EX-99.1 2 v54058exv99w1.htm EX-99.1 exv99w1
Exhibit 99.1
         
For release: November 12, 2009, 6:00 am EST
  Contact:   Mark Rittenbaum
503-684-7000
Greenbrier Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2009 Results
~ Posts fourth quarter net earnings of $0.37 per share on revenues of $230 million ~
~ Achieves improved performance in Manufacturing, Leasing & Services business segments ~
~ Reaches fourth quarter EBITDA of $23.7 million; Highest level in fiscal 2009 ~
     Lake Oswego, Oregon, November 12, 2009 — The Greenbrier Companies [NYSE:GBX] today reported results for its fiscal fourth quarter and year ended August 31, 2009.
Financial Highlights
Fourth Quarter:
    Revenues for the quarter were $230 million, down $132 million vs. the prior year’s fourth quarter.
 
    Net earnings for the quarter were $6.7 million, or $.37 per diluted share vs. $7.4 million, or $.45 per diluted share, in the prior year’s fourth quarter.
 
    Results for the quarter include severance costs, write-off of loan fees and warrant amortization expense of $2.5 million, net of tax, or $.14 per diluted share. Results for the quarter also include tax benefits of $6.8 million, or $.37 per diluted share, related to a reversal of a deferred tax liability and deemed liquidation of a foreign subsidiary for tax purposes.
 
    EBITDA for the quarter was $23.7 million, or 10.3% of revenues, compared to $33.7 million, or 9.3% of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Fiscal 2009:
    Revenues for the year were down 21%, to $1.0 billion, reflecting the impact of the economic recession on all business segments.
 
    Net loss for 2009 was $54.1 million, or $3.21 per diluted share, vs. prior year’s net earnings of $19.5 million, or $1.19 per diluted share. The 2009 results include special charges, net of tax, of $51.0 million, or $3.03 per diluted share. The 2008 results include special charges of $2.3 million, or $.14 per diluted share, with no related tax benefit. Special charges for fiscal 2009 relate to the impairment of a portion of the Company’s goodwill, while fiscal 2008 special charges were associated with closure costs of the Company’s Canadian railcar manufacturing facility.
 
    EBITDA before special charges for fiscal 2009 was $65.9 million, or 6.5% of revenues, vs. 2008 EBITDA before special charges of $116 million, or 9.0% of revenues.

 


 

Liquidity:
    The Company ended the year with $76 million of cash and $106 million of committed additional borrowing capacity.
 
    Net debt was reduced by $35 million during the quarter and $102 million during the year.
Deliveries and Backlog:
    New railcar deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2009 were 900 units, compared to 1,800 units in the fourth quarter of 2008.
 
    Total new railcar deliveries were 3,700 units in fiscal 2009, compared to 7,300 units in fiscal 2008.
 
    Greenbrier’s new railcar manufacturing backlog as of August 31, 2009 was 13,400 units valued at $1.16 billion, compared to 14,100 units valued at $1.25 billion as of May 31, 2009. Based on current production plans, approximately 2,400 units in backlog are scheduled for delivery in 2010.
 
    Marine backlog was $126 million as of August 31, 2009 and $145 million as of May 31, 2009.
Fourth Quarter Results
     Revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 were $230.4 million, down from $362.0 million in the prior year’s fourth quarter. Gross margin for the quarter was 14.0% compared to 11.9% in the prior comparable period. EBITDA was $23.7 million, or 10.3% of revenues for the quarter, compared to $33.7 million, or 9.3% of revenues in the prior year’s fourth quarter. Net earnings were $6.7 million, or $.37 per diluted share, for the quarter, compared to net earnings of $7.4 million, or $.45 per diluted share for the same period in 2008.
Backlog and GE Multi-Year Contract
     Approximately 11,500 units, or 85% of the Company’s new railcar backlog as of August 31, 2009, are subject to a long term contract with General Electric Railcar Services (“GE”). 8,500 of these units, to be built over a five-year period commencing in mid 2011, are subject to our fulfillment of certain conditions. During calendar 2008, GE advised the Company of its desire to substantially reduce, delay or otherwise cancel deliveries under the contract, and we are currently in discussions with GE about a contract modification. Greenbrier continues to deliver and GE continues to accept and pay for railcars under the contract. As of October 31, 2009, 328 tank cars and 200 hopper cars have been delivered under the contract.
Discussion of Quarterly Results
     William A. Furman, president and chief executive officer, said, “Stronger performance in our Manufacturing and Leasing & Services segments and a favorable tax rate led to a sequential

 


 

improvement in our quarterly operating results. Our diversification efforts continue to pay off and reduce the effects of the economic downturn. Yet the markets in which we operate remain challenging. For example, year-to-date rail loadings in North America are down about 18%, and a significant portion of the entire North American railcar fleet remains idle. In this environment, we continue to scale our operations and control costs, manage the Company for cash flow and liquidity, and prudently deploy capital. During the quarter, we paid down net debt by an additional $35 million.”
Segment Details
     The Refurbishment & Parts segment, consisting of a network of 38 locations, repairs and refurbishes railcars and provides wheel services and railcar parts across North America. Revenue for this segment in the current quarter was $102.0 million, compared to $158.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. This segment generated 44% of total Company revenues for the fourth quarter. Gross margin for the Refurbishment & Parts segment was 13.1% of revenues, compared to 22.2% of revenues in the prior comparable period. Lower volumes and net scrap pricing, as well as a less favorable mix of repair and refurbishment work led to lower margins.
     The Manufacturing segment consists of marine and new railcar production in North America and new railcar production in Europe. Manufacturing segment revenue for the fourth quarter was $108.2 million, compared to $180.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Current quarter new railcar deliveries of 900 units were down from 1,800 units in the prior comparable period. Manufacturing gross margin for the fourth quarter was 8.6% of revenues, compared to negative 2.0% in the fourth quarter of 2008. Manufacturing gross margin improvement reflects marine labor efficiencies and a more favorable railcar mix, offset somewhat by lower plant utilization levels and $1.7 million of severance costs.
     The Leasing & Services segment includes results from the Company’s owned lease fleet of approximately 9,000 railcars and from fleet management services provided for approximately 217,000 railcars. Revenue for this segment was $20.2 million, compared to $22.7 million in the same quarter last year. Leasing & Services gross margin for the quarter was 48.1% of revenue, compared to 50.0% of revenue in the same quarter last year. The revenue and gross margin decrease was principally due to lower lease fleet utilization and lower leasing rates on certain railcar leases. Lease fleet utilization as of the end of the quarter was 88.3%, as compared to 92.1% as of the end of the third quarter of 2009 and 95.2% as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2008. Gains on the sale of leased equipment were $1.2 million for the quarter, compared to $1.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2008.

 


 

     Selling and administrative costs were $17.6 million for the quarter, or 7.6% of revenues, versus $20.5 million or 5.7% of revenues for the same quarter last year. The decrease in costs is principally due to cost reduction initiatives.
     Interest and foreign exchange expense increased $1.8 million to $12.3 million for the quarter compared to $10.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Current quarter results include $1.1 million of amortization expense related to warrants issued as part of the WL Ross & Co strategic investment and a $0.9 million write-off of loan fees associated with the reduction in size of the Company’s North American revolving credit facility. In addition, foreign exchange losses for the quarter were $1.0 million, as compared to $0.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. In fiscal 2010, warrant amortization expense is expected to be $4.5 million. Also, a convertible debt accounting methodology change, effective as of the beginning of fiscal 2010, will result in an additional $4.1 million of non-cash interest expense in fiscal 2010.
     Furman continued, “2009 was a turbulent and challenging year for the economy and the markets in which we operate. Yet Greenbrier realized a number of operational and strategic accomplishments, including: 1) delivery of our first tank and covered hopper cars under the GE contract, meeting GE’s high quality standards despite the stress of prolonged disputes with GE; 2) a record year in our marine operations; 3) significant growth in our fleet of managed railcars, which increased by 80,000 units; 4) an extension of a major wheel services contract with Union Pacific Railroad until Fall 2012; 5) improvement in our liquidity and a strengthening of our balance sheet, through the strategic investment by WL Ross & Co., and renegotiation of our revolving credit lines; 6) return to profitability of our European operations; 7) a reduction in net debt outstanding by $102 million; 8) a reduction in annual selling and administrative costs by almost $20 million; and 9) a near doubling of gross margins in the second half of fiscal 2009 over the first half.”
     Furman concluded, “These initiatives, combined with our recent expansion into less cyclical markets and improved manufacturing footprint, have allowed us to better weather the economic downturn, improve our competitive positioning, enhance and grow our integrated business model, improve liquidity and create a platform for future growth. While our outlook remains cautious in the near term, we continue to be optimistic about the long-term fundamentals that support rail and marine transportation.”

 


 

Business Outlook
     Given current industry trends, including depressed levels of railroad traffic and high levels of railcar storage, Greenbrier expects business to remain challenging in fiscal 2010, particularly for the Company’s new railcar manufacturing operations. As a result, management anticipates that revenues will be lower in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009. However, the Company currently anticipates fiscal 2010 EBITDA will be higher than fiscal 2009 EBITDA before special charges due in part to higher expected gross margins in Greenbrier’s Manufacturing and Refurbishment & Parts segments. Fiscal 2010 results are expected to include non-cash after-tax charges of $5.2 million, or $.27 per diluted share, related to warrant amortization expense and a change in accounting methodology for convertible bonds. Second half fiscal 2010 results are anticipated to be stronger than the first half, similar to what occurred in fiscal 2009.
Conference Call
The Greenbrier Companies will host a teleconference to discuss fourth quarter and fiscal year end results. Teleconference details are as follows:
    Thursday, November 12, 2009
 
    8:00 am Pacific Standard Time
 
    Phone #: 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 28, 2009 at 203-369-0929.
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. The Company 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 217,000 railcars.
     “SAFE HARBOR” STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Greenbrier uses words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “future,” “intend” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ

 


 

materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, 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 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 price fluctuations 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” on page 11 of Part I, Item 1a and “Forward Looking Statements” on page 3 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinions only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements.
     EBITDA is not a financial measure under GAAP. We define EBITDA as earnings from continuing operations before special charges, interest and foreign exchange, taxes, depreciation and amortization. We consider net cash provided by operating activities to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. EBITDA is a liquidity measurement tool commonly used by rail supply companies and we use EBITDA in that fashion. You should not consider EBITDA in isolation or as a substitute for cash flow from operations or other cash flow statement data determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, because EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and is susceptible to varying calculations, the EBITDA measure presented may differ from and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

 


 

THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Years ended August 31,
                 
(In thousands)   2009     2008  
Assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 76,187     $ 5,957  
Restricted cash
    1,083       1,231  
Accounts receivable
    113,371       181,857  
Inventories
    142,824       252,048  
Assets held for sale
    31,711       52,363  
Equipment on operating leases
    313,183       319,321  
Investment in direct finance leases
    7,990       8,468  
Property, plant and equipment
    127,974       136,506  
Goodwill
    137,066       200,148  
Intangibles and other assets
    96,902       99,061  
 
           
 
  $ 1,048,291     $ 1,256,960  
 
           
 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Revolving notes
  $ 16,041     $ 105,808  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    170,889       274,322  
Losses in excess of investment in de-consolidated subsidiary
    15,313       15,313  
Deferred income taxes
    62,530       74,329  
Deferred revenue
    19,250       22,035  
Notes payable
    542,180       496,008  
 
               
Minority interest
    8,724       8,618  
 
               
Stockholders’ equity:
    213,364       260,527  
 
           
 
  $ 1,048,291     $ 1,256,960  
 
           

 


 

THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Years ended August 31,
                         
(In thousands, except per share amounts)   2009     2008     2007  
Revenue
                       
Manufacturing
  $ 462,496     $ 665,093     $ 738,424  
Refurbishment & Parts
    476,164       527,466       381,670  
Leasing & Services
    79,465       97,520       103,734  
 
                 
 
    1,018,125       1,290,079       1,223,828  
 
                       
Cost of revenue
                       
Manufacturing
    458,733       653,879       680,908  
Refurbishment & Parts
    420,294       426,183       317,669  
Leasing & Services
    45,991       47,774       45,818  
 
                 
 
    925,018       1,127,836       1,044,395  
 
                       
Margin
    93,107       162,243       179,433  
 
                       
Other costs
                       
Selling and administrative
    65,743       85,133       83,414  
Interest and foreign exchange
    42,081       40,770       39,915  
Special charges
    55,667       2,302       21,899  
 
                 
 
    163,491       128,205       145,228  
 
                       
Earnings (loss) before income tax, minority interest and equity in unconsolidated subsidiary
    (70,384 )     34,038       34,205  
Income tax benefit (expense)
    15,417       (18,550 )     (13,657 )
 
                 
Earnings (loss) before minority interest and equity in unconsolidated subsidiary
    (54,967 )     15,488       20,548  
Minority interest
    1,472       3,182       1,504  
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiary
    (565 )     872       (42 )
 
                 
 
                       
Net earnings (loss)
  $ (54,060 )   $ 19,542     $ 22,010  
 
                 
 
                       
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
  $ (3.21 )   $ 1.19     $ 1.37  
 
                       
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
  $ (3.21 )   $ 1.19     $ 1.37  
 
                       
Weighted average common shares:
                       
Basic
    16,815       16,395       16,056  
Diluted
    16,815       16,417       16,094  

 


 

THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years ended August 31,
                         
(In thousands)   2009     2008     2007  
Cash flows from operating activities:
                       
Net earnings (loss)
  $ (54,060 )   $ 19,542     $ 22,010  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Deferred income taxes
    (11,799 )     12,919       10,643  
Depreciation and amortization
    37,669       35,086       32,826  
Gain on sales of equipment
    (1,167 )     (8,010 )     (13,400 )
Special charges
    55,667       2,302       21,899  
Minority interest
    (1,294 )     (3,128 )     (1,604 )
Discount accretion
    1,117              
Other
    3,405       336       205  
Decrease (increase) in assets excluding acquisitions:
                       
Accounts receivable
    58,521       (7,621 )     (17,883 )
Inventories
    98,751       (29,692 )     14,260  
Assets held for sale
    21,841       (10,621 )     4,378  
Other
    1,157       (2,700 )     (411 )
Increase (decrease) in liabilities excluding acquisitions:
                       
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (86,514 )     21,801       (24,600 )
Deferred revenue
    (2,829 )     1,904       (1,996 )
 
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    120,465       32,118       46,327  
 
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
Principal payments received under direct finance leases
    429       375       511  
Proceeds from sales of equipment
    15,555       14,598       119,695  
Investment in and net advances to unconsolidated subsidiaries
          858       (849 )
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
          (91,166 )     (268,184 )
De-consolidation of subsidiary
          (1,217 )      
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash
    (109 )     2,046       (454 )
Capital expenditures
    (38,847 )     (77,644 )     (137,294 )
 
                 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (22,972 )     (152,150 )     (286,575 )
 
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
Changes in revolving notes
    (81,251 )     55,514       15,007  
Net proceeds from issuance of notes payable
    69,768       49,613       99,441  
Repayments of notes payable
    (16,436 )     (6,919 )     (5,388 )
Repayment of subordinated debt
                (2,091 )
Investment by joint venture partner
    1,400       6,600       6,750  
Dividends paid
    (2,001 )     (5,261 )     (5,144 )
Stock options and restricted stock awards exercised
    5,085       4,007       3,489  
Excess tax benefit (expense) of stock options exercised
    (1,112 )     (76 )     3,719  
 
                 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (24,547 )     103,478       115,783  
 
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes
    (2,716 )     1,703       2,379  
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    70,230       (14,851 )     (122,086 )
Cash and cash equivalents
                       
Beginning of period
    5,957       20,808       142,894  
 
                 
End of period
  $ 76,187     $ 5,957     $ 20,808  
 
                 

 


 

THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.
Supplemental Information
Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)
Operating results by quarter for 2009 and 2008 are as follows:
                                         
(In thousands, except per share amounts)   First     Second     Third     Fourth     Total  
2009
                                       
Revenue
                                       
Manufacturing
  $ 102,717     $ 145,574     $ 105,986     $ 108,219     $ 462,496  
Refurbishment & Parts
    132,279       121,681       120,190       102,014       476,164  
Leasing & Services
    21,133       19,877       18,272       20,183       79,465  
 
                             
 
    256,129       287,132       244,448       230,416       1,018,125  
Cost of revenue
                                       
Manufacturing
    106,923       152,003       100,847       98,960       458,733  
Refurbishment & Parts
    119,326       107,427       104,859       88,682       420,294  
Leasing & Services
    11,929       11,547       12,049       10,466       45,991  
 
                             
 
    238,178       270,977       217,755       198,108       925,018  
 
                                       
Margin
    17,951       16,155       26,693       32,308       93,107  
 
                                       
Other costs
                                       
Selling and administrative
    15,980       16,265       15,886       17,612       65,743  
Interest and foreign exchange
    10,846       8,192       10,749       12,294       42,081  
Special charges
                55,667             55,667  
 
                             
 
    26,826       24,457       82,302       29,906       163,491  
 
                                       
Earnings (loss) before income tax, minority interest and equity in unconsolidated subsidiary
    (8,875 )     (8,302 )     (55,609 )     2,402       (70,384 )
 
                                       
Income tax benefit
    4,544       1,324       4,841       4,708       15,417  
 
                                       
Minority interest
    568       351       687       (134 )     1,472  
 
                                       
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiary
    434       (251 )     (457 )     (291 )     (565 )
 
                             
Net earnings (loss)
  $ (3,329 )   $ (6,878 )   $ (50,538 )   $ 6,685     $ (54,060 )
 
                             
 
                                       
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
  $ (0.20 )   $ (0.41 )   $ (3.00 )   $ 0.40     $ (3.21 )
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
  $ (0.20 )   $ (0.41 )   $ (3.00 )   $ 0.37     $ (3.21 )1
 
1   Quarterly amounts do not total the year to date amount as each quarter is calculated discretely. The dilutive effect of common stock equivalents is excluded from per share calculations for the first three quarters and the year ended August 31, 2009 due to a net loss for those periods.

 


 

                                         
    First     Second     Third     Fourth     Total  
2008
                                       
Revenue
                                       
Manufacturing
  $ 159,194     $ 123,394     $ 201,825     $ 180,680     $ 665,093  
Refurbishment & Parts
    103,889       112,576       152,367       158,634       527,466  
Leasing & Services
    23,295       23,603       27,914       22,708       97,520  
 
                             
 
    286,378       259,573       382,106       362,022       1,290,079  
Cost of revenue
                                       
Manufacturing
    150,565       118,225       200,813       184,276       653,879  
Refurbishment & Parts
    87,951       94,396       120,442       123,394       426,183  
Leasing & Services
    11,925       12,279       12,218       11,352       47,774  
 
                             
 
    250,441       224,900       333,473       319,022       1,127,836  
 
                                       
Margin
    35,937       34,673       48,633       43,000       162,243  
 
                                       
Other costs
                                       
Selling and administrative
    20,184       21,000       23,407       20,542       85,133  
Interest and foreign exchange
    10,419       9,854       9,990       10,507       40,770  
Special charges
    189       2,112             1       2,302  
 
                             
 
    30,792       32,966       33,397       31,050       128,205  
 
                                       
Earnings before income tax, minority interest and equity in unconsolidated subsidiary
    5,145       1,707       15,236       11,950       34,038  
 
                                       
Income tax expense
    (2,956 )     (1,904 )     (7,573 )     (6,117 )     (18,550 )
 
                                       
Minority interest
    375       1,367       272       1,168       3,182  
 
                                       
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiary
    78       253       191       350       872  
 
                             
Net earnings
  $ 2,642     $ 1,423     $ 8,126     $ 7,351     $ 19,542  
 
                             
 
                                       
Basic earnings per common share:
  $ 0.16     $ 0.09     $ 0.49     $ 0.45     $ 1.19  
Diluted earnings per common share:
  $ 0.16     $ 0.09     $ 0.49     $ 0.45     $ 1.19  

 


 

THE GREENBRIER COMPANIES, INC.
Supplemental Disclosure
Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to EBITDA1
(In thousands, unaudited)
                 
    Year ended August 31,  
    2009     2008  
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 120,465     $ 32,118  
Changes in working capital
    (36,377 )     29,231  
Special charges
    (55,667 )     (2,302 )
Deferred income taxes
    11,799       (12,919 )
Gain on sales of equipment
    1,167       8,010  
Other
    (3,405 )     (336 )
Minority interest
    1,294       3,128  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    (15,417 )     18,550  
Interest and foreign currency
    42,081       40,770  
 
           
Adjusted EBITDA from operations before special charges
  $ 65,940     $ 116,250  
 
           
                 
    Three months ended  
    August 31, 2009     August 31, 2008  
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 31,224     $ 12,158  
Changes in working capital
    (14,954 )     6,938  
Deferred income taxes
    1,373       (3,737 )
Gain on sales of equipment
    1,230       1,012  
Other
    (2,453 )     (439 )
Minority interest
    (324 )     1,171  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    (4,709 )     6,118  
Interest and foreign currency
    12,294       10,507  
 
           
Adjusted EBITDA from operations before special charges
  $ 23,681     $ 33,728  
 
           
 
1   “EBITDA” (earnings from continuing operations before special charges, interest and foreign exchange, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is a useful liquidity measurement tool commonly used by rail supply companies and Greenbrier. It should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for cash flows from operating activities or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.