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GP Strategies Reports Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

COLUMBIA, Md., Nov. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Global performance improvement solutions provider GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE: GPX) today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Overview:

  • Revenue of $123.6 million for third quarter of 2018 compared to $124.1 million for third quarter of 2017
  • Gross profit of $19.2 million, or 15.5%, of revenue for third quarter of 2018 compared to $18.6 million, or 15.0%, for third quarter of 2017
  • Diluted earnings per share of $0.20 for third quarter of 2018 compared to $0.19 per share for third quarter of 2017

"Recent developments are favorable for improved operating results in 2019," stated Scott N. Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer of GP Strategies. "GP Strategies has just been selected by a large multi-national insurance company for a global training outsourcing contract, subject to contract negotiations. In addition, we recently won a multi-million dollar contract for a U.S. product training launch with a Japanese automotive manufacturer. We have also seen increased revenue in our engineering & technical services practice, which was the first area of focus by our new sales organization, so I am pleased with the traction resulting from our investment in business development. Implementation expenses related to our new cloud ERP system are expected to decrease significantly, since the Company went live on this system effective October 1, 2018. These expenses totaled $4.9 million in 2017 and $3.0 million for the first nine months of 2018. Based upon these efforts, we believe GP Strategies is strongly positioned for 2019 and beyond."

The Company’s revenue decreased slightly to $123.6 million for the third quarter of 2018 from $124.1 million in the third quarter of 2017. Revenue in the Workforce Excellence segment increased $3.5 million, or 5%, largely driven by a 19% increase in the Company’s engineering & technical services practice as well as revenue growth from recently completed acquisitions, offset by a continued decline in UK job skills training services due to the previously disclosed funding changes by the UK government for their apprenticeship programs.  Revenue in the Business Transformation Services segment declined $4.0 million, or 9%, largely due to project completions which contributed to higher revenues in 2017, as well as a change in the timing of shipment of magazine publications for automotive customers in 2018 compared to 2017.

Operating income increased $1.8 million to $6.2 million for the third quarter of 2018 from $4.4 million for the third quarter of 2017. The increase in operating income is primarily due to a $0.6 million increase in gross profit, a $1.9 million decrease in general and administrative expenses (largely due to a decrease in ERP implementation costs as a result of capitalizing certain costs in the third quarter of 2018 whereas implementation costs in the third quarter of 2017 were required to be expensed), and a $0.3 million increase in the gain on change in fair value of contingent consideration, partially offset by a $0.9 million increase in sales and marketing expenses.

Interest expense increased to $1.1 million for the third quarter of 2018 compared to $0.5 million for the third quarter of 2017 due to both an increase in interest rates and borrowings under the Company’s credit agreement. Other expense increased $0.8 million during the third quarter of 2018 primarily due to a $0.3 million loss on the divestiture of a business unit during the third quarter and a $0.5 million increase in foreign currency losses.

Income tax expense was $1.1 million, or a 25.4% effective tax rate, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to $0.6 million, or a 16.4% effective tax rate, for the third quarter of 2017. The increase in the effective income tax rate in 2018 compared to 2017 is primarily  due to certain discrete items that occurred in the third quarter of 2017 that did not recur in 2018.

Net income was $3.2 million, or $0.20 per share, for the third quarter of 2018 compared to $3.3 million, or $0.19 per share, for the third quarter of 2017. The following special items had the net effect of reducing diluted earnings per share by $0.07 during the third quarter of 2018: $0.3 million of ERP implementation costs, $0.5 million of foreign currency transaction losses, $0.5 million of legal acquisition costs, and a $0.6 million loss on a divested business, offset by a $0.5 million gain on change in fair value of contingent consideration, net.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

As of September 30, 2018, the Company had cash of $10.3 million compared to $23.6 million as of December 31, 2017. The Company had $37.0 million of long-term debt outstanding as of September 30, 2018.  In addition, the Company had $69.0 million of short-term borrowings outstanding and $26.3 million of available borrowings under its line of credit as of September 30, 2018.

Cash provided by operating activities was $3.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $21.2 million for the same period in 2017. The decrease in cash flow from operations is primarily due to lower net income and a decrease in working capital compared to the prior year. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company repurchased approximately 350,000 and 101,000 shares, respectively, of its common stock in the open market for a total cost of approximately $8.0 million and $2.4 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2018, there was approximately $3.8 million available for future repurchases under the buyback program.

Investor Call

The Company has scheduled an investor conference call and webcast for 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on November 6, 2018. Prepared remarks regarding the company’s financial and operational results will be followed by a question and answer period with GP Strategies’ executive management team.

The conference call may be accessed via webcast at: https://services.choruscall.com/links/gpx181106.html or by calling +1 (866) 777-2509 within the US, or +1 (412) 317-5413 internationally, and requesting the "GP Strategies Conference." The presentation slides broadcast via the webcast will also be available on the Investors section of GP Strategies’ website the morning of the call. Participants must be logged in via telephone to submit a question to management during the call. Participants may optionally pre-register for the webcast at http://dpregister.com/10125973.

The webcast will be archived on the Investors section of GP Strategies’ website and will remain available for 90 days. Alternatively, a telephonic replay of the conference call will be available for one week and may be accessed by dialing +1 (877) 344-7529 in the US, or +1 (412) 317-0088 internationally, and requesting conference number 10125973.

Presentation of Non-GAAP Information

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) and free cash flow (cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures). The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in evaluating the Company’s results. These measures 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 these measures 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  these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP equivalents, see the Non-GAAP Reconciliations, 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, digital learning 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)

Quarters ended

Nine months ended

September 30,

September 30,

2018

2017

2018

2017

Revenue

$

123,566

$

124,097

$

382,289

$

377,705

Cost of revenue

104,367

105,451

322,838

317,236

Gross profit

19,199

18,646

59,451

60,469

General and administrative expenses

12,227

14,160

40,207

39,536

Sales and marketing expenses

1,297

393

3,128

1,249

Restructuring charges

2,930

Gain on change in fair value of
 
contingent consideration, net

526

268

3,972

369

Operating income

6,201

4,361

17,158

20,053

Interest expense

1,095

511

1,631

1,483

Other (expense) income

(760)

74

(1,912)

(108)

   Income before income tax expense

4,346

3,924

13,615

18,462

Income tax expense

1,102

643

4,164

5,232

Net income

$

3,244

$

3,281

$

9,451

$

13,230

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

16,536

16,750

16,555

16,736

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

16,628

16,896

16,647

16,856

Per common share data:

Basic earnings per share

$

0.20

$

0.20

$

0.57

$

0.79

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.20

$

0.19

$

0.57

$

0.78

Other data:

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

$

9,813

$

12,393

$

30,422

$

37,053

 

(1)

The term Adjusted EBITDA 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, along with related footnotes, below.

 

 

GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Quarters ended

Nine months ended

September 30,

September 30,

2018

2017

2018

2017

Revenue by segment (2):

Workforce Excellence

$

80,516

$

77,022

$

239,044

$

228,236

Business Transformation Services

43,050

47,075

143,245

149,469

Total revenue

$

123,566

$

124,097

$

382,289

$

377,705

Gross profit by segment (2):

Workforce Excellence

$

13,400

$

11,892

$

39,682

$

39,324

Business Transformation Services

5,799

6,754

19,769

21,145

Total gross profit

$

19,199

$

18,646

$

59,451

$

60,469

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

$

(3,615)

$

1,416

$

3,510

21,174

Capital expenditures

(753)

(555)

(2,267)

(2,324)

Free cash flow

$

(4,368)

$

861

$

1,243

18,850

 

(2)

As of September 30, 2018, we operated through two reportable business segments: (i) Workforce Excellence and (ii) Business Transformation Services. In December 2017, we announced a new organizational structure and plan to improve operating results by increasing organic growth and reducing operating costs. Effective January 1, 2018, we re-organized into two operating segments aligned by complementary service lines and supported by a new business development organization aligned by industry sector. The Workforce Excellence segment includes the majority of the former Learning Solutions and Professional & Technical Services segments. The Business Transformation Services segment includes the majority of the former Performance Readiness Solutions and Sandy Training & Marketing segments. Certain business units transferred between the former operating segments to better align with the service offerings of the two new segments. In addition, effective July 1, 2018, we transferred the management responsibility of certain additional business units between the two operating segments primarily to consolidate our non-technical content design and development businesses into one global digital learning strategies and solutions service line. We have reclassified the segment financial information herein for the prior year periods to reflect the changes in our segments and conform to the current year’s presentation.

 

 

GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Non-GAAP Reconciliation – Adjusted EBITDA (3)

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Quarters ended

Nine months ended

September 30,

September 30,

2018

2017

2018

2017

Net income

$

3,244

$

3,281

$

9,451

$

13,230

Interest expense

1,095

511

1,631

1,483

Income tax expense

1,102

643

4,164

5,232

Depreciation and amortization

1,909

1,947

5,670

5,153

EBITDA

7,350

6,382

20,916

25,098

Adjustments:

Non-cash stock compensation expense

967

1,684

3,501

$

4,876

Restructuring charges

2,930

$

Gain on change in fair value of contingent consideration, net

(526)

(268)

(3,972)

(369)

ERP implementation costs

346

1,529

2,956

$

3,220

Foreign currency transaction losses

529

40

2,024

$

203

Legal acquisition costs

508

140

1,111

361

Loss on divested business

639

253

956

1,031

Loss on a contract with foreign oil & gas client

2,633

2,633

Adjusted EBITDA

$

9,813

$

12,393

$

30,422

$

37,053

 

(3)

Adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (Adjusted 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. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding back to net income interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, non-cash stock compensation expense, gain or loss on the change in fair value of contingent consideration and other unusual or infrequently occurring items. For the periods presented, these other items are restructuring charges, ERP implementation costs, foreign currency transaction losses, legal acquisition costs, loss on a divested business in the third quarter of 2018 and a significant loss on a contract with a foreign oil and gas client in the third quarter of 2017. We added legal acquisition costs as an adjustment in the Adjusted EBITDA calculation during the third quarter of 2018 as these costs became significant based on increased acquisition activity during 2018 and we believe it will assist investors in better understanding our results as these acquisition-related expenses are likely to vary significantly from period-to-period based on the size, number and complexity and timing of our acquisitions. Adjusted 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 Adjusted EBITDA may not be calculated identically by all companies, the presentation here may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

 

 

GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

September 30,

December 31,

2018

2017

(Unaudited)

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

10,323

$

23,612

Accounts and other receivables

127,649

119,335

   Unbilled revenue

36,866

42,958

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

18,452

14,212

Total current assets

193,290

200,117

Property, plant and equipment, net

5,599

5,123

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

192,438

153,198

Other assets

10,170

6,569

Total assets

$

401,497

$

365,007

Current liabilities:

Short-term borrowings

$

69,044

$

37,696

 Current portion of long-term debt

12,000

12,000

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

71,422

78,280

   Deferred revenue

23,499

22,356

Total current liabilities

175,965

150,332

Long-term debt

25,000

16,000

Other noncurrent liabilities

11,334

10,621

Total liabilities

212,299

176,953

Total stockholders’ equity

189,198

188,054

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

401,497

$

365,007

 

© 2018 GP Strategies Corporation. All rights reserved. GP Strategies and the GP Strategies logo design are trademarks of GP Strategies Corporation.

 

 

SOURCE GP Strategies Corporation