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GP Strategies Reports Fourth Quarter 2015 Earnings of $0.37 Per Share

COLUMBIA, Md., Feb. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Global performance improvement solutions provider GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE: GPX) today reported financial results for the quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

Overview of Fourth Quarter 2015 Results:

  • Revenue of $126.4 million for fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $125.2 million for fourth quarter of 2014
  • Earnings of $0.37 per share for fourth quarter of 2015, inclusive of $0.02 per share of restructuring charges and litigation settlement costs, compared to $0.43 per share for fourth quarter of 2014
  • Cash flow from operations of $16.0 million for fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $14.3 million for fourth quarter of 2014
  • EBITDA of $11.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, inclusive of $0.7 million of restructuring charges, litigation costs and loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration, compared to EBITDA of $13.5 million for fourth quarter of 2014

The Company’s revenue increased $1.2 million or 1.0% during the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes and the decline in the Company’s non-core alternative fuels business, revenue increased 5% during the fourth quarter of 2015.  Foreign currency exchange rate changes contributed to a $2.6 million revenue decline during the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. In addition, there was an expected $2.5 million revenue decrease in the Company’s non-core alternative fuels business due to project completions in 2014.

Operating income declined $1.5 million to $10.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $11.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. The decrease in income is primarily attributable to a decrease in gross profit due to the completion of higher margin projects in 2014 combined with an increase in certain lower margin revenue streams in 2015. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations adversely impacted year over year U.S. dollar reported gross profit by $0.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2015. Included in operating income is $0.4 million, or $0.01 per share, of restructuring charges, consisting of severance expense in connection with the previously announced cost savings initiative to better align costs with revenue and improve operating margins. The Company also incurred costs of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per share, related to the settlement of a lawsuit in the fourth quarter of 2015 which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Net income was $6.3 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $7.4 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2014.

The Company reported revenue of $490.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, representing a 2.3% decrease over 2014 revenue of $501.9 million.  The net decline is largely attributable to a $30.0 million revenue decrease due to the completion of alternative fuels projects in 2014 and an $11.3 million revenue decrease due to unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by an increase in global training services in 2015. Excluding these items, revenue increased $29.7 million or 6%.  Net income was $18.8 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $27.1 million, or $1.43 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2014.

"Our fourth quarter results showed the highest quarterly profitability in 2015 and strong cash flow from operations," commented Scott N. Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer of GP Strategies. "We achieved overall organic growth despite the continued negative impact of foreign currency fluctuations and lower revenue in our non-core alternative fuels business. Our strong cash flow from operations allowed us to continue our share buyback program. We are also pursuing selective acquisitions that would expand or strengthen our existing lines of business or our geographic footprint, returning to a strategy which has contributed to GP Strategies’ growth in prior years."

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

As of December 31, 2015, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $21.0 million compared to $14.5 million as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had long-term debt outstanding of $24.4 million. In addition, the Company had $34.1 million of short-term borrowings outstanding and $29.3 million of available borrowings under its line of credit as of December 31, 2015.

Cash provided by operating activities was $25.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $31.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.  During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company repurchased approximately 477,000 shares of its common stock in the open market for a total cost of approximately $12.3 million. As of December 31, 2015, there was approximately $14.0 million available for future repurchases under the buyback program.

Investor Call

The Company has scheduled an investor conference call for 10:00 a.m. ET on February 25, 2016. In addition to prepared remarks from management, there will be a question and answer session on the call. The dial-in numbers for the live conference call are 800-669-5017 or 303-223-4394, using conference ID number 21806337. A telephone replay of the call will also be available beginning at 12:00 p.m. on February 25th, until 12:00 p.m. on March 10th. To listen to the replay, dial 800-633-8284 or 402-977-9140, using conference ID number 21806337. A replay will also be available on GP Strategies’ website shortly after the conclusion of the call.

Presentation of Non-GAAP Information

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, including EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization). The Company believes this non-GAAP financial measure is useful to investors in evaluating the Company’s results. This measure should be considered in addition to, and not as a replacement for, or superior to, either net income, as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance, or cash flow, as a measure of the Company’s liquidity. In addition, because EBITDA may not be calculated identically by all companies, the presentation here may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. For a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable GAAP equivalent, see the Non-GAAP Reconciliation – EBITDA, along with related footnotes, below.

About GP Strategies

GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE: GPX) is a global performance improvement solutions provider of sales and technical training, eLearning solutions, management consulting and engineering services. GP Strategies’ solutions improve the effectiveness of organizations by delivering innovative and superior training, consulting and business improvement services, customized to meet the specific needs of its clients. Clients include Fortune 500 companies, manufacturing, process and energy industries, and other commercial and government customers.  Additional information may be found at www.gpstrategies.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

We make statements in this press release that are considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are not guarantees of our future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause our actual performance or achievements to be materially different from those we project. For a full discussion of these risks, uncertainties and factors, we encourage you to read our documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those set forth in our periodic reports under the forward-looking statements and risk factors sections. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

TABLES FOLLOW

GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

Quarter ended

Year ended

December 31,

December 31,

2015

2014

2015

2014

Revenue

$

126,431

$

125,200

$

490,280

$

501,867

Cost of revenue

104,019

101,265

408,288

412,292

Gross profit

22,412

23,935

81,992

89,575

Selling, general and administrative expenses

11,889

12,194

47,748

47,108

Restructuring charges

356

1,551

Gain (loss) on change in fair value of
     
contingent consideration, net

(57)

(121)

(371)

1,392

Operating income

10,110

11,620

32,322

43,859

Interest expense

370

434

1,381

833

Other expense

(177)

(388)

(1,318)

(203)

   Income before income tax expense

9,563

10,798

29,623

42,823

Income tax expense

3,311

3,374

10,834

15,725

Net income

$

6,252

$

7,424

$

18,789

$

27,098

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

16,988

17,166

17,110

18,641

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

17,119

17,336

17,264

18,887

 

Per common share data:

Basic earnings per share

$

0.37

$

0.43

$

1.10

$

1.45

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.37

$

0.43

$

1.09

$

1.43

Other data:

EBITDA(1)

$

11,784

$

13,513

$

38,869

$

53,414

(1)   The term EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company believes is useful to investors in evaluating its results. For a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable GAAP equivalent, see the Non-GAAP Reconciliation – EBITDA, along with related footnotes, below.

 

 

GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Quarter ended

Year ended

December 31,

December 31,

2015

2014

2015

2014

Revenue by segment:

Learning Solutions

$

52,576

$

54,664

$

207,039

$

198,242

Professional & Technical Services

28,775

33,195

119,092

151,559

Sandy Training & Marketing

25,524

17,330

87,567

67,694

Performance Readiness Solutions

19,556

20,011

76,582

84,372

Total revenue

$

126,431

$

125,200

$

490,280

$

501,867

Gross profit by segment:

Learning Solutions

$

9,681

$

10,547

$

36,223

$

32,761

Professional & Technical Services

5,852

7,251

23,621

33,350

Sandy Training & Marketing

3,448

3,176

11,321

10,903

Performance Readiness Solutions

3,431

2,961

10,827

12,561

Total gross profit

$

22,412

$

23,935

$

81,992

$

89,575

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

16,026

$

14,334

$

25,554

$

30,998

Capital expenditures

(526)

(442)

(2,357)

(2,757)

Free cash flow

$

15,500

$

13,892

$

23,197

$

28,241

 

 

GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Non-GAAP Reconciliation – EBITDA (1)

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

Quarter ended

Year ended

December 31,

December 31,

2015

2014

2015

2014

Net income

$

6,252

$

7,424

$

18,789

$

27,098

Interest expense

370

434

1,381

833

Income tax expense (2)

3,311

3,374

10,834

15,725

Depreciation and amortization

1,851

2,281

7,865

9,758

EBITDA

$

11,784

$

13,513

$

38,869

$

53,414

(1)   Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) is a widely used non-GAAP financial measure of operating performance. It is presented as supplemental information that the Company believes is useful to investors to evaluate its results because it excludes certain items that are not directly related to the Company’s core operating performance. EBITDA is calculated by adding back to net income interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute either for net income, as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance, or for cash flow, as a measure of the Company’s liquidity. In addition, because EBITDA may not be calculated identically by all companies, the presentation here may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

(2)   Income tax expense includes a $0.3 million benefit in the fourth quarter of 2014 and $0.9 million benefit for the year ended December 31, 2014 resulting from a claim for a deduction under Internal Revenue Code Section 199 for the Domestic Production Deduction on the Company’s 2013 U.S. federal income tax return which was not taken in previous years.

 

 

GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

December 31,

December 31,

2015

2014

(Unaudited)

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

21,030

$

14,541

Accounts and other receivables

90,912

99,638

   Costs and estimated earnings in excess of
               
billings on uncompleted contracts

46,061

30,211

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

9,173

15,967

Total current assets

167,176

160,357

Property, plant and equipment, net

6,245

7,864

Goodwill and other intangibles, net

128,196

136,292

Other assets

733

939

Total assets

$

302,350

$

305,452

Current liabilities:

Short-term borrowings

$

34,084

$

20,799

Current portion of long-term debt

13,333

13,333

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

61,071

59,018

   Billings in excess of costs and estimated
               
earnings on uncompleted contracts

18,366

23,670

Total current liabilities

126,854

116,820

Long-term debt

11,111

24,444

Other noncurrent liabilities

6,041

12,463

Total liabilities

144,006

153,727

Total stockholders’ equity

158,344

151,725

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

302,350

$

305,452

© 2016 GP Strategies Corporation. All rights reserved. GP Strategies and the GP Strategies logo design are trademarks of GP Strategies Corporation.

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