Foster Wheeler Reports Results for Third Quarter of 2011

ZUG, Switzerland--()--Foster Wheeler AG (Nasdaq: FWLT) today reported net income for the third quarter of 2011 of $36.9 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared with $51.7 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2010.

Net income in both quarterly periods was impacted by asbestos-related gains and provisions as detailed in an attached table. Excluding such items from both quarterly periods, net income in the third quarter of 2011 was $38.8 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared with $50.1 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.

For the first nine months of 2011, net income was $123.1 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, compared with $182.6 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2010.

The following tables present quarterly and average quarterly data, both as reported and as adjusted (as detailed in an attached table). The company believes that quarterly averages provide meaningful comparative relevance for certain key metrics in light of the significant quarter-to-quarter variability that is inherent in the company’s financial results.

                     
(in millions)       Q3 2011   Qtrly Avg. 2011   Q3 2010   Qtrly Avg. 2010
Net income       $36.9   $41.0   $51.7   $53.9
Net income, as adjusted       $38.8   $42.5   $50.1   $55.2
Consolidated revenues (FW Scope)       $665.2   $629.6   $551.5   $599.1
           

Foster Wheeler’s Chief Executive Officer, Kent Masters, said, “Net income for the third quarter of 2011 was down relative to the average quarter of 2010, primarily due to lower EBITDA margins in the company’s two business groups. Even so, both groups delivered strong revenues and continued good operating performance. In particular, the company reported the highest level of consolidated scope revenues since the fourth quarter of 2009.”

Global Engineering and Construction (E&C) Group

                     
(in millions)       Q3 2011   Qtrly Avg. 2011   Q3 2010   Qtrly Avg. 2010
New orders booked (FW Scope)       $309.2   $357.1   $471.8   $484.8
Operating revenues (FW Scope)       $417.8   $380.6   $398.7   $421.4
Segment EBITDA       $58.6   $51.7   $69.3   $74.1
EBITDA Margin (FW Scope)       14.0%   13.6%   17.4%   17.6%
           
  • EBITDA in the third quarter of 2011 was below the average quarter of 2010 but has trended up since the first quarter of 2011. The EBITDA margins on scope revenue for the third quarter and average quarter of 2011 were within the range of guidance for the full-year 2011.
  • Scope operating revenues in the third quarter of 2011 were below the average quarter of 2010 but have trended upward since the first quarter of 2011.
  • New orders booked in Foster Wheeler scope in the third quarter of 2011 were below the level of the average quarter of 2010, reflecting a mix of small and medium awards.

Global Power Group (GPG)

                     
(in millions)       Q3 2011   Qtrly Avg. 2011   Q3 2010   Qtrly Avg. 2010
New orders booked (FW Scope)       $76.6   $263.8   $151.4   $298.2
Operating revenues (FW Scope)       $247.4   $249.0   $152.8   $177.7
Segment EBITDA       $35.3   $43.2   $40.4   $35.5*
EBITDA Margin (FW Scope)       14.3%   17.3%   26.5%   20.0%*
           

*excluding third-party debt payment of $21.9 million; including this payment, EBITDA and EBITDA margin (FW Scope) were $41.0 and 23.0%, respectively.

  • EBITDA in the third quarter of 2011 was comparable to the average quarter of 2010, excluding the effect on the 2010 average quarter of a third-party debt payment. The EBITDA margin on scope revenue for the average quarter of 2011 was within the range of guidance for the full-year 2011.
  • Scope operating revenues in the third quarter of 2011 were well above the average quarter of 2010.
  • Scope new orders in the third quarter were below the average quarter of 2010 due to the absence of boiler orders.

In commenting on the outlook for the company’s two business groups, Masters said, “In our Global E&C Group, we are maintaining full-year 2011 EBITDA margin guidance of 13%-15%. We expect to see a continuation of the trend of sequential-quarter increases in scope revenues, but we believe full-year scope revenues will be slightly below full-year 2010. Based on slippage in the timing of expected new awards, we now believe scope backlog at year-end 2011 will be below year-end 2010.”

