UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017

For the transition period from          to        

Commission file number: 000-51759

 

H&E Equipment Services, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

(225) 298‑5200

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

None

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☑    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ☑    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non‑accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.      ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☑

As of April 20, 2017, there were 35,574,803 shares of H&E Equipment Services, Inc. common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding.

 

 

 

 

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H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

March 31, 2017

 

 

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimate”, “target”, “project”, “intend”, “foresee” and similar expressions. These statements include, among others, statements regarding our expected business outlook, anticipated financial and operating results, our business strategy and means to implement the strategy, our objectives, the amount and timing of capital expenditures, the likelihood of our success in expanding our business, financing plans, budgets, working capital needs and sources of liquidity. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future.

Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of performance. These statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions, which in turn are based on currently available information. Important assumptions relating to the forward-looking statements include, among others, assumptions regarding demand for our products, the expansion of product offerings geographically or through new marketing applications, the timing and cost of planned capital expenditures, competitive conditions and general economic conditions. These assumptions could prove inaccurate. Forward-looking statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In addition, even if our actual results are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, those results may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we are under no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after we file this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise. Investors, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider the above mentioned factors carefully in evaluating the forward‑looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward‑looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results or performance.

For a more detailed discussion of some of the foregoing risks and uncertainties, see Item 1A — “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as well as other reports and registration statements filed by us with the SEC. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read with other cautionary statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our other public filings. All of our annual, quarterly and current reports, and any amendments thereto, filed with or furnished to the SEC are available on our Internet website under the Investor Relations link. For more information about us and the announcements we make from time to time, visit our Internet website at www.he-equipment.com.

 

 

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in thousands, except share amounts)

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

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H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

 

(1) Organization and Nature of Operations

Basis of Presentation

Our condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial position and results of operations of H&E Equipment Services, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries H&E Finance Corp., GNE Investments, Inc., Great Northern Equipment, Inc., H&E California Holding, Inc., H&E Equipment Services (California), LLC and H&E Equipment Services (Mid-Atlantic), Inc., collectively referred to herein as “we” or “us” or “our” or the “Company.”

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such regulations. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of all normal and recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017, and therefore, the results and trends in these interim condensed consolidated financial statements may not be the same for the entire year. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual audited consolidated financial statements and related notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, from which the consolidated balance sheet amounts as of December 31, 2016 were derived.

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in these condensed consolidated financial statements. Business combinations accounted for as purchases are included in the condensed consolidated financial statements from their respective dates of acquisition.

The nature of our business is such that short-term obligations are typically met by cash flows generated from long-term assets. Consequently, and consistent with industry practice, the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets are presented on an unclassified basis.

Nature of Operations

As one of the largest integrated equipment services companies in the United States focused on heavy construction and industrial equipment, we rent, sell and provide parts and services support for four core categories of specialized equipment: (1) hi-lift or aerial work platform equipment; (2) cranes; (3) earthmoving equipment; and (4) industrial lift trucks. By providing equipment rental, sales, on-site parts, repair and maintenance functions under one roof, we are a one-stop provider for our customers’ varied equipment needs. This full service approach provides us with multiple points of customer contact, enables us to maintain a high quality rental fleet, as well as an effective distribution channel for fleet disposal and provides cross‑selling opportunities among our new and used equipment sales, rental, parts sales and services operations.

 

 

(2) Significant Accounting Policies

We describe our significant accounting policies in note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.  During the three month period ended March 31, 2017, there were no significant changes to those accounting policies.

Use of Estimates

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which requires management to use its judgment to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and related disclosures at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. These assumptions and estimates could have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements. Actual results may differ materially from those estimates. We review our estimates on an ongoing basis based on information currently available, and changes in facts and circumstances may cause us to revise these estimates.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, entities will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under current guidance. These judgments and estimates may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 also requires an entity to disclose sufficient qualitative and quantitative information surrounding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This ASU supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification, and further permits the use of either a retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The FASB agreed to a one-year deferral of the original effective date of this guidance and, as a result, it will become effective for fiscal years and interim periods after December 15, 2017. However, entities may adopt the new guidance as of the original effective date (for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016). We will adopt ASU 2014-09 as of January 1, 2018. Our analysis of this comprehensive standard, including our evaluation of the available transition methods, is ongoing and the impact on our consolidated financial statements is not currently estimable.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). The new standard is intended to provide enhanced transparency and comparability by requiring lessees to record right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities on the balance sheet, with the exception of leases with a term of 12 months or less, which permits a lessee to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and liabilities.  At inception, lessees must classify leases as either finance or operating based on five criteria. Balance sheet recognition of finance and operating leases is similar, but the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement, as well as the effect on the statement of cash flows, differs depending on the lease classification. Also, certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures are required to enable users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and early adoption is permitted. The new standard requires the recognition and measurement of leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach, which includes a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply.  The Company leases most of the real estate where its branch locations are operated. Additionally, the Company leases various types of small equipment. We have begun accumulating the information related to these leases and are evaluating our internal processes and controls with respect to lease administration activities. Additionally, our equipment rental business involves rental agreements with our customers whereby we, in effect, are the lessor in the transaction. However, the majority of our rental agreements with customers are for terms less than 12 months. Our evaluation of this guidance is ongoing and the impact that this new guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements is not currently estimable.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”). This ASU modifies the impairment model to utilize an expected loss methodology, referred to as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model, in place of the currently used incurred loss methodology, which is intended to result in the more timely recognition of losses. Under the CECL model, entities will estimate credit losses over the entire contractual term of the instrument (considering estimated prepayments, but not expected extensions or modifications) from the date of initial recognition of the financial instrument. The scope of financial assets within the CECL methodology is broad and includes trade receivables from revenue transactions and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures (such as standby letters of credit). ASU 2016-13 will be effective for us as of January 1, 2020. We are currently reviewing the effect, if any, the adoption of ASU No. 2016-13 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”), which aims to eliminate diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows, and other Topics. ASU 2016-15 is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2017. Based upon our review of ASU 2016-15, the Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business (“ASU 2017-01”).  ASU 2017-01 clarifies the definition of a business when evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses.  ASU 2017-01 is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods.  Based upon our review of ASU 2017-01, the Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

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In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (“ASU 2017-04”), which removes Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. A goodwill impairment will now be determined by the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill.  ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted.  We are currently evaluating the effect, if any, the adoption of ASU 2017-04 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in the First Quarter of 2017

