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8-K - Ameresco, Inc.a8kearningreleaseq41122912.htm
EX-99.2 - PREPARED REMARKS - Ameresco, Inc.amrc8kex992q411.htm


Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:    Media Relations     CarolAnn Hibbard, 508.661.2264, news@ameresco.com
Investor Relations     Suzanne Messere, 508.598.3044, ir@ameresco.com
    
Ameresco Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Financial Results

Fourth Quarter 2011 Financial Highlights:
Revenue of $188.5 million, an increase of 5.1% year-over-year
Net income of $8.2 million, an increase of 7.1% year-over-year
Net income per diluted share of $0.18

Full Year 2011 Financial Highlights:
Revenue of $728.2 million, an increase of 17.8% year-over-year
Net income of $34.7 million, an increase of 20.9% year-over-year
Net income per diluted share of $0.78

FRAMINGHAM, MA - February 29, 2012 - Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, today announced financial results for the quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. The Company has also furnished prepared remarks in conjunction with this press release in a Current Report on Form 8-K. These prepared remarks contain supplemental information, including non-GAAP financial metrics, and have been posted to the “Investor Relations” section of the Company's website at www.ameresco.com.

Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $188.5 million, compared to $179.3 million for the same period in 2010, an increase of 5.1% year-over-year. Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $12.1 million, compared to $12.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, a decrease of 3.2% year-over-year. Operating income for the fourth quarter reflects approximately $3.5 million in charges taken during the quarter related to Savannah River operations and maintenance (O&M) startup costs, an inventory write down, acquisition costs and restructuring. Fourth quarter 2011 adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP number, was $17.4 million, compared to $15.8 million for the same period in 2010, an increase of 10.1% year-over-year. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $8.2 million, compared to $7.7 million for the same period of 2010, an increase of 7.1% year-over-year. Fourth quarter net income per diluted share was $0.18 in 2011, compared to $0.17 for 2010.

“Ameresco delivered strong full year financial results for our second year as a public company,” stated George P. Sakellaris, president and chief executive officer of Ameresco. “Our sharp focus on our customers' needs for comprehensive energy efficiency services and budget-neutral solutions, particularly in today's environment of aging infrastructure and budgetary constraints, helped drive our organic growth.  We believe we are well positioned for the future as we continue targeting our goal of growing revenue and earnings by 15 to 20 percent per year on average over the long-term through organic growth and strategic acquisitions.”

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For the full year ended December 31, 2011, Ameresco reported total revenue of $728.2 million, compared to $618.2 million for 2010, an increase of 17.8%. Full year 2011 operating income was $50.2 million, compared to $46.0 million for 2010, an increase of 9.1% year-over-year. Operating income for the full year reflects approximately $4.7 million in charges taken in the third and fourth quarters related to acquisition costs, customer payments, Savannah River O&M startup costs, and an inventory write down. Full year 2011 adjusted EBITDA was $67.0 million, compared to $59.9 million for 2010, an increase of 11.9% year-over-year. Net income for the full year 2011 was $34.7 million, compared to $28.7 million for 2010, an increase of 20.9% year-over-year. Net income per diluted share was $0.78 for the full year 2011, compared to $0.69 for 2010.

Additional Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Operating Highlights:
Revenue generated from backlog was $597.8 million for the full year 2011, an increase of 17.9% year-over-year. All other revenue was $130.4 million, an increase of 17.5% year-over-year.
Operating cash flows were $43.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $27.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, an increase of 60.7% year-over-year. Full year 2011 operating cash flows were $32.0 million, compared to $20.8 million for full year 2010, an increase of 53.7% year-over-year.
Total construction backlog was $1.22 billion as of December 31, 2011 and consisted of:
$478.2 million of fully-contracted backlog, which represents signed customer contracts for installation or construction of projects that are expected to convert into revenue over the next 12-24 months on average; and
$741.2 million of awarded projects, which represents estimated future revenue for projects that are expected to be signed over the next 6-12 months on average.
The Company continues to expand organically as well as through acquisitions. In addition to opening six new offices in 2011, we also made three acquisitions. Applied Energy Group enhances our service offerings to utilities. APS Energy Services, now known as Ameresco Southwest, expands our footprint in the southwestern United States. The businesses we acquired from Energy and Power Solutions, Inc., xChangePoint® and energy projects, expand our service offerings for private sector commercial and industrial customers.
The Company continues to develop Ameresco owned and operated small scale renewable energy power plants, with two in construction and four in the design phase as of year-end 2011. The Company is also expanding its experience in developing small scale renewable energy power plants for customers, with four such projects currently in the design or construction phases.
In December 2011, our marquee project at the Savannah River Site Biomass Cogeneration Facility in Aiken, SC received its Final Acceptance Certificate from the U.S. Department of Energy Savannah River Operations Office for the completion of construction of the facility installed under the ESPC awarded to Ameresco in May 2009.

FY 2012 Guidance

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Ameresco expects to earn total revenue in the range of $800 million to $825 million. The Company also expects net income for 2012 will be in the range of $39.5 million to $42.5 million.
 
We are now providing guidance metrics that are consistent with our long-term goal of achieving revenue and earnings growth of 15-20% per year on average.

Webcast Reminder

Ameresco will hold its earnings conference call today, February 29th, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time with President and Chief Executive Officer, George Sakellaris, and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Andrew Spence, to discuss details regarding the Company's fourth quarter and full year 2011 results as well as business outlook and strategy. Participants may access it by dialing domestically 888.680.0893 or internationally 617.213.4859. The passcode is 37818893. Participants are advised to dial-in at least ten minutes prior to the call to register. Those who wish to listen only to the conference call webcast may visit the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.ameresco.com.

Pre-Registration for the call is also available at:
https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=PBA8Q4GUH. Pre-registrants will be issued a pin number to use when dialing into the live call which will provide quick access to the conference by bypassing the operator upon connection.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and the accompanying tables include references to adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a description of this non-GAAP financial measure, including the reasons management uses this measure, please see the section following the accompanying tables titled "Exhibit A: Non-GAAP Financial Measures". For a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to operating income, the most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP, please see Other Non-GAAP Disclosure in the accompanying tables.

About Ameresco, Inc.

Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout North America. Ameresco's services include upgrades to a facility's energy infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy plants.  Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers.  With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco provides local expertise through its 62 offices in 34 states and five Canadian provinces. Ameresco has more than 900 employees. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Ameresco, Inc., including statements about pipeline and backlog, as well as estimated future revenues and net income per share, and other statements containing the words “projects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “will” and similar expressions, constitute forward-

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looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including demand for Ameresco's energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions; the Company's ability to arrange financing for its projects; changes in federal, state and local government policies and programs related to energy efficiency and renewable energy; the timing of work Ameresco does on projects where it recognizes revenue on a percentage of completion basis; the ability of customers to cancel or defer contracts included in our backlog; an ability to enter into a contract for an awarded project on the terms proposed; the effects of our recent acquisitions; seasonality in construction and in demand for its products and services; a customer's decision to delay the Company's work on, or other risks involved with, a particular project; availability and costs of labor and equipment; the addition of new customers or the loss of existing customers; and other factors discussed in Ameresco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2011. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Ameresco's views as of the date of this press release. Ameresco anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while Ameresco may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Ameresco's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.


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AMERESCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
December 31,
 
2010
 
2011
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
44,691,021

 
$
18,980,244

Restricted cash
9,197,447

 
12,372,356

Accounts receivable, net
68,584,304

 
109,296,773

Accounts receivable retainage
18,452,777

 
26,089,216

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
35,556,425

 
69,251,022

Inventory, net
6,780,092

 
8,635,633

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
8,471,628

 
8,992,963

Income tax receivable
2,511,542

 
7,771,055

Deferred income taxes
9,908,240

 
6,456,671

Project development costs
7,556,345

 
6,027,689

Total current assets
211,709,821

 
273,873,622

Federal ESPC receivable
193,551,495

 
110,212,186

Property and equipment, net
5,406,387

 
7,086,164

Project assets, net
145,147,475

 
177,854,734

Deferred financing fees, net
3,412,186

 
2,994,692

Goodwill
20,580,995

 
47,881,346

Intangible assets, net

 
12,727,528

Other assets
4,598,980

 
3,778,357

 
372,697,518

 
362,535,007

 
$
584,407,339

 
$
636,408,629

 
 

 
 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
 

 
 

Current portion of long-term debt
$
4,722,118

 
$
11,563,983

Accounts payable
95,302,897

 
93,506,089

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
12,517,671

 
8,917,723

Billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings
27,555,894

 
26,982,858

Income taxes payable
2,488,672

 

