 | ) | (3,544 | ) | (2,135 | ) | ||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | (2,175 | ) | 595 | 144 | ||||||||
| Legal settlements and accruals | (4,211 | ) | (3,722 | ) | (4,622 | ) | ||||||
| Distributions from equity method investees, return on investment | 7,900 | 5,019 | 2,509 | |||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (18,257 | ) | $ | (29,869 | ) | $ | (40,161 | ) | |||
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||||||
| Distributions from equity method investees in excess of cumulative earnings | 38,250 | 8,651 | 43,584 | |||||||||
| Purchase of investment securities | — | — | (105 | ) | ||||||||
| Maturity of investment securities | — | — | 210 | |||||||||
| Maturity of investment securities, restricted | 336 | — | 403 | |||||||||
| Acquisition of property and equipment | (289 | ) | (507 | ) | (1,563 | ) | ||||||
| Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | 52 | 942 | 26 | |||||||||
| Advance on note receivable | — | (500 | ) | (500 | ) | |||||||
| Acquisition of business | — | (2,124 | ) | — | ||||||||
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
| Purchase of cost method investment | — | — | (2,776 | ) | ||||||||
| Purchase of and contributions to equity method investee | (223 | ) | (2,128 | ) | (6,631 | ) | ||||||
| Proceeds from sale of equity method investment | 1,773 | — | — | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by investing activities | $ | 39,899 | $ | 4,334 | $ | 32,648 | ||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||||||
| Short-term borrowings | — | 13,539 | — | |||||||||
| Repayments on short-term borrowings | (13,250 | ) | (1,750 | ) | — | |||||||
| Repayments on notes payable, related party | (1,246 | ) | (1,484 | ) | (238 | ) | ||||||
| Loan costs and amendment fees | (751 | ) | — | (70 | ) | |||||||
| Debt prepayment penalty | (228 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Proceeds received upon exercise of stock options | — | — | 243 | |||||||||
| Repurchase of shares to satisfy tax withholdings | (196 | ) | (276 | ) | (1,500 | ) | ||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (15,671 | ) | 10,029 | (1,565 | ) | |||||||
| Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash | 5,971 | (15,506 | ) | (9,078 | ) | |||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash, beginning of year | 20,973 | 36,479 | 45,557 | |||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash, end of year | $ | 26,944 | $ | 20,973 | $ | 36,479 | ||||||
| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | ||||||||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | 3,647 | $ | 6,274 | $ | 5,201 | ||||||
| Cash paid for income taxes | 541 | 29 | 566 | |||||||||
| Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Acquisition of technology license through long-term payable | — | — | 1,525 | |||||||||
| Acquisition of equity method investment through note payable | — | — | 13,301 | |||||||||
| Settlement of RCM6 note payable | 13,234 | — | — | |||||||||
| Non-cash reduction of equity method investment | 11,156 | — | — | |||||||||
| Stock award reclassification (liability to equity) | 899 | — | 501 | |||||||||
| Issuance of common stock to settle liabilities | — | — | 127 | |||||||||