Revenue for the Quarter Exceeds Forecast
Cash on hand Increased from Year End 
Selling, General & Administrative Expense Run Rate Reduced
Strategic Actions Implemented to Lower Costs Further in 2020

Highlights of the First Quarter 2020*

• Revenue of $159.5 million, exceeding forecast
  
  
• Cash from operations of $6.1 million
  
  
• Credit facility amended, to provide covenant flexibility while maintaining liquidity
  
  
• Selling, general and administrative expenses of $41.6 million, down despite additive acquisition
  
  
• Capital expenditures of $4.4 million, down 23% reflecting lower full year CapEx budget
  
  
• Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) and related impact on crude oil prices trigger non-cash impairment charges of $106.1 million; $92.1 million after-tax basis

* All comparisons are consolidated and versus the equivalent prior year period, unless otherwise noted.

PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., May 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mistras Group, Inc. (MG: NYSE), a leading “one source” global provider of technology-enabled asset protection solutions, reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Chief Executive Officer Dennis Bertolotti stated, “Mistras continues to provide the essential services that help organizations comply with increasingly complex environmental, safety and other regulations.  In these challenging times our employees remain on the front line, now focused not only on the safety of the facilities they serve, but on their health as well as the health of those around them. I am proud of how our team has responded to these conditions, delivering outstanding service while simultaneously positioning Mistras to emerge from this global pandemic stronger and better prepared to further our industry leadership.”

“As recently forecasted, revenues were down in the first quarter of 2020 compared to a year ago, though less than anticipated due to our ability to quickly react to dynamic market conditions.  This reduction impacted margins and profits.”

“Cash flows held strong at $6.1 million, representing one of the recurring strengths of our business model. Overhead spending reflects the costs inherited in our New Century acquisition and spending levels prior to the cost reductions that were put in place at the start of the second quarter.  Overhead spending is expected to be down approximately 10% over the balance of the year, as a result of the strategic actions implemented. Consequently, we remain optimistic we will achieve our plan to generate positive operating cash flow and adjusted EBITDA, each and every quarter this year, thereby enabling us to fund operations as well as reduce our total outstanding debt by year end. We amended our credit facility effective May 15, 2020, providing for more flexibility in covenants and saving interest on previously unused capacity, while maintaining a sufficient level of liquidity.”

“The severe contraction in near term economic activity is causing delays in projects, primarily in the energy markets, the result of which will be further decreases in revenues in the second quarter of 2020.  Beyond the second quarter 2020, recent stabilization in the crude oil markets and the relaxing of certain stay-in-place mandates are allowing some of our energy industry customers to consider commencing delayed projects and restarting idled projects over the second half of the year.  While it is extremely difficult to forecast with any degree of certainty, we are optimistic the second quarter will represent the low point of the year, with our prospects progressively improving in the third and fourth quarter.  This should result in operating cash flow and adjusted EBITDA up significantly in the second half of the year from the first half of the year.  Our plan is to exit fiscal 2020 on a growth trajectory and with momentum heading into next year.”

“Mistras has previously overcome stiff headwinds and we will emerge from these challenges all the stronger for it.  We are confident that our long-term prospects have not changed.  Our strategy to continually increase the value we deliver through innovative new technology, expansion into complementary adjacent businesses, and the introduction of new services will strengthen our business and create value for shareholders.”

Performance by key segments during the quarter was as follows:

Services segment first quarter revenues decreased by $11.4 million or 8.1%, consistent with the slowdown in energy markets anticipated last quarter. For the first quarter, gross profit margins were 25.0%, down from the year-ago quarter of 26.6% due to a lower level of utilization created by the first quarter energy market slowdown.

International segment first quarter revenues decreased by $6.1 million or 17.3%, consistent with the anticipated slowdown in aerospace as well as the continued runoff of the European Staff Leasing business, in addition to unfavorable currency translation. International segment first quarter gross profit margin was 27.6%, down from the year ago quarter of 29.5%.

Non-Cash Impairment Charges
During the first quarter of 2020, the impact of COVID-19 and drop in crude oil prices was deemed to be a triggering event, requiring the Company to perform an interim assessment. As a result, the Company recorded non-cash $106.1 million impairment charges in the first quarter of 2020, comprised of $77.1 million related to goodwill and $29.0 million related to primarily intangible assets.  On an after-tax basis, this was $92.1 million or $3.18 per diluted share. Since this was a non-cash charge, it had no other impact on Mistras’ ongoing operations.

Credit Agreement Amended
Although the Company was in compliance with its bank covenants at March 31, 2020, it nevertheless executed an amendment effective May 15, 2020 to gain additional covenant flexibility.  The Company maintained the remaining maturity of its existing credit agreement through December 2023 including a $94 million term loan, but reduced its revolving credit line to a maximum of $175 million, ensuring an adequate level of liquidity to fund its business.  The Company additionally maintains a $100 million uncommitted accordion within the amended credit agreement, for potential expansion in the future.  

The Company’s net debt (total debt less cash and cash equivalents) was $241.0 million at March 31, 2020, compared to $239.7 million at December 31, 2019. Gross debt increased by $3.3 million during the first quarter of 2020, from $254.7 million at the end of the year to $258.0 million at March 31, 2020.

The Company generated $6.1 million of cash flows from operating activities in the first quarter of 2020, compared with $8.2 million in the year ago period.  The Company generated a net loss of $98.5 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared with a net loss of $5.3 million the prior year period, due primarily to the aforementioned non-cash impairment charges. The Company generated adjusted EBITDA of $5.4 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared with $12.7 million in the prior year period.

Guidance for 2020
Ongoing macro concerns attributable to the impact of COVID-19 coronavirus, continue to put crude oil prices under intense pressure. Given the continuing economic uncertainty, the Company is not providing guidance for the full year 2020. The Company does anticipate revenues for the second quarter of 2020 to decrease up to high 30% from the prior period level, although cash from operations and adjusted EBITDA are expected to remain positive.  While it is extremely difficult to forecast with any degree of certainty at this time, the Company is optimistic that consolidated revenue in the second half of 2020 will be higher than the first half of 2020 with corresponding improvements in both cash flow and adjusted EBITDA.  This outlook is contingent on continuing macroeconomic improvements, including  stabilization in the crude oil markets and the relaxing of certain stay-in-place mandates.

Conference Call
In connection with this release, MISTRAS will hold a conference call on May 19, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern). The call will be broadcast over the Web and can be accessed on MISTRAS' Website, www.mistrasgroup.com. Individuals in the U.S. wishing to participate in the conference call by phone may dial 1-844-832-7227 and use confirmation code 6350977 when prompted. The International dial-in number is 1-224-633-1529.  Those who wish to listen to the call later can access an archived copy of the conference call at the MISTRAS Website.

About MISTRAS Group, Inc.
MISTRAS offers one of the broadest "one source" services and technology-enabled asset protection solution portfolios in the industry used to evaluate the structural integrity of energy, industrial and public infrastructure and aerospace components. Mission critical services and solutions are delivered globally and provide customers with the ability to extend the useful life of their assets, improve productivity and profitability, comply with government safety and environmental regulations and enhance risk management operational decisions.

MISTRAS uniquely combines its industry leading products and technologies; mechanical integrity ("MI") and non-destructive testing ("NDT") services; destructive testing services; and its proprietary world class data warehousing and analysis software and online monitoring - to provide comprehensive and competitive products, systems and services solutions from a single source provider.

For more information, please visit the company's website at www.mistrasgroup.com or contact Nestor S. Makarigakis, Group Vice President of Marketing at marcom@mistrasgroup.com.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
Certain statements made in this press release are "forward-looking statements" about MISTRAS' financial results and estimates, products and services, business model, strategy, growth opportunities, profitability and competitive position, and other matters. These forward-looking statements generally use words such as "future," "possible," "potential," "targeted," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "predict," "project," "will," "may," "should," "could," "would" and other similar words and phrases. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved, if at all. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in these statements. A list, description and discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties can be found in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 27, 2020, as updated by our reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and MISTRAS undertakes no obligation to update such statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures
In addition to financial information prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (GAAP), this press release also contains adjusted financial measures that we believe provide investors and management with supplemental information relating to operating performance and trends that facilitate comparisons between periods and with respect to projected information. The term "Adjusted EBITDA" used in this release is a financial measurement not calculated in accordance with GAAP and is defined as net income attributable to MISTRAS Group, Inc. plus: interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense and certain acquisition related costs (including transaction due diligence costs and adjustments to the fair value of contingent consideration), foreign exchange (gain) loss, non-cash impairment charges and, if applicable, certain additional special items which are noted. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to a financial measurement under GAAP is set forth in a table attached to this press release. In the press release, the Company also uses the term "non-GAAP Net Income", which is GAAP net income adjusted for certain items management believes are unusual and non-recurring. In the tables attached is a table reconciling "Net Income (Loss) (GAAP)" to "Net Income Excluding Special Items (non-GAAP), which reconciles the non-GAAP amount to a GAAP measurement. In addition, the Company has also included in the attached tables non-GAAP measurement” “Segment and Total Company Income (Loss) Before Special Items”, reconciling these measurements to financial measurements under GAAP. The Company uses the term “free cash flow”, a non-GAAP measurement the Company defines as cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures (which is classified as an investing activity). The Company also uses the term “net debt”, a non-GAAP measurement defined as the sum of the current and long-term portions of long-term debt, less cash and cash equivalent.

Mistras Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
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Mistras Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
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Mistras Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
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Mistras Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
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Mistras Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
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Mistras Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
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Mistras Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
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Mistras Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
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⁽¹⁾ For the three months ended March 31, 2020, 99 shares related to restricted stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS due to the net loss for the period. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, 212 and 168 shares related to stock options and restricted stock, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS due to the net loss for the period.

Source: MISTRAS Group, Inc.