Masters continued, “We are maintaining our full-year 2011 EBITDA margin guidance of 17% to 19% for the Global Power Group. GPG remains on track to report full-year scope revenues that are materially higher than 2010, and we now believe that the Group will end the year with an increase in scope backlog versus year-end 2010.”

Share Repurchase Program

The company repurchased 3,526,194 shares during the third quarter of 2011 for approximately $80 million. As of September 30, 2011, the company had approximately $261 million remaining under its authorized share repurchase program.

Net Income Attributable to Foster Wheeler AG

All references to net income in this news release indicate net income attributable to Foster Wheeler AG.

Calculation of EBITDA

EBITDA is a supplemental financial measure not defined in generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. The company defines EBITDA as net income attributable to Foster Wheeler AG before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. The company has presented EBITDA because it believes it is an important supplemental measure of operating performance. Certain covenants under our U.S. senior secured credit agreement use an adjusted form of EBITDA such that in the covenant calculations the EBITDA as presented herein is adjusted for certain unusual and infrequent items specifically excluded in the terms of our U.S. senior secured credit agreement. The company believes that the line item on its consolidated statement of operations entitled "net income attributable to Foster Wheeler AG" is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to EBITDA. Since EBITDA is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, it should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, net income attributable to Foster Wheeler AG as an indicator of operating performance or any other GAAP financial measure.

EBITDA, as calculated by the company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies. In addition, this measure does not necessarily represent funds available for discretionary use, and is not necessarily a measure of the company's ability to fund its cash needs. As EBITDA excludes certain financial information that is included in net income attributable to Foster Wheeler AG, users of this financial information should consider the type of events and transactions that are excluded.

The company's non-GAAP performance measure, EBITDA, has certain material limitations as follows:

• It does not include interest expense. Because the company has borrowed money to finance some of its operations, interest is a necessary and ongoing part of its costs and has assisted the company in generating revenue. Therefore, any measure that excludes interest expense has material limitations;

• It does not include taxes. Because the payment of taxes is a necessary and ongoing part of the company's operations, any measure that excludes taxes has material limitations; and

• It does not include depreciation and amortization. Because the company must utilize property, plant and equipment and intangible assets in order to generate revenues in its operations, depreciation and amortization are necessary and ongoing costs of its operations. Therefore, any measure that excludes depreciation and amortization has material limitations.

Calculation of EBITDA Margin

Segment EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing business unit operating revenues in Foster Wheeler Scope into business unit EBITDA.

Foster Wheeler Scope

Foster Wheeler Scope represents that portion of backlog, new orders booked and operating revenues on which profit can be earned. Foster Wheeler Scope excludes revenues relating to third-party costs incurred by the company as agent or principal on a reimbursable basis.

Conference Call Information

Foster Wheeler AG plans to hold a conference call today, Wednesday, November 2, at 4:00 p.m. Central European Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time in the U.S.) to discuss its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011.

The call will be accessible to the public by telephone or webcast, and the company will post an accompanying slide presentation in the investor relations section of its website (www.fwc.com). To listen to the call by telephone, dial 973-935-8752 (conference I.D. No. 15646794) approximately ten minutes before the call. The conference call will also be available over the Internet at www.fwc.com or through StreetEvents at www.streetevents.com.

A replay of the call will be available on the company's web site for four weeks following the call.

Foster Wheeler AG is a global engineering and construction contractor and power equipment supplier delivering technically advanced, reliable facilities and equipment. The company employs approximately 12,000 talented professionals with specialized expertise dedicated to serving its clients through one of its two primary business groups. The company’s Global Engineering and Construction Group designs and constructs leading-edge processing facilities for the upstream oil and gas, LNG and gas-to-liquids, refining, chemicals and petrochemicals, power, mining and metals, environmental, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and healthcare industries. The company’s Global Power Group is a world leader in combustion and steam generation technology that designs, manufactures and erects steam generating and auxiliary equipment for power stations and industrial facilities and also provides a wide range of aftermarket services. The company is based in Zug, Switzerland, and its operational headquarters office is in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information about Foster Wheeler, please visit our Web site at www.fwc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Foster Wheeler AG news releases may contain forward-looking statements that are based on management’s assumptions, expectations and projections about the Company and the various industries within which the Company operates. These include statements regarding the Company’s expectations about revenues (including as expressed by its backlog), its liquidity, the outcome of litigation and legal proceedings and recoveries from customers for claims and the costs of current and future asbestos claims and the amount and timing of related insurance recoveries. Such forward-looking statements by their nature involve a degree of risk and uncertainty. The Company cautions that a variety of factors, including but not limited to the factors described in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the following, could cause the Company’s business conditions and results to differ materially from what is contained in forward-looking statements: benefits, effects or results of the Company’s redomestication or the relocation of our principal executive offices to Geneva, Switzerland; the benefits, effects or results of our strategic renewal initiative; further deterioration in global economic conditions, changes in investment by the oil and gas, oil refining, chemical/petrochemical and power generation industries, changes in the financial condition of its customers, changes in regulatory environments, changes in project design or schedules, contract cancellations, changes in estimates made by the Company of costs to complete projects, changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies worldwide, compliance with laws and regulations relating to its global operations, currency fluctuations, war, terrorist attacks and/or natural disasters affecting facilities either owned by the Company or where equipment or services are or may be provided by the Company, interruptions to shipping lanes or other methods of transit, outcomes of pending and future litigation, including litigation regarding the Company’s liability for damages and insurance coverage for asbestos exposure, protection and validity of its patents and other intellectual property rights, increasing global competition, compliance with its debt covenants, recoverability of claims against its customers and others by the Company and claims by third parties against the Company, and changes in estimates used in its critical accounting policies. Other factors and assumptions not identified above were also involved in the formation of these forward-looking statements and the failure of such other assumptions to be realized, as well as other factors, may also cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Most of these factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the Company’s control. You should consider the areas of risk described above in connection with any forward-looking statements that may be made by the Company. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any additional disclosures the Company makes in proxy statements, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, annual reports on Form 10-K and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

           

Foster Wheeler AG and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Operations

(in thousands of dollars, except share data and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 
Quarter Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2011     2010     2011     2010  
 
 
Operating revenues $ 1,131,856 $ 904,709 $ 3,351,986 $ 2,855,778
Cost of operating revenues   995,792     764,789     2,963,055     2,395,916  
Contract profit 136,064 139,920 388,931 459,862
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses 75,087 73,622 229,330 213,442
Other income, net (6,658 ) (16,197 ) (42,314 ) (35,948 )
Other deductions, net 8,939 7,394 21,777 27,131
Interest income (5,562 ) (2,835 ) (13,265 ) (7,924 )
Interest expense 3,079 4,330 10,385 12,925
Net asbestos-related provision/(gain)   1,987     (1,665 )   4,387     (68 )
Income before income taxes 59,192 75,271 178,631 250,304
Provision for income taxes   16,502     18,693     42,829     55,712  
Net income 42,690 56,578 135,802 194,592
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests   5,832     4,858     12,664     11,954  
Net income attributable to Foster Wheeler AG $ 36,858   $ 51,720   $ 123,138   $ 182,638  
 
 
Shares Outstanding:
Weighted-average number of shares

outstanding for basic earnings per share

118,611,912 125,459,735 121,852,185 126,810,748
 
Weighted-average number of shares

outstanding for diluted earnings per share

118,801,481 125,711,232 122,389,634 127,163,049
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 0.31   $ 0.41   $ 1.01   $ 1.44  
Diluted $ 0.31   $ 0.41   $ 1.01   $ 1.44  
 
       

Foster Wheeler AG and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheet

(in thousands of dollars)

(unaudited)

 
September 30, December 31,
  2011     2010  
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 961,739 $ 1,057,163
Short-term investments 2,699 -
Accounts and notes receivable, net:
Trade 445,539 577,400
Other 112,214 96,758
Contracts in process 167,268 165,389
Prepaid, deferred and refundable income taxes 57,979 59,977
Other current assets   43,014     37,813  
Total current assets   1,790,452     1,994,500  
Land, buildings and equipment, net 352,749 362,087
Restricted cash 48,090 27,502
Notes and accounts receivable – long-term 5,916 2,648
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates 206,989 217,071
Goodwill 89,268 88,917
Other intangible assets, net 61,250 66,070
Asbestos-related insurance recovery receivable 162,584 194,570
Other assets 109,293 84,078
Deferred tax assets   17,026     23,034  
TOTAL ASSETS $ 2,843,617   $ 3,060,477  
 
LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Current installments on long-term debt $ 12,599 $ 11,996
Accounts payable 203,151 239,071
Accrued expenses 198,110 240,894
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts 670,624 684,090
Income taxes payable   34,741     34,623  
Total current liabilities   1,119,225     1,210,674  
 
Long-term debt 145,074 152,574
Deferred tax liabilities 47,622 42,179
Pension, postretirement and other employee benefits 130,873 166,362
Asbestos-related liability 280,340 307,619
Other long-term liabilities 165,034 160,785
Commitments and contingencies    
TOTAL LIABILITIES   1,888,168     2,040,193  
 
Temporary Equity:
Non-vested share-based compensation awards subject to redemption   9,998     4,935  
TOTAL TEMPORARY EQUITY   9,998     4,935  
 
Equity:
Registered shares 319,992 334,052
Paid-in capital 596,230 659,739
Retained earnings 660,726 537,588
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (438,559 ) (464,504 )
Treasury shares   (240,155 )   (99,182 )
TOTAL FOSTER WHEELER AG SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY   898,234     967,693  
Noncontrolling interests   47,217     47,656  
TOTAL EQUITY   945,451     1,015,349  
TOTAL LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND EQUITY $ 2,843,617   $ 3,060,477  
 
           

Foster Wheeler AG and Subsidiaries

Business Segments

(in thousands of dollars)

(unaudited)

 
Quarter Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2011     2010     2011     2010  

Global Engineering & Construction Group

Backlog - in future revenues $ 2,224,900 $ 3,105,800 $ 2,224,900 $ 3,105,800
New orders booked - in future revenues 588,100 758,400 1,972,800 2,005,500
Operating revenues 882,063 749,249 2,597,886 2,371,394
EBITDA 58,615 69,339 155,125 254,732
 
Foster Wheeler Scope (1):
Backlog - in Foster Wheeler Scope 1,461,900 1,591,600 1,461,900 1,591,600
New orders booked - in Foster Wheeler Scope 309,200 471,800 1,071,400 1,377,600
Operating revenues - in Foster Wheeler Scope 417,836 398,725 1,141,940 1,266,939
 

Global Power Group

Backlog - in future revenues 1,050,900 866,200 1,050,900 866,200
New orders booked - in future revenues 79,000 154,100 798,700 781,100
Operating revenues 249,793 155,460 754,100 484,384
EBITDA 35,312 40,430 129,511 96,709
 
Foster Wheeler Scope (1):
Backlog - in Foster Wheeler Scope 1,041,000 854,600 1,041,000 854,600
New orders booked - in Foster Wheeler Scope 76,600 151,400 791,500 773,100
Operating revenues - in Foster Wheeler Scope 247,389 152,805 746,875 476,375
 

Corporate & Finance Group (2)

EBITDA (25,267 ) (22,619 ) (70,886 ) (62,772 )
 

Consolidated

Backlog - in future revenues 3,275,800 3,972,000 3,275,800 3,972,000
New orders booked - in future revenues 667,100 912,500 2,771,500 2,786,600
Operating revenues 1,131,856 904,709 3,351,986 2,855,778
EBITDA 68,660 87,150 213,750 288,669
 
Foster Wheeler Scope (1):
Backlog - in Foster Wheeler Scope 2,502,900 2,446,200 2,502,900 2,446,200
New orders booked - in Foster Wheeler Scope 385,800 623,200 1,862,900 2,150,700
Operating revenues - in Foster Wheeler Scope 665,225 551,530 1,888,815 1,743,314
 

____________________________________________

(1)   Foster Wheeler Scope represents the portion of backlog, new orders booked and operating revenues on which profit can be earned. Foster Wheeler Scope excludes revenues relating to third-party costs incurred by the company as agent or principal on a reimbursable basis.
 
(2) Includes intersegment eliminations.
           

Foster Wheeler AG and Subsidiaries

Reconciliations of EBITDA and Foster Wheeler Scope

(in thousands of dollars)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Twelve

Quarter Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

Months Ended

December 31,

  2011     2010     2011     2010  

2010

Reconciliation of EBITDA to Net Income*

EBITDA:

Global Engineering & Construction Group $ 58,615 $ 69,339 $ 155,125 $ 254,732 $ 296,240
Global Power Group 35,312 40,430 129,511 96,709 163,825
Corporate & Finance Group   (25,267 )   (22,619 )   (70,886 )   (62,772 )   (100,362 )
Consolidated EBITDA 68,660 87,150 213,750 288,669 359,703
Less: Interest expense 3,079 4,330 10,385 12,925 15,610
Less: Depreciation/amortization (1) 12,221 12,407 37,398 37,394 54,155
Less: Provision for income taxes   16,502     18,693     42,829     55,712     74,531  
Net income* $ 36,858   $ 51,720   $ 123,138   $ 182,638   $ 215,407  
 

Reconciliation of Foster Wheeler Scope Operating

Revenues to Operating Revenues

 

Global Engineering & Construction Group

Foster Wheeler Scope operating revenues $ 417,836 $ 398,725 $ 1,141,940 $ 1,266,939 $ 1,685,778
Flow-through revenues   464,227     350,524     1,455,946     1,104,455     1,660,272  
Operating revenues   882,063     749,249     2,597,886     2,371,394     3,346,050  
 

Global Power Group

Foster Wheeler Scope operating revenues 247,389 152,805 746,875 476,375 710,827
Flow-through revenues   2,404     2,655     7,225     8,009     10,842  
Operating revenues   249,793     155,460     754,100     484,384     721,669  
 

Consolidated

Foster Wheeler Scope operating revenues 665,225 551,530 1,888,815 1,743,314 2,396,605
Flow-through revenues   466,631     353,179     1,463,171     1,112,464     1,671,114  
Operating revenues $ 1,131,856   $ 904,709   $ 3,351,986   $ 2,855,778   $ 4,067,719  
 
 
(1)The depreciation / amortization by business segment:
 

 

 

Twelve

Quarter Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

Months Ended
December 31,
  2011     2010     2011     2010   2010
Global Engineering & Construction Group $ 6,059 $ 6,547 $ 19,006 $ 20,148 $ 30,523
Global Power Group 5,532 5,355 16,547 15,859 21,273
Corporate & Finance Group   630     505     1,845     1,387     2,359  
Total depreciation / amortization $ 12,221   $ 12,407   $ 37,398   $ 37,394   $ 54,155  
 
* Net income attributable to Foster Wheeler AG.
 
