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8-K - 8-K - TAL International Group, Inc.a13-10671_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

TAL INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC. REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2013 RESULTS AND INCREASES ITS QUARTERLY DIVIDEND TO $0.66

 

Purchase, New York, April 24, 2013 — TAL International Group, Inc. (NYSE: TAL), one of the world’s largest lessors of intermodal freight containers and chassis, today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013.

 

Highlights:

 

·                  TAL reported Adjusted pre-tax income of $1.63 per fully diluted common share for the first quarter of 2013, an increase of 14% from the first quarter of 2012.

·                  TAL reported leasing revenues of $137.2 million for the first quarter of 2013, an increase of 11.4% from the first quarter of 2012.

·                  TAL has continued to invest aggressively in its business, and has purchased $350 million in new and sale leaseback containers for delivery in 2013.

·                  TAL announced a $0.02 increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.66 per share payable on June 25, 2013 to shareholders of record as of June 4, 2013.

 

Financial Results

 

The following table depicts TAL’s selected key financial information for the quarters ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 (dollars in millions, except per share data):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

% Change

 

Adjusted pre-tax income(1)

 

$

54.7

 

$

48.0

 

14.0

%

Adjusted pre-tax income(1) per share

 

$

1.63

 

$

1.43

 

14.0

%

Leasing revenues

 

$

137.2

 

$

123.2

 

11.4

%

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

 

$

141.9

 

$

128.4

 

10.5

%

Adjusted net income(1)

 

$

35.5

 

$

31.0

 

14.5

%

Adjusted net income(1) per share

 

$

1.05

 

$

0.92

 

14.1

%

Net income

 

$

37.5

 

$

32.9

 

14.0

%

Net income per share

 

$

1.12

 

$

0.98

 

14.3

%

 

Note: All per share data is per fully diluted common share.

 

The Company focuses on adjusted pre-tax results since it considers gains and losses on interest rate swaps to be unrelated to operating performance and since it does not expect to pay any significant income taxes for a number of years due to the availability of accelerated tax depreciation on its existing container fleet and anticipated future equipment purchases.

 

Effective October 1, 2012, TAL increased the estimated residual values used in its equipment depreciation calculations.  The increase in estimated residual values resulted in a decrease in depreciation expense of $4.9 million compared to what it would have been using the prior residual value estimates.

 

TAL also changed its estimated depreciation start date. Prior to this year TAL started depreciating new containers on the earlier of the date a container went on-hire or January 1st of the year following the year of purchase. TAL now starts depreciating new containers based solely on the on-hire date. TAL recognized approximately $1.6 million in depreciation expense in the first quarter of 2012 on new containers not yet on-hire, and in the first quarter of 2013 there was no depreciation expense for new units not yet on-hire.

 

Operating Performance

 

“TAL’s results in the first quarter of 2013 provide a solid start to what we expect will be another year of strong operating and financial performance,” commented Brian M. Sondey, President and CEO of TAL International. “In the first quarter, we achieved strong top and bottom line growth.  Our leasing revenue increased 11% from the first quarter of 2012 due to the ongoing growth in

 



 

our container fleet. Our Adjusted pre-tax income increased 14%, and our fleet utilization remained exceptionally strong, averaging 97.7% for the quarter.”

 

“Our first quarter Adjusted pre-tax income of $54.7 million represents a new record level of performance for TAL. This is unusual given that the first quarter is typically the slow season for our dry container product line and our weakest quarter of the year. This year, our first quarter results benefitted from a $2.5 million gain on the sale of containers resulting from one of our customers declaring an unusually large number of containers lost. We also benefited from slower growth of our depreciation expense due to the change to the estimated residual values used in our depreciation expense calculations that we implemented in the fourth quarter of 2012.”

 

“Our strong financial performance so far in 2013 continues to be supported by a tight global supply / demand balance for containers. Our utilization finished 2012 at a high level, supported by moderate trade growth and limited production of new containers in 2012. Our utilization remained high throughout the winter slow season, and global containerized trade growth is expected to remain moderately positive in 2013. As of April 24, 2013, our utilization stood at 97.6%. Used container sale prices have been slowly moderating, but they remain very high historically and we continue to generate substantial gains on sale.  We are also off to a solid start with our investments this year, and have already purchased $350 million of new and sale-leaseback containers for delivery in 2013.”

