Wright Express Reports First-Quarter Results
Total Fuel Transactions Rise 11 Percent; Average Number of Vehicles Serviced Increases 10 Percent; Payment Processing Transactions Grow 16 Percent
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, May 3 -- Wright Express Corporation , a leading provider of payment processing and information management services to the U.S. commercial and government fleet industry, today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.
Total revenue for the first quarter of 2006 increased 24 percent to $64.6 million from $52.2 million for the first quarter of 2005. Net income to common shareholders on a GAAP basis for the first quarter of 2006 was $11.4 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $18.5 million, or $0.46 per share, for the comparable quarter last year. On a non-GAAP basis, the Company's adjusted net income for the first quarter of 2006 increased to $12.3 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, from $11.3 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the year-earlier period.
Wright Express uses fuel-price derivative instruments to mitigate financial risks associated with the variability in fuel prices. For the first quarter of 2006, the Company's GAAP financial results include an unrealized $1.4 million pre-tax, non-cash, mark-to-market loss on these instruments. For the first quarter of 2005, the unrealized pre-tax, non-cash, mark-to-market loss was $34.4 million. Exhibit 1 reconciles adjusted net income for the first quarters of 2006 and 2005, which has not been determined in accordance with GAAP, to net income as determined in accordance with GAAP.
Management uses the non-GAAP measures presented within this news release to evaluate the Company's performance on a comparable basis, to eliminate the volatility associated with its derivative instruments and to measure the amount of cash that is available for making scheduled payments on the Company's financing debt and discretionary purposes. Management believes that investors may find these measures useful for the same purposes, but cautions that they should not be considered a substitute for disclosure in accordance with GAAP.
First-Quarter 2006 Performance Metrics
* Average number of vehicles serviced increased 10 percent from the first
quarter of 2005 to approximately 4.3 million.
* Total fuel transactions processed increased 11 percent from the first
quarter of 2005 to 58.1 million. Payment processing transactions
increased 16 percent to 43.5 million, and transaction processing
transactions decreased 3 percent to 14.6 million.
* Average expenditure per payment processing transaction grew to $48.63,
an increase of 25 percent from the same period last year.
* Average retail fuel price increased 22 percent to $2.41 per gallon, from
$1.97 per gallon for the first quarter a year ago.
* Total MasterCard purchase volume grew to $269.4 million, an increase of
5 percent from the comparable period a year ago.
* Wright Express paid $6.5 million in principal on its financing debt
during the first quarter of 2006.
Management Comments
"The first quarter was a strong start to our second year as a public company," said Michael Dubyak, president and chief executive officer. "It was another quarter of growing demand for our fleet card solutions. Our front-end sales and marketing engine performed well in translating this demand into a pipeline of new business, and in converting these prospects into customers. As a result, we continued to generate double-digit growth in the number of transactions we processed and vehicles we serviced."
"As our business expanded, we continued to improve the Company's productivity in the first quarter," Dubyak said. "Our derivatives strategy continued to successfully mitigate our exposure to the variability in fuel prices, we paid down another $6.5 million of financing debt, and our revenue and adjusted net income for the first quarter met the high end of our guidance."
"We expect to continue leveraging our service excellence to capitalize on our market potential and drive organic growth for Wright Express," said Dubyak. "The Company's size, geographic spread, depth of experience and technical capabilities put us in a position to provide our customers with a wide range of high-quality fleet card solutions. Given the ongoing transition across the economy from cash to electronic commerce, we see enormous potential remaining to be tapped in our core business. At the same time, it is our practice to be looking at the marketplace for potential alliances or acquisitions that can accelerate our growth and/or enhance our strategic position. The Company continues to fire on all cylinders, operationally and financially, and we look forward to another strong year of results in 2006."
Financial Guidance
Wright Express Corporation is issuing financial guidance for the second quarter of 2006, as well as the full year. The Company's guidance excludes the impact of non-cash, mark-to-market adjustments on the Company's fuel-price-related derivative instruments. The fuel prices referenced below are based on the applicable NYMEX futures price:
* For the second quarter of 2006, revenue in the range of $71 million to
$76 million. This is based on an assumed average retail fuel price of
$2.80 per gallon.
* Second-quarter 2006 net income before unrealized gain or loss on
derivative contracts in the range of $13 million to $14 million, or
$0.32 to $0.35 per diluted share, based on approximately 41 million
shares outstanding.
* For the full year 2006, revenue in the range of $280 million to $290
million. This is based on an assumed average retail fuel price of
$2.65 per gallon.
* For the full year 2006, net income before unrealized gain or loss on
derivative contracts in the range of $54 million to $56 million, or
$1.32 to $1.38 per diluted share, based on approximately 41 million
shares outstanding.
