Manitex International Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2022 Results

Delivers strong year-over-year growth in revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and profitability

Introduces “Elevating Excellence” value creation strategy

Introduces 2025 revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin targets

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Manitex International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MNTX) ("Manitex" or the "Company"), a leading international provider of truck cranes, specialized industrial equipment, and construction equipment rental solutions to infrastructure and construction markets, today reported financial results for the three months and full-year ended December 31, 2022.

FOURTH QUARTER 2022 RESULTS

(all comparisons versus the prior year period unless otherwise noted)

• Net revenue of $78.8 million, +47.6%, including +33.8% organic growth in lifting equipment
• Backlog increased to $230.2 million, +21.8%, on strong North American and European demand
• Net Income of $0.7 million, or $0.04 per diluted share
• Gross profit of $15.2 million; gross margin of 19.3%, +450 basis points, excluding non-recurring adjustments related to the disposition of the Badger business unit in the fourth quarter of 2021
• Adjusted Net Income of $2.0 million, or $0.10 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $8.1 million, or 10.3% of net revenue
• Net leverage of 3.9x; total liquidity increased by nearly $4 million to $36 million versus the third quarter of 2022

FULL-YEAR 2022 RESULTS

(all comparisons versus the prior year period unless otherwise noted)

• Net Revenue of $273.9 million, +29.5%, including +19.4% organic growth
• Net Loss of $4.3 million, or ($0.21) per diluted share
• Gross Profit of $50.0 million; gross margin of 18.3%, +120 basis points, excluding non-recurring adjustments related to the disposition of the Badger business unit in the fourth quarter of 2021
• Adjusted Net Income of $5.0 million, or $0.25 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $21.3 million, +165%
• Adjusted EBITDA margin of 7.8%, +400 basis points

“We delivered strong fourth quarter results, highlighted by significant organic revenue growth across our lifting equipment and rental segments, sustained margin expansion, and our fourth consecutive quarter of improved profitability,” stated Michael Coffey, CEO of Manitex. “Early progress on our operational excellence initiatives, which include targeted improvements in capacity utilization, supply chain optimization and fixed cost absorption, contributed to our improved quarterly EBITDA margins that exceeded 10%. Customer demand was robust across our North American and European markets during the fourth quarter, culminating in 22% year-over-year growth in total backlog.”

“In early 2023, we formally launched Elevating Excellence, a multi-year business transformation strategy designed to drive targeted commercial expansion and sustained productivity improvements across our organization,” continued Coffey. “In application, Elevating Excellence is designed to refine our go-to-market strategy, further optimize our resource base, enhance our sourcing and procurement, and ensure a disciplined approach to capital allocation, with an initial emphasis on debt reduction. We are working to build a strong platform for sustained, profitable growth, positioning Manitex to elevate its position within the global lifting solutions market, consistent with our long-term focus on shareholder value creation.”

“Today we introduced three-year financial targets that reflect our confidence in the underlying strength of our end-markets, coupled with the commercial and operational benefits we aim to generate through our Elevating Excellence initiative,” continued Coffey. “The initiative is outlined in this release and will be discussed in further detail during our fourth quarter 2022 conference call.”

“We ended the fourth quarter with nearly $36 million in cash and available liquidity, a sequential increase of $4 million,” stated Joseph Doolan, Chief Financial Officer of Manitex. “In 2023, our capital allocation priorities will include debt reduction and select investments in organic growth. We intend to reduce our net leverage ratio closer toward our long-term target of at-or-below 3.0x, driven by a combination of improved operating cash flow and a planned decline in maintenance capital expenditures.”

“While our team made measurable progress on our strategic initiatives during 2022, we remain in the early stages of a multi-year business transformation,” noted Coffey. “Entering 2023, our focus will turn toward market share growth in key product categories across North America; further expansion of our rental footprint; optimization of our manufacturing operations and supply chain; and further reduction in net leverage, ensuring that we maintain balance sheet flexibility. Given our more than 20% year-over-year growth in backlog exiting the fourth quarter, a more favorably priced backlog to current production costs, and stable end-market fundamentals, we believe that Manitex is on-pace to deliver a low double-digit Adjusted EBITDA growth rate in 2023.”

FOURTH QUARTER 2022 PERFORMANCE

The Company reported net revenue of $78.8 million in the fourth quarter 2022, an increase of 47.6% versus the prior-year period, driven by organic growth in Lifting Equipment and contributions from the Rabern Rentals acquisition completed in April 2022.