 

Outlook

 

Mr. Sondey continued, “Looking forward, we generally expect favorable market conditions to continue, and we expect TAL’s operating and financial performance to remain at a high level. The environment for new leasing transactions may not be quite as attractive as it has been for the last few years, since an increased number of shipping lines have placed orders to purchase containers directly this year and since pricing on new leasing transactions is currently aggressive. Still, we expect leasing revenue to grow in the second quarter as new containers start to go on-hire in larger numbers, and we expect a decrease in our average effective interest rate to offset much of the pressure on our lease rates in the next several quarters. We do not expect to repeat the $2.5 million gain we recorded from lost containers in the first quarter, but still expect our Adjusted pre-tax income to hold steady or increase slightly from the first to the second quarter of 2013 as we benefit from seasonally increased leasing and disposal activity.”

 

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Dividend

 

TAL’s Board of Directors has approved and declared a $0.66 per share quarterly cash dividend on its issued and outstanding common stock, payable on June 25, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 4, 2013.  Based on the information available today, we believe this distribution will qualify as a return of capital rather than a taxable dividend for U.S. tax purposes. Investors should consult with a tax advisor to determine the proper tax treatment of this distribution.

 

Mr. Sondey concluded, “We are very pleased to announce an increase to our dividend again this quarter.  The increase reflects our continued strong performance, the growth in our recurring leasing revenues and our expectation that our market environment will remain generally favorable for the foreseeable future.”

 

Investors’ Webcast

 

TAL will hold a Webcast at 9 a.m. (New York time) on Thursday, April 25, 2013 to discuss its first quarter results.  An archive of the Webcast will be available one hour after the live call through Friday, May 31, 2013. To access the live Webcast or archive, please visit the Company’s Web site at http://www.talinternational.com.

 

About TAL International Group, Inc.

 

TAL is one of the world’s largest lessors of intermodal freight containers and chassis with 17 offices in 11 countries and approximately 230 third-party container depot facilities in 40 countries. The Company’s global operations include the acquisition, leasing, re-leasing and subsequent sale of multiple types of intermodal containers and chassis. TAL’s fleet consists of approximately 1,223,000 containers and related equipment representing approximately 2,000,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). This places TAL among the world’s largest independent lessors of intermodal containers and chassis as measured by fleet size.

 

Contact

 

Jeffrey Casucci

Vice President

Treasury and Investor Relations

(914) 697-2900

 

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Important Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

Statements in this press release regarding TAL International Group, Inc.’s business that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that these statements involve risks and uncertainties, are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 20, 2013.

 

The Company’s views, estimates, plans and outlook as described within this document may change subsequent to the release of this statement.  The Company is under no obligation to modify or update any or all of the statements it has made herein despite any subsequent changes the Company may make in its views, estimates, plans or outlook for the future.

 


(1) Adjusted pre-tax income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income are non-GAAP measurements we believe are useful in evaluating our operating performance.  The Company’s definition and calculation of Adjusted pre-tax income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income are outlined in the attached schedules.

 

Please see page 8 for a detailed reconciliation of these financial measurements.

 

-Financial Tables Follow-

 

4



 

TAL INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC.

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

March 31,
2013

 

December 31,
2012

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Leasing equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and allowances of $799,022 and $766,898

 

$

3,342,173

 

$

3,249,374

 

Net investment in finance leases, net of allowances of $823 and $897

 

117,240

 

121,933

 

Equipment held for sale

 

50,652

 

47,139

 

Revenue earning assets

 

3,510,065

 

3,418,446

 

Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents

 

58,854

 

65,843

 

Restricted cash

 

38,523

 

35,837

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $676 and $692

 

77,773

 

71,363

 

Goodwill

 

71,898

 

71,898

 

Deferred financing costs

 

32,294

 

26,450

 

Other assets

 

9,318

 

9,453

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

3,382

 