         

Foster Wheeler AG and Subsidiaries

EBITDA, Net Income* and Diluted Earnings Per Share Reconciliation

(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

     
Quarter Ended September 30,
2011 2010
 
Diluted

Earnings

Diluted

Earnings

EBITDA Net Income* Per Share EBITDA Net Income* Per Share
As adjusted $ 70,647 $ 38,845 $ 0.33 $ 85,485 $ 50,055 $ 0.40
 
Adjustments:
Net asbestos-related

(provision)/gain

(1,987 ) (1,987 ) (0.02 ) 1,665 1,665 0.01
           
As reported $ 68,660   $ 36,858   $ 0.31   $ 87,150   $ 51,720   $ 0.41  
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2011 2010
 
Diluted

Earnings

Diluted

Earnings

EBITDA Net Income* Per Share EBITDA Net Income* Per Share
As adjusted $ 218,137 $ 127,525 $ 1.04 $ 288,601 $ 182,570 $ 1.44
 
Adjustments:
Net asbestos-related

(provision)/gain

(4,387 ) (4,387 ) (0.03 ) 68 68 0.00
           
As reported $ 213,750   $ 123,138   $ 1.01   $ 288,669   $ 182,638   $ 1.44  
 
Twelve Months Ended
December 31, 2010
 
Diluted

Earnings

EBITDA Net Income* Per Share
As adjusted $ 365,113 $ 220,817 $ 1.74
 
Adjustments:
Net asbestos-related

provision

(5,410 ) (5,410 ) (0.04 )
     
As reported $ 359,703   $ 215,407   $ 1.70  
 
*Net income attributable to Foster Wheeler AG.
 
           

Foster Wheeler AG and Subsidiaries

Average Calculations

(in thousands of dollars)

(unaudited)

 
2010

Full Year

2010

Quarterly

Average(1)

Nine Months

Ended

September 30,

2011

2011

Quarterly

Average(2)

 

Consolidated

Operating revenues - in Foster Wheeler Scope $ 2,396,605 $ 599,151 $ 1,888,815 $ 629,605
Net income (3) 215,407 53,852 123,138 41,046
Adjusted net income (3) 220,817 55,204 127,525 42,508
Consolidated EBITDA 359,703 89,926 213,750 71,250
Consolidated EBITDA, as adjusted 365,113 91,278 218,137 72,712
 

 

Global Engineering & Construction Group

New orders booked - in Foster Wheeler Scope $ 1,939,100 $ 484,775 $ 1,071,400 $ 357,133
Operating revenues - in Foster Wheeler Scope 1,685,778 421,445 1,141,940 380,647
Segment EBITDA 296,240 74,060 155,125 51,708
EBITDA margin 17.6 % 17.6 % 13.6 % 13.6 %
 
 

Global Power Group

New orders booked - in Foster Wheeler Scope $ 1,192,900 $ 298,225 $ 791,500 $ 263,833
Operating revenues - in Foster Wheeler Scope 710,827 177,707 746,875 248,958
Segment EBITDA (4) 163,825 40,956 129,511 43,170
Third-party debt payment   (21,866 )   (5,466 )   -     -  
Segment EBITDA excluding third-party debt payment   141,959     35,490     129,511     43,170  
EBITDA margin (4) 23.0 % 23.0 % 17.3 % 17.3 %
EBITDA margin excluding third-party debt payment 20.0 % 20.0 % 17.3 % 17.3 %
 

(1)

 

To calculate the quarterly average dollar amounts, the company divided reported annual figures by four.

(2)

To calculate the quarterly average dollar amounts, the company divided reported nine-months figures by three.

(3)

Net income attributable to Foster Wheeler AG.

(4)

The 2010 Full Year and 2010 Quarterly Average EBITDA balances include the impact of a $21,866 gain related to a third-party debt payment.

Contacts

Foster Wheeler AG
Media
Julie Stanisz, 908-730-4047
julie_stanisz@fwc.com
or
Investor Relations
Scott Lamb, 908-730-4155
scott_lamb@fwc.com
or
Other Inquiries
908-730-4000
fw@fwc.com

Contacts

Foster Wheeler AG
Media
Julie Stanisz, 908-730-4047
julie_stanisz@fwc.com
or
Investor Relations
Scott Lamb, 908-730-4155
scott_lamb@fwc.com
or
Other Inquiries
908-730-4000
fw@fwc.com