EPiC Energy Resources Announces Third Quarter 2009 Results

Wed Nov 11, 8:00 AM

HOUSTON, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EPiC Energy Resources, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: EPCC.OB) ("EPiC") a provider of engineering, management consulting, training and data management services to the energy industry, today announced its financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Since its inception, EPiC has grown through three accretive acquisitions. In August 2007, EPiC acquired The Carnrite Group, LLC ("Carnrite"), a management consulting company focused on providing strategic and operational consulting services to the broad energy industry. In December 2007, EPiC acquired Pearl Investment Company ("Pearl"), a diversified engineering and energy services company. In February 2008, EPiC acquired Epic Integrated Solutions, LLC ("EIS"), a global training and documentation company.

Despite the challenging economic environment, EPiC continues to work to expand its revenue base, both domestically and internationally, and manage costs aggressively. EPiC believes achievement of these major milestones will better position us to weather the economic downturn and emerge stronger when our industry and the economy improves.

Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results:

    --  Revenues were $13.4 million for the third quarter of 2009, a 59%
        decrease compared to the $21.3 million for the third quarter of 2008.
        --  Consulting fee revenue was $6.4 million for the third quarter of
            2009, a 55% decrease compared to $14.2 million for the third quarter
            of 2008.
        --  Reimbursed materials revenue was $7.0 million for the third quarter
            of 2009 compared to $7.1 million for the third quarter of 2008.
        --  Income from Operations was $632,000 for the third quarter of 2009, a
            3% increase compared to $615,000 for the third quarter of 2008.
    --  EBITDA was $1.4 million for the third quarter of 2009, a 17.7% decrease
        compared to  $1.7 million for the third quarter of 2008. EBITDA is a
        non-GAAP measure and is defined and reconciled to net income later in
        this press release.

    --  For the third quarter of 2009, EPiC had net income of $1.2 million, or
        $0.03 per weighted average common share outstanding, compared to a net
        loss of $3.3 million, or ($0.08) per share in the third quarter of 2008.

Nine months ended September 30, 2009 Financial Results:

    --  Revenues were $32.9 million for the nine months ended September 30,
        2009, a 41% decrease compared to $55.4 million for the nine months ended
        September 30, 2008.
        --  Consulting fee revenue was $21.2 million for the nine months ended
            September 30, 2009, a 32% decrease as compared to $31.2 million for
            the nine months ended September 30, 2008.
        --  Reimbursed materials revenue was $11.7 million for the nine months
            ended September 30, 2009 as compared to $24.2 million for the nine
            months ended September 30, 2008.
    --  Income (Loss) from Operations was $0.1 million for the nine months ended
        September 30, 2009, compared to a $1.3 million loss for the nine months
        ended September 30, 2008.
    --  EBITDA was $3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, a
        333% increase compared to $0.8 million for the nine months ended
        September 30, 2008.  EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and is defined and
        reconciled to net income later in this press release.
    --  For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, EPiC had a net loss of
        $3.8 million, or $0.09 per weighted average common share outstanding, a
        55% improvement compared to a net loss of $8.4 million, or $0.19 per
        share for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Net loss for the
        year was negatively impacted by non-cash expenses of stock compensation,
        amortization of intangible assets, and a loss on the write down of an
        asset held for sale.  Excluding these non-cash expenses, net loss for
        the nine months ended September 30, 2009 would have been $1.3 million or
        $0.03 per diluted share.

    --  Net cash flows from operations for the nine months ended September 30,
        2009 was $2.2 million. Net cash flow used in financing activities for
        the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $6.3 million, all of which
        was related to debt payments.

As of September 30, 2009, Epic's combined backlog for consulting services to be performed in the future was approximately $19.8 million. This compares with a combined backlog of approximately $28.3 million as of September 30, 2008.

Conference Call

EPiC will host a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2009 results on November 11, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central). To access the call, please dial (866) 253-6505 at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available on our website at www.1epic.com as well. For more information, please contact Mike Kinney at (281)863-9635 or email at mkinney@1epic.com.

About EPiC

EPiC Energy Resources is a Houston-based integrated energy services company. EPiC provides consulting, engineering, construction management, operations, maintenance, specialized training and data management services focused primarily on the upstream and midstream energy infrastructure. Services are provided through Pearl, a diversified engineering and energy services company; Carnrite, a management consulting company focused on providing strategic and operational consulting services to the broad energy industry; and EIS, a global training and data management services company. EPiC is headquartered at 1450 Lake Robbins Drive, Suite 160, The Woodlands, Texas 77380. Office - 281-419-3742, www.1epic.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this release constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's belief and assumptions derived from currently available information. Although EPiC Energy Resources ("EPiC") believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Actual results could differ materially from forward-looking statements expressed or implied herein as a result of a variety of factors including, but not limited to: a decline in the price of, or demand for, oil and gas, demand for EPiC's services, loss or unavailability of key personnel, inability to recruit or retain personnel, competition for customers and contracts, various potential losses associated with fixed-price contracts, general economic conditions, and other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in EPiC's SEC filings. EPiC does not undertake any obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

(1) This earnings release contains references to the non-GAAP financial measure of earnings (net income) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or "EBITDA." EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, net income or loss, cash flows provided by operating, investing and financing activities, or other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. However, Epic believes EBITDA is a useful supplemental financial measure used by its management and directors and by external users of its financial statements, such as investors, to assess:

    --  The financial performance of its assets without regard to financing
        methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;
    --  The ability of its assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest on
        its indebtedness; and

    --  Its operating performance and return on invested capital as compared to
        those of other companies in the well servicing industry, without regard
        to financing methods and capital structure.

EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income and operating income, and these measures may vary among other companies. Limitations to using EBITDA as an analytical tool include:

    --  EBITDA does not reflect current or future requirements for capital
        expenditures or capital commitments;
    --  EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements necessary to
        service interest or principal payments on, debt;
    --  EBITDA does not reflect income taxes;
    --  Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets
        being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the
        future, and EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such
        replacements; and

    --  Other companies in its industry may calculate EBITDA differently than
        Epic does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

The following table presents a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA, which is the most comparable non-GAAP performance measure, for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):


                                            (Unaudited)          (Unaudited)
                                           Three months          Nine months
                                              Ended                Ended
    Reconciliation of Net Income            September 30,       September 30,
     to EBITDA:                           2009       2008     2009       2008
    ----------------------------          ----       ----     ----       ----
    Net Income (Loss)                   $1,180    $(3,296) $(3,769)   $(8,369)
      Interest expense                   1,566      1,629    5,439      4,714
      Income taxes                          32         11       32         11
      Depreciation and amortization        730      1,032    2,591      1,966
      Loss on write down of assets           -          -      480          -
      Other (income ) expenses          (2,145)     2,281   (1,468)     2,441
                                        ------      -----   ------      -----
    EBITDA                              $1,363     $1,657   $3,305       $763
                                        ======     ======   ======       ====



                            -Financials to Follow-

                          EPIC ENERGY RESOURCES INC.
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                      (In thousands, except share data)
                                   (Unaudited)

                                                      September    December
                                                         30,          31,
                                                         2009        2008
                                                         ----        ----
    ASSETS                                            (unaudited)
    Current Assets
      Cash and cash equivalents                          $479      $4,785
      Accounts receivable:
        Billed, net of allowance of $6,338 and
         $6,570, respectively                          10,146      10,690
        Unbilled                                        1,362         388
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets           532       2,027
                                                          ---       -----
          Total current assets                         12,519      17,890
    Property and equipment, net                         3,704       5,136
    Assets held for sale:
      Proved oil and gas properties (full cost
       method), net of accumulated depletion
       and impairments of $0 and $9,257,
       respectively                                         -       1,332
      Other mineral reserves                                -         783
      Other asset held for sale                         3,395       3,875
    Other assets                                           49          45
    Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated
     amortization of $807 and $481, respectively        1,222       1,548
    Goodwill                                           18,837      18,837
    Other intangible assets, net                       11,277      12,666
                                                       ------      ------
    Total assets                                      $51,003     $62,112
                                                      =======     =======
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current Liabilities
      Accounts payable                                 $1,426      $5,404
      Accrued liabilities                               2,977       3,762
      Deferred revenue                                 10,065       2,684
      Customer deposits                                 1,014       4,505
      Current liabilities associated with
       assets held for sale                               328       4,383
      Current portion of long-term debt                 6,404       7,504
                                                        -----       -----
          Total current liabilities                    22,214      28,242
    Long-term liabilities associated with
     assets held for sale                               3,707       3,949
    Long-term debt, net                                 4,615       6,372
    Derivative liability                                1,268           -
    Deferred tax liability                              1,775       1,775
                                                        -----       -----
    Total liabilities                                  33,579      40,338
                                                       ------      ------
    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
      Common stock, no par value: 100,000,000
       shares authorized; 44,105,781 and
       43,495,160 shares issued and
       outstanding, respectively                       33,639      41,783
      Additional paid-in capital                        1,786      15,014
      Accumulated deficit                             (18,001)    (35,023)
                                                      -------     -------
    Total stockholders' equity                         17,424      21,774
                                                       ------      ------
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity        $51,003     $62,112
                                                      =======     =======


                              EPIC ENERGY RESOURCES INC.
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                (In thousands, except share data and per share data)
                                   (Unaudited)


                               Three months ended         Nine months ended
                                  September 30,               September 30,
                               -------------------        -----------------
                               2009           2008        2009        2008
                               ----           ----        ----        ----
    REVENUES
      Consulting fees         $6,362        $14,176     $21,164     $31,192
      Reimbursed expenses      6,990          7,105      11,691      24,164
                               -----          -----      ------      ------
         Total revenues       13,352         21,281      32,855      55,356

    OPERATING EXPENSES
      Reimbursed expenses      5,325         10,391       8,213      22,092
      Compensation and
       benefits                4,690          5,979      14,700      19,376
      General and
       administrative            884          1,465       2,831       6,730
      Professional and
       subcontracted services    796          1,449       2,975       5,431
      Occupancy, communication
       and other                 295            350         916       1,031
      Depreciation and
       amortization              730          1,032       2,591       1,966
      Impairment charges           -              -         480           -
                                 ---            ---         ---         ---
         Total operating
          expenses            12,720         20,666      32,706      56,626
    Income (loss) from
     operations                  632            615         149      (1,270)

    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
      Derivative gain (loss)   2,145              -        (481)          -
      Interest expense        (1,566)        (1,629)     (5,439)     (4,714)
      Interest and other
       income (expense)            1         (2,167)         86      (2,110)
                                 ---         ------          --      ------
           Total other
            income
            (expense), net       580         (3,796)     (5,834)     (6,824)
                                 ---         ------      ------       -----
    Income (loss) from
     continuing operations
     before taxes              1,212         (3,181)     (5,685)     (8,094)
    Income tax expense            32             11          32          11
                                 ---            ---         ---         ---
    Income (loss)
     from continuing
     operations                1,180         (3,192)     (5,717)     (8,105)
                               -----         ------      ------      ------

    DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
      Loss from operations of
       oil and gas segment         -           (104)       (162)       (264)
      Gain on sale of oil
       and gas properties          -              -       2,110           -
                                 ---            ---       -----         ---
       Income (loss)
        from
        discontinued
        operations                 -           (104)      1,948        (264)
                                 ---           ----       -----        ----
    Net income (loss)         $1,180        $(3,296)    $(3,769)    $(8,369)
                              ======        =======     =======     =======

    Income (loss) per
     common share - basic
     and diluted:
      Income (loss) from
       continuing
       operations              $0.03         $(0.07)     $(0.13)     $(0.18)
      Income (loss) from
       discontinued
       operations                  -          (0.01)       0.04       (0.01)
                                 ---          -----        ----       -----
      Net income (loss)        $0.03         $(0.08)     $(0.09)     $(0.19)
                               =====         ======      ======      ======

