Revenue Rose 19% Year-Over-Year; Gross Profit rose 67%
Gross Profit Margin was 16.4%
Conference call to be held today at 9:00 A.M. EDT
HOUSTON, May 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vertex Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VTNR), a specialty refiner of alternative feedstocks and marketer of high-purity petroleum products, announced today its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR FIRST QUARTER OF 2018
- Consolidated revenue increased 19% to $41.4 million, compared to $34.8 million for the first quarter of 2017.
- Gross profit was up 67% to $6.8 million compared to 11.7% for the first quarter of 2017.
- Gross profit margin was 16.4%.
- Total overall volume rose 1%, compared to the prior year’s period.
- Consolidated per barrel margin increased 65% for the first quarter of 2018 over the same period a year ago.
- Collected volume grew 17% for the first quarter of 2018 over the first quarter of 2017.
- Net loss attributable to common shareholders was $3.5 million, or a loss of $0.10 per share.
Benjamin P. Cowart, Chairman and CEO of Vertex Energy, Inc., stated, “Overall, we are pleased with the state of our business operations. We managed to hit or surpass many of our internal targets. However, we are not happy with our EBITDA and net income results, which were negatively affected by a heater problem at our Heartland facility and an extended turnaround down time at our Marrero facility. Both of our facilities are now fully operational.”
Mr. Cowart added, “Despite the negative impact on our production, there was strong demand for our finished products. We witnessed an improvement in our revenues, gross profit, and gross profit margins. In addition, we managed to protect our spreads by maintaining our charge-for-oil for collected volume. We have recaptured our production capacity and plan to continue to make adjustments at our facilities as necessary in an effort to yield a significant improvement in production volume and our financial performance for 2018.”
FIRST QUARTER 2018 FINANCIAL RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS
Management will host a conference call today at 9 A.M. EDT. Those who wish to participate in the conference call may telephone 1-877-869-3847 from the U.S. and International callers may telephone 1-201-689-8261, approximately 15 minutes before the call. A webcast will also be available under the Investor Relations section at www.vertexenergy.com.
A digital replay will be available by telephone approximately two hours after the completion of the call until July 31, 2018, and may be accessed by dialing 1-877-660-6853 from the U.S. or 1-201-612-7415 for international callers using conference ID #13679493.
ABOUT VERTEX ENERGY, INC.
Vertex Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VTNR) is a specialty refiner of alternative feedstocks and marketer of high-purity petroleum products. With its headquarters in Houston, Texas, Vertex is one of the largest processors of used motor oil in the U.S. and has processing capacity of over 115 million gallons annually with operations located in Houston and Port Arthur (TX), Marrero (LA), and Columbus (OH). Vertex also has a facility, Myrtle Grove, located on a 41 acre industrial complex along the Gulf Coast in Belle Chasse, LA, with existing hydroprocessing and plant infrastructure assets that includes nine million gallons of storage. Vertex has implemented a cost-effective strategy for building its feedstock supply by establishing a successful self-collection and aggregation system. The Company has built a reputation as a key supplier of Group II+ and Group III base oils to the lubricant manufacturing industry in North America. For more information on Vertex Energy please contact Porter, LeVay & Rose, Inc.’s investor relations representative, Marlon Nurse, D.M. at 212-564-4700 or visit our website at www.vertexenergy.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including information about management’s view of Vertex Energy’s future expectations, plans and prospects, within the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” or “may,” and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act, and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Act. Any statements made in this news release other than those of historical fact, about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the results of Vertex Energy, its divisions and concepts to be materially different than those expressed or implied in such statements. These risk factors and others are included from time to time in documents Vertex Energy files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, its Form 10-Ks, Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on Vertex Energy’s future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Vertex Energy cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, Vertex Energy undertakes no obligation to update these statements after the date of this release, except as required by law, and also takes no obligation to update or correct information prepared by third parties that are not paid for by Vertex Energy.
| Vertex Energy, Inc. Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc., to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) and Adjusted EBITDA* |
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| For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 |
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| Net (loss) income | |||||
| attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc. | $ | (2,258,622 | ) | ||
| Add (deduct): | |||||
| Interest income | $ | – | |||
| Interest expense | $ | 802,515 | |||
| Depreciation and amortization | $ | 1,694,099 | |||
| Tax expense (benefit) | $ | – | |||
| EBITDA* | $ | 237,992 | |||
| Add (deduct): Stock-Based compensation | $ | 145,971 | |||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 383,963 | |||
* EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. These measurements are not recognized in accordance with GAAP and should not be viewed as an alternative to GAAP measures of performance.
EBITDA represents net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA before unrealized losses (gains) on derivative contracts and stock-based compensation expense. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are presented because we believe they provide additional useful information to investors due to the various noncash items during the period. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:
- EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA do not reflect cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures, or contractual commitments;
- EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital needs;
- EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on debt or cash income tax payments;
- Although depreciation and amortization are noncash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and
- Other companies in this industry may calculate EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA differently than Vertex Energy does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
| VERTEX ENERGY, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) |
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| March 31, 2018 |
December 31, 2017 |
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| ASSETS | |||||||
| Current assets | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 52,876 | $ | 1,105,787 | |||
| Accounts receivable, net | 11,237,297 | 11,288,991 | |||||
| Federal income tax receivable | 274,423 | — | |||||
| Inventory | 8,112,625 | 6,304,842 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses | 2,635,727 | 1,771,832 | |||||
| Total current assets | 22,312,948 | 20,471,452 | |||||
| Noncurrent assets | |||||||
| Fixed assets, at cost | 65,541,421 | 65,237,652 | |||||
| Less accumulated depreciation | (17,673,342 | ) | (16,617,824 | ) | |||
| Fixed assets, net | 47,868,079 | 48,619,828 | |||||
| Goodwill and other intangible assets, net | 14,047,119 | 14,499,354 | |||||
| Deferred tax asset | — | 274,423 | |||||
| Other assets | 492,417 | 440,417 | |||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 84,720,563 | $ | 84,305,474 | |||
| LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY, AND EQUITY | |||||||
| Current liabilities | |||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 11,465,453 | $ | 10,318,738 | |||
| Dividends payable | 554,917 | 420,713 | |||||
| Capital leases-current | 9,698 | — | |||||
| Current portion of long-term debt, net of unamortized finance costs | 1,158,196 | 1,616,926 | |||||
| Derivative liability | 466,828 | — | |||||
| Revolving note | 4,239,388 | 4,591,527 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 17,894,480 | 16,947,904 | |||||
| Long-term liabilities | |||||||
| Long-term debt, net of unamortized finance costs | 14,744,333 | 13,531,179 | |||||
| Capital leases-long-term | 19,923 | ||||||
| Contingent consideration | 236,680 | 236,680 | |||||
| Derivative liability | 2,677,159 | 2,245,408 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 35,572,575 | 32,961,171 | |||||
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 3) | — | — | |||||
| TEMPORARY EQUITY | |||||||
| Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share; 10,000,000 shares designated, 3,479,016 and 3,427,597 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively with a liquidation preference of $10,784,950 and $10,625,551 at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. |
7,583,722 | 7,190,467 | |||||
| Series B1 Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share; 17,000,000 shares designated, 12,947,916 and 13,151,989 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, with a liquidation preference of $20,198,749 and $20,517,103 at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. |
15,659,226 | 15,769,478 | |||||
| Total Temporary Equity | 23,242,948 | 22,959,945 | |||||
| EQUITY | |||||||
| 50,000,000 Preferred shares authorized: | |||||||
| Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares designated, 453,567 and 453,567 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, with a liquidation preference of $675,815 and $675,815 at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. |
454 | 454 | |||||
| Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value; 44,000 shares designated, 31,568 and 31,568 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, with a liquidation preference of $3,156,800 and $3,156,800 at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. |
32 | 32 | |||||
| Common stock, $0.001 par value per share; 750,000,000 shares authorized; 33,158,176 and 32,658,176 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. |
33,158 | 32,658 | |||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 68,693,980 | 67,768,509 | |||||
| Accumulated deficit | (43,272,128 | ) | (39,816,300 | ) | |||
| Total Vertex Energy, Inc. stockholders’ equity | 25,455,496 | 27,985,353 | |||||
| Non-controlling interest | 449,544 | 399,005 | |||||
| Total Equity | $ | 25,905,040 | $ | 28,384,358 | |||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY, AND EQUITY | $ | 84,720,563 | $ | 84,305,474 | |||
| VERTEX ENERGY, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) |