Conference Call Details
In conjunction with this announcement, Wright Express will host a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. (ET) to discuss the Company's financial results, first-quarter operations and business outlook. To access this call by telephone, dial (866) 323-7218 or (706) 643-0228 (Conference ID: 7457037). A live webcast of this conference call will be available at the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website (http://www.wrightexpress.com/). A replay of the webcast will be available on the website for approximately three months.
About Wright Express
Wright Express is a leading provider of payment processing and information management services to the U.S. commercial and government vehicle fleet industry. Wright Express provides these services for approximately 295,000 commercial and government fleets containing 4.3 million vehicles. Wright Express markets these services directly as well as through more than 95 strategic relationships, and offers a MasterCard-branded corporate card. The Company employs more than 650 people and maintains its headquarters in South Portland, Maine. For more information about Wright Express, please visit http://www.wrightexpress.com/.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Wright Express Corporation's: expectation to continue leveraging its service to capitalize on market potential and drive organic growth; plan to provide customers with a wide range of high-quality fleet card solutions; expectation of potential remaining in its core business; intention to explore further opportunities to accelerate growth through potential alliances or acquisitions; assessment of its operational and financial performance; and expectations and guidance for 2006 results.
These forward-looking statements include a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: volatility in fuel prices; second-quarter and full-year 2006 fueling patterns; the effect of the Company's fuel-price-related derivative instruments; effects of competition; the potential loss of key strategic relationships; decreased demand for fuel and other vehicle products and services and the effects of general economic conditions on the commercial activity of fleets; the Company's ability to rapidly implement new technology and systems; potential corporate transactions including alliances, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; changes in interest rates and the other risks and uncertainties included from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 15, 2006, and the Company's other periodic and current reports. Wright Express Corporation undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements at any future date or dates.
News media contact: Investor contact:
Jessica Roy Steve Elder
Wright Express Wright Express
207.523.6763 207.523.7769
Jessica_Roy@wrightexpress.com Steve_Elder@wrightexpress.com
Condensed Financial Statements and Supplemental Exhibits Follow ...
WRIGHT EXPRESS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
Three months ended
March 31,
2006 2005
Revenues
Payment processing revenue $46,956 $34,809
Transaction processing revenue 4,210 4,107
Account servicing revenue 5,915 5,619
Finance fees 5,238 3,195
Other 2,319 4,472
Total revenues 64,638 52,202
Expenses
Salary and other personnel 14,354 18,717
Service fees 3,040 3,542
Provision for credit losses 3,918 2,937
Technology leasing and support 1,863 2,077
Occupancy and equipment 1,592 1,442
Depreciation and amortization 2,514 1,972
Operating interest expense 4,607 2,261
Other 3,843 3,919
Total operating expenses 35,731 36,867
Operating income 28,907 15,335
Financing interest expense (3,728) (1,386)
Net realized and unrealized losses on
derivative instruments (7,478) (44,202)
Income (loss) before income taxes 17,701 (30,253)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes 6,351 (11,780)
Net income (loss) 11,350 (18,473)
Change in net unrealized loss on
available-for-sale securities, net of tax
effect of $(41) in 2006 and $(30) in 2005 (63) (55)
Change in net unrealized gain on interest
rate swaps, net of tax effect of $86 in 2006 68 -
Comprehensive income (loss) $11,355 $(18,528)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic $0.28 $(0.46)
Diluted $0.28 $(0.46)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic 40,245 40,185
Diluted 40,983 40,185
WRIGHT EXPRESS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share data)
March 31, December 31,
2006 2005
(unaudited)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $19,109 $44,994
Accounts receivable
(less reserve for credit losses of
$5,380 in 2006 and $4,627 in 2005) 726,826 652,132
Available-for-sale securities 6,184 20,878
Property, equipment and capitalized
software, net 38,679 38,543
Deferred income taxes, net 507,417 513,018
Intangible assets, net 2,421 2,421
Goodwill 135,047 135,047
Other assets 13,106 13,388
Total assets $1,448,789 $1,420,421
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Accounts payable $323,698 $254,381
Accrued expenses 17,438 22,197
Deposits 284,355 338,251
Borrowed federal funds 48,704 39,027
Revolving line-of-credit facility 52,000 53,000
Term loan, net 162,213 167,508
Derivative instruments, at fair value 38,136 36,710
Other liabilities 1,204 331
Amounts due to Cendant under tax
receivable agreement 424,277 424,277
Preferred stock; 10,000 shares authorized:
Series A non-voting convertible
preferred stock; 0.1 shares authorized,
issued and outstanding 10,000 10,000
Total liabilities 1,362,025 1,345,682
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' Equity
Common stock $0.01 par value;
175,000 shares authorized; 40,299 shares
issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2006,
40,210 issued and outstanding as of
December 31, 2005 403 402
Additional paid-in capital 55,689 55,020
Retained earnings 30,003 18,653
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net unrealized gain on interest rate swaps 816 748
Net unrealized loss on available-for-sale
securities (147) (84)
Accumulated other comprehensive income 669 664
Total stockholders' equity 86,764 74,739
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $1,448,789 $1,420,421
WRIGHT EXPRESS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Three months ended
March 31,
2006 2005
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss) $11,350 $(18,473)
Adjustments to reconcile net income
(loss) to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Net unrealized loss on derivative instruments 1,426 34,374
Stock-based compensation 707 5,677
Depreciation and amortization 2,804 2,016
Deferred taxes 5,556 (5,860)
Provision for credit losses 3,918 2,937
Loss on disposal of property and equipment 5 5
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (78,612) (73,119)
Other assets 351 (1,907)
Accounts payable 69,317 47,061
Accrued expenses (4,759) (394)
Other liabilities 873 23
Due to/from related parties - 45,051
Net cash provided by operating activities 12,936 37,391
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment (2,655) (2,727)
Purchases of available-for-sale securities (33) (1,091)
Maturities of available-for-sale securities 14,623 19
Net cash provided by (used in)
investing activities 11,935 (3,799)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid - (305,887)
Excess tax benefits of equity instrument
share-based payment arrangements 162 -
Payments in lieu of issuing shares of
common stock (682) -
Proceeds from stock option exercises 483 -
Net (decrease) increase in deposits (53,896) 23,066
Net increase (decrease) in borrowed
federal funds 9,677 (6,728)
Net (repayments) borrowings on revolving line
of credit (1,000) 50,000
Loan origination fees paid for revolving
line of credit - (1,704)
Borrowings on term loan,
net of loan origination fees of $2,884 - 217,116
Repayments on term loan (5,500) (20,000)
Net cash used in financing activities (50,756) (44,137)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (25,885) (10,545)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 44,994 31,806
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $19,109 $21,261
WRIGHT EXPRESS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Three months ended
March 31,
2006 2005
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid $8,584 $2,674
Income taxes paid $380 $-
In April of 2006, we paid Cendant $4,700 in accordance with the terms of our Tax Receivable Agreement. During the three months ended March 31, 2005 the following non-cash transactions occurred:
* The tax basis of our assets increased creating an initial deferred tax
asset of $488,719 based upon our estimated tax rate at March 31, 2005.
We entered into a Tax Receivable Agreement with our former parent
company, which provides that we will make total payments estimated at
$415,411 as of March 31, 2005. The difference between the initial asset
recorded and the initial liability payable to our former parent company
was recorded as $73,308 of stockholders' equity.
* We issued 40,000 shares of common stock upon the completion of our
initial public offering and as part of the conversion from a Delaware
limited liability company to a Delaware corporation. We did not receive
any proceeds from this offering as our former parent company received
all common stock proceeds from the offering concurrent with their sale
of 100 percent of their interest in us.
* We issued 0.1 shares of preferred stock as part of the conversion from a
Delaware limited liability company to a Delaware corporation. We did
not receive any proceeds from this offering as our former parent
company received all preferred stock proceeds from this conversion.
Exhibit 1
Wright Express Corporation
Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income to GAAP Net Income
First Quarter 2006 and 2005
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Three months Three months
ended ended
March 31, March 31,
2006 2005
Adjusted net income $12,266 $11,342
Non-cash, mark-to-market adjustments
on derivative instruments (1,426) (34,374)
Termination of derivative instruments - (8,450)
Conversion of restricted stock units and
stock options - (5,723)
Tax impact 510 18,732
GAAP net income $11,350 $(18,473)
Although adjusted net income is not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this measure is integral to the Company's reporting and planning processes. The Company considers this measure integral because it eliminates the non-cash volatility associated with the derivative instruments. Specifically, in addition to evaluating the Company's performance on a GAAP basis, management evaluates the Company's performance on a basis that excludes the above items because:
* Exclusion of the non-cash, mark-to-market adjustments on derivative
instruments helps management identify and assess trends in the
Company's underlying business that might otherwise be obscured due to
quarterly and annual non-cash earnings fluctuations associated with
fuel-price derivative contracts;
* The non-cash, mark-to-market adjustments on derivative instruments are
difficult to forecast accurately, making comparisons across historical
and future quarters and years difficult to evaluate;
* The termination of derivative instruments during the first quarter of
2005 was a non-recurring event effected by the Company's former parent
company as part of the process of preparing the Company for its initial
public offering; and
* The conversion of restricted stock units and stock options was a non-
recurring event resulting from the need to convert the equity
incentives held by the Company's employees so that they were
exercisable following the initial public offering for Company common
stock instead of for common stock of the Company's former parent.
For the same reasons, Wright Express believes that adjusted net income may also be useful to investors as one means of evaluating the Company's performance. However, because adjusted net income is a non-GAAP measure, it should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, net income, operating income or cash flows from operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, adjusted net income as used by Wright Express may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies.