e10vq
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009.
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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)
 
     
Delaware   81-0553291
(State of Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
11100 Mead Road, Suite 200,    
Baton Rouge, Louisiana   70816
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (ZIP Code)
(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 þ No o
     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 o No o
     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):
             
Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer þ   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
     Yes o No þ
     As of May 4, 2009, there were 34,691,488 shares of H&E Equipment Services, Inc. common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding.
 
 

 


 

H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MARCH 31, 2009
         
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 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1

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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.
     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 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. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
    general economic conditions and construction and industrial activity in the markets where we operate in North America, as well as the current macroeconomic downturn and the impact of current conditions in the global credit markets and its effect on construction spending and the economy in general;
 
    relationships with new equipment suppliers;
 
    increased maintenance and repair costs as we age our fleet and decreases in our equipment’s residual value;
 
    our indebtedness;
 
    the risks associated with the expansion of our business;
 
    our possible inability to integrate any businesses we acquire;
 
    competitive pressures;
 
    compliance with laws and regulations, including those relating to environmental matters and corporate governance matters; and
 
    other factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
     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 risk and uncertainties, see Item 1A — “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as well as other reports and registration statements filed by us with the SEC. 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)
                 
    Balances at  
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2009     2008  
    (Unaudited)          
ASSETS
               
Cash
  $ 10,836     $ 11,266  
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,915 and $5,524, respectively
    109,867       150,293  
Inventories, net of reserves for obsolescence of $929 and $920, respectively
    134,903       129,240  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    10,000       11,722  
Rental equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $218,552 and $210,961, respectively
    526,230       554,457  
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $37,748 and $35,187, respectively
    62,389       58,122  
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $7,986 and $7,631, respectively
    6,609       6,964  
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $2,048 and $1,900, respectively
    1,431       1,579  
Goodwill
    42,991       42,991  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 905,256     $ 966,634  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Liabilities:
               
Amounts due on senior secured credit facility
  $ 67,936     $ 76,325  
Accounts payable
    60,956       93,667  
Manufacturer flooring plans payable
    113,686       127,690  
Accrued expenses payable and other liabilities
    37,728       47,206  
Related party obligation
    75       145  
Notes payable
    1,952       1,959  
Senior unsecured notes
    250,000       250,000  
Capital lease payable
    2,271       2,300  
Deferred income taxes
    76,032       75,109  
Deferred compensation payable
    2,042       2,026  
 
           
Total liabilities
    612,678       676,427  
 
           
Commitments and contingent liabilities
               
 
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued
           
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized; 38,287,848 shares issued at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 and 34,691,488 and 34,706,372 shares outstanding at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively
    383       383  
Additional paid-in capital
    207,625       207,346  
Treasury stock at cost, 3,596,360 shares of common stock held at March 31, 2009 and 3,581,476 shares of common stock held at December 31, 2008, respectively
    (56,094 )     (56,008 )
Retained earnings
    140,664       138,486  
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    292,578       290,207  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 905,256     $ 966,634  
 
           
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)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2009     2008  
Revenues:
               
Equipment rentals
  $ 55,484     $ 71,211  
New equipment sales
    64,057       76,353  
Used equipment sales
    16,093       41,411  
Parts sales
    26,023       28,914  
Services revenues
    15,457       16,588  
Other
    9,082       11,289  
 
           
Total revenues
    186,196       245,766  
 
           
 
               
Cost of revenues:
               
Rental depreciation
    23,785       26,428  
Rental expense
    11,330       11,816  
New equipment sales
    55,315       65,546  
Used equipment sales
    12,688       30,919  
Parts sales
    18,522       20,266  
Services revenues
    5,703       6,141  
Other
    8,573       11,926  
 
           
Total cost of revenues
    135,916       173,042  
 
           
Gross profit
    50,280       72,724  
 
               
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    39,147       46,684  
Gain (loss) on sales of property and equipment, net
    (18 )     139  
 
           
Income from operations
    11,115       26,179  
 
           
 
               
Other income (expense):
               
Interest expense
    (8,181 )     (10,167 )
Other, net
    215       216  
 
           
Total other expense, net
    (7,966 )     (9,951 )
 
           
 
               
Income before income taxes
    3,149       16,228  
Provision for income taxes
    971       6,019  
 
           
Net income
  $ 2,178     $ 10,209  
 
           
 
               
Net income per common share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.06     $ 0.28  
 
           
Diluted
  $ 0.06     $ 0.28  
 
           
 
               
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
               
Basic
    34,581       36,684  
 
           
Diluted
    34,597       36,684  
 
           
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)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2009     2008  
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Net income
  $ 2,178     $ 10,209  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization on property and equipment
    2,795       2,821  
Depreciation on rental equipment
    23,785       26,428  
Amortization of loan discounts and deferred financing costs
    355       365  
Amortization of intangible assets
    148       713  
Provision for losses on accounts receivable
    1,232       647  
Provision for inventory obsolescence
    34       16  
Provision for deferred income taxes
    923       5,455  
Stock-based compensation expense
    279       316  
(Gain) loss on sales of property and equipment, net
    18       (139 )
Gain on sales of rental equipment, net
    (3,101 )     (9,885 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Receivables, net
    39,194       15,927  
Inventories, net
    (9,898 )     (23,235 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    1,722       (1,060 )
Accounts payable
    (32,711 )     (18,370 )
Manufacturer flooring plans payable
    (14,004 )     (22,013 )
Accrued expenses payable and other liabilities
    (9,473 )     (6,174 )
Deferred compensation payable
    16       36  
 
           
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    3,492       (17,943 )
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (7,123 )     (3,172 )
Purchases of rental equipment
    (1,538 )     (22,649 )
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment
    43       406  
Proceeds from sales of rental equipment
    13,282       34,263  
 
           
Net cash provided by investing activities
    4,664       8,848  
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Excess tax benefit (deficiency) from stock-based awards
          (44 )
Purchases of treasury stock
    (86 )     (19,473 )
Borrowings on senior secured credit facility
    220,835       294,974  
Payments on senior secured credit facility
    (229,224 )     (268,943 )
Payments of related party obligation
    (75 )     (75 )
Payments of capital lease obligation
    (29 )     (27 )
Principal payments on notes payable
    (7 )     (7 )
 
           
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (8,586 )     6,405  
 
           
 
               
Net decrease in cash
    (430 )     (2,690 )
Cash, beginning of period
    11,266       14,762  
 
           
Cash, end of period
  $ 10,836     $ 12,072  
 
           

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H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2009     2008  
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:
               
Noncash asset purchases:
               
Assets transferred from new and used inventory to rental fleet
  $ 4,201     $ 25,346  
 
