Conference Call Scheduled for September 23, 2008 AT 10:00 A.M. EDT
SMF ENERGY CORPORATION, (NASDAQ: FUEL) (the “Company”),
a leading provider of specialized transportation and distribution
services for petroleum products and chemicals, today announced the
results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2008.
Highlights of Fourth Quarter Fiscal
Year 2008 vs. Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2008
-
Revenues were $82.0 million, a 28% increase from $64.2 million
-
Net loss decreased $1.0 million to $366,000 from $1.4 million
-
Non-cash charges were $798,000, down from $971,000
-
Net margin per gallon increased to 24.2 cents from 17.8 cents
-
EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, increased by $877,000 to $1.2 million from
$277,000
Highlights of Fourth Quarter Fiscal
Year 2008 vs. Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2007
-
Revenues were $82.0 million, a 43% increase from $57.5 million
-
Net loss decreased $1.2 million to $366,000 from $1.6 million or 77%
-
Non-cash charges were $798,000, down from $1.0 million
-
Net margin per gallon increased to 24.2 cents from 16.8 cents
-
EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, increased by $1.0 million to $1.2 million
from $127,000
Highlights of Fiscal Year 2008 vs.
Fiscal Year 2007
-
Revenues were $260.7 million, a 13% increase from $229.8 million
-
Net loss increased $180,000 to $6.8 million from $6.6 million
-
Non-cash charges increased to $5.1 million from $4.6 million,
primarily as a result of the non-cash loss on extinguishment of
promissory notes
-
SG&A decreased nearly $1.0 million or 6% to $14.9 million from $15.8
million
-
Net margin per gallon increased to 19.4 cents from 16.9 cents
-
EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, increased by $1.0 million to $1.2 million
from $252,000
Richard E. Gathright, Chairman,
Chief Executive Office and President, commented:
“The turnaround in our 4th Quarter 2008
financial results stems from the use and effectiveness of our new ERP
and other systems, which are driving integration, improving efficiency,
eliminating costs and enhancing net margins, which reached $0.24 per
gallon in the period. We are now generating solid EBITDA, $1.2 million
in the 4th Quarter of fiscal 2008, and achieved an operating income of
$445,000 versus an operating loss of $570,000 in the 3rd Quarter, a $1.0
million improvement. We expect these positive trends to continue into
fiscal year 2009.
“While the 45% increase in market fuel prices
during our 2008 fiscal year has negatively affected the national economy
and the resulting demand for delivered volumes to our existing
customers, the overall market for the cost savings provided by our fleet
and mobile fueling services is growing, as evidenced by the
contributions of new customers to nearly a 1 million gallon increase
between the 3rd and 4th Quarters of fiscal 2008.
“We have reinvested a portion of our cost
savings from SG&A and other operational efficiencies into an expanded
marketing and sales force, and that investment is generating business
opportunities in our primary services lines and for new products such as
DrySolv, the environmentally friendly, “green”
alternative to Perchloroethylene used in the dry cleaning industry. We
are also seeing increased business opportunities resulting from the
inability of our inefficient, cut rate competitors to provide the level
of service demanded by customers.
“We are operating in a time when the
ingenuity and efficiency of a business will dictate its success or
failure. We are offering a service of increasing value in a fragmented
industry that is only now recognizing that widely accepted historical
business operating practices will no longer work. With our own improving
financial results, we are validating our business plan and are
positioned to lever our new platform for internal growth and for
expansion through strategic acquisitions. Tight credit, supply
disruptions and increasing labor costs are catalysts for consolidation
in our industry and, as such, for strong financial yield. We believe our
platform, where we expect SG&A integration savings alone to range
between 25% and 60%, is the tool to lead change in our industry and to
secure the resulting rewards for our shareholders.”
