Perma-Fix Reports Results for the First Quarter of 2007

Acquisition of PEcoS Scheduled to Close During Second Quarter

Treatment of Special Waste to Commence at M&EC South Bay During the Second Quarter

ATLANTA, May 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: PESI; BSE: PESI; Germany: PES.BE) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2007.

Dr. Louis F. Centofanti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The Nuclear Segment continues to be our primary focus as the long-term growth driver for our business. Although Nuclear Segment revenues were relatively flat over the first quarter of last year, we expect to resume strong organic growth for the full year as we completed construction on our M&EC south bay special waste processing area and will begin treatment of these special wastes during the second quarter and remainder of the year. Additionally, we are on track to complete our acquisition of Nuvotec USA, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Pacific EcoSolutions, Inc. (PEcoS) during the second quarter of 2007. PEcoS is located adjacent to the Department of Energy's Hanford site, one of the largest and most expensive environmental clean-up projects in the nation. By combining our new operations at the PEcoS facility, with our proven waste treatment technologies, we anticipate playing a major role in the government's massive cleanup project underway at Hanford."

Dr. Centofanti continued, "Throughout 2006, we deliberately culled low- margin contracts within our Industrial Segment, which is reflected in our first quarter 2007 results. The planned turnaround within our Industrial Segment has taken longer than anticipated; however, we remain focused on replacing these contracts with higher margin business, while taking aggressive steps to further reduce expenses."

Dr. Centofanti continued, "We are also pleased with our insurer's decision to withdraw its prior denial of coverage and its agreement to defend and indemnify us and our Dayton, Ohio subsidiary in the previously disclosed lawsuit brought against our Dayton, Ohio subsidiary by a citizens' group and the federal government alleging, among other things, that our Dayton subsidiary was operating without appropriate air permits. Our insurer's decision to defend and indemnify us and our subsidiary is subject to the insurer's reservation of rights to deny indemnity pursuant to various provisions and exclusions of the policy, including, without limitation, payment of any civil penalties and fines, as well as the insurer's rights to recoup any defense cost it has advanced in the event that it is determined that the policy provides no coverage."

Dr. Centofanti further stated that, "In addition to the time spent addressing this lawsuit, we have accumulated approximately $2.7 million in legal and other out of pocket expenses through the end of the first quarter of 2007, including approximately $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2007. We are currently negotiating with our insurer as to the amount of the legal and out of pocket expenses that we have incurred to date that our insurer will reimburse us. To date none of these expenses have been reimbursed or recognized for accounting purposes as a reduction in our administrative costs."

Dr. Centofanti concluded, "We are also pleased that our Dayton, Ohio subsidiary has been able to negotiate an agreement in principle to settle the federal government's portion of this lawsuit, subject to execution of a definitive consent agreement and other conditions. As part of the agreement in principle, the parties are to finalize a formal consent agreement, subject to the court's approval, which will require our subsidiary to address relevant air pollution control regulations and permit requirements. In addition, the agreement in principle provides that our subsidiary is to pay a civil penalty of $800,000, which, at this time, we expect will be clarified in the consent agreement to allow our subsidiary to pay a portion in cash and the balance in various supplemental environmental projects consisting of investments in our subsidiary's facility and/or local community and other projects. The agreement in principle with the federal government does not address the citizen's suit portion of the lawsuit, and, as a result, we expect the citizen's suit to continue after finalization of the settlement with the federal government."
 

 
Financial Results

Revenues for the first quarter of 2007 were $20.2 million versus $21.1 million for the same period last year. Revenue for the Nuclear Segment was $12.3 million versus $12.2 million for the first quarter of 2006. Revenue for the Industrial segment was $7.2 million versus $8.2 million in the same period last year, reflecting the Company's efforts to replace lower margin contracts. Loss from operations for the first quarter was $633,000, versus operating income of $1.6 million for the same period last year. Operating income for the first quarter included approximately $1.2 million of legal expenses related to the company's ongoing litigation at its Dayton, Ohio facility, compared to $122,000 for the same period last year. Net loss applicable to common stock for the first quarter of 2007 was $1.1 million, or $0.02 per share, versus net income of $678,000 or $0.02 per share, for the same period last year.

