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Esmark Incorporated Announces Fourth Quarter and 2007 Full Year Results


WHEELING, W.Va., April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Esmark Incorporated (Nasdaq: ESMK) (the "Company"), today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2007, which consist of the results of Esmark Steel Service Group, Inc. (ESSG), and the results of Wheeling Pittsburgh Corporation (Wheeling Pittsburgh) subsequent to the merger on November 27, 2007.

For 2007, the Company reported a net loss of $9.0 million, or ($2.15) per basic and diluted share. This compares to net income of $3.5 million for 2006, or ($9.71) per basic and diluted share. For the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company reported a net loss of $12.3 million, or ($0.76) per basic and diluted share. This compares with a net loss of $5.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, or ($1.40) per basic and diluted share. Earnings per share include the effect of dividends on and conversions of preferred stock that was outstanding prior to the merger.

"While a net loss is being reported today, it includes the non-cash write off of $9.7 million of goodwill at ESSG in the fourth quarter," said James P. Bouchard Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "I am pleased to report that EBITDA, adjusted for this non-cash charge, was a positive $25.3 million for the year and $7.9 million in the fourth quarter, which was the combined companies' first reporting period. In addition, as I indicated in our release in early March, both ESSG and Wheeling Pittsburgh have positive Adjusted EBITDA."

Net sales for 2007 totaled $825.6 million, as compared to net sales of $578.0 million for 2006. Steel shipments for 2007 totaled 1,145,000 tons, or $721 per ton. Steel shipments for 2006 totaled 734,000 tons, or $788 per ton. The increase in net sales can be attributed to an increase in the volume of steel products sold, partially offset by a decrease in the average selling price of steel products of $67 per ton. The lower average selling price reflected the lower priced mix largely due to the effect of including the post-merger sales of Wheeling Pittsburgh. Tons sold include toll processed tons.

Cost of sales for 2007 totaled $750.6 million, or $655 per ton, as compared to cost of sales of $508.7 million for 2006, or $693 per ton. The increase in the cost of steel products sold of $241.9 million was due primarily to the increased shipments, while the $38 per ton decrease resulted primarily from lower substrate cost and the lower priced mix described above.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2007 totaled $313.4 million, as compared to net sales of $150.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2006. Steel shipments for the fourth quarter of 2007 totaled 454,000 tons, or $690 per ton. Steel shipments for the fourth quarter of 2006 totaled 188,000 tons, or $801 per ton. Revenue increased primarily due to inclusion of post-merger Wheeling Pittsburgh, while average revenue per ton decreased due to the lower priced mix.

Cost of sales for the fourth quarter of 2007 totaled $286.7 million, or $631 per ton, as compared to cost of sales of $137.2 million, or $730 per ton, for the fourth quarter of 2006. Again, the decrease reflects the inclusion of Wheeling Pittsburgh and the lower priced mix.

Formation and Merger

On November 27, 2007, the Company consummated a business combination transaction in which Wheeling Pittsburgh and ESSG (f/k/a Esmark Incorporated) became wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. For financial reporting purposes, pursuant to the provisions of Statement of Accounting Standards No. 141, "Business Combinations", ESSG was identified as the acquiring entity and Wheeling Pittsburgh was identified as the acquired entity relative to the merger transaction. As a result, the consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of ESSG on an historical basis and the accounts of Wheeling Pittsburgh from the date of the merger.

The opening balance sheet of Wheeling Pittsburgh prepared as of November 27, 2007, includes an estimated liability of approximately $42.0 million related to Company's planned reorganization of the Wheeling Pittsburgh Mill Operations, which includes the already announced shutdowns of theAllenport, PA sheet finishing operations and two of the three galvanizing lines at our Martins Ferry, OH plant.

Conference Call

Management will conduct a live call today, April 30, 2008 at 2:00 pm ET to review the Company's financial results and business prospects. Individuals wishing to participate can join the conference call by dialing 888-224-1075 or 913-981-5574. A replay will be available through May 7 by dialing 888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820, and using the pass code 8470714. The call can also be accessed via the Internet live or as a replay through http://www.investorcalendar.com.

*****

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company provides other financial data in addition to providing financial results in accordance with GAAP. This data is not in accordance with, or an alternative to GAAP, and may be different from Non-GAAP financial data used by other companies. This Non-GAAP financial data is Adjusted EBITDA, which the Company believes provides useful information, to both its management and investors about the Company's current performance. The Company believes the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is net income (loss) and has provided a reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to Non-GAAP EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA.

Forward-Looking Statements Cautionary Language

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, relating to the future financial performance of the Company, the preparation of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, the listing of the Company's securities with NASDAQ and other matters. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, factors relating to (1) the completion of the company's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 in connection with the filing of the company's annual report on Form 10-K, (2) the Company's potential inability to generate sufficient operating cash flow to service or refinance its indebtedness, (3) concerns relating to financial covenants and other restrictions contained in its credit agreements, (4) the possibility that NASDAQ may reject the Company's requests and, as a result, delist the Company's common stock and (5) certain other risks detailed in the other reports and filings with the SEC by the Company, which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent the Company's views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing views as of any subsequent date. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements from time to time, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.

About Esmark Incorporated

Esmark Incorporated is a vertically integrated steel producer and distributor, combining steel production capabilities through both blast furnace and electric arc furnace technologies with the just-in-time delivery of value-added steel products to a broad customer base concentrated in the Ohio Valley and Midwest regions. Currently headquartered inWheeling, WV, the Company is a producer of carbon flat-rolled products for the construction, container, appliance, converter/processor, steel service center, automotive and other markets. The company's products include various sheet products such as hot rolled, cold rolled, hot dipped galvanized, electro-galvanized, black plate and electrolytic tinplate. More information about Esmark can be found at www.esmark.com.