      Weighted average
       common shares
       outstanding -
       basic and
       diluted            44,105,781     43,041,827  44,063,189  42,993,378

                                  EPIC ENERGY RESOURCES INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                             (In thousands, except share data)
                                       (Unaudited)

                                                Additional
                               Common Stock      Paid-In  Accumulated
                            Shares       Amount  Capital    Deficit    Total
                            ------       ------  -------    -------    -----
    BALANCE,
     January 1, 2009       43,495,160  $41,783   $15,014   $(35,023) $21,774
    Cumulative effect
     of change in
     accounting principle           -   (8,144)  (13,395)    20,791     (748)
                                  ---   ------   -------     ------     ----
    BALANCE,
     January 1, 2009,
     as adjusted           43,495,160   33,639     1,619    (14,232)  21,026
    Amortization
     of stock
     options and
     stock bonuses                  -        -       167          -      167
    Issuance of
     vested shares            610,621        -         -          -        -
    Net loss                        -        -         -     (3,769)  (3,769)
                                  ---      ---       ---     ------   ------
    BALANCE,
     September 30,
     2009                  44,105,781  $33,639    $1,786   $(18,001) $17,424
                           ==========  =======    ======   ========  =======


                         EPIC ENERGY RESOURCES, INC
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                (In thousands)
                                  (Unaudited)

                                                        Nine Months Ended
                                                           September 30,
                                                           -------------
                                                       2009            2008
                                                       ----            ----
    OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
      Net loss                                       $(3,769)        $(8,369)
      Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
       cash provided by operating  activities:
         (Income) loss from discontinued operations   (1,948)            264
         Depreciation and amortization                 2,591           1,966
         Allowance for doubtful accounts                 206             661
         Amortization of debt discount and debt
          issuance costs                               3,835           2,624
         Impairment of asset held for sale               480               -
         Stock-based compensation expense                167             875
         Loss on sale of property and equipment          254             486
         Derivative loss                                 481               -
         Gain on early extinguishment of debt            (94)              -
         Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
           Accounts receivable                          (636)         (7,508)
           Prepaid expenses and other current assets   1,495              28
           Other non-current assets                       (3)            157
           Accounts payable                           (3,978)          7,027
           Accrued liabilities                          (733)          1,450
           Customer deposits                          (3,491)          1,488
           Deferred revenue                            7,381           2,214
                                                       -----           -----
    Net cash provided by operating activities          2,238           3,363
                                                       -----           -----
    INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
      Increase in restricted cash                          -           2,491
      Purchases of property and equipment               (205)         (1,352)
      Proceeds from sale of property and equipment        52               -
      Acquisition of EIS, net of cash received             -            (232)
                                                         ---            ----
    Net cash provided by (used in) investing
     activities                                         (153)            907
                                                        ----             ---
    FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
      Bank overdrafts                                      -          (3,442)
      Payments on debt                                (6,103)           (825)
                                                      ------            ----
    Cash used in financing activities                 (6,103)         (4,267)
                                                      ------          ------
    DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
      Net cash used in operating activities              (63)              -
      Net cash used in financing activities             (225)              -
                                                        ----             ---
    Net cash used in discontinued operations            (288)              -
                                                        ----             ---
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents         (4,306)              3
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     4,785           3,483
                                                       -----           -----
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period            $479          $3,486
                                                        ====          ======

    SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURES:
    Cash paid for interest                            $2,262          $2,115
    NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
    Settlement of notes payable and accrued
     interest through sale of oil and gas properties  $3,993              $-
    Cumulative net effect of change in accounting
     principle                                          $748              $-
    Settlement of notes payable through sale of
     property and equipment                             $128              $-
    Stock issued  for EIS acquisition                     $-          $1,050
    Notes payable used to acquire property and
     equipment                                            $-            $488

SOURCE EPiC Energy Resources, Inc.