The Company's EBITDA was $473,000 during the quarter ended March 31, 2007, as compared to $2.3 million for the same period of 2006. The Company defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), and should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, earnings as an indicator of operating performance or cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. The Company believes the presentation of EBITDA is relevant and useful by enhancing the readers' ability to understand the Company's operating performance. The Company's management utilizes EBITDA as a means to measure performance. The Company's measurements of EBITDA may not be comparable to similar titled measures reported by other companies. The table below reconciles EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, to net income for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.

 
 
Quarter Ended March. 31,
 
(In thousands)
 
2007
 
2006
 
           
Net Income, as reported
 
$
(1,084
)
 
678
 
               
Adjustments:
             
Depreciation & Amortization
   
1,217
   
1,194
 
Interest Income
   
(88
)
 
(33
)
Interest Expense
   
254
   
375
 
Interest Expense - Financing Fees
   
48
   
49
 
Income Tax Expense
   
126
   
72
 
               
EBITDA
 
$
473
   
2,335
 
 
The tables below present certain financial information for the business segments, excluding allocation of corporate expenses:

 
 
Quarter Ended March 31, 2007
 
(In thousands)
 
Industrial
 
Nuclear
 
Engineering
 
               
Net revenues
 
$
7,234
   
12,344
   
577
 
Gross profit
   
1,290
   
4,431
   
169
 
Segment profit (loss)
   
(1,683
)
 
2,153
   
49
 
 
 
   
Quarter Ended March 31, 2006
 
(In thousands)
   
Industrial
   
Nuclear
 
 
Engineering
 
                     
Net revenues
   
8,222
   
12,158
   
738
 
Gross profit
   
1,777
   
4,821
   
232
 
Segment profit (loss)
   
(89
)
 
2,706
   
91
 
 

 
About Perma-Fix Environmental Services

Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. is a national environmental services company, providing unique mixed waste and industrial waste management services. The Company has increased its focus on the nuclear services segment, which provides radioactive and mixed waste treatment services to hospitals, research laboratories and institutions, numerous federal agencies including DOE and the U.S. Department of Defense and nuclear utilities. The industrial services segment provides hazardous and non-hazardous waste treatment services for a diverse group of customers including Fortune 500 companies, numerous federal, state and local agencies and thousands of smaller clients. The Company operates nine major waste treatment facilities across the country.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" which are based largely on the Company's expectations and are subject to various business risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the growth prospects of our nuclear segment; new nuclear waste treatment at M&EC, which we expect to resume strong organic growth for the full year as we ramp up treatment of these waste during the balance of 2007; replacing low margin contracts within our Industrial segment with higher margin contracts and taking aggressive steps to further reduce expenses; and completion of the proposed acquisition of Pecos which if completed, will allow us to be involved in the remediation of the DOE's Hanford site. These forward-looking statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While the Company believes the expectations reflected in this news release are reasonable, it can give no assurance such expectations will prove to be correct. There are a variety of factors which could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those described in this release, including, without limitation, future economic conditions; industry conditions; competitive pressures; and our ability to apply and market our technologies; that neither the federal government nor any other party to a subcontract involving the federal government terminates or renegotiates any material contract granted to us prior to expiration of the term of the contract, as such contracts are generally terminable or renegotiable on 30 day notice, at the government's option; or the government or such other party to a contract granted to us fails to abide by or comply with the contract or to deliver waste as anticipated under the contract; the completion of the proposed acquisition of PEcoS, which completion is subject to numerous conditions precedents; and the additional factors referred to under "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" of our 2006 Form 10-K and the Forward-Looking Statements discussed in our Forms 10-Q for the first quarter of 2006. The Company makes no commitment to disclose any revisions to forward-looking statements, or any facts, events or circumstances after the date hereof that bear upon forward- looking statements.

Please visit us on the World Wide Web at http://www.perma-fix.com.
 

