Celadon Group Reports December Quarter Results And Declares Dividend

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Celadon Group, Inc. (NYSE : CGI) today reported its financial and operating results for the three months and six months ended December 31, 2016, the second fiscal quarter of the Company's fiscal year ending June 30, 2017.

Financial Results
Revenue decreased $9.7 million, or 3.5% to $265.7 million in the December 2016 quarter from $275.4 million in the December 2015 quarter.  Freight revenue, which excludes fuel surcharges, decreased $7.0 million, or 2.8%, to $242.3 million in the December 2016 quarter from $249.3 million in the December 2015 quarter.  Net income decreased $5.3 million, to $1.3 million in the 2016 quarter from $6.6 million for the same quarter last year.  Operating income decreased $11.2 million, to $2.9 million in the December 2016 period from $14.1 million from the same quarter last year.  Earnings per diluted share decreased to $0.05 in the December 2016 quarter from $0.24 for the same quarter last year. 

Revenue for the six months ended December 31, 2016 decreased 2.0%, to $530.8 million from $541.5 million for the same period last year.  Freight revenue decreased 0.7%, to $483.8 million in the December 2016 period from $487.1 million in the December 2015 period.  The Company posted a loss of $1.6 million in the December 2016 period compared with net income of $18.0 million for the same period last year.  Earnings (loss) per diluted share were ($0.06) in the December 2016 period compared with $0.64 for the same period last year.

The decline in net income and earnings per share for the December 2016 quarter was attributable to several factors.  The largest component was an approximately $5.0 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, decline in gain on disposition of equipment.  This decline related to discontinuing sales of equipment by our Quality Companies subsidiary, sale of fewer tractors and trailers formerly used in our trucking operations, and lower gain on sale per unit due to a weak market for used revenue equipment.  The comparison was particularly difficult because the December 2015 quarter included $45 million in tractor sales by Quality and the December 2016 quarter included zero as the business model changed after a sharp drop in the market in 2015.  The other factors were related to cost pressures in fuel, insurance, and equipment expense, which more than offset a $1.8 million income from our prior ownership of 19^th Capital. 

Although our financial results for the quarter were disappointing, we achieved several goals during the quarter that we expect to provide support for future improvements:

• Successful consummation of our non-controlled joint venture, 19^th Capital Group.
• Contributed the asset intensive Quality revenue equipment sales and leasing business to 19^th Capital Group, to complete the conversion of Quality to a recurring revenue asset light business with little ongoing capital investment.
• Sold equipment recorded under assets held for sale, leasing assets held for sale, and leasing assets.
• Reduced net debt by approximately $64 million during the December quarter.
• Collected the $31.8 million amount previously recorded under "Other assets".
• Reallocated approximately 45 tractors from our less profitable irregular route truckload business into more profitable operations.

With the joint venture transaction successfully closed, an improvement in the freight market widely expected during 2017, and an operating plan focused on optimizing the allocation of irregular route loads between our asset based and logistics divisions, we expect improved results with the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year.

Trucking Operations
The results of our trucking operations varied according to business niche during the quarter.  Our more specialized businesses, such as short-haul regional, bulk, and dedicated, produced solid profitability during the quarter.  However, our irregular route, dry van trucking business experienced an operating loss due to weak demand, rate pressure from customers, and increasing costs.  Our plan for 2017 is to maintain or grow the specialized businesses, increase our allocation of assets to dedicated contracts, right size the irregular route fleet, and handle non-core irregular route lanes through our non-asset based logistics unit.

Overall, our operating metrics were mixed.  Revenue per loaded mile (excluding fuel surcharge) decreased $0.01, or 0.4%, from the December 2015 quarter, and empty miles percentage increased slightly.  On a sequential basis, revenue per loaded mile increased $0.05, or 2.5%, primarily due to surge pricing and volumes related to the holiday season, which allowed for decreased dependability on the spot market.   Average miles per seated tractor per week increased 57 miles per truck per week, compared to the December 2015 quarter but decreased 30 miles compared to the September 2016 quarter. Average revenue per seated tractor per week improved sequentially and compared with the 2015 quarter.

