EXTON, PA--(Marketwire - Mar 16, 2012) - WPCS International Incorporated (
However, we have experienced significant profit fades on three projects at our Trenton Operations that caused the company to post a consolidated EBITDA loss for the third quarter of $5.1 million, compared to an EBITDA loss of $201,000 for the same period in the prior year. For the nine months ended January 31, 2012, the company reported a consolidated EBITDA loss of $3.7 million, compared to an EBITDA loss of $1.8 million for the same period in the prior year.
WPCS defines EBITDA in the traditional sense of earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization but in addition, WPCS has incurred one-time charges for the loss from discontinued operations and the strategic alternatives effort as well as non-cash charges from deferred tax asset valuation allowances, acquisition related earn-out costs and goodwill impairments. These charges are also excluded from the EBITDA calculation so that the company can provide a more meaningful perspective on the results for the continuing operations.
For the third quarter, WPCS reported revenue of $20.5 million compared to $21.4 million for the same period a year ago. The decrease in revenue pertains to the cumulative adjustments required on prior revenue recognition for the three projects that experienced the significant profit fades at our Trenton Operations.
In regards to net income for the third quarter ended January 31, 2012, WPCS reported a net loss of approximately $10.3 million or $1.48 per diluted share, which includes a non-cash charge of $6.7 million related to valuation allowances recorded for deferred tax assets. As a result of the losses incurred by our Trenton Operations in the third fiscal quarter, WPCS re-evaluated the realization of deferred tax assets in light of the change in our current financial performance and as a result established a full valuation allowance on its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets. WPCS will continue to evaluate the realization of its deferred tax assets on a periodic basis and will likely recoup the allowance in future periods as the financial performance improves. The net loss for the third quarter ended January 31, 2012 compares to a net loss of $3.5 million or $0.50 per diluted share for the same period a year ago.
For the nine months ended January 31, 2012, WPCS reported revenue of $72.2 million compared to $67.9 million for the same period a year ago, which represents an increase of approximately 6%. For the nine months ended January 31, 2012, WPCS reported a net loss of approximately $12.0 million or $1.73 per diluted share which includes the $6.7 million non-cash deferred tax asset valuation allowance and $1.3 million loss from discontinued operations. This compares to a net loss of $9.8 million or $1.41 per diluted share for the same period a year ago.
Andrew Hidalgo, CEO of WPCS, commented, "I am pleased to mention that for the three months ended January 31, 2012, excluding the Trenton Operations the remaining operations centers have generated EBITDA of $322,000 compared to $205,000 for the same period a year ago and for the nine months ended January 31, 2012, generated an EBITDA profit of $3 million compared to a loss of $55,000 during the same period a year ago. This represents a significant improvement. However, we have experienced significant profit fades on three projects at our Trenton Operations that caused us to post a consolidated EBITDA loss for the third quarter and through the nine months ended January 31, 2012. The profit fades were attributable to inadequate estimates that resulted in increased costs, to complete these projects. We have been in discussions with the general contractors for these projects and we are trying to obtain change orders for what we believe is additional work beyond the scope of the original estimate. If these change orders are approved, it will recover some of the lost profit in the quarters ahead.
"The most significant of these projects is an electrical contracting job for a hospital that was awarded to WPCS at $14.4 million which will cost us an estimated $16 million to complete. Based on the increased cost to complete on this project, we have accrued the total expected loss on this project in the third quarter. While it is disappointing that we experienced these profit fades, this fiscal year will still be an improvement from last fiscal year from an EBITDA perspective. Once we get the Trenton Operations back to a profitable state, we are expecting to achieve positive EBITDA results from all operation centers in fiscal year 2013 which begins May 1, 2012. This will be a big step in getting WPCS back to the profitability levels the company has historically generated. In addition, WPCS is expecting to generate positive EBITDA results in the current quarter.
"We believe our future quarters look promising. Our bid activity of $192 million remains high at the end of our third quarter. We are finding that more and more opportunities are presenting themselves in the healthcare and public services market. In addition, we have expanded our bid activity in the solar renewable energy space due to the recent increase in oil prices. Our commitment to quality workmanship and our special certifications in design-build engineering continue to give us a competitive advantage during this economic recovery. As evidenced in the press releases announcing new contracts, customers continue to seek bids from WPCS because of our outstanding reputation. At the end of the third quarter, WPCS continues to maintain a backlog of $27.5 million comprised of a variety of projects in the public services, healthcare and energy sectors. Our goal in the next few quarters is to convert more of our bids into backlog. The conversion of these bids to backlog and the effective management of projects through completion will give us the opportunity to increase our EBITDA performance and get back to positive earnings per share results in the quarters ahead.
"Our management team continues to implement cost efficiencies as well as emphasizing the improvement of gross margins. Through the nine months ended January 31, 2012, the consolidated gross margin was 16% compared to 19% for the same period one year ago. The year-to-date gross margin decline is specifically related to the profit fades for the projects mentioned. However, if we were to exclude the gross margin impact of the fades in profit for the specific projects at our Trenton Operations, the consolidated gross margin was 22% which is more in line with our estimates. We anticipate that the gross margins will improve to a range of 23% to 25% in the quarters ahead. If we can achieve these levels, it should enhance future EBITDA performance. As reported at the end of the third quarter, WPCS continues to maintain a healthy balance sheet with approximately $6.8 million in working capital. Also, the company has generated $1.6 million in cash from operations through the first nine months of this fiscal year ended January 31, 2012."
As a reminder, there will be an investor conference call at 5:00 pm ET today. To participate on the conference call, please dial 800-875-3456 for calls within the U.S. or 302-607-2001 for calls from international locations. Upon reaching the operator, verbally transmit the participant code VH46147. When the overview concludes, your questions can be asked by pressing *1 and your questions can be removed from the queue by pressing the number sign. Replays of the call will be available for a period of five days by dialing 402-220-2946 and entering 46147 # as the program identification number.
About WPCS International Incorporated:
WPCS is a design-build engineering company that focuses on the implementation requirements of communications infrastructure. The company provides its engineering capabilities including wireless communication, specialty construction and electrical power to the public services, healthcare, energy and corporate enterprise markets worldwide. For more information, please visit www.wpcs.com
Statements about the company's future expectations, including future revenue and earnings and all other statements in this press release, other than historical facts, are "forward looking" statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. The company's actual results could differ materially from expected results. In reflecting subsequent events or circumstances, the company undertakes no obligation to update forward looking statements.
This press release references a financial measure that is not in accordance with GAAP. Management uses EBITDA to evaluate the Company's operating and financial performance in light of business objectives, for planning purposes, when publicly providing our business outlook and to facilitate period-to-period comparisons. WPCS believes that this measure is useful to investors because it enhances investors' ability to review the Company's business from the same perspective as our management and to facilitate comparisons of this period's results with prior periods. Non-GAAP measures are used by some investors when assessing the ongoing operating and financial performance of our Company. This financial measure is not in accordance with GAAP and may differ from non-GAAP methods of accounting and reporting used by other companies. The presentation of the additional information should not be considered a substitute for net income or loss or net income or loss per diluted share prepared in accordance with GAAP. The primary material limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP measures as compared to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are (i) they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies in our industry, and (ii) they exclude financial information that some may consider important in evaluating our performance. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, WPCS has included a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
| WPCS INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | |||||||||||||||||
| (UNAUDITED) | |||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| January 31, | January 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||
| REVENUE | $ | 20,492,197 | $ | 21,424,211 | $ | 72,216,831 | $ | 67,890,522 | |||||||||
| COSTS AND EXPENSES: | |||||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenue | 19,905,127 | 16,942,020 | 61,006,554 | 54,874,195 | |||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 5,492,699 | 4,888,104 | 14,803,061 | 15,310,797 | |||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 580,323 | 561,944 | 1,692,936 | 1,863,694 | |||||||||||||
| Goodwill and intangible assets impairment | - | 2,600,000 | - | 6,900,000 | |||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of acquisition-related contingent consideration | - | 41,783 | 83,628 | 178,430 | |||||||||||||
| 25,978,149 | 25,033,851 | 77,586,179 | 79,127,116 | ||||||||||||||
| OPERATING LOSS | (5,485,952 | ) | (3,609,640 | ) | (5,369,348 | ) | (11,236,594 | ) | |||||||||
| OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME): | |||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 263,346 | 293,219 | 594,559 | 409,914 | |||||||||||||
| Interest income | (27,409 | ) | (11,436 | ) | (59,378 | ) | (35,803 | ) | |||||||||
| Loss from continuing operations before income tax provision (benefit) | (5,721,889 | ) | (3,891,423 | ) | (5,904,529 | ) | (11,610,705 | ) | |||||||||
| Income tax provision (benefit) | 4,560,610 | (560,141 | ) | 4,690,610 | (1,647,472 | ) | |||||||||||
| LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS | (10,282,499 | ) | (3,331,282 | ) | (10,595,139 | ) | (9,963,233 | ) | |||||||||
| Discontinued operations | |||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations of discontinued operations, net of tax of $0, ($313,948), ($188,819) and $56,934, respectively | - | 10,026 | (299,668 | ) | 237,340 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from disposal | - | - | (1,027,637 | ) | - | ||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | - | 10,026 | (1,327,305 | ) | 237,340 | ||||||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED NET LOSS | (10,282,499 | ) | (3,321,256 | ) | (11,922,444 | ) | (9,725,893 | ) | |||||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 36,500 | 141,547 | 96,560 | 76,041 | |||||||||||||
| NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO WPCS | $ | (10,318,999 | ) | $ | (3,462,803 | ) | $ | (12,019,004 | ) | $ | (9,801,934 | ) | |||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per common share attributable to WPCS: | |||||||||||||||||
| Loss from continuing operations attributable to WPCS | $ | (1.48 | ) | $ | (0.50 | ) | $ | (1.54 | ) | $ | (1.44 | ) | |||||
| (Loss) income from discontinued operations attributable to WPCS | - | - | $ | (0.19 | ) | $ | 0.03 | ||||||||||
| Basic net loss per common share attributable to WPCS | $ | (1.48 | ) | $ | (0.50 | ) | $ | (1.73 | ) | $ | (1.41 | ) | |||||
| Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 6,954,766 | 6,954,766 | 6,954,766 | 6,954,766 | |||||||||||||
| WPCS INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||||
| January 31, | April 30, | ||||||||
| ASSETS | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||||
| CURRENT ASSETS: | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,746,624 | $ | 4,879,106 | |||||
| Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,507,887 and $1,662,168 at January 31, 2012 and April 30, 2011, respectively | 22,232,336 | 22,474,024 | |||||||
| Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts | 2,053,250 | 4,669,012 | |||||||
| Inventory | 1,229,217 | 1,972,905 | |||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 1,896,727 | 1,413,151 | |||||||
| Prepaid income taxes | 210,024 | 173,700 | |||||||
| Income taxes receivable | 50,158 | 1,166,225 | |||||||
| Deferred tax assets | 230,400 | 2,621,329 | |||||||
| Total current assets | 29,648,736 | 39,369,452 | |||||||
| PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net | 4,869,828 | 6,035,353 | |||||||
| OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net | 617,669 | 803,171 | |||||||
| GOODWILL | 1,988,186 | 2,044,856 | |||||||
| DEFERRED TAX ASSETS | - | 2,675,511 | |||||||
| OTHER ASSETS | 570,032 | 134,654 | |||||||
| Total assets | $ | 37,694,451 | $ | 51,062,997 | |||||
| WPCS INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued) | ||||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | January 31, | April 30, | ||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||||||
| Current portion of loans payable | $ | 153,243 | $ | 35,724 | ||||||
| Borrowings under line of credit | 3,103,830 | 7,000,000 | ||||||||
| Current portion of capital lease obligations | 26,178 | 54,496 | ||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 12,288,104 | 10,249,503 | ||||||||
| Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts | 3,248,558 | 2,039,117 | ||||||||
| Deferred revenue | 895,727 | 792,414 | ||||||||
| Due joint venture partner | 3,094,682 | 3,415,641 | ||||||||
| Acquisition-related contingent consideration | - | 1,008,200 | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 22,810,322 | 24,595,095 | ||||||||
| Loans payable, net of current portion | 249,994 | 10,554 | ||||||||
| Capital lease obligations, net of current portion | - | 15,465 | ||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities | 148,174 | - | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | 23,208,490 | 24,621,114 | ||||||||
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | ||||||||||
| EQUITY: | ||||||||||
| Preferred stock - $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued | - | - | ||||||||
| Common stock - $0.0001 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized, 6,954,766 shares issued and outstanding at January 31, 2012 and April 30, 2011 | 695 | 695 | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 50,493,039 | 50,433,626 | ||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (38,614,835 | ) | (26,595,831 | ) | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income on foreign currency translation, net of tax effects of $212,125 and $185,060 at January 31, 2012 and April 30, 2011, respectively | 1,451,058 | 1,564,965 | ||||||||
| Total WPCS equity | 13,329,957 | 25,403,455 | ||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest | 1,156,004 | 1,038,428 | ||||||||
| Total equity | 14,485,961 | 26,441,883 | ||||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 37,694,451 | $ | 51,062,997 | ||||||
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
(1) Reconciliation of Non-GAAP EBITDA:
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| January 31, | January 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||
| NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WPCS, GAAP | $ | (10,318,999 | ) | $ | (3,462,803 | ) | $ | (12,019,004 | ) | $ | (9,801,934 | ) | |||||
| Plus: | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 36,500 | 141,547 | 96,560 | 76,041 | |||||||||||||
| Income tax provision (benefit) | 4,560,610 | (560,141 | ) | 4,690,610 | (1,647,472 | ) | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | 263,346 | 293,219 | 594,559 | 409,914 | |||||||||||||
| Interest income | (27,409 | ) | (11,436 | ) | (59,378 | ) | (35,803 | ) | |||||||||
| Change in fair value of acquisition-related contingent consideration | - | 41,783 | 83,628 | 178,430 | |||||||||||||
| Goodwill and intangible assets impairment | - | 2,600,000 | - | 6,900,000 | |||||||||||||
| One time strategic costs | (199,260 | ) | 204,895 | (58,748 | ) | 480,570 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 580,323 | 561,944 | 1,692,936 | 1,863,694 | |||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | - | 10,026 | (299,668 | ) | 237,340 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from disposal of discontinued operations | - | - | (1,027,637 | ) | - | ||||||||||||
| Consolidated EBITDA, Non-GAAP | $ | (5,104,889 | ) | $ | (201,018 | ) | $ | (3,651,532 | ) | $ | (1,813,900 | ) | |||||
| Plus: | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating loss (gain), Trenton operations center | 4,684,359 | (179,103 | ) | 4,495,639 | (700,100 | ) | |||||||||||
| Corporate operating expenses | 742,628 | 584,902 | 2,193,216 | 2,459,059 | |||||||||||||
| EBITDA of Performing Operation Centers, Non-GAAP | $ | 322,098 | $ | 204,781 | $ | 3,037,323 | $ | (54,941 | ) | ||||||||
Contact Information:
CONTACT:
WPCS International Incorporated
610-903-0400 x101