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8-K - Ameresco, Inc.a8kearningreleaseq1125812.htm
EX-99.2 - PREPARED REMARKS - Ameresco, Inc.amrc8kex992q112.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 First Quarter 2012 Financial Results

First quarter revenue of $146.6 million
First quarter net income of $1.5 million
First quarter net income per diluted share of $0.03

FRAMINGHAM, MA - May 8, 2012 - Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The Company has also furnished prepared remarks in conjunction with this press release in a Current Report on Form 8-K. Those 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 first quarter of 2012 of $146.6 million was flat when compared to $146.4 million for the same period in 2011. Operating income for the first quarter of 2012 was $3.4 million, compared to $8.3 million for the first quarter of 2011, a decrease of 58.8% year-over-year. First quarter 2012 adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $9.1 million, compared to $11.8 million for the same period in 2011, a decrease of 22.8% year-over-year. Net income for the first quarter of 2012 was $1.5 million, compared to $5.3 million for the same period in 2011, a decrease of 71.5% year-over-year. First quarter 2012 net income per diluted share was $0.03, compared to $0.12 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2011.

“Ameresco's first quarter revenue was in line with our expectations for this seasonally slow period, and reflects a comparison against an unseasonably strong first quarter last year,” stated George P. Sakellaris, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ameresco. “The investments that we made to solidify our market position and expand our service offerings during 2011 combined with lower than expected employee utilization rates led to an increase in salaries and benefits expense during the first quarter. While slightly impacting net income compared to our expectations, these investments contributed to strengthening Ameresco's market position during the first quarter as evidenced by an improvement in pipeline activity. During the first quarter, total construction backlog increased 10% year-over-year, driven by a 51% year-over-year increase in awarded projects. Further, the amount of new proposals in our pipeline increased 14% year-over-year. We are very pleased that the favorable trends within our pipeline continued into the first quarter. We believe that we are well positioned to meet our expectations as well as our long-term growth targets and are leaving our 2012 guidance unchanged.”

Additional First Quarter 2012 Operating Highlights:
Revenue generated from backlog was $103.3 million for the first quarter of 2012, a decrease of 13% year-over-year.

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All other revenue was $43.2 million for the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 54% year-over-year.
Total construction backlog was $1.28 billion as of March 31, 2012 and consisted of:
$412.7 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
$871.5 million of awarded projects, which represents estimated future revenue for projects for which contracts are expected to be signed over the next 6-12 months, on average.

FY 2012 Guidance
Ameresco's guidance for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 remains unchanged as follows: total revenue in the range of $800 million to $825 million; and net income in the range of $39.5 million to $42.5 million. This guidance assumes continued improvement in the environment for converting awarded projects to signed contracts for the balance of the year.

Webcast Reminder

Ameresco will hold its earnings conference call today, May 8, 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 first quarter 2012 results, business outlook and strategy. Participants may access the conference call by dialing domestically 888.713.4218 or internationally 617.213.4870. The passcode is 42335947. Participants are advised to dial-in at least ten minutes prior to the call to register. Those who wish only to listen to the conference call webcast may do so by visiting the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.ameresco.com and following the instructions.

Pre-Registration for the call is also available at:
https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=PR9WNYTMG. Pre-registrants will be issued a pin number to use when dialing into the live call which will provide quicker 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

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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, and other statements containing the words “projects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “will” and similar expressions, constitute forward-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 the timing of, and ability to, enter into contracts for awarded projects on the terms proposed; the timing of work Ameresco does on projects where it recognizes revenue on a percentage of completion basis, including the ability to perform under recently signed contracts without unusual delay; 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 ability of customers to cancel or defer contracts included in our backlog; 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, 2011, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2012. 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,
 
March 31,
 
2011
 
2012
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
26,277,366

 
$
38,435,362

Restricted cash
12,372,356

 
12,587,427

Accounts receivable, net
109,296,773

 
84,952,455

Accounts receivable retainage
26,089,216

 
20,539,058

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
69,251,022

 
51,524,518

Inventory, net
8,635,633

 
8,776,498

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
8,992,963

 
6,183,681

Income tax receivable
9,662,771

 
10,287,965

Deferred income taxes
6,456,671

 
6,456,671

Project development costs
6,027,689

 
6,860,433

Total current assets
283,062,460

 
246,604,068

Federal ESPC receivable
110,212,186

 
124,282,323

Property and equipment, net
7,086,164

 
7,695,397

Project assets, net
177,854,734

 
181,531,005

Deferred financing fees, net
2,994,692

 
2,881,730

Goodwill
47,881,346

 
47,922,855

Intangible assets, net
12,727,528

 
11,071,284

Other assets
3,778,357

 
3,989,931

 
362,535,007

 
379,374,525

 
$
645,597,467

 
$
625,978,593

 
 

 
 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
 

 
 

Current portion of long-term debt
$
11,563,983

 
$
12,370,976

Accounts payable
93,506,089

 
71,419,981

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
8,917,723

 
10,755,461

Book overdraft
7,297,122

 

Billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings
26,982,858

 
27,947,000

Total current liabilities
148,267,775

 
122,493,418

Long-term debt, less current portion
196,401,588

 
197,284,536

Deferred income taxes
29,953,103

 
29,402,775

Deferred grant income
6,024,099

 
5,938,793

Other liabilities
28,529,867

 
28,138,625

 
$
260,908,657

 
$
260,764,729

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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December 31,
 
March 31,
 
2011
 
2012
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
Stockholders' equity:
 

 
 

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012
$

 
$

Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 30,713,837 shares issued and 25,880,553 outstanding at December 31, 2011, 31,251,858 shares issued and 26,418,574 outstanding at March 31, 2012
3,071

 
3,125

Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 144,000,000 shares authorized, 18,000,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012
1,800

 
1,800

Additional paid-in capital
86,067,852

 
89,115,280

Retained earnings
161,335,621

 
162,840,919

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1,868,352
)
 
(129,421
)
Minority interest
63,614

 
71,314

Less — treasury stock, at cost, 4,833,284 shares, respectively
(9,182,571
)
 
(9,182,571
)
Total stockholders' equity
236,421,035

 
242,720,446

 
$
645,597,467

 
$
625,978,593



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AMERESCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2011
 
2012
 
(Unaudited)
Revenue:
 
 
 
Energy efficiency revenue
$
106,193,265

 
$
113,382,670

Renewable energy revenue
40,226,504

 
33,190,699

 
146,419,769

 
146,573,369

Direct expenses:
 
 
 
Energy efficiency expenses
86,361,423

 
89,619,775

Renewable energy expenses
32,075,313

 
27,729,784

 
118,436,736

 
117,349,559

Gross profit
27,983,033

 
29,223,810

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
Salaries and benefits
10,084,732

 
14,369,212

Project development costs
4,401,577

 
4,216,352

General, administrative and other
5,193,334

 
7,213,456

 
19,679,643

 
25,799,020

Operating income
8,303,390

 
3,424,790

Other expenses, net
(900,437
)
 
(1,337,605
)
Income before provision for income taxes
7,402,953

 
2,087,185

Income tax provision
(2,114,668
)
 
(581,887
)
Net income
5,288,285

 
1,505,298

Net income per share attributable to common shareholders:
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.13

 
$
0.03

Diluted
$
0.12

 
$
0.03

Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
Basic
41,322,276

 
44,145,093

Diluted
45,823,090

 
46,128,417

OTHER NON-GAAP DISCLOSURES
 
 
 
Gross margins:
 
 
 
Energy efficiency revenue
18.7
%
 
21.0
%
Renewable energy revenue
20.3
%
 
16.5
%
Total
19.1
%
 
19.9
%
Operating expenses as a percent of revenue
13.4
%
 
17.6
%
Adjusted Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA):
 
 
 
Operating income
$
8,303,390

 
$
3,424,790

Depreciation, amortization and impairment
2,682,401

 
4,939,247

Stock-based compensation
859,050

 
781,453

Adjusted EBITDA
$
11,844,841

 
$
9,145,490

Adjusted EBITDA margin
8.1
%
 
6.2
%
Construction backlog:
 
 
 
Awarded
$
577,192,000

 
$
871,462,874

Fully-contracted
588,661,000

 
412,676,044

Total construction backlog
$
1,165,853,000

 
$
1,284,138,918

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 CASH FLOWS
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2011
 
2012
 
(Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
5,288,285

 
$
1,505,298

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

 

Depreciation of project assets
2,210,612

 
2,605,030

Depreciation of property and equipment
471,789

 
677,973

Amortization of deferred financing fees
110,833

 
133,287

Amortization of intangible assets

 
1,656,244

         Provision for bad debts
24,186

 
53,636

Stock-based compensation expense
859,050

 
781,453

Deferred income taxes
2,692,134

 
(550,328
)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements
(391,297
)
 
(1,202,597
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 
 
(Increase) decrease in:

 
 
Restricted cash draws
40,912,909

 
10,082,814

Accounts receivable
(7,620,850
)
 
24,537,183

Accounts receivable retainage
1,439,552

 
5,692,808

Federal ESPC receivable
(36,506,536
)
 
(14,070,137
)
Inventory
(1,633,214
)
 
(140,865
)
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
(6,143,202
)
 
17,780,552

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(21,209
)
 
2,825,403

Project development costs
921,076

 
(831,959
)
Other assets
619,317

 
(174,600
)
Increase (decrease) in:

 
 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other accrued liabilities
(23,204,150
)
 
(20,527,498
)
Billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings
(4,546,509
)
 
897,751

Other liabilities
4,342,540

 
870,642

Income taxes payable
(5,446,587
)
 
606,671

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
(25,621,271
)
 
33,208,761

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
(895,230
)
 
(1,276,533
)
Purchases of project assets
(6,591,203
)
 
(10,002,946
)
Grant awards and rebates received on project assets
6,695,711

 
3,838,766

Net cash used in investing activities
(790,722
)
 
(7,440,713
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements
391,297

 
1,202,597

Book overdraft

 
(7,297,122
)
Payments of financing fees
(50,589
)
 
(20,325
)
Proceeds from exercises of options
1,416,091

 
1,063,432

Proceeds from (payments on) senior secured credit facility
5,000,000

 
(6,428,571
)
Proceeds from long-term debt financing
5,500,089

 

Minority interest

 
7,700

Restricted cash
(587,567
)
 
(1,430,592
)
Payments on long-term debt
(911,878
)
 
(807,464
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
10,757,443

 
(13,710,345
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
313,165

 
100,293

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(15,341,385
)
 
12,157,996

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
44,691,021

 
26,277,366

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
29,349,636

 
$
38,435,362


 
 
 
 

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Exhibit A: Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Ameresco defines adjusted EBITDA as operating income before depreciation, amortization of intangible assets 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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