EX-99.1 2 exhibit1.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Hanover Compressor Company

More Than a Compressor Company™

Press Information

Houston, February 15, 2007

Hanover Compressor Company Reports Strong Fourth Quarter
and Full Year 2006 Financial Results

Hanover Compressor Company (NYSE: HC), a global market leader in full service natural gas compression and a leading provider of service, fabrication and equipment for oil and natural gas production, processing and treating applications, today reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2006.

Summary
Fourth quarter 2006 revenue increased to $468.4 million, a 30% increase over fourth quarter 2005 revenue of $359.3 million. EBITDA(1) for the fourth quarter 2006 was $109.0 million, a 39% increase over fourth quarter 2005 EBITDA of $78.5 million. Net income for the fourth quarter 2006 was $30.1 million, or $0.28 earnings per share compared to a net loss of $4.2 million, or $0.04 loss per share in the fourth quarter 2005. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2006 includes a tax benefit for the release of $10.2 million valuation allowance on net deferred tax assets in the U.S., which is recorded as a reduction to our provision for income taxes. This release is the result of our conclusion in the current quarter that it is more likely than not that we will realize the associated net deferred tax assets.

For the year ended December 31, 2006, revenue increased to $1,670.7 million, a 21% increase over 2005 revenue of $1,375.6 million. EBITDA for 2006 increased to $413.9 million, a 33% increase over 2005 EBITDA of $310.2 million. For 2006, Hanover recorded net income of $86.5 million, or $0.81 earnings per share, compared to a net loss of $38.0 million, or $0.42 loss per share, in 2005. Included in 2006 EBITDA is a $5.9 million charge for the early extinguishment of debt, and $36.4 million in pre-tax gains on two asset sales.

During the year 2006, Hanover’s U.S. rental, compression and accessory fabrication, and production and processing equipment operations recognized record revenues. Hanover’s fabrication backlog of $807.6 million at December 31, 2006, is an all-time high for the Company.

“As a result of favorable market conditions and our focus on return on capital employed, we returned to profitability in 2006 with record revenue and fabrication backlog,” said John Jackson, President and Chief Executive Officer. “This positioned our company to take advantage of the strong business climate and move toward the recently announced merger of equals with Universal Compression Holdings, Inc. This merger allows both companies to take advantage of Hanover’s international platform, expanded product offerings, and anticipated benefits of Universal’s Master Limited Partnership. The combination of these two companies, we believe, will significantly enhance shareholder value through a well-positioned top tier oilfield services company.”

1

Summary of Business Segment Results

U.S. Rentals
(in thousands)

                                                 
    Three months ended           Year ended    
    December 31,           December 31,    
                    Increase                   Increase
    2006   2005   (decrease)   2006   2005   (decrease)
Revenue
  $ 101,546     $ 88,580       15 %   $ 384,292     $ 351,128       9 %
Operating expense
  $ 38,228     $ 36,902       4 %   $ 152,605     $ 139,465       9 %
 
                                               
Gross profit
  $ 63,318     $ 51,678       23 %   $ 231,687     $ 211,663       9 %
Gross margin
    62 %     58 %     4 %     60 %     60 %     0 %

U.S. rental revenue, gross profit and gross margin increased in the fourth quarter 2006 and in the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to the same periods in the prior year, due primarily to improvement in market conditions that led to an improvement in pricing and an increase in contracted horsepower.

For the year ended December 31, 2006, gross margin benefited from price increases, but was offset by $2.1 million of incremental expenses related to our program to refurbish approximately 200,000 horsepower of idle U.S. compression equipment and the impact of recording increased incentive compensation expenses of approximately $4.3 million for the year 2006, including the impact of the adoption of SFAS 123-R.

International Rentals
(in thousands)

                                                 
    Three months ended           Year ended    
    December 31,           December 31,    
                    Increase                   Increase
    2006   2005   (decrease)   2006   2005   (decrease)
Revenue
  $ 69,410     $ 64,943       7 %   $ 263,228     $ 232,587       13 %
Operating expense
  $ 26,080     $ 22,582       15 %   $ 96,631     $ 76,512       26 %
 
                                               
Gross profit
  $ 43,330     $ 42,361       2 %   $ 166,597     $ 156,075       7 %
Gross margin
    62 %     65 %     (3 )%     63 %     67 %     (4 )%

Fourth quarter 2006 international rental revenue and gross profit increased, compared to the same period a year earlier, due primarily to increased compression and plant rental activity in Brazil, Mexico and Indonesia. These increases were somewhat offset by a decrease in revenue and gross margin from Nigeria.

During the year ended December 31, 2006, international rental revenue and gross profit increased, compared to the year ended December 31, 2005, primarily due to increased rental activity in Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Gross margin decreased primarily due to increased labor costs in Argentina of approximately $2.2 million and higher repair and maintenance costs in Venezuela, Brazil and Mexico.

Parts, Service and Used Equipment
(in thousands)

                                                 
    Three months ended           Year ended    
    December 31,           December 31,    
                    Increase                   Increase
    2006   2005   (decrease)   2006   2005   (decrease)
Revenue
  $ 71,851     $ 67,641       6 %   $ 224,810     $ 225,636       0 %
Operating expense
  $ 59,948     $ 52,028       15 %   $ 183,965     $ 169,168       9 %
 
                                               
Gross profit
  $ 11,903     $ 15,613       (24 )%   $ 40,845     $ 56,468       (28 )%
Gross margin
    17 %     23 %     (6 )%     18 %     25 %     (7 )%

Parts, service and used equipment revenue for the fourth quarter 2006 was higher than the fourth quarter 2005 due primarily to higher base parts and service sales. Segment revenue includes two business components: parts and service; and used rental equipment and installation sales.

For the fourth quarter 2006, parts and service revenue was $50.5 million with a gross margin of 25%, compared to $41.9 million and 26%, respectively, for the same period a year ago. Used rental equipment and installation sales revenue in the fourth quarter 2006 was $21.4 million with a gross margin of (2)%, compared to $25.7 million at an 18% gross margin for the same period a year earlier.

Segment revenue for the year ended December 31, 2006 were slightly lower than the year ended December 31, 2005 primarily due to a decrease in used rental equipment sales, partially offset by an increase in base parts and service revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2006, parts and service revenue was $179.0 million with a gross margin of 24%, compared to $152.4 million and 26%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2005. Used rental equipment and installation sales revenue for the year ended December 31, 2006 was $45.8 million with a gross margin of (4)%, compared to $73.2 million with a 22% gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2005. Used rental equipment and installation gross margin was negatively impacted by approximately $6.0 million of cost overruns on installation jobs in 2006. In 2005, used rental equipment revenue included a $20.3 million gas plant in Madisonville, Texas at a margin of 25%. Our used rental equipment and installation sales revenue and gross margins vary significantly from period to period and are dependent on the sale of used rental equipment, the exercise of purchase options on rental equipment by customers and installation sales associated with the start-up of new projects by customers.

2

Compression and Accessory Fabrication
(in thousands)

                                                 
    Three months ended           Year ended    
    December 31,           December 31,    
                    Increase                   Increase
    2006   2005   (decrease)   2006   2005   (decrease)
Revenue
  $ 88,245     $ 54,540       62 %   $ 303,205     $ 179,954       68 %
Operating expense
  $ 70,364     $ 45,792       54 %   $ 249,910     $ 156,414       60 %
 
                                               
Gross profit
  $ 17,881     $ 8,748       104 %   $ 53,295     $ 23,540       126 %
Gross margin
    20 %     16 %     4 %     18 %     13 %     5 %

For the year and quarter ended December 31, 2006, compression and accessory fabrication revenue, gross profit and gross margin increased primarily due to improved market conditions that led to higher sales levels, better pricing, and an improvement in operating efficiencies. As of December 31, 2006, we had compression and accessory fabrication backlog of approximately $325.1 million compared to $192.4 million at September 30, 2006, and $85.4 million at December 31, 2005.

Production and Processing Equipment Fabrication
(in thousands)

                                                 
    Three months ended           Year ended    
    December 31,           December 31,    
                    Increase                   Increase
    2006   2005   (decrease)   2006   2005   (decrease)
Revenue
  $ 131,535     $ 76,087       73 %   $ 429,697     $ 360,267       19 %
Operating expense
  $ 110,749     $ 71,224       55 %   $ 366,590     $ 325,924       12 %
 
                                               
Gross profit
  $ 20,786     $ 4,863       327 %   $ 63,107     $ 34,343       84 %
Gross margin
    16 %     6 %     10 %     15 %     10 %     5 %

Production and processing equipment fabrication revenue, gross profit and gross margin for the fourth quarter and year 2006 was higher than the fourth quarter 2005 due to an improvement in market conditions that led to an increase in awarded sales, improved pricing and an improvement in operating efficiencies. The fourth quarter 2005 results included approximately $3 million in cost overruns and late delivery penalties on projects.

