Press Releases

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore., Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greenbrier Companies (NYSE: GBX) today reported results for its fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended August 31, 2011.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

Financial Highlights:

• Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 were a record $442.7 million, up from $178.8 million in the prior year's fourth quarter.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $39.1 million, or 8.8% of revenue, compared to $15.5 million, or 8.7% of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2010.
• Net earnings attributable to Greenbrier ("net earnings") for the quarter were $12.6 million, or $.42 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $7.7 million, or $.33 per diluted share, in the prior year's fourth quarter.
• Results for the quarter include a loss on extinguishment of debt of $5.7 million pre-tax, $3.4 million after-tax, for costs associated with the repayment in full of a $72 million term loan.  Excluding these charges, net earnings were $16.0 million, or $.52 per diluted share.
• Net earnings for the prior year's fourth quarter included earnings of $11.9 million, both pre- and net of tax, or $.50 per diluted share, related to a special non-cash item for the release of the liability related to the 2008 deconsolidation of the Company's former subsidiary, TrentonWorks.  Excluding this item, net loss for the prior year's fourth quarter was $4.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted share.

Fiscal 2011 Highlights

Segment Summary:

• New railcar deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2011 were a record 4,000 units, compared to 700 units in the fourth quarter of 2010.  Total new railcar deliveries were 9,400 units in fiscal 2011, compared to 2,500 units in fiscal 2010.
• New railcar orders for 5,300 units were received during the quarter; orders for 19,500 units were received during the full fiscal year.
• Greenbrier's new railcar manufacturing backlog as of August 31, 2011 was 15,400 units with an estimated value of $1.23 billion, compared to 13,600 units with a value of $1.05 billion as of May 31, 2011, and 5,300 units valued at $420 million as of August 31, 2010.

Financial Summary:

• Revenues for the year were $1.243 billion, an increase of 64% from $756 million last year.  
• Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2011 was $101.0 million, or 8.1% of revenues, up from 2010 Adjusted EBITDA of $72.1 million, or 9.5% of revenues.
• Net earnings for 2011 were $6.5 million or $.24 per diluted share compared to last year's $4.3 million, or $.21 per diluted share.  The 2011 results include a charge of $9.4 million, net of tax, or $0.35 per diluted share for loss on extinguishment of debt. The 2010 results include income of $13.1 million net of tax, or $.65 per diluted share related to special items and gain on extinguishment of debt.

Liquidity Summary:

• The Company ended the year with $50 million of cash and almost $200 million of committed additional borrowing capacity.  On November 2, 2011, the Company's North American revolving line of credit was increased by $15 million to a total of $260 million under existing provisions of the credit agreement.
• During 2011, the Company strengthened its balance sheet, extended debt maturity dates, and lowered its interest costs by $10 million per annum through the issuance of 3 million shares of common stock raising $63 million of net proceeds, the sale of $230 million of 3.5% senior convertible notes and retirement of $235 million 8⅜ senior unsecured notes, and the refinancing of its North American credit facility.

Discussion of Quarterly Results and Outlook

William A. Furman, president and chief executive officer, said, "We ended the quarter and the year with strong operating momentum, particularly in our manufacturing segment where we successfully executed at high production volumes.  We continue to see strength in our end markets across each of our business segments and our new railcar backlog continued to grow in our fourth quarter.  These factors give us good visibility and confidence that we can support higher new railcar production levels in fiscal 2012.  We believe our industry fundamentals are sound, and that several forces are driving new railcar demand that are uncoupled from the more uncertain economic and political environments.  Among these forces are stronger railroad balance sheets, truck traffic diversion to rail, replacement demand, and a growing strength in the US energy market, which will continue to create increased demand for covered hopper cars and tank cars."

Mark Rittenbaum, chief financial officer added, "We achieved the key objectives we outlined for fiscal 2011. Firstly, we delivered 4,000 railcars for the quarter and 9,400 railcars in the year, consistent with the expectations we set.  Secondly, we successfully ramped production and opened new production lines, ensuring sufficient capacity to meet the anticipated increase in demand during the industry upturn in 2012 and beyond.  Thirdly, we improved operational efficiencies by lowering our cost structure. Lastly, we strengthened our balance sheet and liquidity, saving approximately $10 million in annual pre-tax interest expense and enhancing our capital base.  This savings was achieved by raising additional equity and refinancing a substantial portion of our debt at lower interest rates."

Segment Details

The Manufacturing segment consists of marine and new railcar production in Europe and North America. Manufacturing segment revenue for the fourth quarter was $305.6 million, compared to $69.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. This revenue increase was primarily due to higher railcar deliveries, including the delivery of leased railcars for syndication, which were produced in previous periods.  This was partially offset by a decline in marine barge activity and a change in railcar product mix. Current quarter new railcar deliveries totaled 4,000 units, compared to 700 units in the prior comparable period. Manufacturing gross margin for the fourth quarter was 9.9% of revenues, compared to 10.8% in the fourth quarter of 2010. The gross margin decrease was primarily a result of a less favorable product mix, partially offset by operating at higher production rates.

The Wheel Services, Refurbishment & Parts segment, consisting of a network of 38 locations, provides wheel services, and repairs and refurbishes railcars and provides railcar parts across North America. Revenue for this segment in the current quarter was $119.3 million, compared to $90.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. Gross margin for the Wheel Services, Refurbishment & Parts segment was 10.8% of revenues, compared to 10.4% of revenues in the prior comparable period.  The revenue and gross margin increases were primarily the result of higher sales volumes in wheels and repair, and metal scrapping programs that were in effect for only a portion of the prior comparable year.

The Leasing & Services segment includes results from the Company-owned lease fleet of approximately 9,000 railcars and from fleet management services provided for approximately 216,000 railcars. Revenue for this segment was $17.9 million for the quarter, compared to $18.7 million in the same quarter last year. Leasing & Services' gross margin for the quarter was 43.7% of revenue, compared to 48.1% of revenue in the same quarter last year. The decrease from the prior year's fourth quarter was primarily a result of certain non-recurring items.   Lease fleet utilization as of the end of the quarter was 95.7%, compared to 96.8% as of May 31, 2011, and 94.4% as of August 31, 2010.  

Gains on disposition of equipment in the current quarter were $2.2 million, compared to $2.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Selling and administrative costs were $22.1 million for the quarter, or 5.0% of revenues, versus $19.2 million, or 10.7% of revenues, for the same quarter last year. The increase is primarily due to increased employee related costs, including restoration of salary reductions implemented during the down turn and increases in incentive compensation.

Interest and foreign exchange expense was $6.3 million for the quarter, compared to $10.9 million for the same period in 2010. The current quarter benefited from lower interest rates from our recent refinancings.

Business Outlook

Based on current business trends, management anticipates that both revenues and Adjusted EBITDA will be significantly higher in fiscal 2012, compared to fiscal 2011. The major drivers for the year will be continued momentum across all business segments, particularly our manufacturing segment, as the new freight car market continues to rebound.  New railcar deliveries are expected to exceed 15,000 units for the year.  The Company has increased its production rates on existing production lines and its capacity at its facilities in Mexico.  Currently, railcars are being produced on eight production lines in North America, with the planned flexibility to produce railcars on three additional lines later in the fiscal year.

Conference Call

The Greenbrier Companies will host a teleconference to discuss fourth quarter results.  Teleconference details are as follows:

• November 3, 2011
• 8:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time
• Phone: 1-630-395-0143, Password: "Greenbrier"
• Real-time Audio Access:  ("Newsroom" at http://www.gbrx.com)

Please access the site 10 minutes prior to the start time.  Following the call, a replay will be available on the same website for 30 days.  Telephone replay will be available through November 19, 2011 at 1-203-369-1485.

About Greenbrier Companies

Greenbrier, (www.gbrx.com), headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is a leading supplier of transportation equipment and services to the railroad industry. Greenbrier builds new railroad freight cars in its three manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Mexico and marine barges at its U.S. facility. It also repairs and refurbishes freight cars and provides wheels and railcar parts at 38 locations across North America. Greenbrier builds new railroad freight cars and refurbishes freight cars for the European market through both its operations in Poland and various subcontractor facilities throughout Europe. Greenbrier owns approximately 9,000 railcars, and performs management services for approximately 216,000 railcars.

"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995:  This release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expected new railcar production volumes and schedules, expected customer demand for the Company's products and services, plans to increase manufacturing capacity, new railcar delivery volumes and schedules, growth in demand for the Company's railcar services and parts business, and the Company's future financial performance. Greenbrier uses words such as "anticipates," "believes,"  "forecast," "potential," "contemplates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "estimates," "could," "would," "will," "may," "can," and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from in the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, reported backlog is not indicative of our financial results; turmoil in the credit markets and financial services industry; high levels of indebtedness and compliance with the terms of our indebtedness; write-downs of goodwill, intangibles and other assets in future periods; sufficient availability of borrowing capacity; fluctuations in demand for newly manufactured railcars or failure to obtain orders as anticipated in developing forecasts; loss of one or more significant customers; customer payment defaults or related issues; actual future costs and the availability of materials and a trained workforce; failure to design or manufacture new products or technologies or to achieve certification or market acceptance of new products or technologies; steel or specialty component price fluctuations and availability and scrap surcharges; changes in product mix and the mix between segments; labor disputes, energy shortages or operating difficulties that might disrupt manufacturing operations or the flow of cargo; production difficulties and product delivery delays as a result of, among other matters, changing technologies or non-performance of subcontractors or suppliers; ability to obtain suitable contracts for the sale of leased equipment and risks related to car hire and residual values; difficulties associated with governmental regulation, including environmental liabilities; integration of current or future acquisitions; succession planning; all as may be discussed in more detail under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Forward Looking Statements" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010 and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2011, and our other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's opinions only as of the date hereof. Except as otherwise required by law, we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a financial measure under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings (loss) attributable to Greenbrier before special items, loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, interest and foreign exchange, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is a performance measurement tool commonly used by rail supply companies and Greenbrier. You should not consider Adjusted EBITDA in isolation or as a substitute for other financial statement data determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, because Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and is susceptible to varying calculations, the Adjusted EBITDA measure presented may differ from and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

SOURCE The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (GBX)