Lifting Equipment Segment revenue was $71.5 million in the fourth quarter, an increase of 33.8%, versus the prior-year period. Lifting Equipment revenue growth was driven by both strong demand trends in domestic and international markets, coupled with improved throughput in manufacturing facilities owing to production velocity initiatives, better coordination with suppliers and related benefits from recent efficiency gains.

Rental Equipment Segment revenue was $7.3 million in fourth quarter 2022, supported by strong end-market demand in key North Texas markets. The Rabern business performed ahead of expectations in the fourth quarter, due to the deployment of new rental fleet acquired in 2022 and preliminary market share gains in Lubbock, Texas, ahead of the new branch soft opening scheduled for March 2023.

Gross profit was $15.2 million in the fourth quarter, an increase from $4.7 million in the prior year period. Excluding an inventory write-down of $3.2 million taken during the fourth quarter 2021, gross profit during the fourth quarter 2022 increased 93% over the prior-year period due to strong revenue growth, benefits from the Company’s operational improvement initiatives, and improved mix due to the contributions from Rabern Rentals. As a results of these factors, gross profit margin increased 450 basis points to 19.3% during the fourth quarter 2022, after adjusting for the inventory write-down during the fourth quarter 2021.

Operating income was $4.2 million for the fourth quarter, compared to an operating loss of ($7.1) million for the same period last year. Operating margin in the fourth quarter 2022 was 5.3%. The year-over-year improvement in operating income was driven by the strong gross margin performance and disciplined cost control.

Net income was $0.7 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter 2022, compared to a net loss of ($8.1) million, or ($0.40) per diluted share, for the same period last year. Adjusted net income was $2.0 million, or $0.10 per diluted share in the fourth quarter 2022, a significant increase compared to a net loss of ($1.7) million, or ($0.08) per diluted share, for the same period last year. Adjusted net income excludes $0.6 million of stock compensation expense and approximately $0.8 million of other non-recurring expenses in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA was $8.1 million for the fourth quarter 2022, or 10.3% of sales, compared to $0.3 million, or 0.6% of sales, for the same period last year. See Non-GAAP reconciliations in the appendix of this release.

As of December 31, 2022, total backlog was $230.2 million, up 22% from the end of 2021 and up 11% from the end of the third quarter 2022, driven by continued favorable trends in key end markets in both North America and International regions. In addition, the Company continued to gain share with key North American dealers and added an important new dealer in the Midwest.

BALANCE SHEET AND LIQUIDITY

As of December 31, 2022, total debt was $90.3 million, compared to $97.5 million at the end of third quarter 2022. Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2022 were $8.2 million, resulting in net debt of $82.1 million, compared to $85.6 million at the end of third quarter 2022 and $23.8 million at the end of fourth quarter 2021. Net leverage was 3.9x at the end of fourth quarter 2022, compared to 6.4x at the end of third quarter 2022. As of December 31, 2022, Manitex had total cash and availability of $36 million.

ELEVATING EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE 2023 - 2025

The Elevating Excellence Initiative aims to drive sustained commercial growth and improved operating performance, ultimately resulting in long-term value creation for our shareholders. The Initiative builds on the Company’s core values of Customer Focus, Innovation, Dedication, Teamwork, Accountability, Excellence and Integrity.

Key pillars of the Initiative are as follows:

• Organic Market Share Expansion. Manitex currently holds a leading market share position for Straight Mast Cranes under its Manitex brand in North America. The Company believes there is a significant opportunity to leverage this position and expand its share in the high-growth Articulated Crane, Industrial Lifting Equipment and Aerial Work Platform markets in North America. The Company has implemented an enhanced distribution model, using North American resources to sell and support products traditionally supported from Europe. This new operating structure enables improved sales, support and upfitting of our PM branded truck cranes in North America. We will support current and new dealers with upfitting capabilities to further expand the PM truck crane product offering in North America. Management is working toward common goals to meaningfully increase share.

• Refreshed Global Brand Identity. Manitex has consolidated and refreshed its global branding across all product lines, streamlining its go-to-market offering within five brand core categories: Manufactured Lifting Solutions, under the Manitex and PM brands; Aerial Work Platforms, under the Oil & Steel brand; Electric Industrial Cranes, under the Valla brand; and Rental Solutions, under the Rabern Rentals brand, which Manitex acquired in 2022. As previously disclosed, the consolidated and uniform branding initiative will play a key role in supporting the Company’s global distribution model. The rebranding is also expected to aid the Company’s dealers by representing a more cohesive and clear brand with their customers. Manitex has discontinued the MAC product brand, choosing to sell its articulated truck cranes under the global PM brand, going forward.

• New Product Innovation. Manitex is committed to bringing new, more efficient, practical innovations to the global market in an effort to maintain and grow its market share. New product innovation is focused on its core lifting equipment product categories that the Company can market in both North America and Europe, with an emphasis on expanding profitability. Set to release in March, the company developed a first of its kind electric boom truck crane. The Electric Crane System (ECSY) is an optional module enabling Manitex TC cranes the ability to operate on electric power, not diesel. The innovation represents a practical step toward efficiency and lowering emmissions for mobile truck cranes. The Company also recently released its TC850, an 85 ton truck crane designed for energy, infrastructure and heavy industrial applications. Both products will be on display next week at ConExpo, Las Vegas.

• Purpose-Driven Operating Structure. The Company has consolidated its operating structure with dedicated leaders in each of its Italian and North American manufacturing operations, as well as within its Rabern Rentals business. The new organizational structure allows for common goals across the Company, designed to improve resource utilization, salesforce alignment, a more leveraged supply chain and improved working capital management. Manitex completed initial organizational actions in 2022 and began to implement process and systems improvements in early 2023. These improvements are designed for short-term efficiency gains and longer-term capacity growth initiatives.

• Product Mix Optimization and Aftermarket Focus. Manitex has a broad global portfolio of lifting equipment and solutions. Over time, as it introduces new, innovative and more efficient product lines, the Company plans to optimize its portfolio to focus on the highest growth and most profitable areas of its business. Additionally, the Company will continue to focus on driving high-value aftermarket parts sales which typically respresents between 10 – 15% of total revenues. The Company is targeting a 10 percent improvement to aftermarket products sales.

• Disciplined Capital Allocation. Manitex intends to prioritize debt reduction and organic growth investments in 2023. As of December 31, 2022, Manitex’s net leverage ratio was 3.9x. The Company continues to target a net leverage ratio of at-or-below 3.0x, consistent with its mandate to optimize balance sheet flexibility.

LONG-TERM FINANCIAL TARGETS

Today, Manitex introduced 2025 financial targets, as supported by its Elevating Excellence initiative and continued, perceived strength in its core end-markets.

($ in millions)
	Full-Year	Full Year 2025
	2022 Actual	Low-Case	Base-Case	High-Case
Total Revenue	$273.9	$325	$342	$360
Total Adjusted EBITDA	$21.3	$35	$40	$45
Total Adjusted EBITDA Margin	7.8%	10.8%	11.8%	12.8%

These targets are current as of the time provided and subject to change, given markets conditions.

FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL-YEAR 2022 RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL

Manitex will host a conference call today at 9:00 AM ET to discuss the Company’s fourth quarter and full-year 2022 results and updated corporate strategy.

A webcast of the conference call and accompanying presentation materials will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Manitex website at https://www.manitexinternational.com/eventspresentations.aspx, and a replay of the webcast will be available at the same time shortly after the webcast is complete.

To participate in the live teleconference:

Domestic Live: [phone]
International Live: [phone]
Passcode: 13736090

To listen to a replay of the teleconference, which will be available through March 15, 2023:

Domestic Replay: [phone]
International Replay: [phone]
Passcode: 13736090

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES AND OTHER ITEMS

In this press release, we refer to various non-GAAP (U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) financial measures which management uses to evaluate operating performance, to establish internal budgets and targets, and to compare the Company's financial performance against such budgets and targets. These non-GAAP measures, as defined by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures being disclosed by other companies. While adjusted financial measures are not intended to replace any presentation included in our consolidated financial statements under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be considered an alternative to operating performance or an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity, we believe these measures are useful to investors in assessing our operating results, capital expenditure and working capital requirements and the ongoing performance of its underlying businesses. A reconciliation of Adjusted GAAP financial measures is included with this press release. All per share amounts are on a fully diluted basis. The quarterly amounts described below are unaudited, are reported in thousands of U.S. dollars, and are as of the dates indicated.

ABOUT MANITEX INTERNATIONAL

Manitex International is a leading provider of mobile truck cranes, industrial lifting solutions, aerial work platforms, construction equipment and rental solutions that serve general construction, crane companies, and heavy industry. The company engineers and manufactures its products in North America and Europe, distributing through independent dealers worldwide. Our brands include Manitex, PM, Oil & Steel, Valla, and Rabern Rentals.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Safe Harbor Statement under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains statements that are forward-looking in nature which express the beliefs and expectations of management including statements regarding the Company's expected results of operations or liquidity; statements concerning projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to our business, financial and operational results and future economic performance; and statements of management's goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "continuing," "ongoing," "expect," "we believe," "we intend," "may," "will," "should," "could," and similar expressions. Such statements are based on current plans, estimates and expectations and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors and additional information are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and statements in this release should be evaluated in light of these important factors. Although we believe that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we cannot guarantee future results. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

MANITEX INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
	December 31, 2022			December 31, 2021
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash	$	7,973		$	21,359
Cash – restricted		217			222
Trade receivables (net)		43,856			30,515
Other receivables		1,750			2,039
Inventory (net)		69,801			64,965
Prepaid expense and other current assets		3,832			2,436
Assets held for sale		75			-
Total current assets		127,504			121,536
Total fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $22,441 and $18,662 at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively		51,697			16,460
Operating lease assets		5,667			3,563
Intangible assets (net)		14,367			11,946
Goodwill		36,916			24,949
Other long-term assets		—			1,143
Deferred tax assets		452			178
Total assets	$	236,603		$	179,775
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	45,682		$	44,136
Accrued expenses		12,379			10,539
Related party payables (net)		60			203
Notes payable		22,666			18,401
Current portion of finance lease obligations		509			399
Current portion of operating lease obligations		1,758			1,064
Customer deposits		3,407			7,121
Total current liabilities		86,461			81,863
Long-term liabilities
Revolving term credit facilities (net)		41,479			12,717
Notes payable (net)		22,261			10,089
Finance lease obligations (net of current portion)		3,382			3,822
Non-current operating lease obligations		3,909			2,499
Deferred gain on sale of property		427			507
Deferred tax liability		5,151			1,074
Other long-term liabilities		5,572			4,389
Total long-term liabilities		82,181			35,097
Total liabilities		168,642			116,960
Commitments and contingencies
Equity
Preferred Stock—Authorized 150,000 shares, no shares issued or outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021		—			—
Common Stock—no par value 25,000,000 shares authorized, 20,107,014 and 19,940,487 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively		133,289			132,206
Paid-in capital		4,266			3,264
Retained deficit		(73,338	)		(68,436	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(5,822	)		(4,219	)
Equity attributable to shareholders of Manitex International		58,395			62,815
Equity attributed to noncontrolling interest		9,566			-
Total equity		67,961			62,815
Total liabilities and equity	$	236,603		$	179,775

MANITEX INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except for share and per share amounts)
	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	December 31,						December 31,
	2022			2021			2022			2021
Net revenues	$	78,820		$	53,391		$	273,854		$	211,539
Cost of sales		63,637			45,510			223,835			175,377
Cost of sales - inventory write-down		-			3,226			-			3,226
Gross profit		15,183			4,655			50,019			32,936
Operating expenses
Research and development costs		894			975			2,989			3,332
Selling, general and administrative expenses		10,100			8,716			40,417			31,948
Transaction costs		-			-			2,236			-
Impairment of intangibles and fixed assets		-			2,078			-			2,078
Total operating expenses		10,994			11,769			45,642			37,358
Operating income (loss)		4,189			(7,114	)		4,377			(4,422	)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense		(1,655	)		(511	)		(4,637	)		(2,084	)
Interest income		(1	)		36			2			43
Gain on Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness		-			-			-			3,747
Foreign currency transaction loss		(376	)		(122	)		(108	)		(543	)
Other income (expense)		46			20			(1,818	)		(97	)
Total other income (expense)		(1,986	)		(577	)		(6,561	)		1,066
Income (loss) before income taxes		2,203			(7,691	)		(2,184	)		(3,356	)
Income tax expense		1,544			374			2,114			1,217
Net income (loss)	$	659		$	(8,065	)		(4,298	)		(4,573	)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		161			-			603			-
Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc.	$	498		$	(8,065	)	$	(4,901	)	$	(4,573	)
Income (loss) per share
Basic	$	0.04		$	(0.40	)	$	(0.21	)	$	(0.23	)
Diluted	$	0.04		$	(0.40	)	$	(0.21	)	$	(0.23	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic		20,103,398			19,935,512			20,055,836			19,900,117
Diluted		20,103,398			19,935,512			20,055,836			19,900,117

Net Sales and Gross Margin
	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2022						September 30, 2022						December 31, 2021
	As Reported			As Adjusted			As Reported			As Adjusted			As Reported			As Adjusted
Net sales	$	78,820		$	78,820		$	65,037		$	65,037		$	53,391		$	53,391
% change Vs Q3 2022		21.2	%		21.2	%
% change Vs Q4 2021		47.6	%		47.6	%
Gross margin		15,183			15,355			12,344			12,354			4,655			7,881
Gross margin % of net sales		19.3	%		19.5	%		19.0	%		19.0	%		8.7	%		14.8	%

	Year Ended
	December 31, 2022						December 31, 2021
	As Reported			As Adjusted			As Reported			As Adjusted
Net sales	$	273,854		$	273,854		$	211,539		$	211,539
% change Vs prior year		29.5	%		29.5	%
Gross margin		50,019			50,201			32,936			36,231
Gross margin % of net sales		18.3	%		18.3	%		15.6	%		17.1	%
Operating Income (loss)		4,377			11,722			(4,422	)		3,586

Backlog
	Dec 31, 2022		Sept 30, 2022			June 30, 2022			Mar 31, 2022			Dec 31, 2021
Backlog from continuing operations	$	230,206	$	207,032		$	213,810		$	205,682		$	188,981
Change Versus Current Period				11.2	%		7.7	%		11.9	%		21.8	%
Backlog is defined as orders for equipment which have not yet shipped as well as orders by foreign subsidiaries for international deliveries.. The disclosure of backlog aids in the analysis the Company's customers' demand for product, as well as the ability of the Company to meet that demand.
Backlog is not necessarily indicative of sales to be recognized in a specified future period.

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income(Loss) to Adjusted Net Income
	Three Months Ended								Year Ended
	December 31,		September 30,			December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
	2022		2022			2021			2022			2021
Net income (loss)	$	659	$	(3,084	)	$	(8,065	)	$	(4,298	)	$	(4,573	)
Adjustments, including net tax impact		1,332		4,077			6,411			9,302			4,823
Adjusted net income (loss)	$	1,991	$	993		$	(1,654	)	$	5,004		$	250
Weighted diluted shares outstanding		20,103,398		20,094,475			19,935,512			20,055,836			19,900,117
Diluted earnings (loss) per share as reported	$	0.04	$	0.26		$	(0.40	)	$	(0.21	)	$	(0.23	)
Total EPS effect	$	0.06	$	(0.21	)	$	0.32		$	0.46		$	0.24
Adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	0.10	$	0.05		$	(0.08	)	$	0.25		$	0.01

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income(Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA
	Three Months Ended									Year Ended
	December 31,			September 30,			December 31,			December 31,			December 31,
	2022			2022			2021			2022			2021
Net Income (loss)	$	659		$	(3,084	)	$	(8,065	)	$	(4,298	)	$	(4,573	)
Interest expense		1,655			1,409			511			4,637			2,084
Tax expense		1,544			206			374			2,114			1,217
Depreciation and amortization expense		2,885			2,614			1,004			9,416			4,343
EBITDA	$	6,743		$	1,145		$	(6,176	)	$	11,869		$	3,071
Adjustments:
Litigation / legal settlement	$	178		$	3,171		$	682		$	4,018		$	1,193
Rabern transaction costs		-			37			-			2,237			-
Stock compensation		633			749			240			2,196			1,056
FX		376			(175	)		122			108			543
Severance / restructuring costs		108			294			81			1,654			150
Inventory impairment		-			-			3,226			-			3,226
Impairment of intangibles and other assets		-			-			2,078			-			2,078
Gain on sale of building		(16	)		-			-			(688	)		-
PPP Loan forgiveness		-			-			-			-			(3,747	)
Other		107			5			60			(138	)		442
Total Adjustments	$	1,386		$	4,081		$	6,489		$	9,387		$	4,940
Adjusted EBITDA	$	8,129		$	5,226		$	313		$	21,256		$	8,011
Adjusted EBITDA as % of sales		10.3	%		8.0	%		0.6	%		7.8	%		3.8	%

Net Debt
	December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
	2022		2022		2021
Total cash & cash equivalents	$	8,190	$	11,865	$	21,581
Notes payable - short term	$	22,666	$	16,486	$	18,401
Current portion of finance leases		509		487		399
Notes payable - long term		22,261		23,829		10,089
Finance lease obligations - LT		3,382		3,518		3,822
Revolver, net		41,479		53,152		12,717
Total debt	$	90,297	$	97,472	$	45,428
Net debt	$	82,107	$	85,607	$	23,847

Net debt is calculated using the Consolidated Balance Sheet amounts for current and long term portion of long term debt, capital lease obligations, notes payable, and revolving credit facilities minus cash and cash equivalents.