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory: Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”). ASU 2015-11 provides guidance on simplifying the measurement of inventory. The previous standard measured inventory at lower of cost or market; where market could be replacement cost, net realizable value, or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin. ASU 2015-11 updated this guidance to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value; where net realizable value is considered to be the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable cost of completion, disposal, and transportation. We adopted ASU 2015-11 on January 1, 2017 on a prospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 did not result in a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

 

In March 2016, the FASB Issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). The updated guidance changes how companies account for certain aspects of stock-based payment awards to employees, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification of such awards in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 became effective for us on January 1, 2017. ASU 2016-09 requires that excess tax benefits and deficiencies resulting from the vesting or exercise of stock-based compensation awards to be recognized in the income statement on a prospective basis. Previously, these amounts were recognized in additional paid-in capital. Accordingly, excess tax benefits of less than $0.1 million were recognized as a discrete item in our income tax expense for the three month period ended March 31, 2017. In addition, ASU 2016-09 requires excess tax benefits and deficiencies to be excluded from the assumed future proceeds in the calculation of diluted shares. This change had no material impact to the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for the three month period ended March 31, 2017.

 

ASU 2016-09 eliminates the prior guidance requirement that allowed under certain circumstances the realization of excess tax benefits prior to recognition of those excess tax benefits. Under prior guidance, companies could not recognize excess tax benefits when an option was exercised or a share vested if the related tax deduction increased a net operating loss carryforward rather than reduced income taxes payable. ASU 2016-09 requires companies to apply this part of the guidance using a modified retrospective transition method and record a cumulative effect adjustment for previously unrecognized excess tax benefits. Accordingly, we recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to accumulated deficit as of January 1, 2017 of approximately $0.9 million for all excess tax benefits that had not been previously recognized because the related tax deduction had not reduced income taxes payable.

 

ASU 2016-09 also clarifies that an entity should classify excess tax benefits along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity in the statement of cash flows. This change eliminates the prior practice of grossing up the statement of cash flows for the effect of windfalls, i.e. reporting windfalls as outflows in operating activities and as inflows in financing activities. Under ASU 2016-09, the effect of windfalls will generally be reflected in net income from continuing operations under the indirect method. We have adopted this portion of the guidance on a retrospective basis. ASU 2016-09 also clarifies that employee taxes paid when an employer withholds shares of stock for tax withholding purposes be reported as financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows, which is how the Company has historically presented such activities in our statement of cash flows.

 

We have elected to continue to estimate the number of stock-based awards expected to vest, as permitted by ASU 2016-09, rather than electing to account for forfeitures as they occur.  Additional amendments to the accounting for statutory withholding tax requirements had no impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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(3) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is defined as the amount that would be received for selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The FASB fair value measurement guidance established a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The three broad levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring a company to develop its own assumptions

The carrying value of financial instruments reported in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets for cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses payable and other liabilities approximate fair value due to the immediate or short-term nature or maturity of these financial instruments. The fair value of our letter of credit is based on fees currently charged for similar agreements. The carrying amounts and fair values of our other financial instruments subject to fair value disclosures as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are presented in the table below (amounts in thousands) and have been calculated based upon market quotes and present value calculations based on market rates.

 

 

 

During the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, there were no transfers of financial assets or liabilities in or out of Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

 

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(4) Stockholders’ Equity

The following table summarizes the activity in Stockholders’ Equity for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 (amounts in thousands, except share data):

 

 

 

(5) Stock-Based Compensation

We account for our stock-based compensation plans using the fair value recognition provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718, Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), as further updated by ASU 2016-09. Under the provisions of ASC 718, stock-based compensation is measured at the grant date, based on the calculated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the requisite employee service period (generally the vesting period of the grant). Shares available for future stock-based payment awards under our 2016 Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plan were 1,956,477 shares as of March 31, 2017.

Non-vested Stock

The following table summarizes our non-vested stock activity for the three months ended March 31, 2017:

 

 

As of March 31, 2017, we had unrecognized compensation expense of approximately $4.1 million related to non-vested stock that we expect to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.0 years. The following table summarizes compensation expense related to non-vested stock, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

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Stock Options

At March 31, 2017, there is no unrecognized compensation expense as all stock option awards have fully vested.  The following table represents stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2017:

 

 

The closing price of our common stock at March 31, 2017 was $24.52. The aggregate intrinsic value of our outstanding and exercisable options at March 31, 2017 was less than $0.1 million.

 

 

(6) Income per Share

Income per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The effects of potentially dilutive securities that are anti-dilutive are not included in the computation of dilutive income per share. We include all common shares granted under our incentive compensation plan which remain unvested (“restricted common shares”) and contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid (“participating securities”), in the number of shares outstanding in our basic and diluted EPS calculations using the two-class method. All of our restricted common shares are currently participating securities.

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Under the two-class method, earnings per common share are computed by dividing the sum of distributed earnings allocated to common shareholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. In applying the two-class method, distributed and undistributed earnings are allocated to both common shares and restricted common shares based on the total weighted average shares outstanding during the period.  The number of restricted common shares outstanding was approximately 0.8% and 0.7% of total outstanding shares for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and, consequently, was immaterial to the basic and diluted EPS calculations. Therefore, use of the two-class method had no impact on our basic and diluted EPS calculations for the periods presented. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

 

 

(7) Senior Secured Credit Facility

We and our subsidiaries are parties to a $602.5 million senior secured credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC (“Wells Fargo”), as agent (as successor in such capacity to General Electric Capital Corporation (“GE Capital”)), and the lenders named therein (the “Lenders”).

On May 21, 2014, we amended, extended and restated the Credit Facility by entering into the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”) by and among the Company, Great Northern Equipment, Inc., H&E Equipment Services (California), LLC, the other credit parties named therein, the lenders named therein, GE Capital, as administrative agent, Bank of America, N.A. as co-syndication agent and documentation agent, Wells Fargo, as co-syndication agent and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. as joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner. In March 2016, Wells Fargo succeeded and was substituted for GE Capital as the administrative agent under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) extends the maturity date of the Credit Facility from February 29, 2017 to May 21, 2019, (ii) increases the uncommitted incremental revolving capacity from $130 million to $150 million, (iii) permits a like-kind exchange program under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (iv) provides that the unused commitment fee margin will be either 0.50%, 0.375% or 0.25%, depending on the ratio of the average of the daily closing balances of the aggregate revolving loans, swing line loans and letters of credit outstanding during each month to the aggregate commitments for the revolving loans, swing line loans and letters of credit, (v) lowers the interest rate (a) in the case of index rate revolving loans, to the index rate plus an applicable margin of 0.75% to 1.25% depending on the leverage ratio and (b) in the case of LIBOR revolving loans, to LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 1.75% to 2.25%, depending on the leverage ratio, (vi) lowers the margin applicable to the letter of credit fee to between 1.75% and 2.25%, depending on the leverage ratio, and (vii) permits, under certain conditions, for the payment of dividends and/or stock repurchases or redemptions on the capital stock of the Company of up to $75 million per calendar year and further additionally permits the payment of the special cash dividend of $7.00 per share previously declared by the Company on August 20, 2012 to the holders of outstanding restricted stock of the Company following the declared payment date with such permission not tied to the vesting of such restricted stock (which includes the Company’s payment in June

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2014 of all amounts that remained payable to the holders of the restricted stock of the Company with respect to such special dividend that was otherwise payable following the applicable vesting dates in May and July 2014 and 2015).

On February 5, 2015, we entered into an amendment of the Credit Facility which, among other things, increased the total amount of revolving loan commitments under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement from $402.5 million to $602.5 million.

As of March 31, 2017, we were in compliance with our financial covenants under the Credit Facility. At March 31, 2017, the Company could borrow up to an additional $442.4 million and remain in compliance with the debt covenants under the Company’s Credit Facility.

At March 31, 2017, the interest rate on the Credit Facility was based on a 4.0% U.S. Prime Rate plus 100 basis points and LIBOR plus 200 basis points. The weighted average interest rate at March 31, 2017 was approximately 3.1%. At April 20, 2017, we had $436.5 million of available borrowings under our Credit Facility, net of $7.7 million of outstanding letters of credit.

 

 

(8) Senior Unsecured Notes

The following table reconciles our Senior Unsecured Notes to our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

(9) Segment Information

We have identified five reportable segments: equipment rentals, new equipment sales, used equipment sales, parts sales and services revenues. These segments are based upon how management of the Company allocates resources and assesses performance. Non-segmented revenues and non-segmented costs relate to equipment support activities including transportation, hauling, parts freight and damage-waiver charges and are not allocated to the other reportable segments. There were no sales between segments for any of the periods presented. Selling, general and administrative expenses as well as all other income and expense items below gross profit are not generally allocated to reportable segments.

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We do not compile discrete financial information by segments other than the information presented below. The following table presents information about our reportable segments (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

The Company operates primarily in the United States and our sales to international customers for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 were 0.7% and 0.8%, respectively, of total revenues.  No one customer accounted for more than 10% of our revenues on an overall or segment basis for any of the periods presented.

 

 

(10) Condensed Consolidating Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries

All of the indebtedness of H&E Equipment Services, Inc. is guaranteed by GNE Investments, Inc. and its wholly‑owned subsidiary Great Northern Equipment, Inc., H&E Equipment Services (California), LLC, H&E California Holding, Inc., H&E Equipment Services (Mid-Atlantic), Inc. and H&E Finance Corp. The guarantor subsidiaries are all wholly‑owned and the guarantees, made on a joint and several basis, are full and unconditional (subject to subordination provisions and subject to a standard limitation which provides that the maximum amount guaranteed by each guarantor will not exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed without making the guarantee void under fraudulent conveyance laws). There are no restrictions on H&E Equipment Services, Inc.’s ability to obtain funds from the guarantor subsidiaries by dividend or loan.

The consolidating financial statements of H&E Equipment Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries are included below. The financial statements for H&E Finance Corp. are not included within the consolidating financial statements because H&E Finance Corp. has no assets or operations.

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

 

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

 

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME

 

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME

 

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

 

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ITEM 2. — MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion summarizes the financial position of H&E Equipment Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of March 31, 2017, and its results of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2017, and should be read in conjunction with (i) the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and (ii) the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. The following discussion contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties (see discussion of “Forward-Looking Statements” included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q). Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those factors set forth under Item 1A – “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Overview

Background

As one of the largest integrated equipment services companies in the United States focused on heavy construction and industrial equipment, we rent, sell and provide parts and services support for four core categories of specialized equipment: (1) hi-lift or aerial work platform equipment; (2) cranes; (3) earthmoving equipment; and (4) industrial lift trucks. By providing equipment rental, sales, on-site parts, repair and maintenance functions under one roof, we are a one-stop provider for our customers’ varied equipment needs. This full service approach provides us with multiple points of customer contact, enables us to maintain a high quality rental fleet, as well as an effective distribution channel for fleet disposal and provides cross-selling opportunities among our new and used equipment sales, rental, parts sales and services operations.

As of April 20, 2017, we operated 78 full-service facilities throughout the Intermountain, Southwest, Gulf Coast, West Coast, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Our work force includes distinct, focused sales forces for our new and used equipment sales and rental operations, highly skilled service technicians, product specialists and regional managers. We focus our sales and rental activities on, and organize our personnel principally by, our four core equipment categories. We believe this allows us to provide specialized equipment knowledge, improve the effectiveness of our rental and sales force and strengthen our customer relationships. In addition, we have branch managers for each location who are responsible for managing their assets and financial results. We believe this fosters accountability in our business and strengthens our local and regional relationships.

Through our predecessor companies, we have been in the equipment services business for approximately 55 years. H&E Equipment Services L.L.C. (“H&E LLC”) was formed in June 2002 through the business combination of Head & Engquist Equipment, LLC (“Head & Engquist”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gulf Wide Industries, L.L.C. (“Gulf Wide”), and ICM Equipment Company L.L.C. (“ICM”). Head & Engquist, founded in 1961, and ICM, founded in 1971, were two leading regional, integrated equipment service companies operating in contiguous geographic markets. In the June 2002 transaction, Head & Engquist and ICM were merged with and into Gulf Wide, which was renamed H&E LLC. Prior to the combination, Head & Engquist operated 25 facilities in the Gulf Coast region, and ICM operated 16 facilities in the Intermountain region of the United States.

Prior to our initial public offering in February 2006, our business was conducted through H&E LLC. In connection with our initial public offering, we converted H&E LLC into H&E Equipment Services, Inc. In order to have an operating Delaware corporation as the issuer for our initial public offering, H&E Equipment Services, Inc. was formed as a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of H&E Holdings L.L.C. (“H&E Holdings”), and immediately prior to the closing of our initial public offering, on February 3, 2006, H&E LLC and H&E Holdings merged with and into H&E Equipment Services, Inc., which survived the reincorporation merger as the operating company. Effective February 3, 2006, H&E LLC and H&E Holdings no longer existed under operation of law pursuant to the reincorporation merger.

Critical Accounting Policies

Item 7, included in Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, presents the accounting policies and related estimates that we believe are the most critical to understanding our consolidated financial statements, financial condition, and results of operations and cash flows, and which require complex management judgment and assumptions, or involve uncertainties. There have been no significant changes to these critical accounting policies and estimates during the three months ended March 31, 2017. These policies include, among others, revenue recognition, the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts, the propriety of our estimated useful life of rental equipment and property and equipment, the potential impairment of long-lived assets including goodwill and intangible assets, obsolescence reserves on inventory, the allocation of purchase price related to business combinations, reserves for claims, including self-insurance reserves, and deferred income taxes, including the valuation of any related deferred tax assets.

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Information regarding our other significant accounting policies is included in note 2 to our consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and in note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Business Segments

We have five reportable segments because we derive our revenues from five principal business activities: (1) equipment rentals; (2) new equipment sales; (3) used equipment sales; (4) parts sales; and (5) repair and maintenance services. These segments are based upon how we allocate resources and assess performance. In addition, we also have non-segmented revenues and costs that relate to equipment support activities.

Our non-segmented revenues and costs relate to equipment support activities that we provide, such as transportation, hauling, parts freight and damage waivers, and are not generally allocated to reportable segments.

For additional information about our business segments, see note 9 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Revenue Sources

We generate all of our total revenues from our five business segments and our non-segmented equipment support activities. Equipment rentals and new equipment sales account for more than half of our total revenues. For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, approximately 47.3% of our total revenues were attributable to equipment rentals, 15.1% of our total revenues were attributable to new equipment sales, 12.7% were attributable to used equipment sales, 11.2% were attributable to parts sales, 6.7% were attributable to our services revenues and 7.0% were attributable to non-segmented other revenues.

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The equipment that we sell, rent and service is principally used in the construction industry, as well as by companies for commercial and industrial uses such as plant maintenance and turnarounds, as well as in the petrochemical and energy sectors. As a result, our total revenues are affected by several factors including, but not limited to, the demand for and availability of rental equipment, rental rates and other competitive factors, the demand for new and used equipment, the level of construction and industrial activities, spending levels by our customers, adverse weather conditions and general economic conditions. For a discussion of the impact of seasonality on our revenues, see “Seasonality” below.

Equipment Rentals. Our rental operation primarily rents our four core types of construction and industrial equipment. We have a well-maintained rental fleet and our own dedicated sales force, focused by equipment type. We actively manage the size, quality, age and composition of our rental fleet based on our analysis of key measures such as time utilization (which we analyze as equipment usage based on: (1) a percentage of original equipment cost, and (2) the number of rental equipment units available for rent), rental rate trends and targets, rental equipment dollar utilization and maintenance and repair costs, which we closely monitor. We maintain fleet quality through regional quality control managers and our parts and services operations. We recognize revenue from equipment rentals in the period earned on a straight-line basis, over the contract term, regardless of the timing of the billing to customers.

New Equipment Sales. We seek to optimize revenues from new equipment sales by selling equipment through a professional in-house retail sales force focused by product type. While sales of new equipment are impacted by the availability of equipment from the manufacturer, we believe our status as a leading distributor for some of our key suppliers improves our ability to obtain equipment. New equipment sales are an important component of our integrated model due to customer interaction and service contact and new equipment sales also lead to future parts and services revenues. We recognize revenue from the sale of new equipment at the time of delivery to, or pick-up by, the customer and when all obligations under the sales contract have been fulfilled and collectibility is reasonably assured.

Used Equipment Sales. We generate the majority of our used equipment sales revenues by selling equipment from our rental fleet. The remainder of our used equipment sales revenues comes from the sale of inventoried equipment that we acquire through trade-ins from our equipment customers and selective purchases of high‑quality used equipment. Our policy is not to offer specified price trade‑in arrangements on equipment for sale. Sales of our rental fleet equipment allow us to manage the size, quality, composition and age of our rental fleet, and provide us with a profitable distribution channel for the disposal of rental equipment. We recognize revenue for the sale of used equipment at the time of delivery to, or pick-up by, the customer and when all obligations under the sales contract have been fulfilled and collectibility is reasonably assured.

Parts Sales. We generate revenues from the sale of new and used parts for equipment that we rent or sell, as well as for other makes of equipment. Our product support sales representatives are instrumental in generating our parts revenues. They are product specialists and receive performance incentives for achieving certain sales levels. Most of our parts sales come from our extensive in-house parts inventory. Our parts sales provide us with a relatively stable revenue stream that is generally less sensitive to the economic cycles that tend to affect our rental and equipment sales operations. We recognize revenues from parts sales at the time of delivery to, or pick-up by, the customer and when all obligations under the sales contract have been fulfilled and collectibility is reasonably assured.

Services. We derive our services revenues from maintenance and repair services to customers for their owned equipment. In addition to repair and maintenance on an as-needed or scheduled basis, we also provide ongoing preventative maintenance services to industrial customers.  Our after‑market service provides a high-margin, relatively stable source of revenue through changing economic cycles. We recognize services revenues at the time services are rendered and collectibility is reasonably assured.

Our non-segmented other revenues relate to equipment support activities that we provide, such as transportation, hauling, parts freight and damage waivers, and are not generally allocated to reportable segments. We recognize non-segmented other revenues at the time of billing and after the related services have been provided.

Principal Costs and Expenses

Our largest expenses are the costs to purchase the new equipment we sell, the costs associated with the used equipment we sell, rental expenses, rental depreciation and costs associated with parts sales and services, all of which are included in cost of revenues. For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, our total cost of revenues was $149.2 million. Our operating expenses consist principally of selling, general and administrative expenses. For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, our selling, general and administrative expenses were $57.3 million. In addition, we have interest expense related to our debt instruments. Operating expenses and all other income and expense items below the gross profit line of our consolidated statements of income are not generally allocated to our reportable segments.

