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8-K - Essex Rental Corp.v231308_8k.htm
Exhibit 99.1
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ESSEX RENTAL CORP. REPORTS 2011 SECOND QUARTER RESULTS
 
BUFFALO GROVE, IL – August 8, 2011 – Essex Rental Corp. (Nasdaq: ESSX) ("Essex") today announced its unaudited consolidated results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011.  The results are those of Essex Rental Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Essex Crane Rental Corp. ("Essex Crane"), Essex Finance Corp. (“Essex Finance”), Coast Crane Company (formerly known as CC Bidding Corp.) and Coast Crane Ltd. (“Coast Crane Ltd.”).  References in this release to “Coast Crane” refer to the combined results of Coast Crane Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Coast Crane Ltd., which were acquired on November 24, 2010.  Included below is a comparison of Essex's results of operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 to the corresponding results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.  Many of the explanations provided below relate to the impact of Coast Crane.
 
Management Comments on Second Quarter 2011

Ron Schad, President & CEO of Essex, stated, “Essex continues to experience steady growth and stability in its three business segments: equipment rentals, equipment distribution, and parts and service.  With the exception of our crawler crane fleet, we experienced increases in utilization rates during the second quarter ended June 30, 2011 for all of the categories of equipment that we rent.  Crawler cranes experienced a slight decline in utilization due to the conclusion of certain levee projects.  Excluding these levee-related crawler cranes, we have continued to see a steady increase in utilization on a comparable quarter and year to date basis for this asset category.  Specifically, since June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2010, the number of crawler cranes on rent excluding those on levee related projects has increased by 5.3% and 7.5%, respectively.”
 
He continued, “Overall, we are pleased with the business trends that we are seeing at Coast Crane.  The Coast Crane acquisition has enabled us to diversify our earnings and is presenting us with a number of meaningful growth opportunities.  The steady increase in rental equipment utilization rates, combined with accelerated revenues in our equipment distribution segment and the predictability of our parts and service segment, provides Essex with a balanced business portfolio that is well positioned for growth as our end markets continue to recover.”
 
Second Quarter 2011 Overview

Equipment rental segment revenues, which represent 65.4% of total revenues, were $14.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011, a 61.5% increase from $9.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010.  This increase was primarily attributable to equipment rental revenues generated by our Coast Crane subsidiary of $4.8 million as Essex did not own Coast Crane during the comparable period in 2010.  Utilization for crawler cranes, as measured on a “days” basis, has increased to 38.6% for the three month period ended June 30, 2011 compared to 35.1% for the same period in the prior year.  On a sequential quarter basis, crawler crane utilization decreased to 38.6% for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 from 42.8% for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.  Average monthly crawler crane rental rate decreased by $1,025 to $15,347 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 from $16,372 for the three months ended June 30, 2010.  On a sequential quarter basis, average crawler crane rental rate moderately decreased $169 from $15,516 for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

Used rental equipment sales revenue was $1.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011, a 293.9% or $1.3 million increase on a sequential quarterly basis.  Used rental equipment sold during the quarter ended June 30, 2011 included fourteen pieces of equipment.  Proceeds from used equipment sales are largely being applied against new equipment purchases which are refreshing the rental equipment fleet.  During the three months ended June 30, 2011, Essex purchased twelve pieces of rental equipment.

New equipment distribution segment revenue was $3.6 million or 16.1% of our total revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2011 as compared to $3.7 or 17.2% of total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2011.  Essex continues to gain momentum in this segment of its business as the market adapts to the strategy initiated by the Company during the first half of 2011 to reconfigure the manufacturers it represents.
 
 
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Parts and service segment revenue, which represented 18.5% of total revenue, was $4.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 as compared to $4.5 million or 21.1% of our total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

Total cost of revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 was $19.3 million compared to $7.9 million for the same period in 2010.  The increase was primarily due to the cost of revenues incurred by Coast Crane during the period of $12.1 million, partially offset by a decrease in cost of revenues related to the crawler crane fleet.  Excluding the non-cash costs of net book value of rental equipment sold and depreciation expense, costs were $12.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, compared to $3.6 million for the same period in 2010.  The increase was primarily due to the cost of revenues excluding the non-cash costs of net book value of rental equipment sold and depreciation expense at Coast Crane of $8.5 million during the period and the expense of preparing the fleet for rental agreements starting during the quarter and in the near term as evidenced by the increase in the crawler crane utilization rate to 38.6% for the second quarter of 2011 from 35.1% for the comparable period in 2010.  Additionally, costs were incurred due to the significant number of cranes coming off rent from levee projects and preparing those cranes for future rentals.  The concentrated effort to prepare these cranes for new rentals that have either started or will start in the near future negatively impacted results by adding approximately $0.4 million to operating costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $7.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 from $2.6 million for the same period in the prior year.  The increase was primarily due to selling, general and administrative expenses of $4.1 million incurred by Coast Crane during the period, an increase in non-cash compensation expense related to stock based compensation, and $0.4 million of one-time costs related to the Coast acquisition.

EBITDA before rental equipment sales was $0.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to $1.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.  EBITDA before rental equipment sales for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 was negatively impacted by the $0.4 million in additional operating expenses incurred by the cranes coming off rent from levee projects as well as the $0.4 million of one-time costs included in SG&A described above.  A reconciliation of EBITDA before rental equipment sales to Loss from Operations, the closest comparable measure under generally accepted accounting principles, is provided herein.

Outlook for 2011

Mr. Schad continued, “We are optimistic about the opportunities in the second half of 2011, particularly as we continue to experience strong quoting activity, relating to construction jobs that have already been awarded to contractors.  Based on historical experience, we view the continued increase in our rough terrain and boom truck utilization as a leading indicator that utilization for our crawler cranes will continue to steadily improve.  During the balance of 2011, we will begin to take delivery of approximately $28 million of new equipment.  Much of this equipment is in asset classes in which we are enjoying high utilization, and we believe that as it is deployed it will be a catalyst for further revenue growth.  While in certain bid situations competitive behavior remains challenging, we believe that in the long term, our strategy of disciplined pricing related to our broad fleet of bare rental cranes and our expanded service, sales, and distribution capabilities will provide attractive growth opportunities.

”We continue to seek out opportunities to sell older and less utilized pieces of used rental equipment to reposition our rental fleet.  We are currently finalizing the sale of three crawler cranes from our rental fleet which we expect to close during the third quarter at a premium to appraised value.  Our new equipment distribution backlog continues to build and during the third quarter of 2011, we are expecting to achieve a significant sequential increase in revenue compared to the second quarter.  We remain pleased with the decision to broaden our equipment distribution platform by expanding our relationship with certain manufacturers and initiating new relationships with others.  As we deploy marketing strategies over the ensuing months for both our new equipment distribution and our parts and service segments, we believe we will continue to grow at an accelerated rate.

“On August 1st, we completed the first phase of the installation of information systems at Coast, allowing us to operate a single ERP system platform across Essex Rental Corp.  The new system allows us to meaningfully improve our management of Coast Crane’s asset portfolio to ensure that we are maximizing both rate and utilization of the fleet and operating in a cost effective manner.”
 
 
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Mr. Schad concluded, “As of June 30, 2011, Essex had approximately $56 million of liquidity, consisting of $17 million in cash and amounts available under our revolving credit facilities.  Additionally, we have over $4 million of crane assets in excess of our borrowing base assets.  We are confident that the construction rental equipment, sales and service markets are improving and are optimistic about what the future holds for Essex Rental Corp. and its shareholders.”

Conference Call

Essex’s management team will conduct a conference call to discuss the operating results at 9:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, August 9, 2011.  Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 1 (877) 423-9820 (Domestic) and (201) 493-6749 (International).  Please call in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin, and ask for the Essex Rental Corp. call.

The conference call will be webcast live via the Investor Relations section ("Events and Presentations") of the Essex Rental Corp. website at www.essexrentalcorp.com.  To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software.  If you are unable to listen live, the conference call will be archived on the website.
 
About Essex Rental Corp.
 
Essex, through its subsidiaries, Essex Crane Rental Corp. and Coast Crane Company, is one of North America's largest providers of rental and distribution for mobile cranes (including lattice-boom crawler cranes, truck cranes and rough terrain cranes), self-erecting cranes, stationary tower cranes, elevators and hoists, and other lifting equipment used in a wide array of construction projects. In addition, the Company provides product support including installation, maintenance, repair, and parts and services for equipment provided and other equipment used by its construction industry customers. With a fleet of over 1,000 cranes and other construction equipment and unparalleled customer service and support, Essex supplies a wide variety of innovative lifting solutions for construction projects related to power generation, petro-chemical, refineries, water treatment and purification, bridges, highways, hospitals, shipbuilding, offshore oil fabrication and industrial plants, and commercial and residential construction.

Some of the statements in this press release and other written and oral statements made from time to time by Essex and its representatives are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include statements regarding the intent and belief or current expectations of Essex and its management team and may be identified by the use of words like "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "plan", "will", "should", "seek", the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Essex's expectations include, without limitation, the continued ability of Essex to successfully execute its business plan, the possibility of a change in demand for the products and services that Essex provides, intense competition which may require us to lower prices or offer more favorable terms of sale, our reliance on third party suppliers, our indebtedness which could limit our operational and financial flexibility, global economic factors including interest rates, general economic conditions, geopolitical events and regulatory changes, our dependence on our management team and key personnel, as well as other relevant risks detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on our website, www.essexcrane.com. The factors listed here are not exhaustive. Many of these uncertainties and risks are difficult to predict and beyond management's control. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, results or events. Essex assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking information in this press release whether to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in future operating results or financial conditions, or otherwise.