 
PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
March 31,
 
(Amounts in Thousands, Except for Per Share Amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2007
 
2006
 
           
Net revenues
 
$
20,155
 
$
21,118
 
Cost of goods sold
   
14,265
   
14,288
 
Gross profit
   
5,890
   
6,830
 
               
Selling, general and administrative expenses
   
6,543
   
5,241
 
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and
             
equipment
   
(20
)
 
3
 
Income (loss) from operations
   
(633
)
 
1,586
 
               
Other income (expense):
             
Interest income
   
88
   
33
 
Interest expense
   
(225
)
 
(357
)
Interest expense-financing fees
   
(48
)
 
(49
)
Other
   
(14
)
 
(13
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
             
before taxes
   
(832
)
 
1,200
 
Income tax expense
   
126
   
72
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations
   
(958
)
 
1,128
 
               
Loss from discontinued operations
   
(126
)
 
(450
)
Net income (loss)
   
(1,084
)
 
678
 
Preferred Stock dividends
   
-
   
-
 
Net income (loss) applicable to
             
Common Stock
 
$
(1,084
)
$
678
 
               
Net income (loss) per common share - basic
             
Continuing operations
 
$
(.02
)
$
.03
 
Discontinued operations
   
-
   
(.01
)
Net income (loss) per common share
 
$
(.02
)
$
.02
 
               
Net income (loss) per common share - diluted
             
Continuing operations
 
$
(.02
)
$
.03
 
Discontinued operations
   
-
   
(.01
)
Net income (loss) per common share
 
$
(.02
)
$
.02
 
               
Number of shares used in computing net income
             
(loss) per share:
             
Basic
   
52,063
   
44,831
 
Diluted
   
53,067
   
45,349
 



PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 
 
March 31,
 
Dec. 31,
 
(Amounts in Thousands, Except for Share Amounts)
 
2007
 
2006
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
ASSETS
         
Current assets
         
Cash
 
$
982
 
$
1,863
 
Restricted cash
   
65
   
65
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
             
doubtful accounts of $385 and $415
   
16,333
   
15,256
 
Unbilled receivables - current
   
11,578
   
12,861
 
Prepaid expenses and other
   
3,831
   
5,508
 
Current assets of discontinued operations
   
21
   
22
 
Total current assets
   
32,810
   
35,575
 
               
Net property and equipment
   
46,621
   
45,920
 
Net Property and equipment of discontinued
             
operations
   
706
   
706
 
Permits
   
13,444
   
13,395
 
Goodwill
   
1,330
   
1,330
 
Unbilled Receivables - non-current
   
3,821
   
2,600
 
Finite Risk Sinking Fund
   
5,566
   
4,518
 
Other assets
   
1,825
   
1,953
 
Total assets
 
$
106,123
 
$
105,997
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
             
Current liabilities:
             
Accounts payable
 
$
4,995
 
$
3,922
 
Accrued expenses and other
   
15,608
   
15,733
 
Current liabilities of discontinued
             
operations
   
726
   
707
 
Current portion of long-term debt
   
2,421
   
2,403
 
Total current liabilities
   
23,750
   
22,765
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
10,248
   
10,166
 
Long-term liabilities of discontinued
   
1,362
   
1,402
 
operations
             
Long-term debt, less current portion
   
5,948
   
5,926
 
Total long-term liabilities
   
17,558
   
17,494
 
Total liabilities
   
41,308
   
40,259
 
               
Commitments and Contingencies
   
-
   
-
 
               
Preferred Stock of subsidiary, $1.00 par
             
value; 1,467,396 shares authorized,
             
1,284,730 shares issued and outstanding,
             
liquidation value $1.00 per share
   
1,285
   
1,285
 
               
Stockholders' equity:
             
Common Stock, $.001 par value; 75,000,000
             
shares authorized, 52,071,244 and
             
52,053,744 shares issued, including 0
             
shares held and 988,000 shares of treasury
             
stock retired in 2006, respectively
   
52
   
52
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
93,128
   
92,980
 
Stock Subscription Receivable
   
(66
)
 
(79
)
Accumulated deficit
   
(29,584
)
 
(28,500
)
Total stockholders' equity
   
63,530
   
64,453
 
               
Total liabilities and stockholders'
             
equity
 
$
106,123
 
$
105,997
 
 
SOURCE Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.
-0-
  05/09/2007
/CONTACT: Dr. Louis F. Centofanti, Chairman and CEO of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc., +1-770-587-5155; or US Investor Relations, David K. Waldman of Crescendo Communications, LLC, +1-212-671-1020 x101, for Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.; or European Investor Relations, Herbert Strauss, +43-316-296-316, herbert@eu-ir.com, for Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc./
/Web site: http://www.perma-fix.com/
(PESI)