1,904

 

Total assets

 

$

3,802,107

 

$

3,701,194

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment purchases payable

 

$

74,163

 

$

111,176

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

35,396

 

34,633

 

Accounts payable and other accrued expenses

 

58,865

 

64,936

 

Net deferred income tax liability

 

290,134

 

270,459

 

Debt

 

2,711,602

 

2,604,015

 

Total liabilities

 

3,170,160

 

3,085,219

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, none issued

 

 

 

Common stock, $.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 36,856,307 and 36,697,366 shares issued, respectively

 

37

 

37

 

Treasury stock, at cost, 3,011,843 shares

 

(37,535

)

(37,535

)

Additional paid-in capital

 

495,413

 

493,456

 

Accumulated earnings

 

183,903

 

168,447

 

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)

 

(9,871

)

(8,430

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

631,947

 

615,975

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

3,802,107

 

$

3,701,194

 

 

5



 

TAL INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC.

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

(Dollars and shares in thousands, except earnings per share)

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Leasing revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Operating leases

 

$

134,054

 

$

119,481

 

Finance leases

 

3,098

 

3,698

 

Total leasing revenues

 

137,152

 

123,179

 

Equipment trading revenues

 

18,286

 

14,461

 

Management fee income

 

619

 

660

 

Other revenues

 

18

 

32

 

Total revenues

 

156,075

 

138,332

 

Operating expenses (income):

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment trading expenses

 

15,611

 

12,563

 

Direct operating expenses

 

5,962

 

5,581

 

Administrative expenses

 

11,904

 

11,106

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

49,317

 

45,205

 

(Reversal) provision for doubtful accounts

 

(82

)

14

 

Net (gain) on sale of leasing equipment

 

(10,261

)

(10,760

)

Total operating expenses

 

72,451

 

63,709

 

Operating income

 

83,624

 

74,623

 

Other expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and debt expense

 

28,883

 

26,625

 

Net (gain) on interest rate swaps

 

(3,152

)

(2,972

)

Total other expenses

 

25,731

 

23,653

 

Income before income taxes

 

57,893

 

50,970

 

Income tax expense

 

20,373

 

18,043

 

Net income

 

$

37,520

 

$

32,927

 

Net income per common share—Basic

 

$

1.12

 

$

0.99

 

Net income per common share—Diluted

 

$

1.12

 

$

0.98

 

Cash dividends paid per common share

 

$

0.64

 

$

0.55

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding—Basic

 

33,469

 

33,192

 

Dilutive stock options and restricted stock

 

172

 

386

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding—Diluted

 

33,641

 

33,578

 

 

6



 

The following table sets forth TAL’s equipment fleet utilization(1) as of and for the quarter ended March 31, 2013:

 

Average and Ending Utilization
for the Quarter Ended
March 31, 2013

 

Average Utilization

 

Ending Utilization

 

97.7

%

97.6

%

 


(1)         Utilization is computed by dividing TAL’s total units on lease (in CEUs) by the total units in TAL’s fleet (in CEUs) excluding new units not yet leased and off-hire units designated for sale.

 

The following table provides the composition of TAL’s equipment fleet as of March 31, 2013 (in units, TEUs and cost equivalent units, or “CEUs”):

 

 

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

Equipment Fleet in Units

 

Equipment Fleet in TEUs

 

 

 

Owned

 

Managed

 

Total

 

Owned

 

Managed

 

Total

 

Dry

 

1,024,044

 

20,132

 

1,044,176

 

1,649,916

 

36,074

 

1,685,990

 

Refrigerated

 

59,956

 

97

 

60,053

 

115,044

 

172

 

115,216

 

Special

 

55,181

 

1,654

 

56,835

 

98,807

 

2,794

 

101,601

 

Tank

 

6,607

 

 

6,607

 

6,607

 

 

6,607

 

Chassis

 

13,391

 

 

13,391

 

23,853

 

 

23,853

 

Equipment leasing fleet

 

1,159,179

 

21,883

 

1,181,062

 

1,894,227

 

39,040

 

1,933,267

 

Equipment trading fleet

 

42,057

 

 

42,057

 

66,500

 

 

66,500

 

Total

 

1,201,236

 

21,883

 

1,223,119

 

1,960,727

 

39,040

 

1,999,767

 

Percentage

 

98.2

%

1.8

%

100.0

%

98.0

%

2.0

%

100.0

%

 

 

 

Equipment Fleet in CEUs

 

 

 

Owned

 

Managed

 

Total

 

Total

 

2,428,725

 

35,269

 

2,463,994

 

Percentage

 

98.6

%

1.4

%

100.0

%

 

7



 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

We use the terms “EBITDA”, “Adjusted EBITDA”, “Adjusted pre-tax income” and “Adjusted net income” throughout this press release.

 

EBITDA is defined as net income before interest and debt expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA excluding gains and losses on interest rate swaps, plus principal payments on finance leases.

 

Adjusted pre-tax income is defined as income before income taxes as further adjusted for certain items which are described in more detail below, which management believes are not representative of our operating performance. Adjusted pre-tax income excludes gains and losses on interest rate swaps. Adjusted net income is defined as net income further adjusted for the item discussed above, net of income tax.

 

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted pre-tax income and Adjusted net income are not presentations made in accordance with U.S. GAAP. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted pre-tax income and Adjusted net income should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful than, amounts determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including net income, or net cash from operating activities.

 

We believe that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted pre-tax income and Adjusted net income are useful to an investor in evaluating our operating performance because:

 

·  these measures are widely used by securities analysts and investors to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to items such as interest and debt expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, and gains and losses on interest rate swaps, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods and the book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired;

 

·  these measures help investors to more meaningfully evaluate and compare the results of our operations from period to period by removing the impact of our capital structure, our asset base and certain non-routine events which we do not expect to occur in the future; and

 

·  these measures are used by our management for various purposes, including as measures of operating performance to assist in comparing performance from period to period on a consistent basis, in presentations to our board of directors concerning our financial performance and as a basis for strategic planning and forecasting.

 

We have provided reconciliations of net income, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in the tables below for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

We have also provided reconciliations of income before income taxes and net income, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures, to Adjusted pre-tax income and Adjusted net income in the tables below for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

8



 

TAL INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC.

Non-GAAP Reconciliations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
(Dollars in Thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Net income

 

$

37,520

 

$

32,927

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

49,317

 

45,205

 

Interest and debt expense

 

28,883

 

26,625

 

Income tax expense

 

20,373

 

18,043

 

EBITDA

 

136,093

 

122,800

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

Net (gain) on interest rate swaps

 

(3,152

)

(2,972

)

Principal payments on finance lease

 

8,951

 

8,526

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

141,892

 

$

128,354

 

 

TAL INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC.

Non-GAAP Reconciliations of Adjusted Pre-tax Income and Adjusted Net Income
(Dollars and Shares in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Income before income taxes

 

$

57,893

 

$

50,970

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

Net (gain) on interest rate swaps

 

(3,152

)

(2,972

)

Adjusted pre-tax income

 

$

54,741

 

$

47,998

 

Adjusted pre-tax income per fully diluted common share

 

$

1.63

 

$

1.43

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding—Diluted

 

33,641

 

33,578

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Net income

 

$

37,520

 

$

32,927

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

Net (gain) on interest rate swaps, net of tax(a)

 

(2,043

)

(1,920

)

Adjusted net income(a)

 

$

35,477

 

$

31,007

 

Adjusted net income per fully diluted common share

 

$

1.05

 

$

0.92

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding—Diluted

 

33,641

 

33,578

 

 


(a)   The difference between Adjusted net income and reported net income in the first quarters of 2013 and 2012 was due to net gains on interest rate swaps. TAL uses interest rate swaps to synthetically fix the interest rates for most of its floating rate debt so that the duration of the fixed interest rates more closely matches the expected duration of TAL’s lease portfolio. TAL does not use hedge accounting for the majority of its swaps, so most of the change in the market value of TAL’s interest rate swap portfolio is reflected in reported net income.

 

9