           
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest
  $ 13,117     $ 15,098  
 
           
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received
  $ (354 )   $  
 
           
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 Holdings, 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, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2009, 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, 2008, from which the balance sheet amounts as of December 31, 2008 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 service support for four core categories of specialized equipment: (1) hi-lift or aerial platform equipment; (2) cranes; (3) earthmoving equipment; and (4) industrial lift trucks. By providing equipment sales, rental, on-site parts and 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 service 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, 2008. During the three month period ended March 31, 2009, there were no significant changes to those accounting policies.
     Use of Estimates
     We prepare our condensed 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 condensed 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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     Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in Fiscal Year 2009
     In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141R”), which replaces SFAS No. 141 (“SFAS 141”). This Statement retains the fundamental requirements in SFAS 141 that the acquisition method of accounting (which SFAS 141 called the purchase method) be used for all business combinations. SFAS 141R also establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer: (i) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree; (ii) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and (iii) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. Previously, under SFAS 141, changes in valuation allowances, as a result of income from acquisitions, for certain deferred tax assets would serve to reduce goodwill whereas under SFAS 141R, any changes in the valuation allowance related to income from acquisitions currently or in prior periods will serve to reduce income taxes in the period in which the allowance is reversed. Additionally, under SFAS 141R, transaction related expenses, which were previously capitalized as direct costs of the acquisition, will be expensed as incurred under SFAS 141R. We will apply the provisions of SFAS 141R prospectively to business combinations consummated after January 1, 2009. The impact that SFAS 141R may have on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows will depend upon the nature, terms and size of the acquisition and changes to the valuation allowances.
     In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157 (“FSP 157-2”). FSP 157-2 permitted a one-year deferral for the implementation of the provisions of SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), with regard to certain non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities that are not recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). FSP 157-2 became effective for us on January 1, 2009 and did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
     In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets” (“FSP 142-3”). FSP 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS 142”). The intent of FSP 142-3 is to improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under SFAS 141R and other generally accepted accounting principles. FSP 142-3 became effective for us on January 1, 2009 and did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
     Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
     In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (“SFAS 162”). SFAS 162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. SFAS 162 will be effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU Section 411, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.” Because SFAS 162 applies only to establishing hierarchy, it will not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
     In January 2009, the FASB released Proposed Staff Position SFAS 107-b and Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 28-a, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” (“SFAS 107-b” and “APB 28-a,” respectively).  This proposal amends FASB Statement No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Values of Financial Instruments,” to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments in interim financial statements as well as in annual financial statements.  The proposal also amends APB Opinion No. 28, “Interim Financial Reporting,” to require those disclosures in all interim financial statements.  This proposal is effective for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009, but early adoption is permitted for interim periods ending after March 15, 2009. SFAS 107-b and APB 28-a are not expected to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. 
     In March 2009, the FASB released Proposed Staff Position SFAS 157-e, “Determining Whether a Market Is Not Active and a Transaction Is Not Distressed” (“SFAS 157-e”).  This proposal provides additional guidance in determining whether a market for a financial asset is not active and a transaction is not distressed for fair value measurement purposes as defined in SFAS 157.  SFAS

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157-e is effective for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009, but early adoption is permitted for interim periods ending after March 15, 2009.  SFAS 157-e is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows, or disclosures.
(3) Stockholders’ Equity
     The following table summarizes the activity in Stockholders’ Equity for the three month period ended March 31, 2009 (amounts in thousands, except share data):
                                                 
    Common Stock                              
                    Additional                     Total  
    Shares             Paid-in     Stock     Earnings     Stockholders’  
    Issued     Amount     Capital     Treasury     Retained     Equity  
Balances at December 31, 2008
    38,287,848     $ 383     $ 207,346     $ (56,008 )   $ 138,486     $ 290,207  
Stock-based compensation
                279                   279  
Surrender of 14,884 shares(1)
                      (86 )           (86 )
Net income
                            2,178       2,178  
 
                                   
Balances at March 31, 2009
    38,287,848     $ 383     $ 207,625     $ (56,094 )   $ 140,664     $ 292,578  
 
                                   
 
(1)   On February 22, 2009, 40,650 shares of non-vested stock that were issued in 2006 subsequently vested pursuant to the terms of the respective grant agreements. In accordance with the provisions of our 2006 Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plan, holders of those vested shares returned 14,884 common shares to the Company as payment for their respective employee withholding taxes. This resulted in an addition of 14,884 shares to Treasury Stock.
(4) Stock-Based Compensation
     We account for our stock-based compensation plan using the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123 (revised) (“SFAS 123R”), “Share-Based Payment.” Under the provisions of SFAS 123R, 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 Stock Incentive Plan were 4,350,172 shares as of March 31, 2009.
Non-vested Stock
     The following table summarizes our non-vested stock activity for the three months ended March 31, 2009:
                 
            Weighted  
    Number of     Average Grant  
    Shares     Date Fair Value  
Non-vested stock at December 31, 2008
    136,404     $ 15.77  
Granted
           
Vested
    (40,650 )   $ 24.60  
Forfeited
           
 
           
Non-vested stock at March 31, 2009
    95,754     $ 12.02  
 
           
     As of March 31, 2009, we have unrecognized compensation expense of $0.8 million related to non-vested stock that we expect to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.3 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, 2009 and 2008 (amounts in thousands):
                 
    For the Three Months Ended
    March 31,
    2009   2008
Compensation expense
  $ 239     $ 250  

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Stock Options
     At March 31, 2009, there was approximately $26,000 of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock option awards that are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.2 years. The following table summarizes compensation expense included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 (amounts in thousands):
                 
    For the Three Months Ended
    March 31,
    2009   2008
Compensation expense
  $ 40     $ 66  
     The following table represents stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2009:
                         
                    Weighted Average  
    Number of     Weighted Average     Contractual Life  
    Shares     Exercise Price     In Years  
Outstanding options at December 31, 2008
    51,000     $ 24.80          
Granted
                   
Exercised
                   
Canceled, forfeited or expired
                   
 
                     
Outstanding options at March 31, 2009
    51,000     $ 24.80       7.0  
 
                     
Options exercisable at March 31, 2009
    47,000     $ 24.67       6.9  
 
                     
     The closing price of our common stock on March 31, 2009 was $6.55. All options outstanding at March 31, 2009 have grant date fair values which exceed the March 31, 2009 closing stock price.
     The following table summarizes non-vested stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2009:
                 
            Weighted Average  
    Number of     Grant Date Fair  
    Shares     Value  
Non-vested stock options at December 31, 2008
    19,000     $ 24.95  
Granted
           
Vested
    (15,000 )   $ 24.60  
Forfeited
           
 
             
Non-vested stock options at March 31, 2009
    4,000     $ 26.27  
 
             
(5) Closed Branch Facility Charges
     We continuously monitor and identify branch facilities with revenues and operating margins that consistently fall below Company performance standards. Once identified, we continue to monitor these branches to determine if operating performance can be improved or if the performance is attributable to economic factors unique to the particular market with unfavorable long-term prospects. If necessary, branches with unfavorable long-term prospects are closed and the rental fleet and new and used equipment inventory are deployed to more profitable branches within our geographic footprint with higher demand.
     On March 20, 2009, we closed our Charleston, South Carolina branch. Under SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” (“SFAS 146”), exit costs include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) one-time termination benefits; (b) contract termination costs, including costs that will continue to be incurred under operating leases that have no future economic benefit; and (c) other associated costs. A liability for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity is recognized and measured at its fair value in the period in which the liability is incurred, except for one-time termination benefits that are incurred over time. In connection with the branch closing, we recorded charges of approximately $0.2 million, which consisted primarily of the writeoff of leasehold improvements and is included within “Gain (loss) on sales of property and equipment, net” in our condensed consolidated statements of income. No other significant lease termination costs, one-time termination benefit costs or other associated costs were incurred in connection with the branch closing.

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     In April 2009, we closed our branch location in Fort Pierce, Florida. We do not expect to record significant exit or disposal costs during our second quarter ended June 30, 2009 related to the closing of this branch location.
     Although we do not expect to incur material charges for any additional branch facility closings occurring prior to December 31, 2009, additional charges are possible to the extent that actual settlements differ from our previous estimates of such costs. We cannot predict the extent of future branch location closures or the financial impact of such closings, if any.
(6) Earnings per Share
     Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur upon vesting of restricted stock or exercise of stock options into common stock. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per common share for the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2009     2008  
Basic net income per share:
               
Net income
  $ 2,178     $ 10,209  
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
    34,581       36,684  
Net income per common share — basic
  $ 0.06     $ 0.28  
Diluted net income per share:
               
Net income
  $ 2,178     $ 10,209  
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
    34,581       36,684  
Effect of dilutive securities:
               
Effect of dilutive stock options
           
Effect of dilutive non-vested stock
    16        
 
           
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — diluted
    34,597       36,684  
Net income per common share — diluted
  $ 0.06     $ 0.28  
Common shares excluded from the denominator as anti-dilutive:
               
Stock options
    51       51  
Non-vested restricted stock
    96       64  
(7) Senior Secured Credit Facility
     In accordance with our Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as amended, or the senior secured credit facility, we may borrow up to $320.0 million depending upon the availability of borrowing base collateral consisting of eligible trade receivables, inventories, property and equipment, and other assets. Additionally, upon the appropriate lender approval, the Company has access to an incremental facility in an aggregate amount of up to $130.0 million during the term of the senior secured credit facility, which matures August 4, 2011. If at any time an event of default exists, the interest rate on the senior secured credit facility will increase by 2.0% per annum. We are also required to pay a commitment fee equal to 0.25% per annum in respect of undrawn commitments.
     At March 31, 2009, the interest rate on the senior secured credit facility was LIBOR plus 125 basis points, or 2.76%. The senior secured credit facility is senior to all other outstanding debt, secured by all assets of the Company (except for equipment that is collateralized under manufacturer flooring plan arrangements) and is guaranteed by the Company’s domestic subsidiaries (see note 9 to the condensed consolidated financial statements). The balance outstanding on the senior secured credit facility as of March 31, 2009 was approximately $67.9 million. Additional borrowings available under the terms of the senior secured credit facility as of March 31, 2009, net of $7.8 million of standby letters of credit outstanding, totaled $244.2 million. The average interest rate on outstanding borrowings for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was approximately 2.54%. As of March 31, 2009, we were in compliance with our financial covenant under the senior secured credit facility. As of May 4, 2009, we had $254.9 million of available borrowings under our senior secured credit facility, net of $7.8 million of outstanding letters of credit.
(8) Segment Information
     We have identified five reportable segments: equipment rentals, new equipment sales, used equipment sales, parts sales and service 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

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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.
     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):
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2009     2008  
Revenues:
               
Equipment rentals
  $ 55,484     $ 71,211  
New equipment sales
    64,057       76,353  
Used equipment sales
    16,093       41,411  
Parts sales
    26,023       28,914  
Services revenues
    15,457       16,588  
 
           
Total segmented revenues
    177,114       234,477  
Non-segmented revenues
    9,082       11,289  
 
           
Total revenues
  $ 186,196     $ 245,766  
 
           
Gross Profit (Loss):
               
Equipment rentals
  $ 20,369     $ 32,967  
New equipment sales
    8,742       10,807  
Used equipment sales
    3,405       10,492  
Parts sales
    7,501       8,648  
Services revenues
    9,754       10,447  
 
           
Total segmented gross profit
    49,771       73,361  
Non-segmented gross profit (loss)
    509       (637 )
 
           
Total gross profit
  $ 50,280     $ 72,724  
 
           
                 
    Balances at  
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2009     2008  
Segment identified assets:
               
Equipment sales
  $ 115,373     $ 108,109  
Equipment rentals
    526,230       554,457  
Parts and services
    19,530       21,131  
 
           
Total segment identified assets
    661,133       683,697  
Non-segment identified assets
    244,123       282,937  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 905,256     $ 966,634  
 
           
     The Company operates primarily in the United States and our sales to international customers for the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 were 1.2% and 2.7% of total revenues, respectively. No one customer accounted for more than 10% of our revenues on an overall or segment basis for any of the periods presented.
(9) 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 Holdings, Inc. and H&E Equipment Services (Mid-Atlantic), Inc. 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 condensed 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. The condensed consolidating balance sheet amounts as of December 31, 2008 included herein were derived from our annual audited consolidated financial statements and related notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
                                 
    As of March 31, 2009  
    H&E Equipment     Guarantor              
    Services     Subsidiaries     Elimination     Consolidated  
    (Amounts in thousands)  
Assets:
                               
Cash
  $ 10,820     $ 16     $     $ 10,836  
Receivables, net
    95,542       14,325             109,867  
Inventories, net
    108,040       26,863             134,903  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    9,741       259             10,000  
Rental equipment, net
    425,299       100,931             526,230  
Property and equipment, net
    50,256       12,133             62,389  
Deferred financing costs, net
    6,609                   6,609  
Intangible assets, net
          1,431             1,431  
Investment in guarantor subsidiaries
    4,769             (4,769 )      
Goodwill
    5,643       37,348             42,991  
 
                       
Total assets
  $ 716,719     $ 193,306     $ (4,769 )   $ 905,256  
 
                       
 
                               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
                               
Amount due on senior secured credit facility
  $ 67,936     $     $     $ 67,936  
Accounts payable
    60,956                   60,956  
Manufacturer flooring plans payable
    113,686                   113,686  
Accrued expenses payable and other liabilities
    36,348       1,380             37,728  
Intercompany balances
    (184,164 )     184,164              
Related party obligation
    75                   75  
Notes payable
    1,230       722             1,952  
Senior unsecured notes
    250,000                   250,000  
Capital lease payable
          2,271             2,271  
Deferred income taxes
    76,032                   76,032  
Deferred compensation payable
    2,042                   2,042  
 
                       
Total liabilities
    424,141       188,537             612,678  
Stockholders’ equity
    292,578       4,769       (4,769 )     292,578  
 
                       
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 716,719     $ 193,306     $ (4,769 )   $ 905,256  
 
                       

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
                                 
    As of December 31, 2008  
    H&E Equipment     Guarantor              
    Services     Subsidiaries     Elimination     Consolidated  
    (Amounts in thousands)  
Assets:
                               
Cash
  $ 11,251     $ 15     $     $ 11,266  
Receivables, net
    124,757       25,536             150,293  
Inventories, net
    103,540       25,700             129,240  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    11,467       255             11,722  
Rental equipment, net
    453,320       101,137             554,457  
Property and equipment, net
    45,517       12,605             58,122  
Deferred financing costs, net
    6,964                   6,964  
Intangible assets, net
          1,579             1,579  
Investment in guarantor subsidiaries
    8,448             (8,448 )      
Goodwill
    5,643       37,348             42,991  
 
                       
Total assets
  $ 770,907     $ 204,175     $ (8,448 )   $ 966,634  
 
                       
 
                               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
                               
Amount due on senior secured credit facility
  $ 76,325     $     $     $ 76,325  
Accounts payable
    93,667                   93,667  
Manufacturer flooring plans payable
    127,690                   127,690  
Accrued expenses payable and other liabilities
    45,965       1,241             47,206  
Intercompany balances
    (191,461 )     191,461              
Related party obligation
    145                   145  
Notes payable
    1,234       725             1,959  
Senior unsecured notes
    250,000                   250,000  
Capital lease payable
          2,300             2,300  
Deferred income taxes
    75,109                   75,109  
Deferred compensation payable
    2,026                   2,026  
 
                       
Total liabilities
    480,700       195,727             676,427  
Stockholders’ equity
    290,207       8,448       (8,448 )     290,207  
 
                       
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 770,907     $ 204,175     $ (8,448 )   $ 966,634  
 
                       

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2009  
    H&E Equipment     Guarantor              
    Services     Subsidiaries     Elimination     Consolidated  
    (Amounts in thousands)  
Revenues:
                               
Equipment rentals
  $ 46,773     $ 8,711     $     $ 55,484  
New equipment sales
    55,073       8,984             64,057  
Used equipment sales
    13,917       2,176             16,093  
Parts sales
    22,261       3,762             26,023  
Services revenues
    13,608       1,849             15,457  
Other
    7,692       1,390             9,082  
 
                       
Total revenues
    159,324       26,872             186,196  
 
                       
Cost of revenues:
                               
Rental depreciation
    19,333       4,452             23,785  
Rental expense
    9,397       1,933             11,330  
New equipment sales
    47,662       7,653             55,315  
Used equipment sales
    10,800       1,888             12,688  
Parts sales
    15,806       2,716             18,522  
Services revenues
    5,053       650             5,703  
Other
    6,934       1,639             8,573  
 
                       
Total cost of revenues
    114,985       20,931             135,916  
 
                       
Gross profit:
                               
Equipment rentals
    18,043       2,326             20,369  
New equipment sales
    7,411       1,331             8,742  
Used equipment sales
    3,117       288             3,405  
Parts sales
    6,455       1,046             7,501  
Services revenues
    8,555       1,199             9,754  
Other
    758       (249 )           509  
 
                       
Gross profit
    44,339       5,941             50,280  
 
                               
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    32,476       6,671             39,147  
Equity in loss of guarantor subsidiaries
    (3,679 )           3,679        
Gain (loss) on sales of property and equipment, net
    81       (99 )           (18 )
 
                       
Income (loss) from operations
    8,265       (829 )     3,679       11,115  
 
                       
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest expense
    (5,311 )     (2,870 )           (8,181 )
Other, net
    195       20             215  
 
                       
Total other expense, net
    (5,116 )     (2,850 )           (7,966 )
 
                       
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes
    3,149       (3,679 )     3,679       3,149  
Provision for income taxes
    971                   971  
 
                       
Net income (loss)
  $ 2,178     $ (3,679 )   $ 3,679     $ 2,178  
 
                       

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2008  
    H&E Equipment     Guarantor              
    Services     Subsidiaries     Elimination     Consolidated  
    (Amounts in thousands)  
Revenues:
                               
Equipment rentals
  $ 61,919     $ 9,292     $     $ 71,211  
New equipment sales
    62,435       13,918             76,353  
Used equipment sales
    34,030       7,381             41,411  
Parts sales
    23,137       5,777             28,914  
Services revenues
    14,152       2,436             16,588  
Other
    9,602       1,687             11,289  
 
                       
Total revenues
    205,275       40,491             245,766  
 
                       
Cost of revenues:
                               
Rental depreciation
    21,632       4,796             26,428  
Rental expense
    9,972       1,844             11,816  
New equipment sales
    53,296       12,250             65,546  
Used equipment sales
    24,600       6,319             30,919  
Parts sales
    16,178       4,088             20,266  
Services revenues
    5,215       926             6,141  
Other
    9,538       2,388             11,926  
 
                       
Total cost of revenues
    140,431       32,611             173,042  
 
                       
Gross profit:
                               
Equipment rentals
    30,315       2,652             32,967  
New equipment sales
    9,139       1,668             10,807  
Used equipment sales
    9,430       1,062             10,492  
Parts sales
    6,959       1,689             8,648  
Services revenues
    8,937       1,510             10,447  
Other
    64       (701 )           (637 )
 
                       
Gross profit
    64,844       7,880             72,724  
 
                               
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    37,624       9,060             46,684  
Equity in loss of guarantor subsidiaries
    (4,503 )           4,503        
Gain on sales of property and equipment, net
    110       29             139  
 
                       
Income (loss) from operations
    22,827       (1,151 )     4,503       26,179  
 
                       
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest expense
    (6,794 )     (3,373 )           (10,167 )
Other, net
    195       21             216  
 
                       
Total other expense, net
    (6,599 )     (3,352 )           (9,951 )
 
                       
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes
    16,228       (4,503 )     4,503       16,228  
Provision for income taxes
    6,019                   6,019  
 
                       
Net income (loss)
  $ 10,209     $ (4,503 )   $ 4,503     $ 10,209  
 
                       

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2009  
    H&E Equipment     Guarantor              
    Services     Subsidiaries     Elimination     Consolidated  
            (Amounts in thousands)          
Cash flows from operating activities:
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 2,178     $ (3,679 )   $ 3,679     $ 2,178  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
                               
Depreciation and amortization on property and equipment
    2,237       558             2,795  
Depreciation on rental equipment
    19,333       4,452             23,785  
Amortization of loan discounts and deferred financing costs
    355                   355  
Amortization of intangible assets
          148             148  
Provision for losses on accounts receivable
    1,088       144             1,232  
Provision for inventory obsolescence
    34                   34  
Provision for deferred income taxes
    923                   923  
Stock-based compensation expense
    279                   279  
(Gain) loss on sales of property and equipment, net
    (81 )     99             18  
Gain on sales of rental equipment, net
    (775 )     (2,326 )           (3,101 )
Equity in loss of guarantor subsidiaries
    3,679             (3,679 )      
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                               
Receivables, net
    28,127       11,067             39,194  
Inventories, net
    (8,008 )     (1,890 )           (9,898 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    1,726       (4 )           1,722  
Accounts payable
    (32,711 )                 (32,711 )
Manufacturer flooring plans payable
    (14,004 )                 (14,004 )
Accrued expenses payable and other liabilities
    (9,612 )     139             (9,473 )
Intercompany balances
    7,297       (7,297 )            
Deferred compensation payable
    16                   16  
 
                       
Net cash provided by operating activities
    2,081       1,411             3,492  
 
                       
Cash flows from investing activities:
                               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (6,935 )     (188 )           (7,123 )
Purchases of rental equipment
    1,560       (3,098 )           (1,538 )
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment
    40       3             43  
Proceeds from sales of rental equipment
    11,377       1,905             13,282  
 
                       
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    6,042       (1,378 )           4,664  
 
                       
Cash flows from financing activities:
                               
Purchase of treasury stock
    (86 )                 (86 )
Borrowings on senior secured credit facility
    220,835                   220,835  
Payments on senior secured credit facility
    (229,224 )                 (229,224 )
Payments of related party obligation
    (75 )                 (75 )
Payments on capital lease obligations
          (29 )           (29 )
Principal payments of notes payable
    (4 )     (3 )           (7 )
 
                       
Net cash used in financing activities
    (8,554 )     (32 )           (8,586 )
 
                       
Net increase (decrease) in cash
    (431 )     1             (430 )
Cash, beginning of period
    11,251       15             11,266  
 
                       
Cash, end of period
  $ 10,820     $ 16     $     $ 10,836  
 
                       

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2008  
    H&E Equipment     Guarantor              
    Services     Subsidiaries     Elimination     Consolidated  
            (Amounts in thousands)          
Cash flows from operating activities:
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 10,209     $ (4,503 )   $ 4,503     $ 10,209  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
                               
Depreciation on property and equipment
    1,999       822             2,821  
Depreciation on rental equipment
    21,632       4,796             26,428  
Amortization of loan discounts and deferred financing costs
    751       (386 )           365  
Amortization of intangible assets
    713                   713  
Provision for losses on accounts receivable
    647                   647  
Provision for inventory obsolescence
    16                   16  
Provision for deferred income taxes
    5,455                   5,455  
Stock-based compensation expense
    316                   316  
Gain on sales of property and equipment, net
    (110 )     (29 )           (139 )
Gain on sales of rental equipment, net
    (8,884 )     (1,001 )           (9,885 )
Equity in loss of guarantor subsidiaries
    4,503             (4,503 )      
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                               
Receivables, net
    12,100       3,827             15,927  
Inventories, net
    (23,383 )     148             (23,235 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (1,389 )     329             (1,060 )
Accounts payable
    (23,249 )     4,879             (18,370 )
Manufacturer flooring plans payable
    (16,011 )     (6,002 )           (22,013 )
Accrued expenses payable and other liabilities
    (4,154 )     (2,020 )           (6,174 )
Intercompany balances
    18,569       (18,569 )            
Deferred compensation payable
    36                   36  
 
                       
Net cash used in operating activities
    (234 )     (17,709 )           (17,943 )
 
                       
Cash flows from investing activities:
                               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (2,697 )     (475 )           (3,172 )
Purchases of rental equipment
    (34,312 )     11,663             (22,649 )
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment
    382       24             406  
Proceeds from sales of rental equipment
    40,054       (5,791 )           34,263  
 
                       
Net cash provided by investing activities
    3,427       5,421             8,848  
 
                       
Cash flows from financing activities:
                               
Excess tax benefit (deficiency) from stock-based awards
    (44 )                 (44 )
Purchase of treasury stock
    (19,473 )                 (19,473 )
Borrowings on senior secured credit facility
    294,974                   294,974  
Payments on senior secured credit facility
    (278,595 )     9,652             (268,943 )
Payments of related party obligation
    (75 )                 (75 )
Payments on capital lease obligation
          (27 )             (27 )
Principal payments of notes payable
    (4 )     (3 )           (7 )
 
                       
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (3,217 )     9,622             6,405  
 
                       
Net decrease in cash
    (24 )     (2,666 )           (2,690 )
Cash, beginning of period
    12,005       2,757             14,762  
 
                       
Cash, end of period
  $ 11,981     $ 91     $     $ 12,072  
 
                       

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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, 2009, and its results of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2009, 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, 2008. 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, 2008.
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 service 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 service operations.
     As of May 4, 2009, we operated 62 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 at 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 48 years. H&E Equipment Services L.L.C. (“H&E LLC”) was formed in June 2002 through the business combination of Head & Engquist, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gulf Wide, and ICM. Head & Engquist, founded in 1961, and ICM, founded in 1971, were two leading regional, integrated equipment services 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.
     In connection with our initial public offering in February 2006, we converted H&E LLC into H&E Equipment Services, Inc. Prior to our initial public offering, our business was conducted through H&E LLC. 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, 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 us (H&E Equipment Services, Inc.), with us surviving 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 merger reincorporation.
Critical Accounting Policies
     Item 7, included in Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, 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 changes to these critical accounting policies and estimates during the quarter ended March 31, 2009. 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, 2008 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.
    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 (equipment usage based on customer demand), rental rate trends and targets, and equipment demand, which we closely monitor. We maintain fleet quality through regional quality control managers and our parts and services operations.
 
    New Equipment Sales. Our new equipment sales operation sells new equipment in all four core product categories. We have a retail sales force focused by equipment type that is separate from our rental sales force. Manufacturer purchase terms and pricing are managed by our product specialists.
 
    Used Equipment Sales. Our used equipment sales are generated primarily from sales of used equipment from our rental fleet, as well as from sales of inventoried equipment that we acquire through trade-ins from our equipment customers and through selective purchases of high quality used equipment. Used equipment is sold by our dedicated retail sales force. Our used equipment sales are an effective way for us to manage the size and composition of our rental fleet and provide a profitable distribution channel for the disposal of rental equipment.
 
    Parts Sales. Our parts business sells new and used parts for the equipment we sell, and also provides parts to our own rental fleet. To a lesser degree, we also sell parts for equipment produced by manufacturers whose products we neither rent nor sell. In order to provide timely parts and service support to our customers as well as our own rental fleet, we maintain an extensive parts inventory.
 
    Services. Our services operation provides maintenance and repair services for our customers’ equipment and to our own rental fleet at our facilities as well as at our customers’ locations. As the authorized distributor for numerous equipment manufacturers, we are able to provide service to that equipment that will be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.
     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 8 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 months ended March 31, 2009, approximately 29.8% of our total revenues were attributable to equipment rentals, 34.4% of our total revenues were attributable to new equipment sales, 8.6% were attributable to used equipment sales, 14.0% were attributable to parts sales, 8.3% were attributable to our services revenues and 4.9% were attributable to non-segmented other revenues.
     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 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.

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     Equipment Rentals. Revenues from equipment rentals depend on rental rates. Because rental rates are impacted by competition in specific regions and markets, we continuously monitor and adjust rental rates. Equipment rental revenue is also impacted by the availability of equipment and by time utilization (equipment usage based on customer demand). We generate reports on, among other things, time utilization, demand pricing (rental rate pricing based on physical utilization), and rental rate trends on a piece-by-piece basis for our rental fleet. We recognize revenues from equipment rentals in the period earned on a straight-line basis, over the contract term, regardless of the timing of 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 through our existing branch network and, to a lesser extent through other means, including equipment auctions. The remainder of 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 a profitable distribution channel for 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 less sensitive to the economic cycles that 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 services provide a high-margin, relatively stable source of revenue through changing economic cycles. We recognize services revenues at the time such services are rendered and collectibility is reasonably assured.
     Non-Segmented Other Revenues. Our non-segmented other revenues consist of billings to customers for equipment support and activities including: transportation, hauling, parts freight and loss damage waiver charges. We recognize non-segmented other revenues at the time of billing and after the 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 months ended March 31, 2009, our total cost of revenues was approximately $135.9 million. Our operating expenses consist principally of selling, general and administrative expenses. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, our selling, general and administrative expenses were approximately $39.1 million. In addition, we have interest expense related to our debt instruments. We are also subject to federal and state income taxes. Operating expenses and all other income and expense items below the gross profit line of our condensed consolidated statements of income are not generally allocated to our reportable segments.
     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

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year estimated useful life, earthmoving equipment over a five year estimated useful life with an estimated 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.
     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 revenue 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 expenses (“SG&A”) include sales and marketing expenses, payroll and related benefit costs, insurance expense, professional fees, property and other taxes, administrative overhead, depreciation associated with property and equipment (other than rental equipment) and amortization expense associated with intangible assets. 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. Interest expense also includes non-cash interest expense related to the amortization cost of deferred financing costs.
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 our revolving senior secured credit facility as the primary sources of funds to purchase our inventory and to fund working capital and capital expenditures (see also “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below).

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Rental Fleet
     A significant portion of our overall value is in our rental fleet equipment. The net book value of rental equipment at March 31, 2009 was $526.2 million, or approximately 58.1% of our total assets. Our rental fleet, as of March 31, 2009, consisted of approximately 18,088 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 $763.2 million. As of March 31, 2009, our rental fleet composition was as follows (dollars in millions):
                                         
            % of     Original     % of Original     Average  
            Total     Acquisition     Acquisition     Age in  
    Units     Units     Cost     Cost     Months  
Hi-Lift or Aerial Work Platforms
    13,088       72.4 %   $ 445.6       58.4 %     37.3  
Cranes
    437       2.4 %     97.4       12.8 %     32.3  
Earthmoving
    1,562       8.6 %     148.2       19.4 %     24.3  
Industrial Lift Trucks
    1,280       7.1 %     42.3       5.5 %     32.7  
Other
    1,721       9.5 %     29.7       3.9 %     24.6  
 
                             
Total
    18,088       100.0 %   $ 763.2       100.0 %     34.5  
 
                             
     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 the normal sales of equipment from the rental fleet 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.
     On average, we increased the overall average age of our rental fleet equipment by approximately 1.2 months for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The original acquisition cost of our overall gross rental fleet decreased by $22.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 as part of a planned elimination of rental fleet growth capital expenditures and selective fleet replacement expenditures during the period in response to a challenging economic environment and global credit market conditions (see also “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below).
     Our average rental rates for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were 9.9% lower than the comparative three month period ended March 31, 2008, and 7.5% lower than the previous three month period ended December 31, 2008 (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, 2009 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. As a result of our in-house service capabilities and extensive maintenance program, we believe our rental fleet is well-maintained.
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 in Item 1A — “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008:
    Spending levels by customers. Rentals and sales of equipment to the construction industry and to industrial companies constitute a significant portion of our total revenues. As a result, we depend upon customers in these businesses and their ability and willingness to make capital expenditures to rent or buy specialized equipment. Accordingly, our business is impacted by fluctuations in customers’ spending levels on capital expenditures and by the availability of credit to those customers.
 
    Economic downturns. The demand for our products is dependent on the general economy, the stability of the global credit markets, the industries in which our customers operate or serve, and other factors. Downturns in the general economy or in the construction and manufacturing industries, as well as adverse credit market conditions, can cause demand for our products to materially decrease.
 
    Adverse weather. Adverse weather in any geographic region in which we operate may depress demand for equipment in that

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      region. Our equipment is primarily used outdoors and, as a result, prolonged adverse weather conditions may prohibit our customers from continuing their work projects. The adverse weather also has a seasonal impact in parts of our Intermountain region, primarily in the winter months.
     For a discussion of seasonality, see “Seasonality” below.
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. The period-to-period comparisons of financial results are not necessarily indicative of future results. The revenue and gross margin period-to-period comparisons below have been negatively impacted in the current year by lower customer demand resulting from several factors, including: (i) the decline in construction and industrial activities; (ii) the current macroeconomic downturn; and (iii) unfavorable credit markets affecting end-user access to capital. Continued weakness or further deterioration in the non-residential construction and industrial sectors could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows in the future.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008
     Revenues.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Total     Total  
    March 31,     Dollar     Percentage  
    2009     2008     Decrease     Decrease  
    (in thousands, except percentages)  
Segment Revenues:
                               
Equipment rentals
  $ 55,484     $ 71,211     $ (15,727 )     (22.1 )%
New equipment sales
    64,057       76,353       (12,296 )     (16.1 )%
Used equipment sales
    16,093       41,411       (25,318 )     (61.1 )%
Parts sales
    26,023       28,914       (2,891 )     (10.0 )%
Services revenues
    15,457       16,588       (1,131 )     (6.8 )%
Non-Segmented revenues
    9,082       11,289       (2,207 )     (19.6 )%
 
                       
Total revenues
  $ 186,196     $ 245,766     $ (59,570 )     (24.2 )%
 
                       
     Total Revenues. Our total revenues were $186.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to $245.8 million for the same period in 2008, a decrease of $59.6 million, or 24.2%. Revenues decreased for all reportable segments as further discussed below.
     Equipment Rental Revenues. Our revenues from equipment rentals for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased $15.7 million, or 22.1%, to approximately $55.5 million from $71.2 million for the same three month period in 2008. Rental revenues decreased for all four core product lines. Revenues from aerial work platforms decreased $10.3 million, cranes decreased $0.9 million, earthmoving equipment decreased $0.8 million, lift trucks decreased $0.9 million and other equipment rentals decreased $2.8 million. These decreases were due to lower demand resulting from the factors discussed above, which resulted in a further decline in our rental rates. Our average rental rates for the three month period ended March 31, 2009 declined 9.9% compared to the same three month period last year.
     Rental equipment dollar utilization (quarterly rental revenues divided by the average original rental fleet equipment costs) for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was approximately 28.7% in 2009 compared to 35.5% in 2008, a decrease of approximately 6.8%. The decrease in comparative rental equipment dollar utilization was the result of a 9.9% decrease in average rental rates for the comparative periods and an 8.4% decrease in rental equipment time utilization (equipment usage based on customer demand) from 64.5% in 2008 to 56.1% in 2009.
     New Equipment Sales Revenues. Our new equipment sales for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased $12.3 million, or 16.1%, to $64.1 million from $76.4 million for the comparable period in 2008. Sales of new cranes increased $3.7 million, largely as a result of crane orders in 2008 that were fulfilled in the first quarter of 2009. Sales of new aerial work platforms decreased $5.2 million, sales of earthmoving equipment decreased $8.1 million, sales of lift trucks decreased $0.8 million and sales of other new equipment decreased $1.9 million, reflecting lower demand for these product lines.
     Used Equipment Sales Revenues. Our used equipment sales decreased $25.3 million, or 61.1%, to $16.1 million for the three

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months ended March 31, 2009, from $41.4 million for the same period in 2008, primarily as a result of lower demand for used equipment. Sales of used cranes decreased $8.6 million while sales of used aerial work platform equipment, used earthmoving equipment and used lift trucks decreased $9.1 million, $6.6 million and $1.0 million, respectively.
     Parts Sales Revenues. Our parts sales decreased $2.9 million, or 10.0%, to approximately $26.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 from approximately $28.9 million for the same period in 2008. The decrease was due to a decrease in customer demand for parts due to the decline in construction and industrial activity since last year.
     Services Revenues. Our services revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased $1.1 million, or 6.8%, to $15.5 million from $16.6 million for the same period last year. The decline was largely due to a decrease in demand for services due to the decline in construction and industrial activity since last year.
     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 months ended March 31, 2009, our other revenues decreased $2.2 million, or 19.6%, over the same period last year. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the volume in these services in conjunction with the decline of our primary business activities.
     Gross Profit.
                                 
                    Total     Total  
    Three Months Ended     Dollar     Percentage  
    March 31,     Change     Change  
    2009     2008     Incr/(Decr)     Incr/(Decr)  
            (in thousands, except percentages)          
Segment Gross Profit (Loss):
                               
Equipment rentals
  $ 20,369     $ 32,967     $ (12,598 )     (38.2 )%
New equipment sales
    8,742       10,807       (2,065 )     (19.1 )%
Used equipment sales
    3,405       10,492       (7,087 )     (67.5 )%
Parts sales
    7,501       8,648       (1,147 )     (13.3 )%
Services revenues
    9,754       10,447       (693 )     (6.6 )%
Non-Segmented revenues
    509       (637 )     1,146       179.9 %
 
                       
Total gross profit
  $ 50,280     $ 72,724     $ (22,444 )     (30.9 )%
 
                       
     Total Gross Profit. Our total gross profit was $50.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to $72.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, a decrease of $22.4 million, or 30.9%. Total gross profit margin for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was 27.0%, a decrease of 2.6% from the 29.6% gross profit margin for the same three month period in 2008. Gross profit and gross margin for all reportable segments are further described below:
     Equipment Rentals Gross Profit. Our gross profit from equipment rentals for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased $12.6 million, or 38.2%, to approximately $20.4 million from $33.0 million in the same period in 2008. The decrease in equipment rentals gross profit is the net result of a $15.7 million decrease in rental revenues, which was partially offset by a $0.5 million net decrease in rental expenses and a $2.6 million decrease in rental equipment depreciation expense. The net decrease in rental expenses and rental equipment depreciation expense was primarily due to a smaller fleet size in 2009 compared to 2008. As a percentage of equipment rental revenues, maintenance and repair costs were 14.8% in 2009 compared to 12.3% in 2008 and depreciation expense was 42.9% in 2009 compared to 37.1% in 2008. These percentage increases are primarily attributable to the decline in comparative rental revenues.
     Gross profit margin in 2009 was 36.7%, down 9.6% from 46.3% in the same period in 2008. This gross profit margin decline was primarily due to a 9.9% decline in our average rental rates and the product mix of equipment rented, combined with the increase in rental and depreciation expenses as a percentage of equipment rental revenues.
     New Equipment Sales Gross Profit. Our new equipment sales gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased $2.1 million, or 19.1%, to $8.7 million compared to $10.8 million for the same period in 2008 on a total new equipment sales decline of $12.3 million. Gross profit margin on new equipment sales for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was 13.6%, a decrease of 0.6% from 14.2% in the same period last year. The decrease in comparative gross margin realized in the current year period was largely the result of the product mix of equipment sold.
     Used Equipment Sales Gross Profit. Our used equipment sales gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased $7.1 million, or 67.5%, to $3.4 million from the $10.5 million for the same period in 2008 on a used equipment sales decrease of

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$25.3 million. Gross profit margin in 2009 was 21.2%, down 4.1% from 25.3% in the same period last year, as a result of the product mix of used equipment sold and margin contraction due to lower overall demand for used equipment. Our used equipment sales from the rental fleet, which comprised approximately 83% of our used equipment sales for the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, were approximately 130.5% of net book value for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to 140.6% for the comparable period last year.
     Parts Sales Gross Profit. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, our parts sales revenue gross profit decreased approximately $1.1 million, or 13.3%, to $7.5 million from $8.6 million for the same period in 2008 on a $2.9 million decline in parts sales revenues. Gross profit margin for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was 28.8%, a decrease of 1.1% from 29.9% in the same period last year, as a result of the mix of parts sold.
     Services Revenues Gross Profit. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, our services revenues gross profit decreased approximately $0.7 million, or 6.6%, to $9.8 million from $10.5 million for the same period in 2008. Gross profit margin in 2009 was 63.1%, up 0.1% from 63.0% in the same period last year.
     Non-Segmented Other Revenues Gross Profit (Loss). For the three months ended March 31, 2009, our non-segmented other revenues realized a gross profit of $0.5 million, up $1.1 million compared to a gross loss of $(0.6) million for the three month period ended March 31, 2008, primarily as a result of lower fuel and other transportation costs.
     Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. SG&A expenses decreased approximately $7.6 million, or 16.1%, to $39.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to $46.7 million for the same period last year. The net decrease in SG&A expenses was attributable to several factors. Employee salaries and wages and related employee expenses decreased $6.7 million as a result of workforce reductions and other cost control measures instituted by the Company in 2008 combined with lower commissions that resulted from lower rental and sales revenues. Amortization expense related to intangible assets decreased $0.6 million, and fuel, utilities and other supply costs decreased approximately $1.0 million. These decreases were partially offset by a $0.6 million increase in bad debt expense, reflecting some deterioration in our customer accounts receivables, and a $0.6 million increase in outside services costs consisting primarily of professional fees. Stock-based compensation expense was $0.3 million in each of the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008. As a percent of total revenues, SG&A expenses were 21.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2009, an increase of 2.0% from 19.0% in the prior year, reflecting the fixed cost nature of certain SG&A expenses.
     Other Income (Expense). For the three months ended March 31, 2009, our net other expenses decreased by approximately $2.0 million to $8.0 million compared to $10.0 million for the same period in 2008. The $2.0 million decrease was substantially the result of a $2.0 million decrease in interest expense to $8.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to $10.2 million for the same period in 2008. The decrease in interest expense was due to several factors. Comparative interest expense incurred on our senior secured credit facility was approximately $1.5 million lower in the current year period largely as a result of a decrease in our average borrowings under the senior secured credit facility compared to the prior year and a lower effective average interest rate on those borrowings in the current year. Additionally, other interest expense decreased $0.5 in the current year period, primarily as a result of a $0.4 million decrease in interest expense on our manufacturing flooring plan payables used to finance inventory purchases, as a result of lower outstanding balances on those manufacturing flooring plan payables in the current year period and lower average interest rates, reflecting the decline in the prime interest rate since last year.
     Income Taxes. Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased approximately $5.0 million to approximately $1.0 million compared to $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was 30.8% compared to 37.1% for the same period last year. The decrease in our effective tax rate was the result of lower pre-tax income without a corresponding decrease in the permanent differences, primarily our tax deductible goodwill permanent difference. Based on available evidence, both positive and negative, we believe it is more likely than not that our deferred tax assets at March 31, 2009 are fully realizable through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and future taxable income, and are not subject to any limitations.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
     Cash flow from operating activities. Our cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $3.5 million. Our reported net income of $2.2 million, which, when adjusted for non-cash income and expense items, such as depreciation and amortization, deferred income taxes, provision for losses on accounts receivable, stock-based compensation expense, and net gains on the sale of long-lived assets, provided positive cash flows of approximately $28.6 million. These cash flows from operating activities were also positively impacted by a decrease of $39.2 million in net accounts receivable and a $1.7 million decrease

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in prepaid expenses and other assets. Partially offsetting these positive cash flows were increases in our inventories of $9.9 million, a decrease of $32.7 million in accounts payable, a $14.0 million decrease in manufacturing flooring plans payable, and a $9.5 million decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities.
     Our cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $17.9 million. Our reported net income of $10.2 million, which, when adjusted for non-cash income and expense items, such as depreciation and amortization, deferred income taxes, provision for losses on accounts receivable, stock-based compensation expense, and net gains on the sale of long-lived assets, provided positive cash flows of approximately $37.0 million. These cash flows from operating activities were also positively impacted by a decrease of $15.9 million in net accounts receivable. Partially offsetting these positive cash flows were increases in our inventories of $23.2 million, an increase of $1.0 million in prepaid expenses and other assets, an $18.4 million decrease in accounts payable, a $22.0 million decrease in manufacturing flooring plans payable, and a $6.2 million decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities.
     Cash flow from investing activities. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, cash provided by our investing activities was approximately $4.7 million. This is a net result of proceeds from the sale of rental and non-rental equipment of approximately $13.3 million, which was partially offset by purchases of rental and non-rental equipment totaling approximately $8.6 million.
     For the three months ended March 31, 2008, cash provided by our investing activities was approximately $8.8 million. This is a net result of proceeds from the sale of rental and non-rental equipment of approximately $34.6 million, which was partially offset by purchases of rental and non-rental equipment totaling $25.8 million.
     Cash flow from financing activities. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, cash used in our financing activities was approximately $8.6 million. Our total borrowings during the period under our senior secured credit facility were $220.8 million and total payments under the senior secured credit facility in the same period were $229.2 million. We also made payments under our related party obligation of $0.1 million.
     For the three months ended March 31, 2008, cash provided by our financing activities was approximately $6.4 million. Our total borrowings during the period under our senior secured credit facility were $295.0 million and total payments under the senior secured credit facility in the same period were $268.9 million. We also purchased $19.5 million of treasury stock, which includes $19.3 million of stock repurchases under the Company’s stock repurchase program, which expired on its terms on December 31, 2008, and made payments under our related party obligation of $0.1 million.
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 our senior secured credit facility. Our principal uses of cash have been to fund operating activities and working capital, 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. 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 months ended March 31, 2009 were $5.7 million, including $4.2 million of non-cash transfers from new and used equipment to rental fleet inventory. Our gross property and equipment capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $7.1 million, which includes approximately $6.1 million related to the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning system that is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2009 or early 2010. 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. Given the challenging economic environment in which we currently operate, as well as the global credit crisis, we expect to eliminate growth capital expenditures for the rental fleet in the near term and employ a very selective approach toward replacement rental fleet capital expenditures. We anticipate that this approach will allow us to generate cash flow to permit the pay down of debt and/or other general corporate purposes. As of May 4, 2009, we had $254.9 million of available borrowings under our senior secured credit facility, net of $7.8 million of outstanding letters of credit.
     To service our debt, we will require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to pay interest and principal on our indebtedness (including the senior unsecured notes, the senior secured credit facility and our other indebtedness), will depend upon our future operating performance and the availability of borrowings under our senior secured 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 senior secured credit facility will be adequate to meet our future liquidity needs for the foreseeable future.

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     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 economic and market conditions, including the significant disruptions in the global capital markets, we cannot assure investors that any of these actions could be affected 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 or future debt agreements, including the indenture governing the senior unsecured notes, and the senior secured credit facility, 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 accelerations of all of our debt.
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 are 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.
     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 service activities are 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, 2008.
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, 2008.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
     Our earnings are affected by changes in interest rates due to the fact that interest on our senior secured credit facility is calculated based upon LIBOR plus 125 basis points. At March 31, 2009, we had $67.9 million of outstanding borrowings under our senior secured credit facility. The interest rate in effect on those borrowings at March 31, 2009 was approximately 2.76%. A 1.0% increase in the effective interest rate on our outstanding borrowings at March 31, 2009 would increase our interest expense by approximately $0.7 million on an annualized basis. We did not have significant exposure to changing interest rates as of March 31, 2009 on our fixed-rate senior unsecured notes or on our other notes payable. 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 we file or submit 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(f) 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, 2009, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that material information required to be included in our periodic SEC reports was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in rules and forms.
     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 have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) that occurred during the three month period ended March 31, 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
     We are party to various litigation matters, in most cases involving normal ordinary course and routine claims incidental to our business. We cannot estimate with certainty our ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to such pending matters. However, we believe, based on our examination of such pending matters, that our ultimate liability for such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and/or operating results.
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, 2008, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.
     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, 2008.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
     Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
     On February 22, 2009, 40,650 shares of non-vested stock that was issued in 2006 vested at $5.75 per share. In accordance with the provisions of our 2006 Stock-Based Incentive Compensation Plan, holders of those vested shares returned 14,884 common shares to the Company as payment for their respective employee withholding taxes. This resulted in an addition of 14,884 shares to Treasury Stock.
Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities.
     None.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
     None.

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Item 5. Other Information.
     None.
Item 6. Exhibits.
     A. Exhibits
             
 
    31.1     Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
 
           
 
    31.2     Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
 
           
 
    32.1     Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith).

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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.
         
  H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES, INC.
 
 
Dated: May 6, 2009  By:   /s/ John M. Engquist    
    John M. Engquist   
    President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) 
 
 
     
Dated: May 6, 2009  By:   /s/ Leslie S. Magee    
    Leslie S. Magee   
    Chief Financial Officer and Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)   
 

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EXHIBIT INDEX
     
31.1
  Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
 
   
31.2
  Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
 
   
32.1
  Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith).

33

exv31w1
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, President and Chief Executive Officer of H&E Equipment Services, Inc., certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of H&E Equipment Services, Inc.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  (a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such internal control and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  (b)   designed such internal control over financial reporting or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  (c)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  (d)   disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
  (a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  (b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
         
     
Dated: May 6, 2009  By:   /s/ John M. Engquist    
    John M. Engquist   
    President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) 
 
 

 

exv31w2
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, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of H&E Equipment Services, Inc., certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of H&E Equipment Services, Inc.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  (a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such internal control and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  (b)   designed such internal control over financial reporting or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  (c)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  (d)   disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s Board of Directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
  (a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  (b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
         
     
Dated: May 6, 2009  By:   /s/ Leslie S. Magee    
    Leslie S. Magee   
    Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
(Principal Financial Officer) 
 
 
         

 

exv32w1
         
     
     
     
     
 
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, 2009 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John M. Engquist, President and 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:
  (1)   the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
 
  (2)   the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
         
     
Dated: May 6, 2009  By:   /s/ John M. Engquist    
    John M. Engquist   
    President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) 
 
 
     
Dated: May 6, 2009  By:   /s/ Leslie S. Magee    
    Leslie S. Magee   
    Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
(Principal Financial Officer)