Willbros Reports First Quarter 2013 Results from Continuing Operations

HOUSTON, May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Willbros Group, Inc. (NYSE: WG) announced today results from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2013. The Company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $11.6 million, or ($0.24) per share, on revenue of $487.4 million, compared to a net loss from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2012 of $21.2 million, or ($0.44) per share, on revenue of $373.7 million. The Company reported an improvement in operating income of $8.1 million, generating an operating loss of $1.6 million for the first quarter of 2013, compared to an operating loss of $9.7 million in the first quarter of 2012.  

Randy Harl, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased that our operating performance demonstrated steady year-over-year improvement again this quarter. The management actions we have taken to address underperforming business units are delivering results. Canada's financial results over the past two quarters are the product of our commitment to improve performance. We intend to replicate this success by hiring additional management talent, strengthening our project management capabilities and expanding our training programs throughout the Company. Our primary objective for 2013 is to generate improved operating results, cash flow and margins."

At the beginning of the year, Willbros reported Professional Services as a fourth reporting segment. The successful expansion of this division has created the critical mass to warrant management oversight as a separate segment. Professional Services provides engineering, procurement, program management, integrity and field services to the oil and gas and electric utility industries. This segment has significant growth potential with opportunities for upstream, midstream and downstream engineering services, and Willbros is a full service provider in the emerging integrity market.

Segment Operating Results

Oil & Gas

For the first quarter of 2013, the Oil & Gas segment reported an operating loss of $14.6 million on revenue of $185.0 million, compared to an operating loss of $2.7 million in the first quarter 2012. Positive performance by our pipeline and facilities businesses was offset by project issues and the impact of poor weather conditions which caused delays and lower productivity in our regional delivery business. Our regional delivery business has experienced rapid growth and has reached an annualized contract revenue run rate in excess of $350 million. This business is the focal point in 2013 of management actions to improve its management oversight, systems and operating performance.

Utility T&D

The Utility T&D segment generated revenue of $113.2 million with $1.9 million of operating income, an improvement of approximately $5.5 million of operating income over the first quarter of 2012.  The operating income increase was led by improved results in both the electric transmission and distribution construction and maintenance businesses in Texas. Losses incurred in the Mid-Atlantic regions due to inclement weather negatively impacted first quarter 2013 results. We anticipate higher revenues and operating margins from new transmission construction backlog as we redeploy capacity currently completing CREZ projects in Texas to an expanded customer base.

Canada

The Canada segment reported operating income of $10.5 million, an improvement of $13.6 million over the first quarter of 2012, on revenue of $112.0 million. For the first quarter of 2013, contract revenue increased $78.0 million from the first quarter of 2012 and $24.1 million from the fourth quarter of last year. Canada delivered another strong quarter of operating results following a solid fourth quarter of 2012. The improvement in operating income was the result of management actions to add management talent, strengthen our project management capabilities and expand our training programs. Our project and specialty services unit as well as the completion of certain infrastructure replacement construction projects in Northern Alberta were the primary contributors to these results.

Professional Services

The Professional Services segment reported operating income of $613 thousand, an improvement of approximately $1.0 million relative to the first quarter of 2012. Revenue of $78.5 million was a marginal decline compared to the first quarter of 2012 due to lower volumes of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) projects. Operating income for the quarter was improved due to strong performance in our engineering services businesses. We continue to invest in geographic expansion to offer our line locating and other integrity services nationally.

Backlog⁽²⁾

At March 31, 2013, Willbros maintained backlog from continuing operations at $2.0 billion compared to $2.1 billion at December 31, 2012. Twelve month backlog of $880 million at March 31, 2013 compared to $1.0 billion at December 31, 2012.

Credit Facility and Liquidity

At March 31, 2013, the Company had $9.7 million of cash and cash equivalents. As of May 8, 2013, our cash in bank net of draw was approximately $57.4 million. Outstanding revolver borrowings were $45.4 million, a decrease of $59 million, with $57.7 million in letters of credit outstanding, resulting in $71.9 million remaining against our $175.0 million Revolving Credit Facility capacity. On June 30, the Revolving Credit Facility commitment will be reduced to $115 million. We believe that improving performance coupled with the additional sales of non-strategic assets and improved cash flow from operations will allow us to operate under the reduced commitment amount subsequent to June 30, 2013. We are currently considering opportunities to strengthen our overall balance sheet. These steps may include additional sales of non-strategic and under-performing assets (including equipment, real property and businesses) as well as accessing capital markets to reduce or refinance our indebtedness.

Conference Call

In conjunction with this release, Willbros has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the Internet, on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Central).

For those who cannot listen to the live call, a replay will be available through May 16, 2013, and may be accessed by calling 303-590-3030 or 800-406-7325 using pass code 4618335#.  Also, an archive of the webcast will be available shortly after the call on www.willbros.com.

Willbros is a specialty energy infrastructure contractor serving the oil, gas, refining, petrochemical and power industries. Our offerings include engineering, procurement and construction (either individually or as an integrated EPC service offering), turnarounds, maintenance, facilities development and operations services. For more information on Willbros, please visit our web site at www.willbros.com.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements.  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, which address activities, events or developments the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements.  A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements, including  new legislation or regulations detrimental to the economic operation of refining capacity in the United States; the identification of one or more other issues that require restatement of one or more prior period financial statements; contract and billing disputes; the consequences the Company may encounter if it is unable to make payments required of it pursuant to its settlement agreement of the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited lawsuit; the existence of material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting; availability of quality management; availability and terms of capital; changes in, or the failure to comply with, government regulations; ability to remain in compliance with, or obtain waivers under, the Company's loan agreements; the promulgation, application, and interpretation of environmental laws and regulations; future E&P capital expenditures; oil, gas, gas liquids, and power prices and demand; the amount and location of planned pipelines; poor refinery crack spreads; delay of planned refinery outages and upgrades and development trends of the oil, gas, power, refining and petrochemical industries; as well as other risk factors described from time to time in the Company's documents and reports filed with the SEC.  The Company assumes no obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

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SOURCE Willbros Group, Inc.