Total current liabilities
142,587,252

 
140,970,653

Long-term debt, less current portion
202,409,484

 
196,401,588

Deferred income taxes
12,013,799

 
29,953,103

Deferred grant income, net
4,200,929

 
6,024,099

Other liabilities
28,144,144

 
28,529,867

 
$
246,768,356

 
$
260,908,657

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

5



 
December 31,
 
2010
 
2011
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
Stockholders' equity:
 

 
 

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2010 and 2011
$

 
$

Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 27,925,649 shares issued and 23,092,365 outstanding at December 31, 2010, 30,713,837 shares issued and 25,880,553 outstanding at December 31, 2011
2,793

 
3,071

Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 144,000,000 shares authorized, 18,000,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2010 and 2011
1,800

 
1,800

Additional paid-in capital
74,069,087

 
84,176,136

Retained earnings
126,609,101

 
161,335,621

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
3,551,521

 
(1,868,352
)
Minority interest in foreign subsidiary

 
63,614

Less - treasury stock, at cost, 4,833,284 shares and 4,833,284 shares, respectively
(9,182,571
)
 
(9,182,571
)
Total stockholders' equity
195,051,731

 
234,529,319

 
$
584,407,339

 
$
636,408,629



6



AMERESCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
2010
 
2011
 
(Unaudited)
Revenue:
 
 
 
Energy efficiency revenue
$
131,751,118

 
$
132,626,090

Renewable energy revenue
47,591,019

 
55,868,948

 
179,342,137

 
188,495,038

Direct expenses:
 
 
 
Energy efficiency expenses
110,589,160

 
102,463,531

Renewable energy expenses
37,484,158

 
50,975,158

 
148,073,318

 
153,438,689

Gross profit
31,268,819

 
35,056,349

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
Salaries and benefits
8,827,730

 
11,513,950

Project development costs
5,783,237

 
3,442,006

General, administrative and other
4,155,289

 
7,999,039

 
18,766,256

 
22,954,995

Operating income
12,502,563

 
12,101,354

Other expenses, net
(998,129
)
 
(1,428,385
)
Income before provision for income taxes
11,504,434

 
10,672,969

Income tax provision
(3,804,551
)
 
(2,425,442
)
Net income
7,699,883

 
8,247,527

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
Unrealized gain (loss) from interest rate hedge, net of tax
1,363,788

 
(2,457,112
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
963,633

 
406,579

Comprehensive income
$
10,027,304

 
$
6,196,994

Net income per share attributable to common shareholders:
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.19

 
$
0.19

Diluted
$
0.17

 
$
0.18

Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
Basic
41,086,998

 
43,514,982

Diluted
46,147,728

 
46,038,358

OTHER NON-GAAP DISCLOSURES
 
 
 
Gross margins:
 
 
 
Energy efficiency revenue
16.1
%
 
22.7
%
Renewable energy revenue
21.2
%
 
8.8
%
Total
17.4
%
 
18.6
%
Operating expenses as a percent of revenue
10.5
%
 
12.2
%
Adjusted Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA):
 
 
 
Operating income
$
12,502,563

 
$
12,101,354

Depreciation, amortization and impairment
2,560,922

 
4,453,451

Stock-based compensation
740,157

 
838,506

Adjusted EBITDA
$
15,803,642

 
$
17,393,311

Adjusted EBITDA margin
8.8
%
 
9.2
%
Construction backlog:
 
 
 
Awarded
$
482,878,178

 
$
741,219,444

Fully-contracted
651,232,855

 
478,165,860

Total construction backlog
$
1,134,111,033

 
$
1,219,385,304


Note: Awarded represents estimated future revenues from projects that have been awarded, though the contracts have not yet been signed.

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AMERESCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2010
 
2011
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
Revenue:
 
 
 
Energy efficiency revenue
$
455,329,696

 
$
551,323,840

Renewable energy revenue
162,896,963

 
176,876,478

 
618,226,659

 
728,200,318

Direct expenses:
 
 
 
Energy efficiency expenses
378,084,610

 
446,962,891

Renewable energy expenses
129,439,629

 
146,191,280

 
507,524,239

 
593,154,171

Gross profit
110,702,420

 
135,046,147

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
Salaries and benefits
30,721,486

 
40,746,280

Project development costs
13,676,795

 
18,281,729

General, administrative and other
20,311,842

 
25,847,142

 
64,710,123

 
84,875,151

Operating income
45,992,297

 
50,170,996

Other expenses, net
(5,080,546
)
 
