Walter Energy Announces Third Quarter 2013 Results

BIRMINGHAM, AL — (Marketwired) — 10/30/13 — Walter Energy Inc. (NYSE: WLT) (TSX: 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, 2013.

“We are pleased with the progress we made in the third quarter in reducing costs, improving productivity and increasing met coal sales,” said Walt Scheller, Chief Executive Officer. “We also continued to take proactive steps to strengthen our balance sheet and enhance our financial flexibility through a debt offering and related reduction of near-term debt maturities. Demand for our products has remained firm, and we have recently seen an improvement in met coal pricing. We look forward to improved financial performance in the fourth quarter and in 2014.”

Walter Energy reported a net loss of $100.7 million, or $1.61 loss per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2013, compared with a net loss of $1.1 billion, or $16.97 loss per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2012. The net loss in the third quarter of 2013 included a gain from the early extinguishment of debt and foreign exchange gains. Excluding these items, the net loss for the quarter was $1.68 per diluted share. The third quarter of 2012 loss included non-cash goodwill impairment charges of $1.1 billion, or $17.05 per share, primarily related to the 2011 acquisition of Western Coal and a pre-tax charge of $40.0 million associated with the abandonment of a natural gas exploration project. Third quarter 2012 adjusted net income excluding these charges was $29.8 million.

Third quarter 2013 consolidated revenues totaled $455.8 million, a decrease from $612.0 million in the third quarter of 2012, primarily due to lower met coal prices in 2013. Higher met coal sales volume in the third quarter of 2013 as compared to 2012 partially offset the decline in met coal sales pricing. Results for the current-year period also reflected the favorable impact of lower production costs, including improved met coal cost performance and continued reductions in selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses.

In the third quarter of 2013, the Company recognized non-cash deferred income tax charges of $24.0 million, primarily related to revaluation of Canadian and U.K. deferred tax liabilities as the result of changes to the statutory corporate tax rates in each jurisdiction.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) for the third quarter of 2013 totaled $28.8 million. Excluding the gain from the early extinguishment of debt and the foreign exchange gains, adjusted EBITDA for the quarter totaled $21.3 million. Third quarter 2012 adjusted EBITDA, excluding the non-cash goodwill and other asset impairment charges, totaled $116.6 million. These charges and adjustments are shown in the Company–s “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” included with this release.

Third quarter of 2013 met coal sales volume, including both hard coking coal (“HCC”) and low-volatility (“low-vol”) pulverized coal injection product (“PCI”), was 2.8 million metric tons (“MMTs”), representing an increase of 0.2 MMTs compared with the third quarter of 2012. HCC sales volume was 2.3 MMTs in the third quarter of 2013, an increase of 5.3% compared with the third quarter of 2012. Low-vol PCI sales volume totaled 0.5 MMTs, an increase of 19.3% in the third quarter of 2013 compared with the prior-year comparable quarter. Met coal sales volume was approximately 84% of total coal sales volume in the third quarter of 2013 compared with 74% in the prior year period.

The selling price for HCC averaged $133.72 per metric ton (MT), down from the third quarter of 2012 average pricing of $196.66 per MT. Low-vol PCI pricing averaged $121.76 per MT in the third quarter of 2013 compared with $160.37 per MT in the prior year comparable quarter.

Met coal cash cost of sales for the third quarter 2013 averaged $117.95 per MT, down 10.8% compared with the third quarter of 2012.

Met coal production was 2.8 MMTs in the third quarter of 2013, comprised of 2.3 MMTs of HCC and 0.5 MMTs of low-vol PCI. Met coal production in the 2013 third quarter decreased 16.6% compared with third quarter of 2012 production of 3.3 MMTs, largely driven by planned reductions in low-vol PCI production at the Company–s Brule and Willow Creek mines, making up its Brazion operations, as well as other curtailments. Production at the Wolverine mine was lower due to a period of unfavorable mining conditions. These declines were partially offset by strong low and mid-vol production at the Company–s Alabama mines.

Met coal cash cost of production averaged $77.56 per MT in the third quarter of 2013, down $12.05 per MT or 13.4%, compared with the prior-year comparable quarter. This reduction came primarily from the Company–s Alabama low and mid-vol mines, which decreased by $18.19 per MT, or 21.9%, in the third quarter of 2013 as compared with the third quarter of the prior year.

SG&A expenses totaled $21.9 million in the third quarter 2013, compared with $32.5 million in the third quarter of the prior year. Third quarter 2013 SG&A expenses exclude $5.3 million of operations-related direct administrative charges included in cost of sales resulting from a change in accounting practices.

Interest expense for the third quarter of 2013 totaled $63.5 million compared with $30.5 million in the third quarter of 2012, with the increase in the current-year period primarily driven by an increase in long-term debt, higher interest rates and a non-cash charge of $13.2 million, including the amortization of debt issuance costs applicable to prepaid debt.

The Company–s capital expenditures totaled $28.5 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared with $85.3 million in the third quarter of 2012. Capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2013 totaled $108.7 million compared with $331.3 million in the first nine months of 2012. Lower capital spending in 2013 reflects the Company–s focus on disciplined capital spending in light of the current market conditions. The Company remains on track to meet its capital expenditure target of approximately $150 million in 2013.

Available liquidity was $614.0 million at the end of the third quarter of 2013, consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $293.1 million plus $320.9 million of availability under the Company–s $375 million revolving credit facility, net of outstanding letters of credit of $54.1 million. During the quarter, the Company issued $450 million of senior secured notes, due 2019. Proceeds from the notes were used to extinguish $250 million of the Company–s Term Loan A debt, with the remainder available for general corporate purposes. The Company has no material debt maturities until June of 2015.

Met coal production is expected to increase in the fourth quarter of 2013 as compared to the third quarter, as the Wolverine mine is moving into a more favorable phase in its mining cycle. The Company remains on track to achieve its full-year met coal production target of approximately 11 MMTs and an overall 15% reduction in year-over-year met coal production costs on a per ton basis.

This release contains the use of certain U.S. non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) measures. These non-GAAP measures are provided as supplemental information for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that these non-GAAP 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 measures is provided in the financial section of this release.

The Company will hold a webcast to discuss third quarter 2013 results on Wednesday, October 30, 2013, 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 high-growth steel markets in Asia, South America and Europe. The Company also produces thermal coal, anthracite, metallurgical coke and coal bed methane gas. Walter Energy employs approximately 3,500 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; the global economic crisis; market conditions beyond Walter Energy–s control; prolonged decline in the price of coal; decline in global coal or steel demand; prolonged or dramatic shortages or difficulties in coal production; Walter Energy customers– refusal to honor or renew contracts; Walter Energy–s ability to collect payments from its customers; weather patterns and conditions affecting production, geological, equipment and other operational risks associated with mining; availability of adequate skilled employees and other labor relations matters; title defects preventing Walter Energy from (or resulting in additional costs for) mining its mineral interests; availability of licenses, permits, and other authorizations that may be subject to challenge; concentration of Walter Energy–s mineral operations in a limited number of areas; a significant reduction of, or loss of purchases by, Walter Energy–s largest customers; unavailability of cost-effective transportation for Walter Energy–s coal; availability, performance and costs of railroad, barge, truck and other transportation; disruptions or delays at the port facilities used by Walter Energy; risks associated with Walter Energy–s reclamation and mine closure obligations, including failure to obtain or renew surety bonds; inaccuracies in our estimates of coal reserves; estimates concerning economically recoverable coal reserves; significant cost increases and delays in the delivery of raw materials, mining equipment and purchased components; failure to meet project development and expansion targets; risks associated with operating in foreign jurisdictions; significant increase in competitive pressures and foreign currency fluctuations; new laws and regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that impact the demand for Walter Energy–s coal reserves; greater than anticipated costs incurred for compliance with environmental liabilities or limitations on Walter Energy–s ability to produce or sell coal; future regulations that may increase Walter Energy–s costs or limit its ability to produce coal; risks related to Walter Energy–s indebtedness and its ability to generate cash for its financial obligations; inability to access needed capital; events beyond Walter Energy–s control that may result in an event of default under one or more of its debt instruments; costs related to Walter Energy–s post-retirement benefit obligations and workers– compensation obligations; downgrade in Walter Energy–s credit rating; adverse rulings in current or future litigations; Walter Energy–s ability to attract and retain key personnel; Walter Energy–s ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates to promote growth; Walter Energy–s ability to integrate acquisitions successfully; Walter Energy–s exposure to indemnification obligations; volatility in the price of our common stock; our ability to pay regular dividends to stockholders; 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 our 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.

Ruth Pachman
212-521-4891

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Mark Tubb
205-745-2627