Perma-Fix Announces 23% Increase in Revenue for the Fourth Quarter of 2004 and Reports Results for Fiscal 2004
ATLANTA, March 21, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: PESI; BSE)(Germany: PES.BE) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2004. Revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2004, totaled $23.1 million, compared to $18.7 million for the same period in 2003. Results for the quarter reflect a 36.3% increase in revenue from the Nuclear Segment to $11.8 million, and a 13.3% increase in revenue from the Industrial Segment to $10.5 million. The increase in the Nuclear Segment was principally attributable to the Company's continued expansion within the mixed waste market, including new government contracts and a commercial contract awarded by a Fortune 500 customer. The increase in the Industrial Segment was attributable to the two facilities acquired in the first quarter of 2004, partially offset by the Army's Newport Hydrolysate project completed in 2003.
Dr. Louis F. Centofanti, Chairman and CEO, commented, "During the fourth quarter, revenue increased 23 percent, we achieved net income, and we continued to generate strong cash flow. In fact, our net income would have been much higher, excluding certain unusual expenses we recorded during the quarter. We continue to sign new contracts including a recent award within our Industrial Segment to treat waste at the Kennedy Space Center, and a $23 million contract within our Nuclear Segment for the treatment of mixed wastes generated at the Department of Energy's Hanford Site. While we continue to increase sales and improve the flow of waste within our Nuclear Segment, we have still only scratched the surface of the sizeable mixed-waste market."
Dr. Centofanti continued, "2004 was an important year for Perma-Fix. Foremost, we completed the restructuring of our Industrial Segment, which should improve our profitability going forward. In addition, we restructured the sales force, and our business pipeline is now stronger than ever. We also reduced our debt by over $10 million, and we are quite pleased with the terms of our new credit facility. The new credit facility will reduce our interest payments by another 50 basis points and reinforces the progress we have made in strengthening our balance sheet. Looking ahead, we are confident the Industrial Segment will experience sales growth and turn profitable during 2005. Within our Nuclear Segment, we also anticipate continued revenue growth and improved profitability for 2005. As a result, we expect a significant overall improvement in profitability in 2005 and plan to continue paying down debt and strengthening our balance sheet. As we enter 2005, we are quite encouraged by our early traction."
Net income, before preferred stock dividends, for the quarter was $51,000 compared to $634,000 or $.02 per share for the same period in 2003. As previously disclosed, the Company discontinued operations at its Detroit, Michigan facility. As a result of the discontinuation of operations at the Detroit, Michigan facility, the Company incurred a non-recurring charge of $9.2 million in 2004 for the loss on disposal from discontinued operations, including a decrease of the loss of $657,000, from its previous estimate of $9.8 million reported in the third quarter of 2004. This $657,000 is recorded as a gain in the fourth quarter and is principally a result of the Company's change in estimate related to the non-cash charge for impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets allocated to discontinued operations, partially offset by an adjustment of the pension liability. Also, during the fourth quarter, the Company recorded an additional insurance receivable of $1.1 million due to the fires at the facility, as income from discontinued operations. Additionally, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $9.0 million in 2004, which represents an increase of $1.9 million, over its previous estimate of $7.1 million reported in the third quarter of 2004. This $1.9 million increase is recorded as a charge to continuing operations in the fourth quarter, and is a result of the Company's change in estimate pursuant to the finalization of its impairment test of the remaining goodwill and other intangible assets of the Industrial Segment. The net impact of the changes in estimates related to the discontinued operations and impairment charge was a loss of $114,000 for the fourth quarter of 2004.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2004, revenues increased by approximately 5.3% to $83.4 million, compared to $79.2 million in 2003. Results for fiscal 2004 reflect a 14.1% increase in revenue from the Nuclear Segment to $42.7 million, and a 2.7% decrease in revenue from the Industrial Segment to $37.5 million. The increase in the Nuclear Segment was principally attributable to the Company's continued expansion within the mixed waste market, including new government and commercial contract awards. The decrease in the Industrial Segment was attributable to the restructuring, as well as the Army's Newport Hydrolysate project completed in 2003.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2004, net loss, before preferred stock dividends, totaled $19.4 million or $.48 per share, compared to a profit of $3.1 million or $.08 per share in 2003. Results for 2004 include the discontinued operations charge of $9.2 million loss on disposal and $635,000 loss on discontinued operations, and the impairment charge of $9.0 million pursuant to its impairment test of the remaining goodwill and other intangible assets of the Industrial Segment, described above. As previously reported, the Company also recorded a $1.0 million non-recurring charge on the loss on disposal or impairment of other fixed assets within the Industrial Segment, as well as a charge of $1.4 million for the pre-payment of the $5.6 million principal amount of the Company's 13.5% senior subordinated notes. The net impact of the aforementioned charges was $21.2 million for 2004.
The Company's Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement with PNC Bank expires on December 22, 2005. The Company has received a commitment letter for an extension of this $25 million credit facility, through May 31, 2008, and is in the process of negotiating and finalizing the amended agreement. The credit facility consists of an $18 million revolving line of credit and a $7 million term loan. When finalized, the new terms of the credit facility will remain principally unchanged, with the exception of a 50 basis point reduction in the interest rate on both loans. Since the amended agreement has not been finalized, the Company has classified into the current portion of long-term debt, the long-term balance of the revolving credit and term loan as of December 31, 2004, in the amount of $6,480,000 and $2,083,000, respectively. If the Company is able to finalize the amended agreement with PNC Bank prior to the filing of its Form 10-K, the long-term portion of this consolidated debt balance, in the aggregate of $8,563,000 will be classified as long-term debt. Upon completion of the amended agreement, the Company expects to receive proceeds of approximately $4.0 million, which it intends on utilizing to repay a $3.5 million Unsecured Promissory Notes due August 31, 2005. The Company has filed a Form 12b-25 with the SEC, advising the SEC that its 2004 Form 10-K will be filed on or before March 31, 2005.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires the Company to include an internal control report in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, which is to include management's assessment of the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the fiscal year. That report also is required to include a statement that the Company's independent auditors have issued an attestation report on management's assessment of internal control over financial reporting. During the course of 2004, and early 2005, we, together with our outside internal controls consultant, have been engaged in a substantial effort to complete the documentation and testing of our internal controls over financial reporting in connection with our assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls as of December 31, 2004, as required by Sarbanes-Oxley. Although our outside auditor, BDO Seidman, LLP has not yet finalized its assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, our internal reviews and those of our outside consultant have determined on a preliminary basis that we likely have, several accumulated significant deficiencies, which may constitute three aggregated material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting, as of December 31, 2004, grouped as follows: 1) lack of effectively designed and maintained controls surrounding our pricing and invoicing process at certain facilities within our Industrial Segment; 2) inability to evidence the performance or review of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statement closing processes, which management has designated integral to financial reporting, across all operating segments; and 3) lack of formal written corporate policies and procedures that define accounting and reporting responsibilities of financial personnel within the Company, in addition to improvements needed related to segregation of duties. We are reviewing steps to correct these weaknesses and are committed to developing a plan for their timely remediation. Since our outside auditor has not completed its review and assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting, the number of material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, may be more or less than those described above. Management believes its assertions regarding the Company's internal controls over financial reporting will not preclude an unqualified opinion on the financial statements contained in the Company's 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. is a national environmental services company, providing unique mixed waste and industrial waste management services. The Nuclear Segment provides radioactive and mixed waste treatment services to hospitals, research laboratories and institutions, numerous federal agencies including the Departments of Energy and Defense and nuclear utilities. The Industrial 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 eleven 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 information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the company, the completion of the Industrial Segment restructuring, which should improve our profitability going forward, Industrial Segment sales growth, Industrial Segment turning profitable in 2005, Nuclear revenue growth and improved profitability for 2005, the sizeable mixed-waste market, overall improvement in profitability in 2005, and our ability to continue to pay down debt and strengthen our balance sheet. 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, the ability of the company to apply and market its technologies, neither the government nor any party which has granted the Company a material contract terminates their contract prior to expiration of the term of the contract, the DOE's failure to abide by or comply with its contracts or to deliver waste as anticipated, inability to correct material weaknesses we may have in our internal controls over financial reporting, that pending or future litigation or administrative proceeding (including, but not limited to, the pending proceedings brought by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency against Perma-Fix of Dayton, Inc. ("PFD") alleging that PFD's operations require it to operate under a title V Air permit and a citizens' suit again PFD alleging similar matters) is resolved unfavorably to us, and the additional factors referred to under "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" of our 2003 Form 10-K and pages 18 and 19 of our Form 10-Q for quarter ended September 30, 2004. 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 .
FINANCIAL TABLE FOLLOWS
PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the years ended December 31
(Amounts in Thousands, Except for Share Amounts)
Three Months Twelve Months
2004 2003 2004 2003
Net Revenues $23,096 $18,728 $83,373 $79,153
Cost of goods sold 16,329 12,316 59,523 54,041
Gross Profit 6,767 6,412 23,850 25,112
Selling, general and
administrative expenses 5,564 4,375 18,702 17,527
Loss (gain) on disposal
or impairment of fixed
assets (2) 11 994 (4)
Impairment loss on
intangible assets 1,901 -- 9,002 --
Income (loss) from
operations (696) 2,026 (4,848) 7,589
Other income (expense):
Interest income 1 2 3 8
Interest expense (486) (697) (2,020) (2,804)
Interest expense -
financing fees (112) (256) (2,191) (1,070)
Other (443) (142) (492) (79)
Income (loss) from
continuing operations (1,736) 933 (9,548) 3,644
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from
discontinued operations 1,130 (299) (635) (526)
Gain (loss) on disposals
from discontinued
operations 657 -- (9,178) --
Total income (loss)
from discontinued
operations 1,787 (299) (9,813) (526)
Net income (loss) 51 634 (19,361) 3,118
Preferred Stock dividends (48) (48) (190) (189)
Net income (loss)
applicable to Common Stock $3 $586 $(19,551) $2,929
Net income (loss) per
common share - basic:
Continuing operations $(.04) $.03 $(.24) $.10
Discontinued operations .04 (.01) (.24) (.02)
Net income (loss) per
common share $-- $.02 $(.48) $.08
Net income (loss) per
common share - diluted:
Continuing operations $(.04) $.02 $(.24) $.09
Discontinued operations .04 (.01) (.24) (.01)
Net income (loss) per
common share $-- $.01 $(.48) $.08
Number of shares and
potential common shares
Used in computing net
income (loss) per share:
Basic 41,747 35,631 40,478 34,982
Diluted 43,947 46,396 40,478 39,436
PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of December 31
(Amounts in Thousands, Except for Share Amounts) 2004 2003
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash $215 $ 411
Restricted cash 60 30
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
doubtful accounts of $570 and $661 27,192 23,576
Prepaid expenses and other 3,818 2,910
Current assets of discontinued operations 1,609 1,454
Total current assets 32,894 28,381
Net property and equipment 47,261 47,311
Net property and equipment of discontinued
operations 600 5,758
Permits 12,895 16,680
Goodwill 1,330 6,216
Finite Risk Sinking Fund 2,225 1,234
Other assets 3,250 4,635
Total assets 100,455 110,215
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $6,529 $5,518
Accrued expenses and other 17,936 14,463
Current liabilities of discontinued operations 2,550 1,345
Current portion of long-term debt 14,939 2,896
Total current liabilities 41,954 24,222
Other long-term liabilities 9,147 7,983
Long-term liabilities of discontinued
operations 1,804 91
Long-term debt, less current portion 4,017 26,192
Total long-term liabilities 14,968 34,266
Total liabilities 56,922 58,488
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:
Preferred Stock, $.001 par value; 2,000,000
shares authorized, 2,500 shares issued and
outstanding -- --
Common Stock, $.001 par value; 75,000,000 shares
authorized, 42,749,117 and 37,241,881 shares
issued, including 988,000 shares held as
treasury stock, respectively 43 37
Additional paid-in capital 80,902 69,640
Accumulated deficit (36,794) (17,243)
Interest rate swap (41) (130)
44,110 52,304
Less Common Stock in treasury at cost;
988,000 shares (1,862) (1,862)
Total stockholders' equity 42,248 50,442
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $100,455 $110,215
SOURCE Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.
Dr. Louis F. Centofanti, Chairman and CEO, Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc., +1-404-847-9990; or David Waldman or John Heilshorn, both of Lippert
http://www.prnewswire.com
Released March 21, 2005