This press release includes references to EBITDA before rental equipment sales, an unaudited financial measure of performance which is not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP.  While management believes that the presentation of EBITDA before rental equipment sales serves to enhance understanding of Essex's operating performance, EBITDA before rental equipment sales should be considered in addition to, but not as substitutes for, or more meaningful than, income from operations, the most directly comparable GAAP measures, as an indicator of Essex's operating performance.  EBITDA before rental equipment sales has been presented as a supplemental disclosure because EBITDA is a widely used measure of performance and basis for valuation.  A reconciliation of EBITDA before rental equipment sales to income from operations is included in the financial tables accompanying this release.

CONTACT:
Essex Rental Corp.
Martin Kroll
Chief Financial Officer
(847) 215-6502 / mkroll@essexcrane.com
-OR-
INVESTOR RELATIONS:
The Equity Group Inc.
Melissa Dixon
Senior Account Executive
(212) 836-9613 / mdixon@equityny.com
Devin Sullivan
Senior Vice President
(212) 836-9608 / dsullivan@equityny.com
 
 
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Essex Rental Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
REVENUES
 
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Equipment rentals
  $ 10,185,995     $ 5,438,566     $ 20,552,848     $ 10,569,068  
Retail equipment sales
    3,591,291       -       7,289,655       -  
Used rental equipment sales
    1,747,249       1,782,538       2,190,775       2,792,919  
Retail parts sales
    2,546,880       -       5,463,189       -  
Transportation
    1,386,307       969,109       2,760,903       2,008,167  
Equipment repairs and maintenance
    2,886,783       855,933       5,574,305       1,983,301  
                                 
TOTAL REVENUES
    22,344,505       9,046,146       43,831,675       17,353,455  
                                 
COST OF REVENUES
                               
Salaries, payroll taxes and benefits
    2,495,507       1,296,685       4,833,527       2,649,916  
Depreciation
    5,039,234       2,901,722       10,018,733       5,754,125  
Retail equipment sales
    2,997,447       -       6,124,393       -  
Used rental equipment sales
    1,493,494       1,345,313       1,891,338       2,198,164  
Retail parts sales
    2,098,142       -       4,367,340       -  
Transportation
    1,360,799       934,387       2,653,569       1,795,942  
Equipment repairs and maintenance
    3,256,673       1,072,490       6,264,620       1,960,280  
Yard operating expenses
    562,886       341,239       1,109,855       649,476  
                                 
TOTAL COST OF REVENUES
    19,304,182       7,891,836       37,263,375       15,007,903  
                                 
GROSS PROFIT
    3,040,323       1,154,310       6,568,300       2,345,552  
                                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    7,161,105       2,628,330       14,539,195       5,128,427  
Other depreciation and amortization
    492,445       220,380       1,001,409       412,066  
                                 
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS
    (4,613,227 )     (1,694,400 )     (8,972,304 )     (3,194,941 )
                                 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)
                               
Other income
    110,355       2,946       274,723       3,051  
Interest expense
    (2,856,904 )     (1,658,186 )     (5,721,230 )     (3,277,907 )
Foreign currency exchange gains
    (7,139 )     -       70       -  
TOTAL OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)
    (2,753,688 )     (1,655,240 )     (5,446,437 )     (3,274,856 )
                                 
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    (7,366,915 )     (3,349,640 )     (14,418,741 )     (6,469,797 )
                                 
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES
    (2,840,883 )     (1,121,115 )     (5,230,457 )     (2,253,533 )
                                 
NET LOSS
  $ (4,526,032 )   $ (2,228,525 )   $ (9,188,284 )   $ (4,216,264 )
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    24,428,092       14,535,982       23,210,137       14,332,142  
Diluted
    24,428,092       14,535,982       23,210,137       14,332,142  
                                 
Loss per share:
                               
Basic
  $ (0.19 )   $ (0.15 )   $ (0.40 )   $ (0.29 )
Diluted
  $ (0.19 )   $ (0.15 )   $ (0.40 )   $ (0.29 )

 
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Essex Rental Corp. & Subsidiaries
Rental Rate and Utilization Statistics
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Average Crawler Crane rental rate per month
  $ 15,347     $ 16,372     $ 15,432     $ 16,967  
                                 
Utilization Statistics - "Days" Utilization
                               
Crawler Cranes
    38.6 %     35.1 %     40.7 %     32.6 %
Rough Terrain Cranes
    68.9 %     N/A       67.9 %     N/A  
Boomtrucks
    53.3 %     N/A       51.0 %     N/A  
Self-Erecting Tower Cranes
    21.5 %     N/A       19.9 %     N/A  
City & Other Tower Cranes
    43.0 %     N/A       43.1 %     N/A  
Forklifts and Other Equipment
    39.6 %     N/A       39.4 %     N/A  