As of December 31, 2006, we had a production and processing equipment fabrication backlog of $482.5 million compared to $496.4 million at September 30, 2006 and $287.7 million at December 31, 2005.

Capital and Other
Hanover had capital expenditures of approximately $73 million in the fourth quarter 2006, compared to approximately $52 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. For 2006, Hanover had capital expenditures of approximately $247 million compared to $155 million in 2005. At December 31, 2006, the company had approximately $1.38 billion in debt and compression equipment lease obligations, compared to $1.49 billion at December 31, 2005. At December 31, 2006, Company debt included approximately $20 million outstanding under its five-year $450 million bank credit facility and the Company had approximately $69.3 million in cash on its balance sheet.

Total compression horsepower at December 31, 2006 was approximately 3,338,000, consisting of approximately 2,447,000 horsepower in the United States and approximately 891,000 horsepower internationally.

Compression HP Utilization Rate

                         
Date   U.S.   International   Total
December 31, 2006
    84 %     97 %     87 %
 
                       
September 30, 2006
    85 %     96 %     88 %
 
                       
December 31, 2005
    82 %     98 %     86 %

Conference Call Details
Hanover Compressor Company (NYSE:HC) will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, Thursday, February 15, 2007, to discuss its 2006 year-end financial results and other matters.

To access the call, United States and Canadian participants should dial 800-811-8824. International participants should dial 913-981-4903 at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. Please reference Hanover conference call number 5844833.

For those unable to participate, a replay will be available from 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, February 15, until midnight on Thursday, February 22, 2007. To listen to the replay, please dial 888-203-1112 in the U.S. and Canada, or 719-457-0820 internationally and enter access code 5844833.

Additionally, the conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet. To access the webcast, log on to the company’s Web site (www.hanover-co.com) and click on the webcast link located on the company’s home page.

*****

About Hanover Compressor Company
Hanover Compressor Company (NYSE: HC) is a global market leader in full service natural gas compression and a leading provider of service, fabrication and equipment for oil and natural gas production, processing and transportation applications. Hanover sells and rents this equipment and provides complete operation and maintenance services, including run-time guarantees for both customer-owned equipment and its fleet of rental equipment. Founded in 1990 and a public company since 1997, Hanover’s customers include both major and independent oil and gas producers and distributors as well as national oil and gas companies. More information can be found on the Internet (www.hanover-co.com).

Forward-looking Statements
Certain matters discussed in this presentation are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbors established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because of the context of the statement or because the statement includes words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe Hanover’s future plans, objectives or goals or future revenues or other financial measures are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated as of the date the statements were made. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: our inability to renew our short-term leases of equipment with our customers so as to fully recoup our cost of the equipment; a prolonged substantial reduction in oil and natural gas prices, which could cause a decline in the demand for our compression and oil and natural gas production and processing equipment; reduced profit margins or the loss of market share resulting from competition or the introduction of competing technologies by other companies; changes in economic or political conditions in the countries in which we do business, including civil uprisings, riots, terrorism, the taking of property without fair compensation and legislative changes; changes in currency exchange rates; the inherent risks associated with our operations, such as equipment defects, malfunctions and natural disasters; governmental safety, health, environmental and other regulations, which could require us to make significant expenditures; our inability to implement certain business objectives, such as international expansion (including our ability to timely and cost-effectively execute projects in new international operating environments), integrating acquired businesses, generating sufficient cash, accessing capital markets and refinancing existing or incurring additional indebtedness to fund our business; risks associated with any significant failure or malfunction of our enterprise resource planning system and our inability to comply with covenants in our debt agreements and the decreased financial flexibility associated with our substantial debt. A discussion of these and other factors is included in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor Relations Inquiries:
Stephen York
Vice President, Investor Relations and Technology
Tel: (832) 554-4856
E-mail: syork@hanover-co.com

(Tables Follow)

3

HANOVER COMPRESSOR COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA AND EBITDA RECONCILIATION

(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

 

                                                                         
            Three Months Ended           Year Ended
            December 31,           December 31,
         2006            2005       2006       2005
Revenues and other income:
                                                                                 
U.S. rentals
           $ 101,546                      $ 88,580             $ 384,292             $ 351,128  
International rentals
             69,410                       64,943               263,228               232,587  
Parts, service and used equipment
             71,851                       67,641               224,810               225,636  
Compressor and accessory fabrication
             88,245                       54,540               303,205               179,954  
Production and processing equipment fabrication
             131,535                       76,087               429,697               360,267  
Equity in income of non-consolidated affiliates
             2,039                       5,707               19,430               21,466  
Gain on sale of business and other income
             3,785                       1,837               46,001               4,551  
 
                                                                       
 
             468,411                       359,335               1,670,663               1,375,589  
Expenses:
                                                                        
U.S. rentals
             38,228                       36,902               152,605               139,465  
International rentals
             26,080                       22,582               96,631               76,512  
Parts, service and used equipment
             59,948                       52,028               183,965               169,168  
Compressor and accessory fabrication
             70,364                       45,792               249,910               156,414  
Production and processing equipment fabrication
             110,749                       71,224               366,590               325,924  
Selling, general and administrative
             55,496                       50,689               204,247               182,198  
Foreign currency translation
             (1,489 )                     1,581               (4,317 )             7,890  
Debt extinguishment costs
            —                         —                 5,902               7,318   
Other
             —                         —                 1,204               526  
 
                                                                       
 
            359,376                       280,798               1,256,737               1,065,415  
 
                                                                       
EBITDA from continuing operations (1)
            109,035                       78,537               413,926               310,174  
Depreciation and amortization
             51,064                       44,224               181,416               182,681  
Interest expense
             28,277                       31,713               118,006               136,927  
 
                                                                       
 
            79,341                       75,937               299,422               319,608  
 
                                                                       
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
             29,694                       2,600               114,504               (9,434 )
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
            (427 )                     6,792               28,782               27,714  
 
                                                                       
Income (loss) from continuing operations
             30,121                       (4,192 )             85,722               (37,148 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
              —                       (7 )             431               (869)   
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
                                                 370                
 
                                                                       
Net income (loss)
           $ 30,121                     $ (4,199 )           $ 86,523             $ (38,017 )
 
                                                                       
Basic income (loss) per common share:
                                                                        
Income (loss) from continuing operations
          $ 0.30                     $ (0.04 )           $ 0.85             $ (0.41 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
                                                0.01               (0.01 )
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
                                                               
 
                                                                       
Net income (loss)
          $ 0.30                     $ (0.04 )           $ 0.86             $ (0.42 )
 
                                                                       
Diluted income (loss) per common share:
                                                                       
Income (loss) from continuing operations(2)
           $ 0.28                      $ (0.04 )           $ 0.80             $ (0.41 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
              —                        —               0.01               (0.01 )
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
                                                               
 
                                                                       
Net income (loss)
           $ 0.28                      $ (0.04 )           $ 0.81             $ (0.42 )
 
                                                                       
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
                                                                        
Basic
             101,549                       100,655               101,178               91,556  
 
                                                                       
Diluted
             117,207                       100,655               112,035               91,556  
 
                                                                       
Gross profit percentage:
                                                                       
U.S. rentals
            62 %                     58 %             60 %             60 %
International rentals
            62 %                     65 %             63 %             67 %
Parts, service and used equipment
            17 %                     23 %             18 %             25 %
Compressor and accessory fabrication
            20 %                     16 %             18 %             13 %
Production and processing equipment fabrication
            16 %                     6 %             15 %             10 %

  (1)   EBITDA from continuing operations consists of consolidated income (loss) from continuing operations before interest expense, provision for (benefit from) income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. We believe that EBITDA is a commonly used measure of financial performance for valuing companies in our industry. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to measures prescribed by generally accepted accounting principles and may not be comparably calculated from one company to another.

                                                 
        Three Months Ended       Year Ended
        December 31,       December 31,
        2006           2005       2006   2005
EBITDA Reconciliation
                                                         
 
                                               
Income (loss) from continuing operations
       $ 30,121              $ (4,192 )       $ 85,722     $ (37,148 )
 
                                               
Add:
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                               
Depreciation and amortization
         51,064               44,224           181,416       182,681  
 
                                               
Interest expense
         28,277               31,713           118,006       136,927  
 
                                               
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
         (427 )             6,792           28,782       27,714  
 
                                               
 
                                               
EBITDA from continuing operations
       $ 109,035             $ 78,537         $ 413,926     $ 310,174  
 
                                               

  (2)   Income for the diluted earnings per share calculation for the three-month period ended December 31, 2006 is adjusted to add back interest expense and amortization of financing costs, net of tax, relating to the Company’s convertible senior notes due 2014 and convertible subordinated notes due 2029 totaling $2.2 million.

Income for the diluted earnings per share calculation for the year ended December 31, 2006 is adjusted to add back interest expense and amortization of financing costs, net of tax, relating to the Company’s convertible senior notes due 2014 totaling $4.7 million.

4