EX-99.1 2 exhibit991.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 (EARNINGS RELEASE) Exhibit 99.1 (Press Release)

 

 
At the Company 
Steve Russell, Chairman, or Paul Will, CFO 
317-972-7000 


CELADON GROUP REPORTS FIRST FISCAL QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

ANOTHER QUARTER OF RECORD NET INCOME


INDIANAPOLIS, IN October 25, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) - Celadon Group, Inc. (NASDAQ-CLDN) today reported its financial and operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2005, the first fiscal quarter of the Company’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2006.

Revenue for the quarter increased 12.9% to $117.9 million in the 2005 quarter from $104.4 million in the 2004 quarter. Freight revenue, which excludes fuel surcharges, was up 5.3% to $103.3 million in the 2005 quarter from $98.1 million in the 2004 quarter. Net income increased 67.9% to $4.7 million in the 2005 quarter from $2.8 million for the same quarter last year. Diluted earnings per share improved by 66.7% to $0.45 in the 2005 quarter from $0.27 for the same quarter last year. The September quarter marked the highest earnings per share in the history of the Company.

Chairman and CEO Steve Russell commented on the quarter: “We are pleased with the Company’s results for the September 2005 quarter. The September quarter reflected accelerating profitability through improved freight mix, higher average freight revenue per mile, lower maintenance costs as a consequence of reduced average age of equipment and continued success in driver retention. Freight demand was good during the quarter. In addition, we believe industry capacity continues to be constrained by the ongoing driver shortage, as well as by the financial constraints that high fuel prices place on many small to mid-sized carriers that lack buying power and adequate fuel surcharge programs. These factors contributed to a 7.3% increase in average freight revenue per loaded mile, to $1.48 in the September 2005 quarter from $1.38 in the same quarter last year. Average freight revenue per tractor per week improved 3.9%, to $2,976 from $2,864.

The favorable freight market also helped us to continue to diversify our customer base. Our largest customer during the quarter represented only 3% of our business. Our top 50 customers represented approximately 50% of our business.

During the quarter, we continued to benefit from our experienced drivers. Our driver turnover was below 70% on an annualized basis in the September 2005 quarter. This level compares with an industry average large fleet driver turnover rate of 125%, according to the American Trucking Associations.

Higher revenue per truck and continued focus on safety and cost controls allowed us to improve our operating ratio by 240 basis points to 92.2% in the September 2005 quarter from 94.6% in the September 2004 quarter. In addition, the September 2005 operating ratio of 92.2% represents a sequential improvement over the June 2005 operating ratio of 92.9%, we define as total operating expenses, net of fuel surcharges, as a percentage of freight revenue.

 


 
Our balance sheet continues to afford us significant financial strength and flexibility. At September 30, 2005, we had $6.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, $7.4 million in balance sheet borrowing and capitalized leases, and $103.7 million in stockholders' equity, for a ratio of net debt-to-total capitalization of 1.0%. During 2006, we intend to maintain the average age of our tractor fleet to afford us flexibility in addressing possible cost, and fuel mileage, and reliability issues involving tractor engines designed to comply with stricter emissions requirements in 2007.
 
In summary, we are pleased with our performance in the September 2005 quarter, and, based on demand levels, fuel surcharge recovery and rate improvement we've experienced so far in October, we believe we will be able to continue to execute on our strategic plan and produce positive results going forward."

Conference Call Information
An investor conference call is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26, at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern). Steve Russell and other members of management will discuss the results of the quarter. To listen and participate in the question-and-answer exchange, dial 866-700-0161 (international calls 617-213-8832) pin number 64877319 a few minutes prior to the starting time. A replay will be available through December 26, 2005 by dialing 888-286-8010 (international calls 617-801-6888) and entering call back code 36579643.

This call is being webcast by CCBN and can be accessed on Celadon's web site at http://www.celadongroup.com. Any statistical and financial information that is discussed during the conference call also will be available at http://www.celadongroup.com.

Celadon Group, Inc. is a truckload carrier headquartered in Indianapolis that operates in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Celadon is the owner of TruckersB2B, Inc., which is a provider of cost benefits to more than 19,000 member fleets. Please visit the company’s websites at: www.celadontrucking.com and www.truckersb2b.com.
 
This press release and statements made by Celadon in its stockholder reports and public filings, as well as oral public statements by Celadon representatives, contain certain forward-looking information, usually identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "projects," “intends,” expects," “plans,” or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Celadon's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in forward-looking statements. With respect to expectations concerning continued execution of the strategic plan and future operating results, as well as with respect to general business operations, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements: excess tractor and trailer capacity in the trucking industry; decreased demand for our services or loss of one or more of our major customers; surplus inventories; recessionary economic cycles and downturns in customers' business cycles; strikes, work slow downs, or work stoppages at our facilities, or at customer, port, border crossing, or other shipping related facilities; our ability to execute our strategic plan; increases in compensation for and difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified drivers and independent contractors; increases in insurance premiums and deductible amounts; elevated experience in the frequency or severity of claims relating to accident, cargo, workers' compensation, health, and other matters; fluctuations in claims expenses that result from high self-insured retention amounts and differences between estimates used in establishing and adjusting claims reserves and actual results over time; increases or rapid fluctuations in fuel prices, as well as fluctuations in hedging activities and surcharge collection, the volume and terms of diesel purchase commitments, interest rates, fuel taxes, tolls, and license and registration fees; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; increases in the prices paid for new revenue equipment; increases in interest rates or decreased availability of capital or other sources of financing for revenue equipment; decreases in the resale value of our used equipment; seasonal factors such as harsh weather conditions that increase operating costs; competition from trucking, rail, and intermodal competitors; regulatory requirements that increase costs or decrease efficiency, including revised hours-of-service requirements for drivers; our ability to identify acceptable acquisition candidates, consummate acquisitions, and integrate acquired operations; the timing of, and any rules relating to, the opening of the border to Mexican drivers; challenges associated with doing business internationally; our ability to retain key employees; and the effects of actual or threatened military action or terrorist attacks or responses, including security measures that may impede shipping efficiency, especially at border crossings. Readers should review and consider the various disclosures made by Celadon in this press release, stockholder reports, and in its Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and other public filings. Celadon disclaims any such obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
 
For a more detailed discussion of these factors, please refer to the various disclosures made by the Company in its press releases, stockholder reports, and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
- tables follow -
 



Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except par value)

   
September 30,
2005
 
June 30,
2005
 
ASSETS
 
(unaudited)
     
           
Current assets:
         
Cash and cash equivalents 
 
$
6,322
 
$
11,115
 
Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of
$1,426 and $1,496 at September 30, 2005 and June 30, 2005
   
57,987
   
55,760
 
Accounts receivable - other 
   
2,260
   
2,727
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 
   
11,687
   
3,599
 
Tires in service 
   
3,214
   
3,308
 
Deferred income taxes 
   
2,424
   
2,424
 
Total current assets
   
83,894
   
78,933
 
Property and equipment, at cost 
   
88,703
   
88,230
 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 
   
30,486
   
30,685
 
Net property and equipment
   
58,217
   
57,545
 
Tires in service 
   
1,763
   
1,739
 
Goodwill  
   
19,137
   
19,137
 
Other assets 
   
1,773
   
2,089
 
Total assets
 
$
164,784
 
$
159,443
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
             
               
Current liabilities:
             
Accounts payable 
 
$
3,526
   
4,465
 
Accrued salaries and benefits 
   
10,005
   
11,141
 
Accrued insurance and claims 
   
10,720
   
10,021
 
Accrued owner-operator expense 
   
1,194
   
1,265
 
Accrued fuel expense 
   
5,775
   
6,104
 
Other accrued expenses 
   
11,490
   
10,222
 
Current maturities of long-term debt 
   
1,065
   
1,057
 
Current maturities of capital lease obligations 
   
255
   
788
 
Income tax payable 
   
1,360
   
265
 
Total current liabilities
   
45,390
   
45,328
 
Long-term debt, net of current maturities 
   
4,885
   
4,239
 
Capital lease obligations, net of current maturities 
   
1,175
   
1,260
 
Deferred income taxes 
   
9,594
   
10,100
 
Minority interest 
   
25
   
25
 
Stockholders’ equity:
             
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, authorized 179,985 shares; no
shares issued and outstanding
   
---
   
---
 
Common stock, $0.033 par value, authorized 12,000,000 shares; issued
and outstanding 10,080,449 and 9,778,550 shares in 2006 and
2005, respectively
   
333
   
332
 
Additional paid-in capital 
   
90,013
   
89,359
 
Retained earnings  
   
16,228
   
11,544
 
Unearned compensation on restricted stock 
   
(873
)
 
(711
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss 
   
(1,986
)
 
(2,033
)
Total stockholders’ equity
   
103,715
   
98,491
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$
164,784
 
$
159,443
 





Key Operating Statistics



   
For the three months ended
September 30,
                   2005                 
 
For the three months ended
September 30,
                   2005                 
 
Operating Statistics (U.S./Canada Truckload)
 
Average freight revenue per loaded mile(*)
 
        $1.477
 
 
        $1.376
 
Average freight revenue per total mile(*)
 
 
        $1.364
 
 
        $1.280
 
Avg. freight revenue per tractor per week (*)
 
 
        $2,976
 
 
        $2,864
 
Average miles per tractor per week
   
                          2,181
   
                          2,238
 
Average tractors
   
                          2,288
   
                          2,251
 
Tractors at end of period (**)
   
                          2,581
   
                          2,493
 
Trailers at end of period (**)
   
                          7,176
   
                          6,848
 

*
Freight revenue excludes fuel surcharges
**
Total fleet, including equipment operated by independent contractors and our Mexican subsidiary, Jaguar.
 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
   
For the three months ended
September 30,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
           
Freight revenue 
 
$
103,340
 
$
98,113
 
Fuel surcharges 
   
14,545
   
6,280
 
Total revenue 
 
$
117,935
 
$
104,393
 
               
Operating expenses:
             
Salaries, wages and employee benefits 
   
34,863
   
33,174
 
Fuel 
   
26,220
   
17,860
 
Operations and maintenance 
   
7,282
   
8,908
 
Insurance and claims 
   
3,386
   
3,004
 
Depreciation and amortization 
   
3,163
   
3,368
 
Revenue equipment rentals 
   
10,372
   
7,878
 
Purchased transportation 
   
17,823
   
18,540
 
Cost of products and services sold 
   
1,294
   
1,203
 
Professional and consulting fees 
   
852
   
501
 
Communications and utilities 
   
1,019
   
1,032
 
Operating taxes and licenses 
   
2,061
   
2,085
 
General and other operating 
   
1,504
   
1,521
 
Total operating expenses
   
109,839
   
99,074
 
Operating income  
   
8,096
   
5,319
 
               
Other (income) expense:
             
Interest income 
   
(1
)
 
(18
)
Interest expense 
   
302
   
350
 
Other (income) expense, net 
   
25
   
(9
)
Income before income taxes 
   
7,770
   
4,996
 
Income tax expense 
   
3,086
   
2,245
 
Net income 
 
$
4,684
 
$
2,751
 
               
Earnings per common share:
             
Diluted earnings per share 
 
$
0.45
 
$
0.27
 
Basic earnings per share 
 
$
0.47
 
$
0.28
 
Average shares outstanding:
             
Diluted  
   
10,314
   
10,253
 
Basic 
   
10,058
   
9,761
 

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