EX-99 2 exhibit99.htm EXHIBIT 99 (1ST FISCAL QUARTER 2008 EARNINGS RELEASE) exhibit99.htm

Exhibit 99

For More Information:
Craig M. Koven
Communications Manager
(800) CELADON, Ext. 7041
317-972-7041 Direct
317-408-4859 Mobile
ckoven@celadongroup.com
FOR RELEASE
October 24, 2007
4:01 p.m. ET


CELADON GROUP REPORTS FIRST FISCAL QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS
AND ANNOUNCES TWO MILLION SHARE BUYBACK


INDIANAPOLIS – Celadon Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CLDN) today reported its financial and operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2007, the first fiscal quarter of the Company’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2008.

Revenue for the quarter increased 4.8% to $133.8 million in the 2007 quarter from $127.7 million in the 2006 quarter.  Freight revenue, which excludes fuel surcharges, was up 5.8% to $113.9 million in the 2007 quarter from $107.7 million in the 2006 quarter. Net income decreased 64.8% to $2.5 million in the 2007 quarter from $7.1 million for the same quarter last year. Earnings per diluted share decreased by 63.3% to $0.11 in the 2007 quarter from $0.30 for the same quarter last year.

Chairman and CEO Steve Russell said, "We remain committed to our long-term strategy, which is based on growth through success in attracting and retaining safe, experienced drivers, both internally and through acquiring the assets of underperforming companies. This strategy has been successful in contributing to compounded annual revenue growth, net of fuel surcharge, of 5.4% and compounded annual earnings per diluted share growth of 56.5% over our past five fiscal years. Through three acquisitions and a strong driver culture, Celadon was one of the few truckload carriers to demonstrate meaningful fleet growth over the past year, increasing seated truck capacity by about ten percent.

“The successful execution of our growth strategy challenged our ability to gain adequate asset productivity in the September 2007 quarter, which featured perhaps the most difficult industry operating environment in many years. With industry-wide freight tonnage down, and industry-wide truck capacity still elevated from the 2006 and early 2007 pre-buy truck deliveries, weak demand resulted in the need to take on additional low-rated broker freight, while concurrently experiencing an increase in non-revenue miles needed to reposition trucks for the next load. In this environment, our average rate per total mile, including deadhead, dropped by 3.2 percent, to $1.346, from $1.390 in the prior year's quarter.  Utilization, in terms of miles per truck, declined by 3.5% from the prior year. The combination of lower rates and utilization adversely impacted earnings by about twelve cents per diluted share. Higher fuel costs, net of surcharge, and the impact of a stronger Canadian dollar were the other primary factors that impacted our results compared with the prior year.

“We have identified several factors that we believe can contribute toward improved asset productivity over the next several quarters, some of which are industry-related and some of which we have the ability to influence.

“From an industry-wide perspective, new truck order data indicate truck deliveries on a rolling basis declining below the long-term replacement rate for our industry. In addition, we believe the current freight environment will contribute to an increased number of fleet failures, and at some point we expect economic growth to produce an increase in freight tonnage. Over time, an improved supply-demand relationship should result.



“Independent of industry-wide events, we are strengthening and re-aligning our sales force. Our international footprint, our strong driver base, and high levels of service, safety and technology should enable us to increase our customer base. In addition, we continue to look for acquisitions that offer access to good freight particularly when the target has an older fleet that may need downsizing, which can afford us the opportunity to spread incremental freight across our base fleet.  

“On October 24, 2007, our board of directors authorized a stock repurchase program under which we have the ability to purchase up to two million shares in open market or negotiated transactions through October 31, 2008. At recent stock prices and applicable interest rates, repurchasing our shares would be accretive to earnings, and we believe repurchasing our shares offers a potentially attractive use of capital. Celadon remains very well-positioned to weather what we view as a temporary economic low point. In our first fiscal quarter, we reduced our balance sheet debt by over $17 million. At September 30, 2007, our balance sheet reflected $77.4 million in borrowings and capitalized leases and $151.4 million of total stockholders’ equity.

“Looking forward, we are confident in Celadon’s strength, liquidity, and position in the industry. We believe our strategic growth plan is sound and that we have the team to execute it. We intend to keep our most important strategic asset—our corps of safe and experienced drivers—intact and ready to capitalize on increased market share when the combination of our efforts and a better freight market improve the operating environment.”

Conference Call Information
An investor conference call is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 25, at 10:00 a.m. ET.  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 866-356-4441 (international calls 617-597-5396) pin number 99004526 a few minutes prior to the starting time. A replay will be available through Dec. 25 by dialing 888-286-8010 (international calls 617-801-6888) and entering call back code 49808414.

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. (www.celadongroup.com), through its subsidiaries, primarily provides long-haul, full-truckload freight service across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The company also owns TruckersB2B Inc. (www.truckersb2b.com) which provides cost savings to member fleets, and Celadon Dedicated Services, which provides supply chain management solutions, such as warehousing and dedicated fleet services.




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,
2007
   
June 30,
2007
 
   
(unaudited)
       
A S S E T S
           
             
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                   
  $
41
    $
1,190
 
Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of
$1,059 and $1,176 at September 30, 2007 and June 30, 2007
   
61,170
     
59,387
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                                                                                   
   
14,857
     
10,616
 
Tires in service                                                                                                   
   
3,338
     
3,012
 
Equipment held for resale                                                                                                   
   
15,204
     
11,154
 
Income tax receivable                                                                                                   
   
600
     
1,526
 
Deferred income taxes                                                                                                   
   
1,712
     
2,021
 
Total current assets                                                                                               
   
96,922
     
88,906
 
Property and equipment                                                                                                       
   
231,226
     
240,898
 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization                                                                                                   
   
51,179
     
44,553
 
Net property and equipment                                                                                               
   
180,047
     
196,345
 
Tires in service                                                                                                       
   
1,261
     
1,449
 
Goodwill                                                                                                       
   
19,137
     
19,137
 
Other assets                                                                                                       
   
1,428
     
1,076
 
Total assets                                                                                               
  $
298,795
    $
306,913
 
                 
L I A B I L I T I E S   A N D   S T O C K H O L D E R S’   E Q U I T Y
               
                 
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable                                                                                                   
  $
12,366
    $
7,959
 
Accrued salaries and benefits                                                                                                   
   
11,028
     
11,779
 
Accrued insurance and claims                                                                                                   
   
6,954
     
6,274
 
Accrued fuel expense                                                                                                   
   
6,526
     
6,425
 
Other accrued expenses                                                                                                   
   
11,559
     
12,157
 
Current maturities of long-term debt                                                                                                   
   
10,764
     
10,736
 
Current maturities of capital lease obligations                                                                                                   
   
6,291
     
6,228
 
Total current liabilities                                                                                               
   
65,488
     
61,558
 
Long-term debt, net of current maturities                                                                                                       
   
13,223
     
28,886
 
Capital lease obligations, net of current maturities                                                                                                       
   
47,125
     
48,792
 
Deferred income taxes                                                                                                       
   
21,568
     
20,332
 
Minority interest                                                                                                       
   
25
     
25
 
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, authorized 404,966 shares; no
shares issued and outstanding                                                                                               
   
---
     
---
 
Common stock, $0.033 par value, authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued
23,760,343 and 23,581,245 shares at September 30, 2007 and June 30, 2007
   
784
     
778
 
Retained earnings                                                                                                   
   
56,846
     
54,345
 
Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                   
   
94,753
     
93,582
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                                                                   
    (1,017 )     (1,385 )
Total stockholders’ equity                                                                                               
   
151,366
     
147,320
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity                                                                                               
  $
298,795
    $
306,913
 
                 






Key Operating Statistics
 
   
For the three months ended
September 30,
2007
   
For the three months ended
September 30,
2006
 
Operating Statistics (U.S./Canada Truckload)
           
Average freight revenue per loaded mile(*)
   
$1.506                    
     
$1.539                    
 
Average freight revenue per total mile(*)
   
$1.346                    
     
$1.390                    
 
Avg. freight revenue per tractor per week (*)
   
$2,682                    
     
$2,870                    
 
Average miles per tractor per week
   
1,992                    
     
2,064                    
 
Average tractors
   
2,703                    
     
2,445                    
 
Tractors at end of period (**)
   
2,988                    
     
2,768                    
 
Trailers at end of period (**)
   
8,134                    
     
7,230                    
 
 
*
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)

   
2007
   
2006
 
             
Revenue:
           
Freight revenue
  $
113,854
    $
107,665
 
Fuel surcharges
   
19,925
     
20,063
 
     
133,779
     
127,728
 
                 
Operating expenses:
               
Salaries, wages, and employee benefits
   
38,327
     
35,289
 
Fuel
   
33,522
     
30,674
 
Operations and maintenance
   
8,436
     
7,634
 
Insurance and claims
   
3,541
     
4,231
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
7,865
     
3,466
 
Revenue equipment rentals
   
6,972
     
9,333
 
Purchased transportation
   
21,970
     
18,340
 
Cost of products and services sold
   
1,723
     
1,867
 
Communications and utilities
   
1,231
     
1,094
 
Operating taxes and licenses
   
2,161
     
2,089
 
General and other operating
   
2,080
     
2,070
 
Total operating expenses
   
127,828
     
116,087
 
                 
Operating income
   
5,951
     
11,641
 
                 
Other (income) expense:
               
Interest income
    (19 )     (7 )
Interest expense
   
1,314
     
301
 
Other (income) expense, net
   
44
      (15 )
Income before income taxes
   
4,612
     
11,362
 
Provision for income taxes
   
2,111
     
4,249
 
Net income
  $
2,501
    $
7,113
 
                 
Earnings per common share:
               
Diluted earnings per share
  $
0.11
    $
0.30
 
Basic earnings per share
  $
0.11
    $
0.31
 
Average shares outstanding:
               
Diluted
   
23,753
     
23,542
 
Basic
   
23,465
     
23,272