Mitcham Industries Reports Fiscal 2014 Second Quarter Results

HUNTSVILLE, Texas, Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitcham Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIND) today announced financial results for its fiscal 2014 second quarter ended July 31, 2013.

Total revenues for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 were $20.9 million compared to $23.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. Equipment leasing revenues were $6.4 million in the second quarter compared to $10.9 million in the same period last year.  The Company reported a net loss of $693,000, or $(0.05) per share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to net income of $6.4 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal  2013, which included an after-tax benefit of $5.3 million resulting from the settlement of outstanding tax issues.  Excluding the impact of the tax benefit, net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 was $1.1 million, or $0.08 per diluted share. 

Bill Mitcham, President and CEO, stated, "We had anticipated softness in our second quarter results due to seasonal patterns in the leasing business, however, the level of leasing revenues was clearly disappointing.  Continued weakness in U.S. land activity; project delays due to permitting difficulties, labor unrest and security issues in Colombia; and a recent decline in marine leasing activity were the major contributors to lower leasing revenues.  Despite these disappointments, there were some bright spots. We generated higher land leasing revenues in Europe, where business has clearly improved, as well as in the Pacific Rim and Asia, where our leasing revenues increased substantially in the second quarter.

"U.S. land leasing activity has remained weak since the beginning of fiscal 2014 as a result of a shift in exploration spending towards drilling activity and away from seismic programs.  In Latin America, we have recently seen many new projects awarded by the oil companies to seismic contractors in Colombia.   However, there continue to be delays in starting those jobs, causing some projects scheduled for calendar 2013 to move into next year.  While Latin America remains a challenging area, based on our discussions with clients and others in the region, we continue to believe the region offers great opportunities, not only in Colombia but also in Bolivia, Brazil and Argentina.

"We are seeing increased opportunities in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, all of which we can serve from our Budapest facility.  Accordingly, we have recently enhanced our sales force in that area by adding an industry veteran based in Europe, who will be leading our efforts in that region.  Leasing activity in the Pacific Rim and Asia was strong this quarter as we deployed additional equipment to those areas.  Activity for the Russian winter season appears to be ramping early this year. We have already contracted some business for the upcoming winter and may deploy additional equipment into that region.

"We continue to believe the current softness in marine leasing is temporary. There has been some recent consolidation and reorganization among marine contractors, resulting in a large amount of used equipment coming into the market.  While this has had a temporary negative impact on our business, which is expected to continue in the third quarter, industry consolidation should be a positive development for the health of the marine leasing business going forward.

"Seamap, as expected, had another solid quarter, delivering one GunLink 4000 system and two BuoyLink systems, along with sales of other equipment, spare parts and support services. Additional system deliveries are scheduled for the third and fourth quarters. 

"This is not the first down cycle we have seen in the seismic industry, and we have considerable experience in managing through these situations. Our financial position remains very strong.  We have no net debt and over $20 million of cash as of July 31, 2013 and have generated over $16 million in cash flow from operations so far this year.  We also have almost $50 million of additional liquidity available under our revolving credit agreement.  Situations like the current one often create opportunities, and we are well positioned to take advantage of them as they occur." 

FISCAL 2014 SECOND QUARTER RESULTS
Total revenues for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 were $20.9 million compared to $23.1 million a year ago.  A significant portion of our revenues are typically generated from geographic areas outside the United States, and during the second quarter of fiscal 2014, the percentage of revenues from international customers was approximately 89% compared to 68% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. 

Equipment leasing revenues, excluding equipment sales, were $6.4 million compared to $10.9 million in the same period a year ago.  The reduction in second quarter equipment leasing revenues was primarily due to a decline in land leasing activity in the United States, continued softness in Latin America due to project delays as well as lower activity in marine leasing, partially offset by increased land leasing revenues in Europe, the Pacific Rim, Asia and Africa. 

Lease pool equipment sales were $2.1 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to $3.2 million in the second quarter a year ago.  Sales of new seismic, hydrographic and oceanographic equipment were $5.4 million compared to $1.7 million in the second quarter a year ago, primarily attributable to significant deliveries for a variety of hydrographic and oceanographic projects in the Philippines and China.

Seamap equipment sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 were $7.0 million compared to $7.3 million in the same period a year ago.  The fiscal 2014 second quarter included shipments of one GunLink 4000 system and two BuoyLink systems, as well as other equipment sales and after-market business including replacement parts, engineering services and ongoing support and repair services. The second quarter a year ago included the delivery of one GunLink 4000 system.

Lease pool depreciation expense in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 was $7.4 million compared to $8.4 million in the same period a year ago, representing a 12% decline, due to certain equipment becoming fully depreciated and the decline in lease pool additions in fiscal 2014.  Lease pool additions in the first six months of fiscal 2014 were approximately $4.8 million compared to $17.8 million in the first six months of fiscal 2013.

Gross profit in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 declined to $4.3 million from $7.4 million in the second quarter a year ago largely due to lower leasing revenues. General and administrative expenses were approximately $6.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to $5.7 million for same period a year ago. 

EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 was $6.7 million, or 32% of revenues, compared to $10.2 million, or 44% of revenues, in the same period last year.  EBITDA, which is not a measure determined in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), is defined and reconciled to reported net income and cash provided by operating activities, the most comparable GAAP measures, in the accompanying financial tables. 

FISCAL 2014 FIRST SIX MONTHS RESULTS
Total revenues for the first six months of fiscal 2014 were $48.2 million compared to $57.7 million for the first six months of fiscal 2013.  Equipment leasing revenues, excluding equipment sales, were $26.5 million in the first six months of fiscal 2014 compared to $31.9 million in the same period a year ago. Lease pool equipment sales in the first six months of fiscal 2014 were $3.0 million versus $5.5 million in the first six months of fiscal 2013. Sales of new seismic, hydrographic and oceanographic equipment for the first half of fiscal 2014 were $7.7 million compared to $2.5 million in the first half of fiscal 2013.  Seamap equipment sales for the first half of fiscal 2014 were $10.9 million compared to $17.8 million in the same period of last year.

Gross profit in the first six months of fiscal 2014 was $18.9 million compared to $24.3 million in the first six months of fiscal 2013.  Gross profit margin in the two periods was 39% and 42%, respectively.  Net income for the first six months was $5.6 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, compared to $14.9 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, for the first half of fiscal 2013, which included a tax benefit of $5.3 million.  Without the tax benefit, net income for the first half of fiscal 2013 was approximately $9.6 million, or $0.72 per diluted share.  EBITDA for the first six months of fiscal 2014 was $22.4 million, or 46% of total revenues, compared to $30.0 million, or 52% of total revenues, in the first six months of fiscal 2013. 

SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
In April 2013, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to 1.0 million shares of common stock through December 31, 2014.  We did not purchase any of our common stock in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 due to blackout restrictions and market conditions.  During the first half of fiscal 2014, we repurchased through open market transactions approximately 100,000 shares of common stock at an average cost of approximately $14.79 per share.

Future purchases may be made from time to time, based on market conditions, legal requirements and other corporate considerations, in the open market or otherwise on a discretionary basis.  We expect to finance any repurchases from a combination of cash on hand, cash provided by operating activities and proceeds from our revolving credit facility.

CONFERENCE CALL
We have scheduled a conference call for Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss our fiscal 2014 second quarter results. To access the call, please dial (480) 629-9835 and ask for the Mitcham Industries call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time.  Investors may also listen to the conference live on the Mitcham Industries corporate website, http://www.mitchamindustries.com, by logging onto the site and clicking "Investors." A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available through September 19, 2013 and may be accessed by calling (303) 590-3030 and using passcode 4635692#. A web cast archive will also be available at http://www.mitchamindustries.com shortly after the call and will be accessible for approximately 90 days.   For more information, please contact Donna Washburn at Dennard ▪ Lascar Associates (713) 529‑6600 or email dwashburn@dennardlascar.com.

Mitcham Industries, Inc., a geophysical equipment supplier, offers for lease or sale, new and "experienced" seismic equipment to the oil and gas industry, seismic contractors, environmental agencies, government agencies and universities. Headquartered in Texas, with sales and services offices in Calgary, Canada; Brisbane, Australia; Singapore; Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russia; Budapest, Hungary; Lima, Peru; Bogota, Colombia and the United Kingdom, Mitcham conducts operations on a global scale and is the largest independent exploration equipment lessor in the industry.  Through its Seamap business, Mitcham designs, manufactures and sells specialized seismic marine equipment.

Certain statements and information in this press release concerning results for the quarter ended July 31, 2013 may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "should," "would," "could" or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature.  These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on us.  While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate.  All comments concerning our expectations for future revenues and operating results are based on our forecasts of our existing operations and do not include the potential impact of any future acquisitions.  Our forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections.

For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  We undertake no obligation to publically update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Mitcham Industries, Inc.