We are also subject to federal and state income taxes. Future income tax examinations by state and federal agencies could result in additional income tax expense based on probable outcomes of such matters.

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Cost of Revenues:

Rental Depreciation. Depreciation of rental equipment represents the depreciation costs attributable to rental equipment. Estimated useful lives vary based upon type of equipment. Generally, we depreciate cranes and aerial work platforms over a ten year estimated useful life, earthmoving over a five year estimated useful life with a 25% salvage value, and industrial lift trucks over a seven year estimated useful life. Attachments and other smaller type equipment are depreciated over a three year estimated useful life. We periodically evaluate the appropriateness of remaining depreciable lives assigned to rental equipment.

Rental Expense. Rental expense represents the costs associated with rental equipment, including, among other things, the cost of servicing and maintaining our rental equipment, property taxes on our fleet and other miscellaneous costs of rental equipment.

New Equipment Sales. Cost of new equipment sold primarily consists of the equipment cost of the new equipment that is sold, net of any amount of credit given to the customer towards the equipment for trade-ins.

Used Equipment Sales. Cost of used equipment sold consists of the net book value of rental equipment for used equipment sold from our rental fleet, the equipment costs for used equipment we purchase for sale or the trade-in value of used equipment that we obtain from customers in equipment sales transactions.

Parts Sales. Cost of parts sales represents costs attributable to the sale of parts directly to customers.

Services Support. Cost of services revenues represents costs attributable to service provided for the maintenance and repair of customer-owned equipment and equipment then on-rent by customers.

Non-Segmented Other. These expenses include costs associated with providing transportation, hauling, parts freight, and damage waiver including, among other items, drivers’ wages, fuel costs, shipping costs, and our costs related to damage waiver policies.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:

Our selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses include sales and marketing expenses, payroll and related benefit costs, insurance expenses, legal and professional fees, rent and other occupancy costs, property and other taxes, administrative overhead, depreciation associated with property and equipment (other than rental equipment) and amortization expense associated with capital leases and software. These expenses are not generally allocated to our reportable segments.

Interest Expense:

Interest expense for the periods presented represents the interest on our outstanding debt instruments, including aggregate amounts outstanding under our revolving senior secured credit facility (the “Credit Facility”), senior unsecured notes due 2022 (the “Senior Notes”) and our capital lease obligations. Interest expense also includes interest on our outstanding manufacturer flooring plans payable which are used to finance inventory and rental equipment purchases. Non-cash interest expense related to the amortization cost of deferred financing costs and accretion (amortization) of debt discount (premium) are also included in interest expense.

Principal Cash Flows

We generate cash primarily from our operating activities and, historically, we have used cash flows from operating activities, manufacturer floor plan financings and available borrowings under the Credit Facility as the primary sources of funds to purchase inventory and to fund working capital and capital expenditures, growth and expansion opportunities (see also “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below). Our management of our working capital is closely tied to operating cash flows, as working capital can be significantly impacted by, among other things, our accounts receivable activities, the level of new and used equipment inventories, which may increase or decrease in response to current and expected demand, and the size and timing of our trade accounts payable payment cycles.

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Rental Fleet

A substantial portion of our overall value is in our rental fleet equipment. The net book value of our rental equipment at March 31, 2017 was $877.5 million, or approximately 69.5% of our total assets. Our rental fleet as of March 31, 2017 consisted of 28,799 units having an original acquisition cost (which we define as the cost originally paid to manufacturers or the original amount financed under operating leases) of approximately $1.3 billion. As of March 31, 2017, our rental fleet composition was as follows (dollars in millions):

 

 

Determining the optimal age and mix for our rental fleet equipment is subjective and requires considerable estimates and judgments by management. We constantly evaluate the mix, age and quality of the equipment in our rental fleet in response to current economic and market conditions, competition and customer demand. The mix and age of our rental fleet, as well as our cash flows, are impacted by sales of equipment from the rental fleet, which are influenced by used equipment pricing at the retail and secondary auction market levels, and the capital expenditures to acquire new rental fleet equipment. In making equipment acquisition decisions, we evaluate current economic and market conditions, competition, manufacturers’ availability, pricing and return on investment over the estimated useful life of the specific equipment, among other things. As a result of our in-house service capabilities and extensive maintenance program, we believe our rental fleet is well-maintained.

The original acquisition cost of our gross rental fleet decreased by approximately $7.7 million, or 0.6%, for the three month period ended March 31, 2017. The average age of our rental fleet equipment increased by approximately 1.1 months for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Our average rental rates for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 were 0.5% lower than in the three month period ended March 31, 2016 and approximately 0.9% lower than the three month period ended December 31, 2016 (see further discussion on rental rates in “Results of Operations” below).

The rental equipment mix among our four core product lines for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was largely consistent with that of the prior year comparable period as a percentage of total units available for rent and as a percentage of original acquisition cost.

Principal External Factors that Affect our Businesses

We are subject to a number of external factors that may adversely affect our businesses. These factors, and other factors, are discussed below and under the heading “Forward‑Looking Statements,” and in Item 1A—Risk Factors in this Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

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We believe that our integrated business tempers the effects of downturns in a particular segment. For a discussion of seasonality, see “Seasonality” on page 33 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Results of Operations

The tables included in the period-to-period comparisons below provide summaries of our revenues and gross profits for our business segments and non-segmented revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. The period-to-period comparisons of our financial results are not necessarily indicative of future results.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

Revenues.

 

 

Total Revenues. Our total revenues were $226.8 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 compared to $247.0 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2016, a decrease of $20.2 million, or 8.2%, which was primarily driven by a $22.9 million decrease in new equipment sales. Revenues for all reportable segments and non-segmented other revenues are further discussed below.

Equipment Rental Revenues. Our revenues from equipment rentals for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 increased $4.5 million, or 4.4%, to $107.3 million from $102.8 million in the three month period ended March 31, 2016. Rental revenues from aerial work platform equipment increased $4.7 million while earthmoving equipment rental revenues increased $1.4 million. Partially offsetting these rental revenue increases was a $1.1 million decrease in crane rental revenues and a $0.5 million decrease in other equipment rental revenues. Our average rental rates for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 decreased 0.5% compared to the same three month period last year and decreased approximately 0.9% from the three month period ended December 31, 2016.

Rental equipment dollar utilization (annual rental revenues divided by the average original rental fleet equipment costs) for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 was 32.4% compared to 32.2% in the three month period ended March 31, 2016, an increase of 0.2%. The increase in comparative rental equipment dollar utilization was primarily the result of an increase in rental equipment time utilization. Rental equipment time utilization as a percentage of original equipment cost was approximately 68.5% for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 compared to 66.3% in the three month period ended March 31, 2016, an increase of 2.2%. The increase in equipment rental time utilization based on original equipment cost is largely reflective of improved utilization in our aerial work platform equipment combined with the prior year first quarter negative impact on earthmoving equipment rental activity from heavy rains and associated flooding in our Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas markets. Our rental equipment time utilization based on the number of rental equipment units available for rent was 66.0% for the three month period ended March 31, 2017, compared to approximately 64.6% in the same period last year, an increase of 1.4%.

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New Equipment Sales Revenues. Our new equipment sales for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 decreased $22.9 million, or 40.1%, to $34.3 million from $57.2 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2016, largely as a result of a $17.3 million decrease in new crane sales, due primarily to decreased demand for new cranes among the Company’s customers operating in the oil and gas markets, and a $7.5 million decrease in new earthmoving equipment sales. Partially offsetting these decreases were a $0.9 million increase in new other equipment sales and increases of $0.8 million and $0.2 million in new aerial work platform equipment sales and new lift truck sales, respectively.

Used Equipment Sales Revenues. Our used equipment sales increased $1.3 million, or 4.7%, to $28.9 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2017, from $27.6 million for the same three month period in 2016. Sales of used earthmoving equipment increased $3.2 million and sales of used cranes increased $1.1 million, while used lift truck sales increased $0.2 million. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases in sales of used aerial work platform equipment and used other equipment of $3.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

Parts Sales Revenues. Our parts sales for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 decreased $2.6 million, or 9.4%, to $25.3 million from $28.0 million for the same three month period last year. The decrease in parts sales revenues was driven primarily by lower crane parts sales.

Services Revenues. Our services revenues for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 decreased $1.2 million, or 7.5%, to $15.1 million from $16.3 million for the same three month period last year. The decrease in services revenues was due primarily to decreases in services revenues related to cranes.

Non-Segmented Other Revenues. Our non-segmented other revenues consisted primarily of equipment support activities including transportation, hauling, parts freight and damage waiver charges. For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, our other revenues were approximately $16.0 million, an increase of $0.8 million, or 5.4%, from approximately $15.2 million in the same three month period in 2016. The increase was primarily due to higher hauling revenues associated with our equipment rental activity.

Gross Profit (Loss).

 

 

Total Gross Profit. Our total gross profit was $77.7 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 compared to $81.1 million for the same three month period in 2016, a decrease of approximately 3.5 million, or 4.3%. Total gross profit margin for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 was 34.2%, an increase of 1.3% from the 32.9% gross profit margin for the same three month period in 2016. Gross profit and gross margin for all reportable segments and non-segmented other revenues are further described below:

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Equipment Rentals Gross Profit. Our gross profit from equipment rentals for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 increased approximately $1.5 million, or 3.1%, to approximately $48.0 million from $46.6 million in the same three month period in 2016. The increase in equipment rentals gross profit was the result of a $4.5 million increase in rental revenues for the three month period ended March 31, 2017, which was partially offset by a $1.4 million increase in rental equipment depreciation expense and a $1.6 million increase in rental expenses. Depreciation expense was 38.1% of equipment rental revenues for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 compared to 38.4% for the same period in 2016, a decrease of 0.3%, primarily as a result of fleet mix. As a percentage of equipment rental revenues, rental expenses were 17.1% for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 compared to 16.3% for the same period last year, an increase of 0.8%, resulting primarily from higher rental expenses as a percentage of equipment rental revenues in our oil and gas markets due to lower rental revenues in the current three month period compared to the prior year period. However, we have seen some improving trends in these markets recently as rental revenues in our oil and gas markets for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 improved sequentially over the prior two three month periods ended December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016. Gross profit margin on equipment rentals for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 was approximately 44.8% compared to 45.3% for the same period in 2016, a decrease of 0.5%.

New Equipment Sales Gross Profit. Our new equipment sales gross profit for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 decreased $2.8 million, or 41.9%, to $3.9 million compared to $6.7 million for the same three month period in 2016 on a total new equipment sales decrease of $22.9 million. Gross profit margin on new equipment sales was 11.4% for the three month period ended March 31, 2017, compared to 11.7% for the same period last year, a decrease of 0.3%. The decrease in gross profit margin is primarily due to lower gross margins on sales of new aerial work platform equipment and new cranes.

Used Equipment Sales Gross Profit. Our used equipment sales gross profit for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 decreased $0.1 million, or 0.7%, to $9.0 million from $9.1 million in the same period in 2016 on a used equipment sales increase of $1.3 million. Gross profit margin on used equipment sales for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 was 31.2%, down 1.7% from 32.9% for the same three month period in 2016, primarily as a result of the mix of used equipment sold and lower used aerial work platform equipment sales gross margins. Our used equipment sales from the rental fleet, which comprised approximately 85.9% and 87.7% of our used equipment sales for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, were approximately 153.1%  and 158.0% of net book value for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Parts Sales Gross Profit. For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, our parts sales gross profit decreased $0.6 million, or 7.6%, to $7.1 million from $7.7 million for the same three month period in 2016 on a $2.6 million decrease in parts sales revenues. Gross profit margin for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 was 28.1%, an increase of approximately 0.5% from 27.6% in the same three month period in 2016, as a result of the mix of parts sold.

Services Revenues Gross Profit. For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, our services revenues gross profit decreased $0.9 million, or 8.4%, to $10.1 million from $11.0 million for the same three month period in 2016 on a $1.2 million decrease in services revenues. Gross profit margin for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 was 66.9%, a decrease of 0.6% from 67.5% in the same three month period in 2016, as a result of services revenues mix.

Non-Segmented Other Revenues Gross Profit (Loss). Our non-segmented other revenues gross profit decreased $0.6 million, resulting in a gross loss of $0.5 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 compared to a gross profit of approximately $0.1 million for the same period in 2016 on a $0.8 million increase in non-segmented other revenues. Gross margin for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 was (2.9)% compared to a gross margin of 0.6% in the same three month period last year, a decrease of 3.5%, primarily reflective of lower gross margin on fuel charges and damage waiver income in the current period.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (“SG&A”). SG&A expenses decreased $2.1 million, or approximately 3.5%, to $57.3 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 compared to $59.4 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2016. The net decrease in SG&A expenses was attributable to several factors. Depreciation and software amortization expense decreased $1.0 million. Employee benefit expenses decreased $0.7 million due to lower health insurance and workers compensation costs, while other employee costs, primarily employee education and training costs, decreased $0.3 million. Other liability insurance costs decreased $0.2 million. Branches opened since January 1, 2016 with less than three full months of comparable operations in the first quarters of 2016 and 2017 contributed to a $0.5 million increase in SG&A expenses in the current year period. As a percentage of total revenues, SG&A expenses were 25.3% for the three month period ended March 31, 2017, an increase of 1.3% from 24.0% for the same three month period in 2016, primarily as a result of the decrease in total revenues and the fixed cost nature of certain SG&A expenses.

Other Income (Expense). For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, our net other expenses decreased $0.2 million to $12.8 million compared to $13.0 million for the same three month period in 2016.  Interest expense decreased $0.2 million to $13.2 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 compared to approximately $13.4 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2016. Miscellaneous other income was approximately $0.4 million in each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016.

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Income Taxes. We recorded income tax expense of approximately $3.2 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 compared to income tax expense of $3.9 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2016. Our effective income tax rate was approximately 36.8% for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 compared to 41.0% for the same three month period last year, a decrease of 4.2%. The decrease in our effective tax rate is primarily due to an increase in favorable permanent differences and lower state income taxes. Based on available evidence, both positive and negative, we believe it is more likely than not that our federal deferred tax assets at March 31, 2017 are fully realizable through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and future taxable income, and are not subject to any limitations. Our state deferred tax assets as of March 31, 2017 reflect a valuation allowance of approximately $0.2 million for certain state net operating losses expiring soon that may not be utilized.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash flow from operating activities. For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, the cash provided by our operating activities was $30.6 million. Our reported net income of $5.4 million, when adjusted for non-cash income and expense items, such as depreciation and amortization, deferred income taxes, net amortization (accretion) of note discount (premium), provision for losses on accounts receivable, provision for inventory obsolescence, stock-based compensation expense and net gains on the sale of long-lived assets, provided positive cash flows of $49.7 million. These cash flows from operating activities were also positively impacted by a $35.5 million increase in accounts payable and a $6.2 million increase in manufacturing flooring plans payable. Partially offsetting these positive cash flows were a $44.8 million increase in inventories and an $11.5 million decrease in accrued expenses payable and other liabilities. Also decreasing our operating cash flows were a $4.1 increase in prepaid expenses and other assets and a $0.3 million increase in receivables.

For the three month period ended March 31, 2016, the cash provided by our operating activities was $13.7 million. Our reported net income of $5.6 million, when adjusted for non-cash income and expense items, such as depreciation and amortization, deferred income taxes, net amortization (accretion) of note discount (premium), provision for losses on accounts receivable, provision for inventory obsolescence, stock-based compensation expense and net gains on the sale of long-lived assets, provided positive cash flows of $48.4 million. These cash flows from operating activities were also positively impacted by a $0.6 million decrease in receivables and a $1.7 million increase in manufacturing flooring plans payable. Partially offsetting these positive cash flows were a $23.2 million increase in inventories and a $13.0 million decrease in accrued expenses payable and other liabilities. Also decreasing our operating cash flows were a $0.3 million decrease in accounts payable and a $0.4 million decrease in deferred compensation payable.

Cash flow from investing activities. For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, our cash provided by our investing activities was exceeded by our cash used in our investing activities, resulting in net cash used in our investing activities of approximately $13.1 million. This was a result of purchases of rental and non-rental equipment totaling $39.8 million and proceeds from the sale of rental and non-rental equipment of approximately $26.7 million.

For the three month period ended March 31, 2016, cash provided by our investing activities was approximately $7.4 million. This was a result of purchases of rental and non-rental equipment totaling $17.6 million and proceeds from the sale of rental and non-rental equipment of approximately $25.0 million.

Cash flow from financing activities. For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, cash provided by our financing activities was exceeded by our cash used in our financing activities, resulting in net cash used in our financing activities of $20.1 million. Net payments under the Credit Facility were $10.3 million. Dividends totaling approximately $9.8 million, or $0.275 per common share, were paid during the three month period ended March 31, 2017. Payments on capital lease obligations were $0.1 million.

For the three month period ended March 31, 2016, cash provided by our financing activities was exceeded by our cash used in our financing activities, resulting in net cash used in our financing activities of $23.6 million. Net payments under the Credit Facility were $13.8 million. Dividends totaling approximately $9.8 million, or $0.275 per common share, were paid during the three month period ended March 31, 2016.

Senior Secured Credit Facility

We and our subsidiaries are parties to a $602.5 million senior secured credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC (“Wells Fargo”), agent (as successor in such capacity to General Electric Capital Corporation (“GE Capital”)) , and the lenders named therein (the “Lenders”).

On May 21, 2014, we amended, extended and restated the Credit Facility by entering into the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”) by and among the Company, Great Northern Equipment, Inc., H&E Equipment Services (California), LLC, the other credit parties named therein, the lenders named therein, GE Capital, as administrative agent, Bank of America, N.A. as co-syndication agent and documentation agent, Wells Fargo, as co-syndication agent and Deutsche

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Bank Securities Inc. as joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner. In March 2016, Wells Fargo succeeded and was substituted for GE Capital as the administrative agent under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) extends the maturity date of the Credit Facility from February 29, 2017 to May 21, 2019, (ii) increases the uncommitted incremental revolving capacity from $130 million to $150 million, (iii) permits a like-kind exchange program under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (iv) provides that the unused commitment fee margin will be either 0.50%, 0.375% or 0.25%, depending on the ratio of the average of the daily closing balances of the aggregate revolving loans, swing line loans and letters of credit outstanding during each month to the aggregate commitments for the revolving loans, swing line loans and letters of credit, (v) lowers the interest rate (a) in the case of index rate revolving loans, to the index rate plus an applicable margin of 0.75% to 1.25% depending on the leverage ratio and (b) in the case of LIBOR revolving loans, to LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 1.75% to 2.25%, depending on the leverage ratio, (vi) lowers the margin applicable to the letter of credit fee to between 1.75% and 2.25%, depending on the leverage ratio, and (vii) permits, under certain conditions, for the payment of dividends and/or stock repurchases or redemptions on the capital stock of the Company of up to $75 million per calendar year and further additionally permits the payment of the special cash dividend of $7.00 per share previously declared by the Company on August 20, 2012 to the holders of outstanding restricted stock of the Company following the declared payment date with such permission not tied to the vesting of such restricted stock (which includes the Company’s payment in June 2014 of all amounts that remained payable to the holders of the restricted stock of the Company with respect to such special dividend that was otherwise payable following the applicable vesting dates in May and July 2014 and 2015).

On February 5, 2015, we entered into an amendment to the Credit Facility which, among other things, increased the total amount of revolving loan commitments under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement from $402.5 million to $602.5 million.

As of March 31, 2017, we were in compliance with our financial covenants under the Credit Facility. At March 31, 2017, the Company could borrow up to an additional $442.4 million and remain in compliance with the debt covenants under the Company’s Credit Facility.

At March 31, 2017, the interest rate on the Credit Facility was based on either a 4.0% U.S. Prime Rate plus 100 basis points or LIBOR plus 200 basis points, as applicable with respect to the type of revolving loan. The weighted average interest rate at March 31, 2017 was approximately 3.1%. At April 20, 2017, we had $436.5 million of available borrowings under our Credit Facility, net of $7.7 million of outstanding letters of credit.

Cash Requirements Related to Operations

Our principal sources of liquidity have been from cash provided by operating activities and the sales of new, used and rental fleet equipment, proceeds from the issuance of debt, and borrowings available under the Credit Facility. Our principal uses of cash have been to fund operating activities and working capital (including new and used equipment inventories), purchases of rental fleet equipment and property and equipment, fund payments due under facility operating leases and manufacturer flooring plans payable, and to meet debt service requirements. In the future, we may pursue additional strategic acquisitions and seek to open new start-up locations. We anticipate that the above described uses will be the principal demands on our cash in the future.

The amount of our future capital expenditures will depend on a number of factors including general economic conditions and growth prospects. Our gross rental fleet capital expenditures for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 were approximately $40.8 million, including $6.8 million of non-cash transfers from new and used equipment to rental fleet inventory. Our gross property and equipment capital expenditures for the three month period ended March 31, 2017 were $5.8 million. In response to changing economic conditions, we believe we have the flexibility to modify our capital expenditures by adjusting them (either up or down) to match our actual performance.

To service our debt, we will require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to pay interest and principal on our indebtedness (including the Credit Facility, the Senior Notes and our other indebtedness), will depend upon our future operating performance and the availability of borrowings under the Credit Facility and/or other debt and equity financing alternatives available to us, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and conditions in the global credit and capital markets, as well as financial, business and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. Based on our current level of operations and given the current state of the capital markets, we believe our cash flow from operations, available cash and available borrowings under the Credit Facility will be adequate to meet our future liquidity needs for the foreseeable future. As of April 20, 2017, we had $436.5 million of available borrowings under the Credit Facility, net of $7.7 million of outstanding letters of credit.

We cannot provide absolute assurance that our future cash flow from operating activities will be sufficient to meet our long-term obligations and commitments. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operating activities in the future to service our indebtedness and to meet our other commitments, we will be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as refinancing or restructuring our indebtedness, selling material assets or operations or seeking to raise additional debt or equity capital. Given current

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economic and market conditions, including the significant disruptions in the global capital markets, we cannot assure investors that any of these actions could be effected on a timely basis or on satisfactory terms or at all, or that these actions would enable us to continue to satisfy our capital requirements. In addition, our existing debt agreements, including the Credit Facility and the indenture governing the Senior Notes, as well as any future debt agreements, contain or may contain restrictive covenants, which may prohibit us from adopting any of these alternatives. Our failure to comply with these covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our debt.

Quarterly Dividend

On February 15, 2017, the Company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.275 per share to stockholders of record, which was paid on March 10, 2017, totaling approximately $9.8 million. The Company intends to continue to pay regular quarterly cash dividends; however, the declaration of any subsequent dividends is discretionary and will be subject to a final determination by the Board of Directors each quarter after its review of, among other things, business and market conditions.

Seasonality

Although we believe our business is not materially impacted by seasonality, the demand for our rental equipment tends to be lower in the winter months. The level of equipment rental activities is directly related to commercial and industrial construction and maintenance activities. Therefore, equipment rental performance will be correlated to the levels of current construction activities. The severity of weather conditions can have a temporary impact on the level of construction activities. Adverse weather has a seasonal impact in parts of the markets we serve, including our Intermountain region, particularly in the winter months.

Equipment sales cycles are also subject to some seasonality with the peak selling period during the spring season and extending through the summer. Parts and services activities are typically less affected by changes in demand caused by seasonality.

 

Contractual and Commercial Commitments

There have been no material changes from the information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

There have been no material changes from the information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Our earnings may be affected by changes in interest rates since interest expense on the Credit Facility is currently calculated based upon the index rate plus an applicable margin of 1.00% to 1.50%, depending on the leverage ratio, in the case of index rate revolving loans and LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 2.00% to 2.50%, depending on the leverage ratio, in the case of LIBOR revolving loans.  At March 31, 2017, we had total borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facility of $152.4 million. A 1.0% increase in the interest rate on the Credit Facility would result in approximately a $1.5 million increase in interest expense on an annualized basis. At April 20, 2017, we had $436.5 million of available borrowings under the Credit Facility, net of $7.7 million of outstanding letters of credit.  We did not have significant exposure to changing interest rates as of March 31, 2017 on the fixed-rate Senior Notes.  Historically, we have not engaged in derivatives or other financial instruments for trading, speculative or hedging purposes, though we may do so from time to time if such instruments are available to us on acceptable terms and prevailing market conditions are accommodating.

 

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Management’s Quarterly Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or furnishes under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required financial disclosure.

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively) have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a‑15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on

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Form 10‑Q. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2017, our current disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

The design of any system of control is based upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated objectives under all future events, no matter how remote, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may not deteriorate. Because of its inherent limitations, disclosure controls and procedures may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

From time to time, we are involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of our business. In the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, the ultimate disposition of these various matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A - “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results.

As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there have been no material changes with respect to the Company’s risk factors previously disclosed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

None.

 

 

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities.

None.

 

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

 

 

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

 

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

 

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Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, John M. Engquist, certify that:

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Leslie S. Magee, certify that:

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF

THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of H&E Equipment Services, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John M. Engquist, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Leslie S. Magee, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company, each certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that: