Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results and Announces Strategic Business Realignment
- Improved continuing operations revenues and adjusted EBITDA compared to the third quarter of 2022, led by Thermal Revenues increasing 17%
- Announced a commitment for a $150 million Senior Secured Credit facility refinancing
- Signed memorandum of understanding “MoU” for up to 200 tonnes per day of Hydrogen offtake in Louisiana with CO2 capture over a 10-year period
- Appointed Dr. Naomi Boness (Ph.D.) to Board of Directors, strengthening the Company’s expertise in hydrogen generation and carbon capture
- Announced strategic business realignment focused on higher margin aftermarket businesses and more predictable cash flows to improve the balance sheet and better position the Company for future growth in BrightLoop™ and ClimateBright™
- Expected annualized cost savings of over $30 million related to strategic business realignment
- Company considering strategic alternatives regarding non-strategic assets
- Announced decision to reclassify B&W Solar out of continuing operations
Q3 2023 Continuing Operations Financial Highlights
– Revenues of $239.4 million, a 13% improvement compared to the third quarter of 2022
– Net loss of $12.3 million, compared to a net loss of $12.8 million in the third quarter of 2022
– Loss per share of $0.18, compared to a loss per share of $0.15 in the third quarter of 2022
– Consolidated adjusted EBITDA of $20.0 million, after $2.0 million in expenses from ClimateBright™, an improvement compared to $13.0 million in the third quarter of 2022
– Ending backlog of $507.0 million, in-line with our expectations
Updated Outlook
– Updated backlog growth to a range of $550.0 million to $650.0 million by year-end 2023
– Updated Full Year 2023 Adjusted EBITDA target of $85.0 million to $90.0 million, excluding BrightLoop™ and ClimateBright™
– Introduced Full Year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA target of $100.0 – $110.0 million, excluding BrightLoop™ and ClimateBright™
AKRON, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$BW–Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. (“B&W” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BW) announced results for the third quarter of 2023 and information regarding its strategic business realignment.
“Our third quarter results were highlighted by revenue growth, achieving another consecutive quarter of broad-based revenue expansion on a year-over-year basis, led by Thermal increasing 17%,” said Kenneth Young, B&W’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We are encouraged by the increased volumes for parts and services across our Renewable and Thermal segments, which drove the top-line performance during the third quarter. We are reducing the reliance on new build projects which require high interest LCs and typically lower margins, which will in turn, allow us to reduce the associated overhead and interest costs. We are also expanding our BrightLoop™ and ClimateBright™ investments, which together, reinforce our updated full-year adjusted EBITDA target for 2023 and newly introduced 2024 target.”
“We continue to progress our strategy to deploy our hydrogen and decarbonization technologies at commercial scale. Most notably, we are pleased to announce several meaningful developments related to our current BrightLoop™ project portfolio,” continued Young. “Our dedicated BrightLoop™ organization has made exceptional progress in terms of securing an MoU for hydrogen offtake, advancing project financing, and permitting in the states where these facilities will be located. Furthermore, we are excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Naomi Boness (Ph.D.) to our Board of Directors. Dr. Boness’ expertise in the energy sector, particularly in hydrogen generation and carbon capture, will prove invaluable as we continue to develop our hydrogen strategy.”
“The Company also announced today a strategic business realignment which positions B&W for more predictable cash flow generation that leverages our aftermarket business across each segment, capitalizing on higher margin opportunities,” Young added. “In response to today’s market conditions, which include higher interest costs and limited new build capital expenditures by our customers, we see a growing global trend in extending the operational lifespans of existing power and industrial generation facilities. This presents us with an opportunity to shift our focus to the more predictable revenue streams generated from our aftermarket businesses. We plan to utilize these cash flows to strengthen our balance sheet and reduce our debt. We are also evaluating strategic alternatives related to non-strategic assets. We believe these actions, along with project financing, will position the Company to fund future growth through evolving BrightLoop™ and ClimateBright™ technology opportunities. Further, we expect to realize up to $30 million in annualized cost savings primarily through reducing the high overhead associated with seeking multiple new-build projects. Additionally, we have announced our decision to reclassify our solar division from continuing operations. We believe that this strategic business realignment is an important step forward to improve our cash flows as we continue to deploy our hydrogen technologies.”
“Looking ahead, keeping the current global energy landscape in mind and considering our shift in focus, we are optimistic about the potential for additional near-term bookings and our revised pipeline of over $8.5 billion in identified global project opportunities over the next three years. With the exclusion of Solar and based on our existing project visibility, we are revising our adjusted EBITDA targets for the full year 2023 to $85.0 million to $90.0 million, when excluding BrightLoop™ and ClimateBright™. Our strategic focus on promoting future growth aligns with the sustained demand we observe across all segments, paving the way for improved performance in 2024.”
Strategic Business Realignment Plan
The following elements are integral to our strategy to realign our core competencies with sustainable and profitable growth:
- Greater focus on higher margin aftermarket parts and services across all three segments while reducing overhead associated with large new build projects
- Reducing required security packages with a targeted reduction of up to $20 million in posted Letters of Credit (“LCs”) by the end of fiscal year 2024
- Refinancing existing $150 million Senior Secured Credit facility to reduce our interest expense by up to $5 million
- Bolstering cash flow generation and strengthening the balance sheet along with project level financing to accelerate the deployment of our BrightLoop™ and ClimateBright™ technologies
Q2 2023 Continuing Operations Financial Summary
Revenues in the third quarter of 2023 were $239.4 million, a 13% improvement compared to the third quarter of 2022, primarily attributable to higher volumes in our Renewable segment due to B&W Renewable Services and to Thermal segment volume increasing due to a higher level of construction and parts activity. Net loss in the third quarter of 2023 was $12.3 million, compared to a net loss of $12.8 million in the third quarter of 2022. Loss per share in the third quarter of 2023 was $0.18 compared to a loss per share of $0.15 in the third quarter of 2022. Operating income in the third quarter of 2023 was $5.5 million compared to operating loss of $2.7 million in the third quarter of 2022. Adjusted EBITDA was $20.0 million compared to $13.0 million in the third quarter of 2022. Bookings in the third quarter of 2023 were $198 million. Ending backlog was $507 million, which is a 9% decrease compared to backlog at the end of the third quarter of 2022. All amounts referred to in this release are on a continuing operations basis, unless otherwise noted. Reconciliations of net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to adjusted EBITDA for the Company’s segments, are provided in the exhibits to this release.
Babcock & Wilcox Renewable segment revenues were $87.1 million for the third quarter of 2023, an increase of 11% compared to $78.5 million in the third quarter of 2022. The increase in revenue is primarily due to higher volume associated with Renewable Service. Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter of 2023 was $10.1 million compared to $4.5 million in the third quarter of 2022, primarily due to the higher revenue volume described above.
Babcock & Wilcox Environmental segment revenues were $46.4 million in the third quarter of 2023, an increase of 4% compared to $44.6 million in the third quarter of 2022. The increase is primarily driven by lower volume related to flue gas treatment projects offset by higher overall volume of cooling technology projects. Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter of 2023 was $5.0 million, compared to $3.1 million in the third quarter of 2022, primarily driven by higher product mix as described above along with favorable close out of a flue gas treatment project.
Babcock & Wilcox Thermal segment revenues were $107.0 million in the third quarter of 2023, an increase of 17% compared to $91.3 million in the third quarter of 2022. The revenue increase is attributable to higher level of volume in our construction project business, parts and service and our package boiler business, partially offset by a decline in service projects. Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter of 2023 was $11.3 million, an increase of 5% compared to $10.8 million in the third quarter of 2022, primarily driven by the higher revenue volume and product mix described above.
Liquidity and Balance Sheet
At September 30, 2023, the Company had total debt of $377.6 million and a cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash balance of $65.1 million.
Reclassifying Solar from Continuing Operations
As part of our strategic business realignment, the Company is actively marketing our Solar assets, resulting in the accounting of the Solar operations as held for sale. As a result, the Company has written off the entire balance of goodwill associated with the Solar business.
Significantly Reducing Cost of Debt
Subsequent to September 30, 2023, we obtained a commitment to refinance our Senior Credit facility. We also amended our existing Reimbursement Agreement, including updating certain financial covenants thereunder. The refinancing commitment upon closing is expected to reduce our interest cost by up to $5 million per year based on current interest rates.
Impacts of Market Conditions
We have experienced and may continue to experience, supply chain disruptions driven by any number of events globally, including pandemics, geopolitical conflicts (including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East), climate change and others. We have also observed significant delays and disruptions of service and material providers and negative impacts to pricing of certain products. These delays and disruptions have had, and could continue to have, an adverse impact on our ability to meet customers’ demands and schedules. We are continuing to actively monitor the impact of these market conditions on current and future periods and actively manage costs and our liquidity position to provide additional flexibility while still supplying our customers and their specific needs. The duration and scope of these conditions cannot be predicted, and therefore, any anticipated negative financial impact to our operating results cannot be reasonably estimated.
Earnings Call Information
B&W plans to host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 5 p.m. ET to discuss the Company’s third quarter 2023 results. The listen-only audio of the conference call will be broadcast live via the Internet on B&W’s Investor Relations site. The dial-in number for participants in the U.S. is (833) 470-1428; the dial-in number for participants in Canada is (833) 950-0062; the dial-in number for participants in all other locations is (929) 526-1599. The conference ID for all participants is 539487. A replay of this conference call will remain accessible in the investor relations section of the Company’s website for a limited time.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures internally to evaluate its performance and in making financial and operational decisions. When viewed in conjunction with GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliation, the Company believes that its presentation of these measures provides investors with greater transparency and a greater understanding of factors affecting its financial condition and results of operations than GAAP measures alone. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the Company’s related financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis is a non-GAAP metric defined as the sum of the adjusted EBITDA for each of the segments, further adjusted for corporate allocations and research and development costs. At a segment level, the adjusted EBITDA presented is consistent with the way the Company’s chief operating decision maker reviews the results of operations and makes strategic decisions about the business and is calculated as earnings before interest expense, tax, depreciation and amortization adjusted for items such as gains or losses arising from the sale of non-income producing assets, net pension benefits, restructuring costs, impairments, gains and losses on debt extinguishment, costs related to financial consulting, research and development costs and other costs that may not be directly controllable by segment management and are not allocated to the segment. The Company presents consolidated Adjusted EBITDA because it believes it is useful to investors to help facilitate comparisons of the ongoing, operating performance before corporate overhead and other expenses not attributable to the operating performance of the Company’s revenue generating segments. This release also presents certain targets for the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA in the future; these targets are not intended as guidance regarding how the Company believes the business will perform. The Company is unable to reconcile these targets to their GAAP counterparts without unreasonable effort and expense. Prior period results have been revised to conform with the revised definition and present separate reconciling items in our reconciliation, including business transition costs.
Bookings and Backlog
Bookings and backlog are our measure of remaining performance obligations under our sales contracts. It is possible that our methodology for determining bookings and backlog may not be comparable to methods used by other companies.
We generally include expected revenue from contracts in our backlog when we receive written confirmation from our customers authorizing the performance of work and committing the customers to payment for work performed. Backlog may not be indicative of future operating results, and contracts in our backlog may be canceled, modified or otherwise altered by customers. Backlog can vary significantly from period to period, particularly when large new build projects or operations and maintenance contracts are booked because they may be fulfilled over multiple years. Because we operate globally, our backlog is also affected by changes in foreign currencies each period. We do not include orders of our unconsolidated joint ventures in backlog. The Company is in the process of exiting its only remaining fixed fee Operational and Maintenance Contract in our Renewable segment. A similar contract was exited as of December 31, 2022. The company believes it is useful to exclude the impact of this contract on our operating results as well as our backlog in order to highlight the performance of the business.
Bookings represent changes to the backlog. Bookings include additions from booking new business, subtractions from customer cancellations or modifications, changes in estimates of liquidated damages that affect selling price and revaluation of backlog denominated in foreign currency. We believe comparing bookings on a quarterly basis or for periods less than one year is less meaningful than for longer periods, and that shorter-term changes in bookings may not necessarily indicate a material trend.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact included in this release are forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements include words such as “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “likely,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “target,” “goal,” “potential,” “estimate,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “have,” “due,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “contemplate,” “continue” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operational performance or other events.
These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, the impact of global macroeconomic conditions, including inflation and volatility in the capital markets; the impact of our divestiture of Babcock & Wilcox Solar Energy, Inc.(“Babcock & Wilcox Solar”, “B&W Solar”); the refinancing of our senior debt; our ability to integrate acquired businesses and the impact of those acquired businesses on our cash flows, results of operations and financial condition, including our recent acquisitions of Babcock & Wilcox Renewable Service A/S, formerly known as VODA A/S (“VODA”), Fossil Power Systems, Inc. (“FPS”), Optimus Industries, LLC (“Optimus”) and certain assets of Hamon Research-Cottrell, Inc; our recognition of any asset impairments as a result of any decline in the value of our assets or our efforts to dispose of any assets in the future; our ability to obtain and maintain sufficient financing to provide liquidity to meet our business objectives, surety bonds, letters of credit and similar financing; our ability to comply with the requirements of, and to service the indebtedness under, our debt facility agreements; our ability to pay dividends on our 7.75% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock; our ability to make interest payments on our 8.125% senior notes due 2026 and our 6.50% notes due 2026; the highly competitive nature of our businesses and our ability to win work, including identified project opportunities in our pipeline; general economic and business conditions, including changes in interest rates and currency exchange rates; cancellations of and adjustments to backlog and the resulting impact from using backlog as an indicator of future earnings; our ability to perform contracts on time and on budget, in accordance with the schedules and terms established by the applicable contracts with customers; failure by third-party subcontractors, partners or suppliers to perform their obligations on time and as specified; delays initiated by our customers; our ability to successfully resolve claims by vendors for goods and services provided and claims by customers for items under warranty; our ability to realize anticipated savings and operational benefits from our restructuring plans, and other cost savings initiatives; our ability to successfully address productivity and schedule issues in our B&W Renewable, B&W Environmental and B&W Thermal segments; our ability to successfully partner with third parties to win and execute contracts within our B&W Environmental, B&W Renewable and B&W Thermal segments; changes in our effective tax rate and tax positions, including any limitation on our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and other tax assets; our ability to successfully manage research and development projects and costs, including our efforts to successfully develop and commercialize new technologies and products; the operating risks normally incident to our lines of business, including professional liability, product liability, warranty and other claims against us; difficulties we may encounter in obtaining regulatory or other necessary permits or approvals; changes in actuarial assumptions and market fluctuations that affect our net pension liabilities and income; our ability to successfully compete with current and future competitors; our ability to negotiate and maintain good relationships with labor unions; changes in pension and medical expenses associated with our retirement benefit programs; social, political, competitive and economic situations in foreign countries where we do business or seek new business; the impact of the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; the impact of pandemics or other global health crises, and the other factors specified and set forth under “Risk Factors” in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 16, 2023.
These forward-looking statements are made based upon detailed assumptions and reflect management’s current expectations and beliefs. While we believe that these assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect actual results.
The forward-looking statements included herein are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
About B&W Enterprises, Inc.
Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. is a leader in energy and environmental products and services for power and industrial markets worldwide. Follow us on LinkedIn and learn more at babcock.com.
Exhibit 1 Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations(1) (In millions, except per share amounts) |
||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||
|
2023 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
239.4 |
|
$ |
211.7 |
|
$ |
772.2 |
|
$ |
611.5 |
|
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Cost of operations |
|
186.0 |
|
|
164.3 |
|
|
603.7 |
|
|
478.2 |
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
|
45.0 |
|
|
47.6 |
|
|
144.7 |
|
|
131.0 |
|
Advisory fees and settlement costs |
|
0.6 |
|
|
1.2 |
|
|
(1.3 |
) |
|
10.3 |
|
Restructuring activities |
|
1.3 |
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
2.7 |
|
|
0.4 |
|
Research and development costs |
|
0.9 |
|
|
1.0 |
|
|
3.1 |
|
|
2.9 |
|
Gain on asset disposals, net |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(7.1 |
) |
Total costs and expenses |
|
233.9 |
|
|
214.4 |
|
|
753.0 |
|
|
615.6 |
|
Operating income (loss) |
|
5.5 |
|
|
(2.7 |
) |
|
19.2 |
|
|
(4.1 |
) |
Other (expense) income: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Interest expense |
|
(13.4 |
) |
|
(11.1 |
) |
|
(37.2 |
) |
|
(32.7 |
) |
Interest income |
|
0.3 |
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
0.2 |
|
Benefit plans, net |
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
7.4 |
|
|
(0.3 |
) |
|
22.3 |
|
Foreign exchange |
|
(4.9 |
) |
|
(2.0 |
) |
|
(4.2 |
) |
|
(3.2 |
) |
Other income (expense) – net |
|
— |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
(0.7 |
) |
|
(0.2 |
) |
Total other expense |
|
(18.1 |
) |
|
(5.1 |
) |
|
(41.6 |
) |
|
(13.6 |
) |
Loss before income tax (benefit) expense |
|
(12.6 |
) |
|
(7.8 |
) |
|
(22.3 |
) |
|
(17.7 |
) |
Income tax (benefit) expense |
|
(0.3 |
) |
|
4.9 |
|
|
2.0 |
|
|
4.8 |
|
Net loss from continuing operations |
|
(12.3 |
) |
|
(12.8 |
) |
|
(24.4 |
) |
|
(22.5 |
) |
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |
|
(104.5 |
) |
|
(7.8 |
) |
|
(109.9 |
) |
|
(9.8 |
) |
Net loss |
|
(116.8 |
) |
|
(20.6 |
) |
|
(134.2 |
) |
|
(32.2 |
) |
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest |
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
2.8 |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
3.6 |
|
Net loss attributable to stockholders |
|
(116.9 |
) |
|
(17.8 |
) |
|
(134.5 |
) |
|
(28.6 |
) |
Less: Dividend on Series A preferred stock |
|
3.7 |
|
|
3.7 |
|
|
11.1 |
|
|
11.1 |
|
Net loss attributable to stockholders of common stock |
$ |
(120.6 |
) |
$ |
(21.5 |
) |
$ |
(145.6 |
) |
$ |
(39.7 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Basic and diluted loss per share: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Continuing operations |
$ |
(0.18 |
) |
$ |
(0.15 |
) |
$ |
(0.40 |
) |
$ |
(0.34 |
) |
Discontinued operations |
|
(1.17 |
) |
|
(0.09 |
) |
|
(1.24 |
) |
|
(0.11 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.35 |
) |
$ |
(0.24 |
) |
$ |
(1.64 |
) |
$ |
(0.45 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Shares used in the computation of loss per share: |
|
|
|
|||||||||
Basic and diluted |
|
89.1 |
|
|
88.3 |
|
|
88.9 |
|
|
88.1 |
|
(1) Figures may not be clerically accurate due to rounding |
Contacts
Investor Contact:
Lou Salamone, CFO
Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.
704.625.4944 | investors@babcock.com
Media Contact:
Ryan Cornell
Public Relations
Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.
330.860.1345 | rscornell@babcock.com