(See definitions in the quarterly and annual reports filed with the SEC)
 
Essex Rental Corp. & Subsidiaries
Segment Revenues and Gross Profit
(Unaudited)

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Segment revenues
                       
Equipment rentals
  $ 14,606,977     $ 9,046,146     $ 27,854,403     $ 17,353,455  
Equipment distribution
    3,591,291       -       7,289,655       -  
Parts and service
    4,146,237       -       8,687,617       -  
Total revenues
  $ 22,344,505     $ 9,046,146     $ 43,831,675     $ 17,353,455  
                                 
Segment gross profit
                               
Equipment rentals
  $ 1,873,476     $ 1,154,310     $ 3,900,715     $ 2,345,552  
Equipment distribution
    378,331       -       787,583       -  
Parts and service
    788,516       -       1,880,002       -  
Total gross profit
  $ 3,040,323     $ 1,154,310     $ 6,568,300     $ 2,345,552  
 
Essex Rental Corp & Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of Loss from Operations
to Total EBITDA and EBITDA before Rental Equipment Sales
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Loss from Operations
  $ (4,613,227 )   $ (1,694,400 )   $ (8,972,304 )   $ (3,194,941 )
Add: Depreciation
    5,039,234       2,901,722       10,018,733       5,754,125  
Add: Other depreciation and amortization
    492,445       220,380       1,001,409       412,066  
Total EBITDA
    918,452       1,427,702       2,047,838       2,971,250  
Minus: Used rental equipment sales
    (1,747,249 )     (1,782,538 )     (2,190,775 )     (2,792,919 )
Add: Costs of used rental equipment sales
    1,493,494       1,345,313       1,891,338       2,198,164  
EBITDA before rental equipment sales
  $ 664,697     $ 990,477     $ 1,748,401     $ 2,376,495  

 
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Essex Rental Corp. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
ASSETS
 
(Unaudited)
       
CURRENT ASSETS
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 16,635,551     $ 3,474,314  
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts and
               
credit memos of $2,212,000 and $1,742,000, respectively
    11,922,617       12,801,772  
Other receivables
    3,836,822       4,223,435  
Deferred tax assets
    2,882,119       2,402,709  
Inventory
               
Retail equipment inventory
    5,032,612       5,386,074  
Retail spare parts, net
    1,647,728       1,882,003  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    2,165,010       3,069,976  
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
    44,122,459       33,240,283  
                 
Rental equipment, net
    323,424,205       330,378,792  
Property and equipment, net
    8,467,764       8,727,456  
Spare parts inventory, net
    3,693,508       3,540,360  
Identifiable finite lived intangibles, net
    2,523,764       3,143,063  
Goodwill
    1,796,126       1,796,126  
Loan acquisition costs, net
    1,855,184       2,220,878  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 385,883,010     $ 383,046,958  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
CURRENT LIABILITIES
               
Accounts payable
  $ 5,775,455     $ 2,810,672  
Accrued employee compensation and benefits
    1,581,456       1,482,747  
Accrued taxes
    4,203,827       4,504,765  
Accrued interest
    656,100       436,947  
Accrued other expenses
    1,358,140       1,836,246  
Unearned rental revenue
    1,154,212       1,272,847  
Customer deposits
    1,345,171       2,320,007  
Short-term debt obligations
    673,403       783,243  
Current portion of revolving credit facility
    2,331,778       -  
Current portion of capital lease obligation
    6,954       6,718  
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
    19,086,496       15,454,192  
                 
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
               
Revolving credit facilities
    208,753,069       214,959,971  
Promissory notes
    4,986,676       4,938,611  
Other long-term debt obligations
    2,188,560       2,982,920  
Deferred tax liabilities
    56,400,002       61,124,038  
Interest rate swaps
    4,190,338       5,266,586  
Capital lease obligation
    6,812       10,349  
TOTAL LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
    276,525,457       289,282,475  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES
    295,611,953       304,736,667  
                 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Preferred stock, $.0001 par value, Authorized 1,000,000 shares, none issued
    -       -  
Common stock, $.0001 par value, Authorized 40,000,000 shares;
               
issued and outstanding 24,428,092 shares at June 30, 2011
               
and 20,472,489 shares at December 31, 2010
    2,443       2,047  
Paid in capital
    121,826,199       101,052,367  
Accumulated deficit
    (29,619,367 )     (20,431,083 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax
    (1,938,218 )     (2,313,040 )
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    90,271,057       78,310,291  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  $ 385,883,010     $ 383,046,958  
 
 
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