Highlights of Results for Quarterly
Periods ending March 31, 2007 through June 30, 2008
|
The following table portrays the positive trend and progress the
Company has achieved in the sequential quarters (all amounts in
thousands of dollars, except net margin per gallon):
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the three months ended
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
June 30,
|
|
September 30,
|
|
December 31,
|
|
March 31,
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
2007
|
|
2007
|
|
2007
|
|
2007
|
|
2008
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
$
|
51,817
|
|
$
|
57,526
|
|
$
|
55,497
|
|
$
|
58,994
|
|
$
|
64,162
|
|
$
|
82,036
|
|
Gross profit
|
$
|
2,478
|
|
$
|
2,921
|
|
$
|
3,182
|
|
$
|
2,565
|
|
$
|
2,875
|
|
$
|
4,290
|
|
Selling, general and administrative
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,077
|
|
|
3,950
|
|
|
3,803
|
|
|
3,788
|
|
|
3,445
|
|
|
3,845
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
(1,599)
|
|
|
(1,029)
|
|
|
(621)
|
|
|
(1,223)
|
|
|
(570)
|
|
|
445
|
|
Interest expense and other income, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,019)
|
|
|
(585)
|
|
|
(757)
|
|
|
(763)
|
|
|
(720)
|
|
|
(811)
|
|
Loss on extinguishment Of promissory notes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(1,641)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(108)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net loss
|
$
|
(2,618)
|
|
$
|
(1,614)
|
|
$
|
(3,019)
|
|
$
|
(1,986)
|
|
$
|
(1,398)
|
|
$
|
(366)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA (1)
|
$
|
(787)
|
|
|
127
|
|
$
|
196
|
|
$
|
(387)
|
|
$
|
277
|
|
$
|
1,154
|
|
Net margin
|
$
|
2,915
|
|
$
|
3,307
|
|
$
|
3,569
|
|
$
|
2,945
|
|
$
|
3,228
|
|
$
|
4,611
|
|
Net margin per gallon (2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.14
|
|
$
|
0.17
|
|
$
|
0.19
|
|
$
|
0.16
|
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
$
|
0.24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gallons sold
|
|
20,407
|
|
|
19,678
|
|
|
18,695
|
|
|
18,050
|
|
|
18,102
|
|
|
19,024
|
-
Quarterly revenues have increased from $51.8 million to $82.0 million
over the past six quarters primarily as a result of increases in
prices per gallon of petroleum products.
-
The results for gross profit show an upward trend. The increases are
primarily due to the emphasis in higher margin business. We ended the
year with gross profit of $4.3 million for the fourth fiscal quarter
of 2008, compared to $2.9 million for the fourth fiscal quarter of
2007.
-
Our operating income has improved as we ended the year with operating
income of $445,000 for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2008, compared to
an operating loss of $1.0 million for the fourth fiscal quarter of
2007.
-
Net quarterly losses which were as high as $3.0 million during the
past six quarters decreased to $366,000 in the fourth quarter fiscal
quarter of 2008 due to reduced costs and the emphasis on higher margin
business. The first fiscal quarter and third fiscal quarter of 2008
included $1.6 million and $108,000, respectively, in losses on
extinguishment of promissory notes. The losses on extinguishment are
primarily the result of the refinancing of our secured promissory
notes with new senior secured convertible subordinated notes.
-
Quarterly EBITDA has improved as we ended the fiscal year 2008 with
EBITDA of $1.2 million compared to a negative $787,000 in the third
quarter of fiscal 2007.
-
During fiscal 2008, we reduced our outstanding promissory notes by
$2.4 million. The reduction in fiscal 2008 was partially due to the
issuance of new senior secured convertible subordinated debt, proceeds
which were used to reduce the principal outstanding and to refinance
the secured promissory notes issued in August 2003, January 2005 and
September 2005. In the third quarter of 2008, we reduced our debt by
exchanging $1.75 million of the senior secured convertible
subordinated debt into shares of non-redeemable preferred stock.
(1) EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation, amortization, and is a non-GAAP financial measure within
the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission. To the extent that loss on extinguishment of promissory
notes constitutes the recognition of previously deferred interest, it is
considered interest expense for the calculation of certain interest
expense amounts. We believe that EBITDA provides useful information to
investors because it excludes transactions not related to the core cash
operating business activities.
(2) Net margin per gallon is calculated by adding gross profit to
the cost of sales depreciation and amortization and dividing that sum by
the number of gallons sold.
The following table reconciles EBITDA to the net loss for each of the
six quarterly periods presented above (all amounts in thousands of
dollars):
|
|
|
For the three months ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
$
|
(2,618)
|
|
$
|
(1,614)
|
|
$
|
(3,019)
|
|
$
|
(1,986)
|
$
|
(1,398)
|
|
$
|
(366)
|
|
Add back:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
1,023
|
|
|
919
|
|
|
778
|
|
|
782
|
|
780
|
|
|
720
|
|
Depreciation and amortization expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales
|
|
436
|
|
|
386
|
|
|
388
|
|
|
380
|
|
353
|
|
|
321
|
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
|
219
|
|
|
249
|
|
|
282
|
|
|
304
|
|
311
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
357
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization of stock compensation expense
|
|
153
|
|
|
187
|
|
|
126
|
|
|
133
|
|
123
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
122
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss on extinguishment of promissory notes
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
1,641
|
|
|
-
|
|
108
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA
|
$
|
(787)
|
|
$
|
127
|
|
$
|
196
|
|
$
|
(387)
|
$
|
277
|
|
$
|
1,154
|
|
The following tables present comparative financial data for the
periods noted:
SELECTED INCOME STATEMENT AND FINANCIAL DATA
(All amounts in thousands of dollars, except per share, and
net margin per gallon)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30,
|
|
|
Years Ended June 30,
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Petroleum product sales and service revenues
|
$
|
75,377
|
|
$
|
51,007
|
|
|
$
|
235,215
|
|
$
|
203,375
|
|
Petroleum product taxes
|
|
6,659
|
|
|
6,519
|
|
|
|
25,474
|
|
|
26,394
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
82,036
|
|
|
57,526
|
|
|
|
260,689
|
|
|
229,769
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of petroleum product sales and service
|
|
71,087
|
|
|
48,086
|
|
|
|
222,303
|
|
|
190,744
|
|
Petroleum product taxes
|
|
6,659
|
|
|
6,519
|
|
|
|
25,474
|
|
|
26,394
|
|
Total cost of sales
|
|
77,746
|
|
|
54,605
|
|
|
|
247,777
|
|
|
217,138
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
4,290
|
|
|
2,921
|
|
|
|
12,912
|
|
|
12,631
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
|
3,845
|
|
|
3,950
|
|
|
|
14,881
|
|
|
15,836
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating (loss) income
|
|
445
|
|
|
(1,029)
|
|
|
|
(1,969)
|
|
|
(3,205)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
(720)
|
|
|
(919)
|
|
|
|
(3,060)
|
|
|
(3,727)
|
|
Other income, net
|
|
(91)
|
|
|
334
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
343
|
|
Loss on extinguishment of promissory notes
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,749)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before income taxes
|
|
(366)
|
|
|
(1,614)
|
|
|
|
(6,769)
|
|
|
(6,589)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net loss
|
$
|
(366)
|
|
$
|
(1,614)
|
|
|
$
|
(6,769)
|
|
$
|
(6,589)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net loss per share computation:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
$
|
(366)
|
|
$
|
(1,614)
|
|
|
$
|
(6,769)
|
|
$
|
(6,589)
|
|
Less: Preferred stock dividends
|
|
(193)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(249)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net loss attributable to common shareholders
|
$
|
(559)
|
|
$
|
(1,614)
|
|
|
$
|
(7,018)
|
|
$
|
(6,589)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common
shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(0.04)
|
|
$
|
(0.12)
|
|
|
$
|
(0.49)
|
|
$
|
(0.57)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,556
|
|
|
13,678
|
|
|
|
14,467
|
|
|
11,509
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA (non-GAAP measure)
|
$
|
1,154
|
|
$
|
127
|
|
|
$
|
1,240
|
|
$
|
252
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gallons sold
|
|
19,024
|
|
|
19,678
|
|
|
|
73,871
|
|
|
84,899
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net margin
|
$
|
4,611
|
|
$
|
3,307
|
|
|
$
|
14,354
|
|
$
|
14,333
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net margin per gallon (1)
|
$
|
0.24
|
|
$
|
0.17
|
|
|
$
|
0.19
|
|
$
|
0.17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Net margin per gallon is calculated by adding gross
profit to the cost of sales depreciation and amortization and
dividing that sum by the number of gallons sold.
|
|
RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS TO EBITDA
For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2008 and 2007
(Non-GAAP measure)
(All amounts in thousands of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended June 30,
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
$
|
(6,769)
|
|
$
|
(6,589)
|
|
Add back:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
3,060
|
|
|
3,727
|
|
Depreciation and amortization expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Within cost of sales
|
|
1,442
|
|
|
1,702
|
|
Within selling, general and administrative expenses
|
|
1,254
|
|
|
921
|
|
Amortization of stock compensation expense
|
|
504
|
|
|
491
|
|
Loss on extinguishment of promissory notes
|
|
1,749
|
|
|
-
|
|
EBITDA
|
$
|
1,240
|
|
$
|
252
|
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(All amounts in thousands of dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
$
|
33,607
|
|
$
|
29,183
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
10,276
|
|
|
10,017
|
|
Other assets, net
|
|
3,101
|
|
|
4,725
|
|
|
$
|
46,984
|
|
$
|
43,925
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
$
|
34,648
|
|
$
|
29,015
|
|
Long-term debt, net and other liabilities
|
|
9,284
|
|
|
10,796
|
|
Shareholders’ equity
|
|
3,052
|
|
|
4,114
|
|
|
$
|
46,984
|
|
$
|
43,925
|
Line of Credit Extension
On September 17, 2008, the Company and its primary lender entered into
the 17th Amendment of the Loan and Security Agreement governing the
Company’s line of credit facility. The 17th
Amendment extended the maturity of the facility from December 31, 2008
to July 1, 2009, and made several pricing and covenant adjustments. We
believe that these changes to our pricing and covenant structure are a
reflection of the ongoing banking credit crisis.
An increase in the interest rate on the facility to prime rate plus
2.75% that was scheduled to be effective on September 1, 2008 by virtue
of the 16th Amendment to the facility has been deferred until October
31, 2008 by the 17th Amendment, which thereafter adjusts to an interest
rate pricing matrix that could allow the Company to incur lower interest
rates than the rate imposed by the 16th Amendment. This interest rate
matrix consists of a range of prime plus 0.75% to 2.75% depending upon
the fixed charge coverage ratio achieved. The covenants were also
modified to eliminate the monthly average availability effective for the
month ending October 31, 2008 and replaced with maintaining a fixed
charge coverage ratio of 1.0 to 1.0 and increasing to 1.3 to 1.0 in
December 2008 through the term of the extension. The change to the fixed
charge coverage ratio covenant is based on the expected improved
performance of the Company. Lastly, the termination fee of 0.5% was
waived through the end of December 2008.
CONFERENCE CALL
Management will host a conference call on Tuesday, September 23, 2008,
at 10:00 A.M. EDT, to further discuss the results of the Company’s
fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2008. Interested parties
can listen to the call live on the Internet through the Company’s
Web site at www.mobilefueling.com
or by dialing 866-383-8008 (domestic) or 617-597-5341 (international),
using Pass Code 39604143. Listeners should dial in to the call at
least 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the call or should go to the
Web site at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install
any necessary audio software. The Web cast is also available through
Thomson’s investor portals. Individual
investors can listen to the call at www.earnings.com,
Thomson/CCBN's individual investor portal, powered by StreetEvents.
Institutional investors can access the call via Thomson's
password-protected event management site, StreetEvents (www.streetevents.com).
A telephone replay of the conference call will be available from
September 23, 2008, at 12:00 P.M. EDT until midnight EDT on September
30, 2008, by dialing 888-286-8010 (domestic) or 617-801-6888 (international),
using Pass Code 92387182. A web archive will be available for 30
days at www.mobilefueling.com.
ABOUT SMF
ENERGY CORPORATION (NASDAQ: FUEL)
The Company is a leading provider of petroleum product distribution
services, transportation logistics and emergency response services to
the trucking, manufacturing, construction, shipping, utility, energy,
chemical, telecommunication and government services industries. The
Company provides its services and products through 26 locations in the
ten states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The
broad range of services the Company offers its customers includes
commercial mobile and bulk fueling; the packaging, distribution and sale
of lubricants and chemicals; integrated out-sourced fuel management;
transportation logistics and emergency response services. The Company’s
fleet of custom specialized tank wagons, tractor-trailer transports, box
trucks and customized flatbed vehicles delivers diesel fuel and gasoline
to customers’ locations on a regularly
scheduled or as needed basis, refueling vehicles and equipment,
re-supplying fixed-site and temporary bulk storage tanks, and emergency
power generation systems; and distributes a wide variety of specialized
petroleum products, lubricants and chemicals to our customers. In
addition, the Company’s fleet of special duty
tractor-trailer units provides heavy haul transportation services over
short and long distances to customers requiring the movement of
over-sized or over-weight equipment and manufactured products. More
information on the Company is available at www.mobilefueling.com.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For example, predictions or statements of
belief or expectation concerning the future performance of the Company,
the future acquisition plans of the Company and the potential for
further growth of the Company are all “forward
looking statements” which should not be
relied upon. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current
beliefs of the Company and its management based on information known to
them at this time. Because these statements depend on various
assumptions as to future events, including but not limited to those
assumptions noted in the “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation”
section in the Company’s Form 10-K for the
year ended June 30, 2008, they should not be relied on by shareholders
or other persons in evaluating the Company. Although management believes
that the assumptions reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected.
In addition, there are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ from those anticipated by the Company.
SMF Energy Corporation
Robert W. Beard, 954-308-4200
Senior
Vice President and Investor Relations Officer