Ameresco Reports First Quarter 2011 Financial Results
-- First quarter revenue of $146.4 million, an increase of 39%
year-over-year
-- First quarter net income of $5.3 million, an increase of 314%
year-over-year
-- First quarter net income per diluted share of $0.12, an increase of 231%
year-over-year
FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, today announced financial results for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2011. The Company has also furnished prepared remarks in conjunction with this press release in a Current Report on Form 8-K. These prepared remarks, including a supplemental document containing non-financial metrics frequently reported with quarterly results, have been posted to the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.ameresco.com.
Total revenue for the first quarter of 2011 was $146.4 million compared to $105.6 million for the same period in 2010, an increase of 39% year-over-year. Operating income for the first quarter of 2011 was $8.3 million compared to $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2010, an increase of 224% year-over-year. First quarter 2011 EBITDA was $11.8 million compared to $5.1 million for the same period in 2010, an increase of 130% year-over-year. Net income for the first quarter of 2011 was $5.3 million compared to $1.3 million in the same period of 2010, an increase of 314% year-over-year. First quarter 2011 net income per diluted share was $0.12 compared to $0.03 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2010.
"Ameresco continued to execute our strategic plan, delivering unseasonably strong first quarter results. Continued momentum from installation activity, recurring revenue from our higher margin offerings, and increased operational efficiencies helped drive our earnings," stated George P. Sakellaris, president and chief executive officer of Ameresco. "We believe that in today's environment of increasing energy costs, budgetary constraints, aging infrastructure, and a greater awareness of the benefits of energy efficiency, the demand for budget-neutral energy savings projects and renewable energy solutions that lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints should continue to grow, positioning Ameresco well for the future."
Additional First Quarter 2011 Operating Highlights:
-- Revenue generated from backlog was $118.4 million for the first quarter
of 2011, an increase of 41% year-over-year.
-- All other revenue was $28.0 million for the first quarter of 2011, an
increase of 30% year-over-year.
-- Total construction backlog was $1.17 billion as of March 31, 2011 and
consisted of:
o $588.7 million of fully-contracted backlog, which represents signed
customer contracts for installation or construction of projects that
are expected to convert into revenue over the next 12-24 months on
average; and
o $577.2 million of awarded projects, which represents estimated future
revenue for projects that are expected to be signed over the next 6-12
months on average.
FY 2011 Guidance
Ameresco reiterates guidance for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011. Ameresco continues to expect that it will earn total revenue in the range of $690 million to $705 million, that EBITDA will be in the range of $67 million to $70 million, and that net income will be in the range of $35 million to $37 million. The Company also expects that net income per diluted share for 2011 will be in the range of $0.75 to $0.79.
Webcast Reminder
Ameresco will hold its earnings conference call today, May 4, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time with President and CEO, George Sakellaris, and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Andrew Spence, to discuss details regarding the Company's first quarter 2011 results, business outlook and strategy. Participants may access it by dialing domestically 888.713.4216 or internationally 617.213.4868. The passcode is 15136768. Participants are advised to dial-in at least ten minutes prior to the call to register. Those who wish to listen only to the conference call webcast may visit the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.ameresco.com.
Pre-Registration for the call is also available at: https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=PCFP8XCWH. Pre-registrants will be issued a pin number to use when dialing into the live call which will provide quick access to the conference by bypassing the operator upon connection.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release and the accompanying tables include references to EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a description of this non-GAAP financial measure, including the reasons management uses this measure, please see the section following the accompanying tables titled "Exhibit A: Non-GAAP Financial Measures". For a reconciliation of EBITDA to operating income, the most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP, please see Other Non-GAAP Disclosure in the accompanying tables.
About Ameresco, Inc.
Ameresco, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in April 2000 and is a leading independent provider of comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout North America. Ameresco's solutions include upgrades to a facility's energy infrastructure, and the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy plants. With corporate headquarters located in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has 56 offices in 29 states and five Canadian provinces. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Ameresco, Inc., including statements about backlog, estimated future revenues, EBITDA and net income, as well as other statements containing the words "projects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will" and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including demand for Ameresco's energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions; the Company's ability to arrange financing for its projects; changes in federal, state and local government policies and programs related to energy efficiency and renewable energy; the timing of work Ameresco does on projects where it recognizes revenue on a percentage of completion basis; seasonality in construction and in demand for its products and services; a customer's decision to delay the Company's work on, or other risks involved with, a particular project; availability and costs of labor and equipment; the addition of new customers or the loss of existing customers; and other factors discussed in Ameresco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2011. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Ameresco's views as of the date of this press release. Ameresco anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while Ameresco may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Ameresco's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
AMERESCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, March 31,
2010 2011
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 44,691,021 $ 29,349,636
Restricted cash 9,197,447 9,060,696
Accounts receivable, net 68,584,304 76,775,498
Accounts receivable retainage 18,452,777 17,263,504
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of 35,556,425 41,842,664
billings
Inventory, net 6,780,092 8,413,306
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 8,471,628 8,545,105
Income tax receivable 2,511,542 7,171,748
Deferred income taxes 9,908,240 12,178,736
Project development costs 7,556,345 6,640,028
Total current assets 211,709,821 217,240,921
Federal ESPC receivable financing 193,551,495 216,131,523
Property and equipment, net 5,406,387 5,863,820
Project assets, net 145,147,475 143,021,635
Deferred financing fees, net 3,412,186 3,351,942
Goodwill 20,580,995 20,580,995
Other assets 4,598,980 4,013,591
372,697,518 392,963,506
$ 584,407,339 $ 610,204,427
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt $ 4,722,118 $ 11,044,064
Accounts payable 95,302,897 72,434,421
Accrued liabilities 12,517,671 12,910,913
Billings in excess of cost and estimated 27,555,894 23,192,383
earnings
Income taxes payable 2,488,672 1,719,555
Total current liabilities 142,587,252 121,301,336
Long-term debt, less current portion 202,409,484 231,937,832
Deferred income taxes 12,013,799 16,585,132
Deferred grant income 4,200,929 6,280,019
Other liabilities 28,144,144 30,098,408
246,768,356 284,901,391
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000
shares authorized, no shares issued
and outstanding at December 31, 2010 and March - -
31, 2011
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value,
500,000,000 shares authorized,
27,925,649 shares issued and 23,092,365
outstanding at December 31, 2010; 2,793 2,862
28,619,649 shares issued and 23,786,365
outstanding at March 31, 2011
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value,
144,000,000 shares authorized,
18,000,000 shares issued and outstanding at
December 31, 2010 and 1,800 1,800
March 31, 2011
Additional paid-in capital 74,069,087 76,735,456
Retained earnings 126,609,101 131,897,386
Accumulated other comprehensive income 3,551,521 4,546,767
Less - treasury stock, at cost, 4,833,284 (9,182,571 ) (9,182,571 )
shares and 4,833,284 shares, respectively
Total stockholders' equity 195,051,731 204,001,700
$ 584,407,339 $ 610,204,427
AMERESCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Three Months Ended March 31,
2010 2011
(Unaudited)
Revenue:
Energy efficiency revenue $ 74,887,569 $ 106,193,265
Renewable energy revenue 30,741,017 40,226,504
105,628,586 146,419,769
Direct expenses:
Energy efficiency expenses 62,524,147 86,361,423
Renewable energy expenses 24,705,410 32,075,313
87,229,557 118,436,736
Gross profit 18,399,029 27,983,033
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits 8,157,029 10,084,732
Project development costs 3,129,437 4,401,577
General, administrative and other 4,549,938 5,193,334
15,836,404 19,679,643
Operating income 2,562,625 8,303,390
Other income (expenses), net (855,689 ) (900,437 )
Income before provision for income taxes 1,706,936 7,402,953
Income tax provision (429,258 ) (2,114,668 )
Net income 1,277,678 5,288,285
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized (loss) gain from interest rate (320,227 ) 239,848
hedge, net of tax gain
Foreign currency translation adjustment 993,899 755,398
Comprehensive income $ 1,951,350 $ 6,283,531
Net income per share attributable to common
shareholders:
Basic $ 0.10 $ 0.13
Diluted $ 0.03 $ 0.12
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic 13,282,284 41,322,276
Diluted 36,587,847 45,823,090
OTHER NON-GAAP DISCLOSURES
Gross margins:
Energy efficiency revenue 16.5 % 18.7 %
Renewable energy revenue 19.6 % 20.3 %
Total 17.4 % 19.1 %
Operating expenses as a percent of revenue 15.0 % 13.4 %
Earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization (EBITDA):
Operating income $ 2,562,625 $ 8,303,390
Depreciation and impairment 2,142,663 2,682,401
Stock-based compensation 439,086 859,050
EBITDA $ 5,144,374 $ 11,844,841
EBITDA margin 4.9 % 8.1 %
Construction backlog:
Awarded $ 618,380,156 $ 577,192,000
Fully-contracted 635,462,592 588,661,000
Total construction backlog $ 1,253,842,748 $ 1,165,853,000
Note: Awarded represents estimated future revenues from projects that have been
awarded, though the contracts have not yet been signed.
AMERESCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Three Months Ended March 31,
2010 2011
(Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 1,277,678 $ 5,288,285
Adjustment to reconcile net income to cash
used in investing activities:
Depreciation of project assets 1,755,132 2,210,612
Depreciation of property and equipment 387,531 471,789
Amortization of deferred financing fees 70,350 110,833
Provision for bad debts 17,834 24,186
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps (133,591 ) -
Stock-based compensation expense 439,086 859,050
Deferred income taxes 1,602,408 2,692,134
Excess tax benefits from stock-based - (391,297 )
compensation arrangements
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in:
Restricted cash draws 214,939 40,912,909
Accounts receivable 10,914,236 (7,620,850 )
Accounts receivable retainage (3,294,743 ) 1,439,552
Federal ESPC receivable financing 1,850,132 (36,506,536 )
Inventory (543,415 ) (1,633,214 )
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of (2,704,612 ) (6,143,202 )
billings
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (3,516,043 ) (21,209 )
Project development costs 132,260 921,076
Other assets 1,199,776 619,317
Increase (decrease) in:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (28,098,390 ) (23,204,150 )
Billings in excess of cost and estimated (705,848 ) (4,546,509 )
earnings
Other liabilities 933,533 4,342,540
Income taxes payable 266,389 (5,446,587 )
Net cash used in operating activities (17,935,358 ) (25,621,271 )
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment (424,376 ) (895,230 )
Purchases of project assets (5,874,481 ) (6,591,203 )
Grant awards received on project assets - 6,695,711
Net cash used in investing activities (6,298,857 ) (790,722 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
Excess tax benefits from stock-based - 391,297
compensation arrangements
Payments of financing fees (186,078 ) (50,589 )
Proceeds from exercises of options - 1,416,091
Proceeds from senior secured credit facility 5,017,004 5,000,000
Proceeds from long-term debt financing 812,398 5,500,089
Restricted cash (4,309,781 ) (587,567 )
Payments on long-term debt (1,342,551 ) (911,878 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing (9,008 ) 10,757,443
activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 677,162 313,165
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (23,566,061 ) (15,341,385 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 47,927,540 44,691,021
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 24,361,479 $ 29,349,636
Exhibit A: Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Ameresco defines EBITDA as operating income before depreciation and impairment expense and share-based compensation expense. EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered as an alternative to operating income or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
The Company believes EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating its operating performance for the following reasons: EBITDA and similar non-GAAP measures are widely used by investors to measure a company's operating performance without regard to items that can vary substantially from company to company depending upon financing and accounting methods, book values of assets, capital structures and the methods by which assets were acquired; securities analysts often use EBITDA and similar non-GAAP measures as supplemental measures to evaluate the overall operating performance of companies; and by comparing Ameresco's EBITDA in different historical periods, investors can evaluate its operating results without the additional variations of depreciation and amortization expense, and share-based compensation expense.
Ameresco's management uses EBITDA: as a measure of operating performance, because it does not include the impact of items that management does not consider indicative of our core operating performance; for planning purposes, including the preparation of the annual operating budget; to allocate resources to enhance the financial performance of the business; to evaluate the effectiveness of Ameresco's business strategies; and in communications with the board of directors and investors concerning Ameresco's financial performance.
The Company understands that, although measures similar to EBITDA are frequently used by investors and securities analysts in their evaluation of companies, EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and investors should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP operating income or an analysis of Ameresco's results of operations as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are: EBITDA does not reflect the Company's cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or other contractual commitments; EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, Ameresco's working capital needs; EBITDA does not reflect stock-based compensation expense; EBITDA does not reflect cash requirements for income taxes; EBITDA does not reflect net interest income (expense); although depreciation, amortization and impairment are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated, amortized or impaired will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for these replacements; and other companies in Ameresco's industry may calculate EBITDA differently than it does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
To properly and prudently evaluate Ameresco's business, the Company encourages investors to review its GAAP financial statements included above, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the business. Please refer to the above reconciliation of EBITDA to operating income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
Source: Ameresco, Inc.
Released May 4, 2011
