Walter Energy Announces Third Quarter 2014 Results

BIRMINGHAM, AL — (Marketwired) — 10/30/14 — Walter Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WLT), a leading, publicly traded “pure-play” producer of metallurgical (“met”) coal for the global steel industry, today announced results for the quarter ended September 30, 2014.

“In the challenging pricing environment for met coal, we remain focused on lowering production costs, reducing SG&A and improving productivity,” said Walt Scheller, Chief Executive Officer. “We have also idled assets that aren–t generating cash, and we–re reducing inventory across the Company. We expect our operating and financial results to reflect these actions going forward, making us more competitive and positioning us well for a recovery in met coal pricing.”

Walter Energy reported a net loss of $98.9 million, or $1.48 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2014 compared with a net loss of $100.7 million, or $1.61 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2013. Adjusted net loss for the quarter, which excludes certain unusual items, was $105.8 million, or $1.58 per diluted share as compared with an adjusted net loss for the prior-year period of $102.3 million, or $1.63 per diluted share. A reconciliation of net loss to adjusted net loss is provided in the Company–s “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” included with this release.

Third quarter 2014 consolidated revenues totaled $329.5 million, compared with $455.8 million in the third quarter of 2013, reflecting a decrease in average met coal selling prices of $22.57 per metric ton (“MT”) and a decline in met coal sales of 0.5 million metric tons (“MMTs”). Third quarter results also reflected a reduction in met coal cash cost of sales of $22.04 per ton and a 24% reduction in selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses.

As previously disclosed, the Company idled its remaining Canadian mining operations in the second quarter of 2014. Costs incurred in the third quarter related to the idled mining operations totaled $9.4 million, representing idle mine costs of $8.2 million and transportation take-or-pay charges of $1.2 million, all of which are recorded in cost of sales. Results for the quarter also include a net benefit of $2.4 million resulting from a revision in the estimate of severance costs. The Company expects the idle mine costs to trend down going forward.

In August 2014, the Company issued 2.25 million shares of common stock in exchange for $25.0 million principal amount of the Company–s 9.875% Senior Notes due 2020 resulting in a net gain of $9.9 million. This debt retirement will reduce annual interest expense by approximately $2.5 million. Results for the quarter also included $6.5 million of accelerated amortization of debt issuance costs associated with the Eighth Amendment to the 2011 Credit Agreement which was executed during the quarter.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) for the quarter was $8.4 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $0.2 million, compared with EBITDA of $23.6 million and adjusted EBITDA of $21.3 million for the third quarter 2013. A reconciliation of net loss to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA is provided in the Company–s “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” included with this release.

Third quarter 2014 met coal sales volumes, including both hard coking coal (“HCC”) and low-volatility (“low-vol”) pulverized coal injection product (“PCI”), was 2.3 MMTs compared with 2.8 MMTs in the prior-year comparable quarter. The decline in met coal sales volumes was due to lower sales volumes from the Canadian mining operations.

HCC sales volumes totaled 2.0 MMTs compared with 2.3 MMTs in 2013. The average selling price for HCC was $110.42 per MT, down from $133.72 per MT in the third quarter of 2013.

Low-vol PCI sales volume totaled 0.3 MMTs, down 0.2 MMTs from the prior-year comparable quarter. The selling price for low-vol PCI averaged $102.85 per MT compared with $121.76 per MT in 2013.

Met coal cash cost of sales for the third quarter of 2014 averaged $95.91 per MT, down $22.04, or 18.7%, compared with the third quarter of 2013, driven primarily by continued improvement in mining costs.

Met coal production was 2.0 MMTs in the quarter, compared with 2.8 MMTs in the prior-year period, with the decrease primarily resulting from the idling of the Canadian mining operations in the current year. Met coal production in Canada for the prior-year quarter totaled 0.7 MMTs.

Met coal cash cost of production averaged $66.90 per MT, down from $77.56 per MT in the prior-year comparable quarter.

SG&A expenses totaled $16.6 million, compared with $21.9 million in the prior year quarter.

The Company recognized an income tax benefit of $30.3 million in the third quarter compared with a tax benefit of $17.0 million in the prior-year period. The prior-year period includes charges related to a statutory tax rate increase enacted by British Columbia and a charge recorded to reflect the loss of tax attributes due to the restructuring of the Company–s West Virginia operations. The income tax benefit for the current period excludes the tax effect of U.S. operating losses, as there currently is not adequate evidence that such benefit would be realized.

Capital expenditures in the quarter totaled $26.3 million, compared with $28.5 million in the prior-year period, which reflects the Company–s continued focus on disciplined spending in light of ongoing weak market conditions. The Company has reduced its full-year 2014 capital spending target to approximately $110 million from $120 million.

Available liquidity was $623.9 million at the end of the quarter, consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $614.6 million plus $9.3 million in availability under the Company–s $76.9 million revolving credit facilities, net of outstanding letters of credit of $67.6 million.

On July 14, 2014, the Company issued $320 million in principal amount of 9.5% senior secured notes. As a result, cash and cash equivalents increased and overall liquidity improved. The Company has no significant debt maturities until 2018.

The Company expects full-year 2014 met coal production of approximately 9.5 MMTs, within the range previously provided by the Company. Cash cost of sales per ton for the Company–s Alabama underground mines is expected to average approximately $96 per MT for the full year, down from the Company–s previous target of approximately $100 per MT.

Full-year 2014 met coal sales volumes are expected to total approximately 10.0 MMTs, within the previously provided range.

In addition to the results prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) provided throughout this release, the Company has presented the following non-GAAP financial measures: EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net loss and Average Cash Cost of Sales per Ton. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided as supplemental information for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide additional insights into the performance of the Company, and they reflect how management analyzes Company performance and compares that performance against other companies. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other entities. A reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP financial measures is provided in the financial section of this release.

The Company will hold a webcast to discuss third quarter 2014 results on Thursday, October 30, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. ET. To listen to the live event, visit .

Walter Energy is a leading, publicly traded “pure-play” metallurgical coal producer for the global steel industry with strategic access to steel producers in Europe, Asia and South America. The Company also produces thermal coal, anthracite, metallurgical coke and coal bed methane gas. Walter Energy employs approximately 2,700 employees, with operations in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. For more information about Walter Energy, please visit .

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are based on information available to management at the time, and they involve judgments and estimates. Forward-looking statements include expressions such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “will,” and similar terms and expressions. These forward-looking statements are made based on expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting Walter Energy and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and factors relating to Walter Energy–s operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond Walter Energy–s control, which could cause Walter Energy–s actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements. The following factors are among those that may cause actual results to differ materially from Walter Energy–s forward-looking statements: unfavorable economic, financial and business conditions; a substantial or extended decline in pricing, demand, and other factors beyond Walter Energy–s control; failure of Walter Energy–s customers to honor or renew contracts; Walter Energy–s ability to collect payments from its customers; inherent risks in coal mining that are beyond Walter Energy–s control; title defects preventing Walter Energy from (or resulting in additional costs for) mining its mineral interests; concentration of Walter Energy–s mining operations in a limited number of areas; a significant reduction of or loss of purchases by Walter Energy–s largest customers; unavailability or uneconomical transportation for Walter Energy–s coal; significant competition and foreign currency fluctuation; significant cost increases and fluctuations, and delay in the delivery of raw materials, mining equipment and purchased components; work stoppages, labor shortages and other labor relations matters; Walter Energy–s ability to hire and retain a skilled labor force; risks associated with Walter Energy–s reclamation and mine closure obligations; inaccuracies in Walter Energy–s estimates of coal reserves; Walter Energy–s ability to develop or acquire coal reserves in an economically feasible manner; challenges to Walter Energy–s licenses, permits and other authorizations; failure to meet project development and expansion targets; risks associated with operating in foreign jurisdictions; risks associated with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; risks associated with federal, state and provincial regulatory agencies– authority to order temporary or permanent closure of Walter Energy–s mines; increased focus by regulatory authorities on the effects of surface coal mining on the environment; risks related to climate change concerns; risks related to Walter Energy–s operations– impact on the environment; risks related to Walter Energy–s indebtedness; Walter Energy–s ability to generate cash for its financial obligations, to refinance its indebtedness or to obtain additional financing; Walter Energy–s ability to incur additional indebtedness; restrictions in Walter Energy–s existing and future debt agreements; events beyond Walter Energy–s control that may result in an event of default under one or more of its debt instruments; downgrades in Walter Energy–s credit ratings; failure to obtain or renew surety bonds on acceptable terms that could affect Walter Energy–s ability to secure reclamation and coal lease obligations; costs associated with Walter Energy–s pension and benefits, including post-retirement benefits; costs associated with Walter Energy–s workers– compensation and certain medical and disability benefits; adverse rulings in current or future litigation; Walter Energy–s ability to attract and retain key personnel; Walter Energy–s ability to identify or integrate suitable acquisition candidates to promote growth; volatility in the price of Walter Energy–s common stock; Walter Energy–s ability to pay regular dividends to stockholders; Walter Energy–s exposure to indemnification obligations; risks associated with terrorist attacks and threats and escalation of military activity in response to such attacks; risks associated with cyber-attacks or other security breaches; and other risks and uncertainties including those described in Walter Energy–s filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements made by Walter Energy in this release, or elsewhere, speak only as of the date on which the statements were made. You are advised to read the risk factors in Walter Energy–s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC, which are available on Walter Energy–s website at and on the SEC–s website at . New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for Walter Energy to predict these events or how they may affect it or its anticipated results. Walter Energy has no duty to, and does not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this release, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, readers should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made in this press release may not occur. All data presented herein is as of the date of this release unless otherwise noted.

Mark H. Tubb
205-745-2627

or
Thomas F. Hoffman
205-745-2612