EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press release

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

May 14, 2010

Contact:

Mr. James Reidy

metals.info@wisemetals.com

410-636-6500

Wise Metals Group, LLC Announces

First Quarter 2010 Results

 

   

First Quarter 2010 shipment levels at Wise Alloys up approximately 147% over prior quarter

 

   

First Quarter 2010 consolidated sales levels increase 93% over first quarter 2009

 

   

First Quarter 2010 earnings improved by $30.0 million over first quarter 2009

 

   

First Quarter 2010 Adjusted EBITDA improved by $32.3 million over first quarter 2009

 

   

Revolving Credit and Sale-Financing Facilities Extended

BALTIMORE, Md. — Wise Metals Group (“Wise”) announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 today. Wise Alloys shipments for the first quarter of 2010 were 185.8 million pounds compared to fourth quarter 2009 shipments of 75.1 million pounds, an increase of 110.7 million pounds, or 147%. Wise Recycling shipments also increased 20% over the same time period to 60.6 million pounds. Consolidated shipments for the first quarter of 2010 were 246.4 million pounds compared to fourth quarter 2009 shipments of 125.4 million pounds, an increase of 121 million pounds, or 96%. Comparing the first quarter of 2010 to the 151.2 million pounds shipped in the first quarter of 2009, consolidated shipments increased 62%.

Wise Alloys sales for the first quarter of 2010 were $274.5 million compared to fourth quarter 2009 sales of $95.4 million, an increase of $179.1 million, or 187%. Wise Recycling sales increased 17% over the same time period to $29.1 million in the first quarter of 2010 from $24.7 million in the fourth quarter 2009. Consolidated sales for the first quarter of 2010 were $305.1 million compared to fourth quarter 2009 sales of $121.5 million, an increase of $183.6 million, or 151%. Wise Alloys sales for the first quarter of 2010 were 85% higher than the first quarter 2009 sales of $148.1 million. Wise Recycling sales for the first quarter of 2010 were 238% higher than the first quarter 2009 sales of $8.6 million. Comparing the first quarter of 2010 to the first quarter 2009 sales of $157.8 million, consolidated sales increased 93%.

Including a $1.7 million unfavorable impact for unrealized losses under Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (“ASC 815”), net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was $8.7 million. This compares to a net loss of approximately $34.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, which included a $3.6 million favorable adjustment for LIFO reserves and a $0.3 million unfavorable impact for unrealized losses under ASC 815. Net loss for the first quarter of 2009 was $38.7 million which included a negative $21.7 million metal lag impact and a negative $1.2 million adjustment from the ASC 815.

Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2010 was $7.1 million compared to ($23.7) million for the fourth quarter of 2009, an increase of $30.8 million. This compares to Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2009 of ($25.2) million, an increase of $32.3 million year over year. Contributing to the improvement over first quarter of 2009 was a $21.7 million metal lag impact that occurred in the first quarter of 2009 with no corresponding impact in the first quarter of 2010.


Wise amended its senior secured revolving credit agreement to provide for, among other things, an extension of the maturity date of the facility to May 5, 2011. The extension was approved by all lenders, including The Teachers’ Retirement System of Alabama and The Employees’ Retirement System of Alabama. At the same time, the Company also extended the term of the master lease agreement with the Retirement Systems of Alabama also to May 5, 2011.

“We continue to receive strong support and enthusiasm from all members of our revolving credit line facility despite challenging credit market conditions,” mentioned Mr. Ken Stastny, Chief Financial Officer. “Obviously, there is strong recognition of our recent major accomplishments and prospects for a successful year here at Wise.”

In the first quarter of 2010, Wise formed Alabama Spares and Parts, LLC (“ASAP”), a wholly owned subsidiary, for the purpose of managing spare parts inventory and more effectively and efficiently purchasing spare parts on the open market. ASAP’s operations are managed by a third party management company with the market knowledge and purchasing power to streamline purchasing and achieve lower costs. Start up financing of $8 million for the operation was provided by the Retirement Systems of Alabama in February 2010 and is due for repayment in December 2014.

“The significant increased shipment and sales levels is indicative of the long-term value achieved by our continued investments at Wise to increase our product capabilities,” said Mr. David D’Addario, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. In 2009, Wise Alloys completed an approximate $25 million capital project to widen its can-sheet offerings. As a result of this investment, Wise signed a major multi-year agreement for can sheet supply with Anheuser-Busch, Inbev (“ABI”), which was effective January 1, 2010 and was a major contributor to the increase in shipments in the first quarter of 2010.

“The first quarter is just the beginning of what we hope to achieve in 2010,” added D’Addario. “We will continue to ramp up our production and sales levels here in the second quarter which will provide for continuing improvements in our demonstrated results. Results that I am confident we will achieve through our continued strong partnerships with ABI, RSA and others.”

 

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, regarding the company’s future plans, objectives, and expected performance. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements accompanied by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” or “plan” are intended to identify forward-looking statements and convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. The company cautions that any such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that the company believes are reasonable, but are subject to a wide range of risks, and actual results may differ materially. Certain risks and uncertainties are summarized in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company takes no obligation to publicly update or revise any future looking statements to reflect the occurrence of future events or circumstances.

 

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Wise Metals Group LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months  ended
March 31,
 
  
     2010     2009  

Net sales

   $ 305,056      $ 157,805   

Cost of sales

     298,771        185,131   
                

Gross margin (deficit)

     6,285        (27,326

Operating expenses:

    

Selling, general and administrative

     3,459        2,822   
                

Operating income (loss)

     2,826        (30,148

Other expense:

    

Interest expense

     (9,814     (8,385

Loss on derivative instruments

     (1,686     (137
                

Net loss

   $ (8,674   $ (38,670

Accretion of redeemable preferred membership interest

     (2,308     (2,101
                

Net loss attributable to common members

   $ (10,982   $ (40,771
                

 

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Wise Metals Group LLC

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     March  31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 
    

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 506      $ 449   

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts ($2,129 in 2010 and $2,152 in 2009)

     72,440        61,637   

Inventories, net

     369,593        369,795   

Fair value of derivative instruments

     80        86   

Other current assets

     6,646        9,238   
                

Total current assets

     449,265        441,205   

Non-current assets:

    

Property and equipment, net

     108,414        104,994   

Other assets

     6,078        6,079   

Goodwill

     283        283   
                

Total non-current assets

     114,775        111,356   
                

Total assets

   $ 564,040      $ 552,561   
                

Liabilities and members’ deficit

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

     389,033        380,094   

Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations

     5,123        34,520   

Borrowings under revolving credit facility, net of discount ($46 in 2010 and $163 in 2009)

     241,589        242,858   

Accrued expenses, payroll and other

     25,098        19,632   
                

Total current liabilities

     660,843        677,104   

Non-current liabilities:

    

Term loan and capital lease obligations, less current portion

     38,259        1,860   

Senior notes

     150,000        150,000   

Accrued pension and other post retirement obligations

     10,706        10,706   

Other liabilities

     1,068        1,053   
                

Total non-current liabilities

     200,033        163,619   

Redeemable preferred membership interest (liquidation preference of $95,288 as of March 31, 2010)

     94,592        92,284   

Members’ deficit:

    

Members’ deficit

     (385,460     (374,478

Accumulated other comprehensive deficit

     (5,968     (5,968
                

Total members’ deficit

     (391,428     (380,446
                

Total liabilities, redeemable preferred membership interest, and members’ deficit

   $ 564,040      $ 552,561   
                

 

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Wise Metals Group LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2009  

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net loss

   $ (8,674   $ (38,670

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     4,146        3,860   

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     660        586   

Net periodic benefit cost

     183        (727

Unrealized loss on derivative instruments

     1,779        1,207   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Broker deposits

     —          969   

Accounts receivable

     (10,803     12,774   

Inventories

     202        (23,816

Other assets

     2,592        2,458   

Accounts payable

     8,939        50,777   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     2,866        5,405   
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     1,890        14,823   
                

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Purchase of equipment

     (7,566     (1,918
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (7,566     (1,918
                

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Net payments on short-term borrowings

     (1,269     (11,596

Proceeds from long-term debt

     8,000        —     

Payments on long-term obligations

     (998     (840
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     5,733        (12,436
                

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     57        469   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     449        234   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 506      $ 703   
                

 

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating its performance. These include Adjusted EBITDA (defined in the revolving credit agreement as earnings before income taxes, interest expense and fees, net, and depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude early extinguishment of debt, income from affiliate, nonrecurring charges, severance charges and credits, LIFO adjustments, cumulative effect of change in accounting principle and mark-to-market adjustment for contracts under SFAS No. 133). Additionally, pursuant to the Company’s revolving credit agreement, the Company discloses inventory values assuming a lower of FIFO cost or market basis to determine liquidity under the Company’s revolving loan agreement. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to represent cash flows from operations as defined using GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, cash flows as a measure of liquidity or net earnings as a measure of operating performance. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss as well as a reconciliation to net cash used in operating activities are set forth in the financial tables below. The company includes Adjusted EBITDA information because this measure is used by management to measure our compliance with debt covenants and by investors and note holders to evaluate our ability to service debt. Our measure of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. LCM impact relates to the effect on earnings of valuing at the lower of cost or market.

Reconciliation of Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA

 

     Three months ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2009  

Net loss

   $ (8,674   $ (38,670

Interest expense and fees

     9,814        8,385   

Depreciation and amortization

     4,146        3,860   

LIFO Adjustment

     —          —     

Unrealized loss on derivative instruments

     1,779        1,207   
                

Adjusted EBITDA

     7,065        (25,218

LCM impact

     —          21,690   
                

Adjusted EBITDA with LCM impact

   $ 7,065      $ (3,528
                

Reconciliation of Net Cash Used in Operating Activities to Adjusted EBITDA

 

     March 31,  
     2010     2009  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 1,890      $ 14,823   

Changes in working capital items and other

     (4,639     (26,736

Interest expense

     9,814        8,385   
                

Adjusted EBITDA with LCM impact

   $ 7,065      $ (3,528
                

About Wise Metals Group

Based in Baltimore, Md., Wise Metals Group LLC includes Wise Alloys, the world’s third-leading producer of aluminum can stock for the beverage and food industries and an environmentally friendly company using recycled aluminum in the production of its can stock; Wise Recycling, one of the largest, direct-from-the-public collectors of aluminum beverage containers in the United States, operating shipping and processing locations throughout the United States that support a network of neighborhood collection centers; Listerhill Total Maintenance Center, specializing in providing maintenance, repairs and fabrication to manufacturing and industrial plants worldwide ranging from small on-site repairs to complete turn-key maintenance; Alabama Electric Motor Service specializing in electric motor and pump service, repair and replacement; and Alabama Spares And Parts providing on-site spare part inventory management and procurement services.

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