(4,677,304
)
Income before provision for income taxes
40,911,751

 
45,493,692

Income tax provision
(12,185,635
)
 
(10,767,172
)
Net income
28,726,116

 
34,726,520

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
Unrealized loss from interest rate hedge, net of tax
(933,879
)
 
(4,448,989
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
1,653,430

 
(970,884
)
Comprehensive income
$
29,445,667

 
$
29,306,647

Net income per share attributable to common shareholders:
 
 
 
Basic
$
1.12

 
$
0.82

Diluted
$
0.69

 
$
0.78

Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
Basic
25,728,314

 
42,587,818

Diluted
41,513,482

 
44,770,880

OTHER NON-GAAP DISCLOSURES
 
 
 
Gross margins:
 
 
 
Energy efficiency revenue
17.0
%
 
18.9
%
Renewable energy revenue
20.5
%
 
17.3
%
Total
17.9
%
 
18.5
%
Operating expenses as a percent of revenue
10.5
%
 
11.7
%
Adjusted Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA):
 
 
 
Operating income
$
45,992,297

 
$
50,170,996

Depreciation, amortization and impairment
11,419,186

 
14,008,737

Stock-based compensation
2,498,660

 
2,865,706

Adjusted EBITDA
$
59,910,143

 
$
67,045,439

Adjusted EBITDA margin
9.7
%
 
9.2
%


8



AMERESCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
2010
 
2011
 
(Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
7,699,883

 
$
8,247,527

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

 

Depreciation of project assets
2,011,041

 
2,574,782

Depreciation of property and equipment
549,880

 
627,197

Amortization of deferred financing fees
92,369

 
749,351

Amortization of intangible assets

 
1,251,472

         Provision for bad debts
126,219

 

Gain on asset sales

 
(514,828
)
Stock-based compensation expense
740,157

 
838,506

Deferred income taxes
(253,975
)
 
12,599,213

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements
(2,010,221
)
 
4,887,568

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 
 
(Increase) decrease in:

 
 
Restricted cash draws
42,086,566

 
39,802,985

Accounts receivable
23,731,488

 
34,977,928

Accounts receivable retainage
(827,561
)
 
(7,206,397
)
Federal ESPC receivable
(49,933,020
)
 
(4,231,126
)
Inventory
(1,470,915
)
 
(265,060
)
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
(2,651,040
)
 
(13,851,665
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
5,197,329

 
1,270,265

Project development costs
1,716,435

 
2,440,432

Other assets
(606,409
)
 
2,328,774

Increase (decrease) in:

 
 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses and other accrued liabilities
(2,824,187
)
 
(30,477,986
)
Billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings
(3,569,795
)
 
(4,641,993
)
Other liabilities
6,774,884

 
(3,635,189
)
Income taxes payable
666,161

 
(3,975,523
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
27,245,289

 
43,796,233

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
(1,251,391
)
 
(780,161
)
Purchases of project assets
(12,230,199
)
 
(16,899,490
)
Proceeds from sales of assets held for sale

 
7,800,000

Acquisitions, net of cash received
(164,065
)
 
(5,279,260
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(13,645,655
)
 
(15,158,911
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements
2,010,221

 
(4,887,568
)
Payments of financing fees
(73,113
)
 
(21,075
)
Proceeds from exercises of options and warrants
10,380

 
1,500,159

Proceeds from senior secured credit facility

 
(39,428,571
)
(Payments) proceeds from long-term debt financing
(65,036
)
 
7,481,602

Minority interest in foreign subsidiary

 
63,614

Restricted cash
(342,555
)
 
(5,011,484
)
Payments on long-term debt
(422,058
)
 
(1,075,784
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
1,117,839

 
(41,379,107
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
707,547

 
(12,720
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
15,425,020

 
(12,754,505
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
29,266,001

 
31,734,749

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
$
44,691,021

 
$
18,980,244




9




AMERESCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2010
 
2011
 
(Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
28,726,116

 
$
34,726,520

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash used in operating activities:

 

Depreciation of project assets
9,634,891

 
9,701,399

Depreciation of property and equipment
1,784,295

 
2,554,866

Amortization of deferred financing fees
566,772

 
1,061,782

Amortization of intangible assets

 
1,752,472

         Provision for bad debts
126,219

 
24,374

Gain on asset sales

 
(514,828
)
Write-down of long-term receivable
2,111,000

 

Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps
133,591

 

Stock-based compensation expense
2,498,660

 
2,865,706

Deferred income taxes
(253,975
)
 
19,842,638

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements
(2,010,221
)
 
(833,817
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
(Increase) decrease in:
 
 
 
Restricted cash draws
151,022,923

 
138,485,364

Accounts receivable
(305,665
)
 
(22,861,989
)
Accounts receivable retainage
(8,319,286
)
 
(7,786,995
)
Federal ESPC receivable
(160,455,751
)
 
(99,781,156
)
Inventory
(2,542,183
)
 
(1,808,348
)
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
(19,311,505
)
 
(22,452,016
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(321,074
)
 
(542,485
)
Project development costs
925,531

 
1,816,884

Other assets
5,975,610

 
569,954

Increase (decrease) in:
 
 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses and other accrued liabilities
3,925,716

 
(13,480,285
)
Billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings
(1,258,620
)
 
(452,802
)
Other liabilities
8,476,965

 
(3,537,261
)
Income taxes payable
(280,200
)
 
(7,311,938
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
20,849,809

 
32,038,039

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
(2,613,267
)
 
(3,449,940
)
Purchases of project assets
(37,825,750
)
 
(48,457,910
)
Grant awards received on project assets
812,489

 
6,695,711

Additional purchase price paid on 2010 acquisition

 
(1,956,366
)
Proceeds from sales of assets held for sale

 
7,800,000

Acquisitions, net of cash received
(6,303,006
)
 
(66,232,848
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(45,929,534
)
 
(105,601,353
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

10



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AMERESCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS — (Continued)
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2010
 
2011
 
(Unaudited)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements
2,010,221

 
833,817

Payments of financing fees
(1,373,171
)
 
(644,288
)
Proceeds from exercises of options and issuance of warrants
60,073,139

 
6,407,804

Repurchase of stock
(768,970
)
 

Proceeds from senior secured credit facility
(19,915,218
)
 
42,142,858

Proceeds from long-term debt financing
747,362

 
12,981,691

Minority interest in foreign subsidiary

 
63,614

Restricted cash
(6,298,988
)
 
(7,823,912
)
Repayment of subordinated debt
(2,998,750
)
 

Payments on long-term debt
(10,970,656
)
 
(5,074,411
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
20,504,969

 
48,887,173

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
1,338,237

 
(1,034,636
)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(3,236,519
)
 
(25,710,777
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
47,927,540

 
44,691,021

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
$
44,691,021

 
$
18,980,244


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Exhibit A: Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Ameresco defines adjusted EBITDA as operating income before depreciation and impairment expense and share-based compensation expense. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered as an alternative to operating income or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
The Company believes adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating its operating performance for the following reasons: adjusted EBITDA and similar non-GAAP measures are widely used by investors to measure a company's operating performance without regard to items that can vary substantially from company to company depending upon financing and accounting methods, book values of assets, capital structures and the methods by which assets were acquired; securities analysts often use adjusted EBITDA and similar non-GAAP measures as supplemental measures to evaluate the overall operating performance of companies; and by comparing Ameresco's adjusted EBITDA in different historical periods, investors can evaluate its operating results without the additional variations of depreciation and amortization expense, and share-based compensation expense.
Ameresco's management uses adjusted EBITDA as a measure of operating performance, because it does not include the impact of items that management does not consider indicative of our core operating performance; for planning purposes, including the preparation of the annual operating budget; to allocate resources to enhance the financial performance of the business; to evaluate the effectiveness of Ameresco's business strategies; and in communications with the board of directors and investors concerning Ameresco's financial performance.
The Company understands that, although measures similar to adjusted EBITDA are frequently used by investors and securities analysts in their evaluation of companies, adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and investors should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP operating income or an analysis of Ameresco's results of operations as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are: adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the Company's cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or other contractual commitments; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, Ameresco's working capital needs; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect stock-based compensation expense; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash requirements for income taxes; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect net interest income (expense); although depreciation, amortization and impairment are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated, amortized or impaired will often have to be replaced in the future, and adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for these replacements; and other companies in Ameresco's industry may calculate adjusted EBITDA differently than it does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
To properly and prudently evaluate Ameresco's business, the Company encourages investors to review its GAAP financial statements included above, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the business. Please refer to the above reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to operating income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure.



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