During the December 2016 quarter, company miles were approximately 73.6 million miles and owner operator miles were approximately 35.4 million miles compared with 76.5 million company miles and 41.0 million owner operator miles during the 2015 quarter.  The reduction in total miles resulted from a decrease of 540 in seated truck count compared to the December 2015 quarter (decrease of 249 company trucks and 291 owner operators), primarily due to a planned downsizing of our fleet based on weak freight demand. We anticipate the March quarter to be down approximately 200 additional trucks from December quarter's average with further decisions about fleet size to be made as the year develops.

For the balance of calendar 2017, we intend to manage the fleet size and focus on asset utilization while managing yields as effectively as possible and planning for the expected improvement in freight market dynamics in the second half of 2017. To improve fixed cost absorption, we intend to continue to seek ways to improve company truck utilization, which may consist of turning down existing business in lanes with long delivery windows or converting company solos hauling one-way truckload to two-person driver teams. In January, we implemented a utilization based incentive pay package to increase recruiting efforts for team drivers. 

Asset light revenue decreased 6.0%, or $2.0 million from the December 2015 quarter, to $31.0 million.  To further our operational goals to drive a denser freight network, as we move through the 2017 bid season, we will bid any lanes outside of our core network for only our asset light business, in order to continue to drive margin, without impacting asset operating metrics.

Other revenue, as broken out in key operating statistics, increased $11.8 million from the December 2015 quarter.  Approximately $4.0 million of the increase related to a change in presentation due to the newly signed service agreements for Quality's third party maintenance business and maintenance servicing for the leasing portfolio. Correspondingly, there are other expenses related to the maintenance service offering of approximately $3.5 million, of which, $2.5 million is within operating supplies and maintenance expense. Going forward, business related to Quality's maintenance services will be reported on a gross basis through other revenue and expense.   Special holiday project revenue is also reported within other revenue, which was $4.4 million in the December 2016 quarter, compared to $4.7 million compared to the December 2015 quarter. Other revenues associated with Quality's leasing services business increased approximately $5.0 million compared to last December quarter.  The balance of the increase was related to increased revenue related to local and dedicated business. 

Additionally, net fuel expense, insurance and claims expense, and equipment ownership costs negatively impacted our operating margin compared to the December 2015 quarter.  Although we reduced the number of operating company trucks and company miles, net fuel expense increased due to higher fuel prices and less fuel surcharge recovery.  The quarter reflected higher insurance premium expense in addition to a higher amount of cargo and liability claims expense.  This is an area we are combatting with increased focus on risk mitigation related to both volume and severity of claims.  Total equipment costs, defined as revenue equipment rental and depreciation and amortization expense, increased compared with the 2015 quarter primarily because of increased rental cost related to the trailer sale leaseback transaction completed in June 2016.   Sequentially, these costs decreased to $26.2 million for the December 2016 quarter, compared to $28.9 million for the September 2016 quarter, as a result of fleet downsizing.

Quality Companies – Equipment Leasing and Servicing & 19^th Capital Group
As previously announced, on December 30, 2016, Celadon and Element Financial entered into a joint venture, 19^th Capital Group, which combined the leasing portfolios of leasing assets managed by Quality Companies, into one entity.  As a result of the transaction, Celadon was able to sell or contribute the assets previously held on the balance sheet in revenue equipment held for sale, leased assets held for sale, and leased assets.  Celadon's investment into 19^th Capital was $100 million, which included $35.3 million in cash, $63.6 million in net equipment assets, and a credit of $1.1 million for undistributed cash in the previous minority owned 19^th Capital.  Celadon also received net cash of $57.8 million at closing, which was used to pay down debt.  Shortly before closing of the joint venture, the previous ownership structure of 19^th Capital was redeemed, and Celadon recognized income of $1.8 million related to the minority ownership in that entity. 

Going forward, Quality Companies will service the leasing portfolio of 19^th Capital in exchange for a monthly servicing fee per tractor.  We will record 49.999975% of the joint venture's income or loss under "income (loss) from minority investment" on the income statement.  We do not expect to have any material equipment sales and purchases related to the leasing business going forward.  However, Quality will continue to dispose of equipment previously used within the trucking operation. The trucking operation will continue to acquire assets separately for its operational needs.

Balance Sheet, Debt, and Cash Flow
At December 31, 2016, we had $371.0 million of stockholders' equity and $374.4 million of debt and capitalized lease obligations, net of $6.1 million in cash.  Our earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization were $95.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.  At December 31, 2016, we had $113.9 million drawn under our $250 million revolving line of credit, which was reduced from $300 million on December 30, 2016 as the capital intensive portion of the leasing business was discontinued.  At December 31, 2016, we were in compliance with the covenants under our revolving credit facility.

Operating cash flows, excluding net proceeds from the joint venture transactions and associated equipment dispositions, were approximately $9.1 million for the six months ended December 31, 2016 and $18.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016.  Net capital expenditures for the balance of the fiscal year are expected to be approximately $10-15 million.

Dividend
On January 31, 2017, the Board of Directors approved a regular cash dividend to shareholders for the quarter ending March 31, 2017.  The quarterly cash dividend of two cents per share of common stock will be payable on April 21, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 7, 2017.

Conference Call Information

Participants can pre-register for the conference call which will be held on February 2, 2017 at 11:00 AM EST by navigating to Celadon's Investor Relations website, http://investors.celadontrucking.com, under the report center menu option.  For those without internet access or unable to pre-register may join the conference by dialing 1-1-800-697-3291.  A webcast replay will be available through April 1, 2017 at http://investors.celadontrucking.com.

Celadon Group, Inc. (www.celadongroup.com), through its subsidiaries, provides long-haul, regional, local, dedicated, intermodal, temperature-protect, flatbed and expedited freight service across the United States, Canada and Mexico.  The company also owns Celadon Logistics Services, which provides freight brokerage services, freight management, as well as supply chain management solutions, including warehousing and distribution.

This press release contains certain statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as "expects," "estimates," "projects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," and similar terms and phrases. Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, which could cause future events and actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements.  Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.  The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements: excess tractor and trailer capacity in the trucking industry; decreased demand for our services or loss of one or more of our major customers; surplus inventories; recessionary economic cycles and downturns in customers' business cycles; strikes, work slow downs, or work stoppages at our facilities, or at customer, port, border crossing, or other shipping related facilities; increases in compensation for and difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified drivers and independent contractors; increases in insurance premiums and deductible amounts; elevated experience in the frequency or severity of claims relating to accident, cargo, workers' compensation, health, and other matters; fluctuations in claims expenses that result from high self-insured retention amounts and differences between estimates used in establishing and adjusting claims reserves and actual results over time; increases or rapid fluctuations in fuel prices, as well as fluctuations in hedging activities and surcharge collection, the volume and terms of diesel purchase commitment, interest rates, fuel taxes, tolls, and license and registration fees; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; increases in the prices paid for new revenue equipment and changes in the resale value of our used equipment; increases in interest rates or decreased availability of capital or other sources of financing for revenue equipment; seasonal factors such as harsh weather conditions that increase operating costs; competition from trucking, rail, and intermodal competitors; regulatory requirements that increase costs or decrease efficiency, including revised hours-of-service requirements for drivers and new emissions control regulations; our ability to identify acceptable acquisition candidates, consummate acquisitions, and integrate acquired operations; the timing of, and any rules relating to, the opening of the border to Mexican drivers; challenges associated with doing business internationally; our ability to retain key employees; and the effects of actual or threatened military action or terrorist attacks or responses, including security measures that may impede shipping efficiency, especially at border crossings.

Readers should review and consider these factors along with the various disclosures by the company in its press releases, stockholder reports, and filings with the Securities Exchange Commission.  We disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the factors affecting the forward-looking information.

For more information:                                                                                  
Joe Weigel 
Communications Manager                                                                  
(800) CELADON Ext. 27006                                                             
(317) 972-7006 Direct
jweigel@celadongroup.com

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SOURCE Celadon Group, Inc.