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| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 41,368,195 | $ | 34,770,614 | |||||
| Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below) | 34,588,749 | 30,701,554 | |||||||
| Gross profit | 6,779,446 | 4,069,060 | |||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 5,645,442 | 5,229,837 | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,694,099 | 1,600,060 | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | 7,339,541 | 6,829,897 | |||||||
| Loss from operations | (560,095 | ) | (2,760,837 | ) | |||||
| Other income (expense): | |||||||||
| Interest income | — | 1,952 | |||||||
| Gain (loss) on sale of assets | 42,680 | (13,100 | ) | ||||||
| Gain (loss) on change in value of derivative liability | (431,751 | ) | 920,672 | ||||||
| Gain (loss) on futures contracts | (456,402 | ) | — | ||||||
| Interest expense | (802,515 | ) | (1,336,487 | ) | |||||
| Total other income (expense) | (1,647,988 | ) | (426,963 | ) | |||||
| Loss before income tax | (2,208,083 | ) | (3,187,800 | ) | |||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | — | — | |||||||
| Net loss | (2,208,083 | ) | (3,187,800 | ) | |||||
| Net income attributable to non-controlling interest | 50,539 | 8,607 | |||||||
| Net loss attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc. | (2,258,622 | ) | (3,196,407 | ) | |||||
| Accretion of discount on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock | (457,853 | ) | (433,201 | ) | |||||
| Accrual of dividends on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock | (739,354 | ) | (417,636 | ) | |||||
| Net loss available to common shareholders | $ | (3,455,829 | ) | $ | (4,047,244 | ) | |||
| Loss per common share | |||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ | (0.10 | ) | $ | (0.12 | ) | |||
| Shares used in computing earnings per share | |||||||||
| Basic and diluted | 33,063,732 | 32,953,812 | |||||||
| VERTEX ENERGY, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 AND 2017 (UNAUDITED) |
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| Three Months Ended | |||||||
| March 31, 2018 |
March 31, 2017 |
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| Cash flows from operating activities | |||||||
| Net loss | $ | (2,208,083 | ) | $ | (3,187,800 | ) | |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by (used in) operating activities | |||||||
| Stock based compensation expense | 145,971 | 148,736 | |||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,694,099 | 1,600,060 | |||||
| (Gain) loss on sale of assets | (42,680 | ) | 13,100 | ||||
| (Increase) decrease in fair value of derivative liability | 431,751 | (920,672 | ) | ||||
| (Increase) decrease in future contracts | 456,402 | — | |||||
| Net cash settlements on commodity derivatives | (763,997 | ) | — | ||||
| Amortization of debt discount and deferred costs | 143,477 | 318,512 | |||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities | |||||||
| Accounts receivable | 51,694 | 3,934,346 | |||||
| Inventory | (1,807,783 | ) | (381,981 | ) | |||
| Prepaid expenses | (89,472 | ) | 1,273,772 | ||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 1,146,716 | (1,322,370 | ) | ||||
| Other assets | (52,000 | ) | (253,000 | ) | |||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | (893,905 | ) | 1,222,703 | ||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | |||||||
| Acquisition of Acadiana | — | (320,700 | ) | ||||
| Purchase of fixed assets | (490,361 | ) | (1,100,962 | ) | |||
| Proceeds from sale of fixed assets | 75,230 | 62,594 | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (415,131 | ) | (1,359,068 | ) | |||
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||||||
| Payment of debt issuance costs | — | (1,656,350 | ) | ||||
| Line of credit (payments) proceeds, net | (352,139 | ) | (1,818,744 | ) | |||
| Proceeds from note payable | 1,667,426 | 12,160,194 | |||||
| Payments on note payable | (1,059,162 | ) | (10,241,622 | ) | |||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 256,125 | (1,556,522 | ) | ||||
| Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (1,052,911 | ) | (1,692,887 | ) | |||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of the period | 1,105,787 | 3,206,158 | |||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period | $ | 52,876 | $ | 1,513,271 | |||
| SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION | |||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | 477,583 | $ | 260,352 | |||
| Cash received for income tax benefit | $ | — | $ | — | |||
| NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING TRANSACTIONS | |||||||
| Conversion of Series A Preferred Stock into common stock | — | 30 | |||||
| Conversion of Series B-1 Preferred Stock into common stock | $ | 779,500 | $ | 119,440 | |||
| Accretion of discount on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock | $ | 457,853 | $ | 433,201 | |||
| Dividends-in-kind accrued on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock | $ | 739,354 | $ | 417,636 | |||
| Return of common shares for sale escrow | $ | — | $ | 1,109 | |||
Investor Relations Contact:
Marlon Nurse, D.M.
Senior Vice President
212-564-4700