HIL - Hill International Reports 2022 Second Quarter Financial Results

Net Income Improved to $1.4 Million and Adjusted EBITDA Rose 70.9% to $6.5 Million

Reiterates 2022 Outlook

Second Quarter 2022 Overview

• Total revenue increased to $105.7 million from $101.5 million in the prior year period.
• Consulting Fee Revenue (“CFR”) rose 12.9% to $87.7 million from $77.7 million in the prior year period
• Gross profit up 19.6% to $37.4 million from $31.3 million in the prior year period
• Net income improved to $1.4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, from a net loss of $(0.5) million, or $(0.01) per diluted share in the prior year period; adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure) improved to $3.2 million from adjusted net loss of $(0.07) million in the prior year period
• Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) increased 70.9% to $6.5 million from $3.8 million in the same period last year
  

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hill International, Inc. (NYSE:HIL) ("Hill" or the "Company"), delivering the infrastructure of change, announced today its financial results for the second quarter ("Q2 2022") and six months ended June 30, 2022.

“Demand for Hill's services is accelerating across our end markets and geographies, with an emphasis on U.S. infrastructure projects," said Raouf Ghali, Hill's Chief Executive Officer. "We produced our second consecutive quarter of $80+ million CFR and quarter-over-quarter improvements in gross profit, operating income, and Adjusted EBITDA, and a return to net profitability. Our team produced a strong new bookings quarter, including projects in the water, energy, transportation, food production, and high-profile / mixed use residential sectors. New business development activity is robust. We believe that we are well-positioned to capitalize on industry and end market opportunities and look forward to the balance of 2022 with great optimism."

"Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2022 increased by 70.9% to $6.5 million from the same period last year and by 110.9% to $9.7 million for the first six months of 2022," said Todd Weintraub, Hill's Chief Financial Officer. "Cash used in operations during Q2 2022 was $0.4 million, a significant improvement from a $3.3 million use of cash in the first quarter of 2022. We expect to generate positive cash flow for the remainder of 2022 and are forecasting strong overall business performance for the second half of 2022. We remain confident in our ability to achieve annual CFR of $340 million to $350 million and adjusted EBITDA of $22 million to $24 million."

Q2 2022 Financial Results Overview

Revenue increased to $105.7 million in Q2 2022 from $101.5 million in the second quarter of 2021 ("Q2 2021"), primarily reflecting a return to pre-COVID project activity levels, including returns to full staffing on certain existing projects and mobilizations on certain newly awarded projects.

Consulting fee revenue ("CFR") rose 12.9% to $87.7 million in Q2 2022 from $77.7 million in Q2 2021.

Gross profit in Q2 2022 increased 19.6% to $37.4 million, or 35.4% of total revenue, from $31.3 million, or 30.8% of total revenue, in Q2 2021, driven by higher CFR and improved contract profit margins.

Selling, general, and administrative ("SG&A") expenses in Q2 2022 rose 19.0% to $32.3 million, or 86.4% of total gross profit, from $27.1 million, or 86.6% of total gross profit, in Q2 2021. The increase in year-over-year SG&A reflected increased investments in Hill's business development team and additional expenses associated with increased CFR, as well as higher costs associated with consultants, temporary office support, and travel. SG&A in 2022 also included a $0.6 million charge related to a bond that was called. The Company has received a final court order to have the bond returned and expects to reverse its charge in the second half of 2022. SG&A expenses in Q2 2021 were reduced by $0.5 million representing an increase in bad debt recoveries associated with the receipt of payments against previously reserved receivables, on a Libyan-based project.

Excluding the impact of the above-referenced Libya bad debt recoveries and bond cost, SG&A expenses as a percentage of gross profit in Q2 2022 and 2021 would have been 84.7% and 88.1%, respectively. As previously announced, management has taken steps to ensure costs grow more slowly than gross profit. To this end, Hill has reduced the annual run rate of G&A expenses by approximately $4.0 million, the initial impact of which began to be realized in Q2 2022.

Operating profit for Q2 2022 improved to $4.5 million from $2.9 million in Q2 2021. Improved gross profit from higher CFR was partially offset by an increase in foreign currency exchange losses when compared to Q2 2021 and higher SG&A as discussed above. Adjusted operating profit, a non-GAAP measure (see definition and reconciliation in the table below) was $6.3 million in Q2 2022, compared to adjusted operating profit of $3.3 million in Q2 2021.

Net income attributable to Hill in Q2 2022 was $1.4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to net loss attributable to Hill of $(0.5) million, or $(0.01) per diluted share, in Q2 2021, driven by the same factors discussed above. Adjusted net income, a non-GAAP measure (see definition and reconciliation in the table below) which excludes the impact of foreign currency exchange losses, was $3.2 million in Q2 2022 compared to an adjusted net loss of $(0.07) million in Q2 2021.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure (see definition and reconciliation in the table below) was $6.5 million in Q2 2022, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $3.8 million in Q2 2021.