    ESMARK INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                        Quarter Ended         Year Ended
                                         December 31,        December 31,
                                        2007      2006      2007       2006
    Revenues
    Net sales, including sales to
     affiliates of $23,204 in 2007   $313,411  $150,241   $825,562  $577,982

    Cost and expenses
    Cost of sales, including cost
     of sales to affiliates of
     $21,571 in 2007, excluding
     depreciation amortization
     expense                          286,698   137,182    750,579   508,733
    Depreciation and amortization
     expense                            6,597     2,505     15,126     9,623
    Impairment of goodwill and
     customer relationships             9,700     6,532      9,700     6,532
    Selling, general and
     administrative expense            19,343    14,619     51,709    43,960
      Total costs and expenses        322,338   160,838    827,114   568,848

    Operating income                   (8,927)  (10,597)    (1,552)    9,134

    Interest expense and other
     financing costs                   (5,010)   (1,100)    (8,382)   (2,656)
    Other income                         (666)      155        430       578

    (Loss) income before income taxes
     and minority interest            (14,603)  (11,542)    (9,504)    7,056
    Income tax (benefit) provision     (1,090)   (5,811)     1,125     3,669

    (Loss) income  before minority
     interest                         (13,513)   (5,731)   (10,629)    3,387
    Minority interest                   1,182       142      1,605       142

    Net (loss) income                $(12,331)  $(5,589)   $(9,024)   $3,529

    Net (loss) income                 (12,331)   (5,589)    (9,024)    3,529
    Preferred stock dividends          (2,235)   (4,388)   (12,743)  (15,758)
    Beneficial conversion feature -
     preferred stock                        -         -          -   (42,965)

    Loss available to common
     stockholders                    $(14,566)  $(9,977)  $(21,767) $(55,194)

    Loss per share:
     Basic and diluted                 $(0.76)   $(1.40)    $(2.15)   $(9.71)

    Weighted average common shares
     outstanding (in thousands):
     Basic and diluted                 19,065     7,122     10,139     5,685

     Shipments (tons)                 454,000   188,000  1,145,000   734,000



    ESMARK INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to US GAAP (unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)

    The following table sets forth a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted
    EBITDA from net income, which management believes is the most nearly
    equivalent measure under US GAAP for the reporting periods indicated.


                                           Quarter Ended        Year Ended
                                            December 31,       December 31,
                                           2007      2006     2007     2006

    Net (loss) income                   $(12,331)  $(5,589) $(9,024)  $3,529
    Income tax provision (benefit)        (1,090)   (5,811)   1,125    3,669
    Interest expense and other financing
     costs                                 5,010     1,100    8,382    2,656
    Depreciation and amortization          6,597     2,505   15,126    9,623
    EBITDA                               $(1,814)  $(7,795) $15,609  $19,477
    Impairment of goodwill                 9,700     6,532    9,700    6,532
    Adjusted EBITDA                       $7,886   $(1,263) $25,309  $26,009



    ESMARK INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
    Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
                                                           December 31,
                                                       2007           2006
    Assets
    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                      $20,007         $9,765
      Investment in marketable securities                  -            536
      Accounts receivables, less allowance for
       doubtful accounts of $3,972 and $1,019        198,089         59,978
      Inventories                                    395,009        140,548
      Deferred income tax benefit                          -          2,262
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets        9,374          7,212
        Total current assets                         622,479        220,301
    Investment in and advances to affiliates         252,330             95
    Property, plant and equipment, less
     accumulated depreciation of $16,667
     and $8,541                                      663,305         48,780
    Deferred income tax benefits                      54,900              -
    Intangible assets, less accumulated
     amortization of $15,571 and $9,910               41,060         34,284
    Goodwill                                          32,217         41,917
    Other assets                                       2,759            389
         Total assets                             $1,669,050       $345,766

    Liabilities
    Current liabilities:
      Accounts payable, including book
       overdrafts of $13,101 in 2007                $154,720        $43,635
      Short-term debt                                208,439         46,315
      Payroll and employee benefits payable           60,277          2,397
      Accrued income and other taxes                   8,792          1,551
      Deferred income taxes payable                   55,805              -
      Accrued interest and other current
       liabilities                                    68,605          1,857
      Dividends payable                                    -          3,468
      Long-term debt due in one year                 231,020            484
        Total current liabilities                    787,658         99,707
    Long-term debt, less amount due in
     one year, net of discount of $8,443
     in 2007                                          29,685          1,375
    Employee benefits                                185,827              -
    Deferred income taxes payable                          -            230
    Other liabilities                                 26,962            266
        Total liabilities                          1,030,132        101,578
    Minority interest                                    500          1,306
    Temporary equity - preferred stock                     -        170,518

    Stockholders' equity
    Common stock - $.01 par value; 100,000,000
     shares authorized; 39,332,685 shares issued
     and outstanding at December 31, 2007; no
     par value; 500,000 shares authorized;
     143,052 shares issued and outstanding
     at December 31, 2006                                393              -
    Additional paid-in capital                       736,578        143,564
    Accumulated deficit                              (97,997)       (71,139)
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss                (556)           (61)
        Total stockholders' equity                   638,418         72,364
        Total liabilities and
         stockholders' equity                     $1,669,050       $345,766

SOURCE Esmark Incorporated

Tags: ,MAC,MNG,ERN,CCA,WV-Esmark-earnings

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