November 14, 2019 - Contura Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CTRA), a leading U.S. coal supplier, today reported results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2019.

Highlights include:

• Net Loss from continuing operations of $(44) million for the third quarter 2019 compared with Net Income of $24 million in the second quarter and $14 million in the same period last year[1]
• Adjusted EBITDA[3] of $40 million for the quarter compared with $141 million in the second quarter and $39 million in the same period last year[1]
• Returned $32 million to shareholders in the third quarter through share repurchases
• Updating 2019 guidance and introducing 2020 guidance
• Closed transaction on October 18 with Eagle Specialty Materials related to Powder River Basin

“With global metallurgical coal market conditions deteriorating to a 3-year low and our thermal cost performance coming in weaker than expectations, Contura ended the third quarter with a disappointing Adjusted EBITDA result,” said chairman and chief executive officer, David Stetson. “We are keenly focused on cost control and are confident that our 2020 cost performance will be greatly improved over the current year.”

Financial Performance

Contura reported a net loss from continuing operations of $43.6 million, or $2.29 per diluted share, for the third quarter 2019. In the second quarter 2019, the company had net income from continuing operations of $24.3 million or $1.25 per diluted share.

Total Adjusted EBITDA was $40.0 million for the third quarter, compared with $140.8 million in the second quarter.

Beginning with the third quarter, the company will report Central Appalachia – Met (CAPP – Met) and Trading & Logistics (T&L) segments as a single reportable segment under the CAPP – Met designation. T&L will no longer be reported as a standalone segment. To conform to the current period reportable segments presentation, the prior periods have been restated to reflect the change in reportable segments.

Coal revenues in the third quarter for CAPP – Met coal were $323.0 million, CAPP – Thermal revenues totaled $70.3 million, and Northern Appalachia (NAPP) coal revenues totaled $67.8 million. Comparatively, in the second quarter 2019, CAPP – Met, including T&L, revenues were $426.4 million, CAPP – Thermal revenues were $73.5 million, and NAPP revenues were $76.2 million.

CAPP – Met tons sold for the third quarter 2019 were 3.0 million tons, compared to 3.4 million tons, including T&L, in the second quarter. CAPP – Thermal tons sold totaled 1.1 million tons in the third quarter, down from 1.2 million tons in the second quarter. Contura sold 1.6 million tons of NAPP coal during the third quarter, a decrease of 0.1 million tons from the second quarter 2019.

The average CAPP – Met coal sales realization for the third quarter 2019 was $108.35 per ton, compared with $124.34 per ton, including T&L, in the second quarter. CAPP – Thermal coal average price was $61.46 per ton in the third quarter, down slightly from $61.83 per ton in the second quarter, while the average NAPP realization in the third quarter was $41.33 per ton, compared with an average price of $43.64 per ton in the second quarter.

Cost of coal sales in CAPP – Met for the quarter averaged $87.32 per ton, up from $87.13 per ton in the second quarter.

NAPP costs of $43.87 per ton increased due to lower production volume, primarily associated with the previously-announced longwall move and employee vacations. In the second quarter 2019, NAPP cost of coal sales averaged $30.86 per ton. CAPP – Thermal cost of coal sales was $59.17 per ton in the third quarter, up from $51.45 per ton in the second quarter due to lower production at the Empire Mine, which was mined out, and Republic Mine, where the production was adjusted due to soft thermal coal sales. In addition, a $3 million environmental settlement was incurred during the quarter, contributing approximately $3.00 per ton to the CAPP – Thermal variance.

The CAPP – Met adjusted cost of produced coal sold was $83.10 per ton for the third quarter compared with $82.11 per ton in the second quarter 2019. On the thermal side, the CAPP – Thermal adjusted cost of coal produced per ton in the third quarter was $59.13 per ton, up from $51.34 in the second quarter, while NAPP costs were $43.87 per ton compared with $30.86 per ton in the second quarter.

SG&A expenses for the third quarter 2019 were $17.4 million compared with $14.8 million in the second quarter. The third quarter 2019 SG&A was $15.2 million, excluding non-cash stock compensation expense of $2.2 million. DD&A was $60.8 million during the third quarter 2019 compared with $62.8 million in the second quarter 2019.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash provided by operating activities for the third quarter 2019, including discontinued operations, was $20.4 million, and capital expenditures for the third quarter were $60.3 million, including approximately $16.5 million associated with the Pax and Lowell metallurgical mine transactions. Working capital was essentially unchanged from the second quarter. In the prior period, the cash provided by operating activities was $102.5 million and capital expenditures were $42.8 million.

At the end of September 2019, Contura had $152.6 million in unrestricted cash, a decrease of $97.0 million in the third quarter, and $290.7 million in restricted cash, deposits and investments. Total long-term debt, including the current portion of long-term debt as of September 30, 2019, was approximately $592.8 million. At the end of the third quarter, the company had total liquidity of $354.1 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $152.6 million, unrestricted investments of $25.1 million and $176.4 million of unused commitments available under the Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2019, the company had no borrowings and $48.6 million in letters of credit outstanding under the Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility.

Share Repurchase Plan Update

After adopting a $250 million capital return program in the second quarter, the company’s board authorized a $100 million stock repurchase plan on August 29, 2019. As of September 30, 2019, Contura had repurchased approximately 1.03 million shares for an aggregate consideration of $32.5 million, or $31.54 per share. Subsequent to the quarter end, the company has suspended future repurchase activities due to continued softness in the metallurgical coal markets and accelerated cash outflows associated with the PRB transaction.

Closed Transaction With Eagle Specialty Materials Related to PRB

On October 18, 2019 the company announced the closing of its previously-announced transaction with Eagle Specialty Materials (ESM) related to the Powder River Basin. In connection with the closing of the transaction, the surety bonding previously posted by Contura’s subsidiary, Contura Coal West, LLC (Contura Coal West), in the amount of $238 million has been replaced with substitute surety bonds arranged by ESM. Neither Contura nor Contura Coal West will have any liability in respect of those substitute surety bonds.

As part of the agreement between Contura and ESM, Contura paid to ESM cash consideration of $81.3 million and has agreed to pay an additional $8.7 million into an escrow account to be released to ESM when Contura is satisfied that certain federal royalty claims have been released. Furthermore, Contura has paid $13.5 million to Campbell County, Wyoming for ad valorem back taxes.

2019 and 2020 Full-Year Guidance

The company is adjusting its total 2019 coal shipments guidance to a range of 23.2 million to 24.6 million tons, from the previously announced range of 23.9 million to 25.6 million tons. CAPP – Met coal guidance is reduced to a range of 12.4 million to 13.0 million tons, from 12.8 million to 13.7 million tons, due to softer market conditions, especially in Europe and South America. NAPP shipments are now expected to be between 6.5 million and 6.9 million tons in 2019, down from 6.8 million to 7.2 million tons. The guidance range for CAPP – Thermal shipments remains unchanged at 4.3 million to 4.7 million tons.

As of October 28, 2019, 96 percent of the midpoint of anticipated 2019 CAPP – Met shipments were committed and priced at an average expected per-ton realization of $117.65, with an additional 4 percent committed and priced based on various indices. Based on the midpoint of guidance, 100 percent of anticipated 2019 NAPP coal shipments were committed and priced at an average expected per-ton realization of $43.13. The CAPP – Thermal segment is 100 percent committed at the midpoint of expected shipments at an average price of $58.26 per ton.

Contura is increasing its guidance for 2019 CAPP – Met cost of coal sales per ton to $87.00 to $90.00, as CAPP – Met now includes the T&L segment, which typically has higher costs than our captive mines. Slightly more than $1.00 per ton of the cost increase is related to merging our former CAPP – Met and T&L segments into one CAPP – Met segment. Separate from our prior standalone T&L segment, previously announced 2019 guidance for the CAPP – Met segment was $83.00 to $87.00 per ton. CAPP – Thermal costs are estimated to be $55.00 and $59.00 per ton, up from $52.00 to $57.00. NAPP costs are now expected to be in the range of $36.00 to $38.00 per ton compared with $34.00 to $37.00 previously. Costs related to the company’s idle operations are expected to be within a range of $16 million and $20 million for the full-year 2019.

Contura’s 2019 SG&A guidance remains at a range of $60 million to $65 million, excluding non-recurring items and stock compensation. Capital expenditure guidance is unchanged in the range of $170 million to $190 million. Depreciation, depletion and amortization for 2019 is expected to be between $245 million and $255 million and 2019 cash interest expense to be between $45 million and $49 million.

For 2020, the company expects its CAPP – Met shipments to increase from 2019 to a range of 12.7 million tons to 13.3 million tons, while CAPP – Thermal volume is being reduced to 3.4 million tons to 4.0 million tons. NAPP is also expected to be lower in 2020 with a guidance range of 6.0 million ton to 6.8 million tons as we prepare to move into a new district in 2021 with longer panels and fewer longwall moves, which we expect to increase our productivity and efficiency starting in 2022.

For 2020, Contura has committed and priced approximately 32% of CAPP – Met at an average expected price of $102.88 per ton, while we are 92% committed and priced at an average price of $55.90 per ton for CAPP – Thermal and 97% committed and priced for NAPP at an average price of $43.42 per ton.

As we continue to implement our cost containment processes, the company expects to see a meaningful decline in 2020 CAPP – Met cost of coal sales per ton to a range of $76.00 to $81.00. CAPP – Thermal is expected to be in the range of $56.00 to $60.00 per ton and NAPP in the range of $34.00 to $38.00 per ton.

For 2020, the company expects its SG&A to be in the range of $60 million to $65 million, excluding non-recurring items and stock compensation. Our 2020 capital expenditures are estimated in the range of $175 million to $195 million; depreciation, depletion and amortization to be between $230 million and $260 million; and cash interest expense in the range of $48 million and $52 million.

For financial figures, click here.

Notes:

1. Based on committed and priced coal shipments as of October 28, 2019. Committed percentage based on the midpoint of shipment guidance range.

2. Actual average per-ton realizations on committed and priced tons recognized in future periods may vary based on actual freight expense in future periods relative to assumed freight expense embedded in projected average per-ton realizations.

3. Includes estimates of future coal shipments based upon contract terms and anticipated delivery schedules. Actual coal shipments may vary from these estimates.

4. Excludes expenses related to non-cash stock compensation, merger-related expenses and non-recurring business development expenses