Financial Condition and Backlog

Net cash used in operating activities in Q2 2022 was $0.4 million compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $3.6 million in Q2 2021. Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure (see definition below) for Q2 2022 was $(0.8) million, which represents net cash used in operating activities, less $0.4 million in purchases of property and equipment during the quarter. Free cash flow during Q2 2021 was $3.3 million, which represents net cash provided by operating activities, less $0.2 million in property and equipment purchased during the quarter.

Unrestricted cash at June 30, 2022 was $20.3 million compared to unrestricted cash of $21.8 million at December 31, 2021. At June 30, 2022, the Company had approximately $6.2 in available and undrawn credit facilities and total liquidity was $28.5 million.

Backlog (which is a non-GAAP measure; see definition below) was $723.7 million at June 30, 2022 compared to $729.4 million at December 31, 2021.

2022 Financial Guidance

The Company reiterates its full-year 2022 guidance. For the full year, CFR is expected to be $340 million to $350 million with adjusted EBITDA of $22 million to $24 million.

Non-GAAP Measures

The following measures below are not measures of financial performance under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and should be considered in addition to and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the related measure of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Backlog

Backlog represents the Company's estimate of the amount of uncompleted projects under contract and awards in-hand that are expected to be recognized as CFR in future periods as a component of total revenue. Hill's backlog is based upon the binding nature of the underlying contract, commitment or letter of intent, and other factors, including the economic, financial and regulatory viability of the project and the likelihood of the contract being extended, renewed or canceled. Although backlog reflects business that the Company considers to be firm, cancellations or scope adjustments may occur. It is an important indicator of future performance and is used by the Company in planning Hill's operational needs. Backlog is not a measure defined in GAAP and the Company's methodology for determining backlog may not be comparable to the methodology used by other companies in determining their backlog.

Adjusted Operating Profit (Loss)

Adjusted operating profit (loss) is operating profit (loss), adjusted to exclude non-recurring items and non-cash items including unrealized foreign currency exchange losses (gains), share-based compensation and the write-off of leasehold improvements previously included in property and equipment on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company believes that adjusted operating profit (loss) is useful to investors and other external users of Hill's financial statements as a measure of a company's core ongoing operations, without regard to generally non-recurring items and non-cash activity.

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Hill

Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Hill is net income (loss) attributable to Hill, adjusted to exclude non-recurring and non-cash items including unrealized foreign currency exchange losses (gains), share-based compensation and the write-off of leasehold improvements previously included in property and equipment on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company believes that adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Hill is useful to investors and other external users of Hill's financial statements as a measure of a company's operating performance, without regard to generally non-recurring items and non-cash activity.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"), in addition to operating profit, net income, and other GAAP measures, is a useful indicator of Hill's financial and operating performance. Investors should recognize that EBITDA might not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. The Company believes that EBITDA is useful to investors and other external users of Hill's financial statements in evaluating its operating performance because EBITDA is widely used by investors to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to items such as interest expense, taxes, and depreciation and amortization, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods and book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired.

Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA, adjusted to exclude the impact of certain items, including non-recurring, one-time costs (as presented in the table below) and non-cash items such as unrealized foreign currency exchange losses (benefit) and share-based compensation expense. The Company believes that adjusted EBITDA helps its investors and other external users of Hill’s financial statements understanding of a company’s operating performance, without regard to non-recurring and other non-cash activity.

The Company does not provide a reconciliation of its 2022 financial guidance for such non-GAAP measure to GAAP due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliation, including adjustments that could be made for non-recurring, one-time costs and other charges reflected in its reconciliation of historic numbers.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, includes net cash provided by (used in) continuing operations, less purchases of property and equipment. Free cash flow is a useful indicator that provides additional perspective on Hill's ability to generate cash that is available to the Company for taxes and other corporate purposes. Investors should recognize that free cash flow might not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies. This measure should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, any measure of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 9:00 am ET to discuss the results and business activities. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing:

• (877) 407-9753 (Domestic) or
• (201) 493-6739 (International)

The call will also be accessible on the “Investor Relations” section of Hill’s website at www.hillintl.com. Click on “Financial Information” and then “Conferences and Calls”.

About Hill International

Hill International, with more than 3,000 professionals in over 100 offices worldwide, provides program management, project management, construction management, project management oversight, construction claims, dispute resolution, advisory, facilities management, and other consulting services to clients in a variety of market sectors. Engineering News-Record magazine recently ranked Hill as one of the largest construction management firms in the United States. For more information on Hill, please visit our website at www.hillintl.com.
Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is our intent that any such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Except for historical information, the matters set forth herein including, but not limited to, any statements of belief or intent, any statements concerning our plans, strategies, and objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that the expectations, estimates, and assumptions reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements are set forth in the Risk Factors section and elsewhere in the reports we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including that unfavorable global economic conditions may adversely impact our business, our backlog may not be fully realized as revenue, infrastructure legislation may not be implemented, and our expenses may be higher than anticipated. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement.

HILL INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)

HILL INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

HILL INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

HILL INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES
(In thousands)

The following table includes a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to its most directly comparable GAAP measure: