Celadon Group Reports First Fiscal Quarter Financial Results and Intent to Transfer to New York Stock Exchange

October 28, 2009 4:01 PM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Celadon Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CLDN) today reported its financial and operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2009, the first fiscal quarter of the Company's fiscal year ending June 30, 2010 and the intent to list shares on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE.")

Revenue for the quarter decreased 13.0% to $127.8 million in the 2009 quarter from $146.9 million in the 2008 quarter. Freight revenue, which excludes fuel surcharges, increased 1.3% to $110.7 million in the 2009 quarter from $109.3 million in the 2008 quarter. Net income decreased 78.6% to $0.6 million in the 2009 quarter from $2.8 million for the same quarter last year. Earnings per diluted share decreased to $0.03 in the 2009 quarter from $0.13 for the same quarter last year.

Chairman and CEO Steve Russell commented, "Although the freight environment continued to reflect the weakness of the U.S. and Mexico economies, we did achieve more than a seasonal pickup in shipments progressively through the September quarter. The growth in business with customers added in the past year helped drive the improvement, with billed miles increasing approximately 9.0% compared with the September 2008 quarter. The rate environment has continued to be quite difficult, with many fleets struggling and willing to accept non-compensatory pricing. Our average rate per loaded mile declined from prior year, and for the September quarter was down 6.9% from the September 2008 quarter. However, the rate per loaded mile appears to have stabilized and was flat with the June 2009 quarter at $1.407 per mile, which is an encouraging sign. The financial impact of this decline was partly offset by cost reductions achieved throughout the company, as well as the benefit of lower fuel costs.

"Our balance sheet remains solid and we retain significant liquidity to support the growth of our business. At September 30, 2009, we had $145.6 million of stockholders' equity and $48.4 million of total balance sheet borrowings. At September 30, 2009, our $40 million revolving credit facility had outstanding borrowings of $6.8 million, along with $4.2 million in outstanding letters of credit. Availability under the revolving facility was $29.0 million at September 30.

"We are pleased to announce that we have been authorized to list our common shares on the NYSE. Celadon Group, Inc. expects the shares of its common stock to begin to trade with NYSE on November 10, 2009, under the symbol "CGI." Until that time, our stock will continue to be traded on NASDAQ under the symbol "CLDN." We are excited to be partnering with the NYSE and look forward to a long lasting relationship." "We are pleased to welcome Celadon Group to our network of NYSE-listed companies," said Scott Cutler, NYSE Euronext Head of Listings, Americas. "We look forward to a dynamic partnership and to providing Celadon Group and its shareholders with a listing on the highest quality global exchange."

Conference Call Information

An investor conference call is scheduled for Thursday, October 29, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. Steve Russell and other members of management will discuss the results of the quarter. To listen and participate in a questions-and-answers exchange, simply dial 800-706-7748 (international calls 617-614-3473) pin number 82917061 a few minutes prior to the start time. A replay will be available through December 29 by dialing 888-286-8010 (international calls 617-801-6888) and entering call back code 75702269.

This call is being Web cast by Thomson/CCBN and can be accessed via Celadon's Web site at www.celadongroup.com.

Celadon Group Inc. (www.celadongroup.com), through its subsidiaries, primarily provides long-haul, full-truckload freight service across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The company also owns TruckersB2B Inc. (www.truckersb2b.com) which provides cost savings to member fleets; Celadon Dedicated Services, which provides supply chain management solutions, such as warehousing and dedicated fleet services; and Celadon Brokerage Services.

This press release contains certain statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as "expects," "estimates," "projects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," and similar terms and phrases. Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, which could cause future events and actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. In this press release, the statements relating to our perception regarding stabilization of rate per loaded mile and expectation regarding the trading of our common stock on the NYSE are forward looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements: the risk that our perception that rates are stabilizing is inaccurate; the risk that we may not meet all of the requirements necessary to receive final authorization to list our common stock on the NYSE or otherwise receive such approval; excess tractor and trailer capacity in the trucking industry; decreased demand for our services or loss of one or more of our major customers; surplus inventories; recessionary economic cycles and downturns in customers' business cycles; strikes, work slow downs, or work stoppages at our facilities, or at customer, port, border crossing, or other shipping related facilities; increases in compensation for and difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified drivers and independent contractors; increases in insurance premiums and deductible amounts; elevated experience in the frequency or severity of claims relating to accident, cargo, workers' compensation, health, and other matters; fluctuations in claims expenses that result from high self-insured retention amounts and differences between estimates used in establishing and adjusting claims reserves and actual results over time; increases or rapid fluctuations in fuel prices, as well as fluctuations in hedging activities and surcharge collection, the volume and terms of diesel purchase commitment, interest rates, fuel taxes, tolls, and license and registration fees; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; increases in the prices paid for new revenue equipment and changes in the resale value of our used equipment; increases in interest rates or decreased availability of capital or other sources of financing for revenue equipment; seasonal factors such as harsh weather conditions that increase operating costs; competition from trucking, rail, and intermodal competitors; regulatory requirements that increase costs or decrease efficiency, including revised hours-of-service requirements for drivers and new emissions control regulations; our ability to identify acceptable acquisition candidates, consummate acquisitions, and integrate acquired operations; the timing of, and any rules relating to, the opening of the border to Mexican drivers; challenges associated with doing business internationally; our ability to retain key employees; and the effects of actual or threatened military action or terrorist attacks or responses, including security measures that may impede shipping efficiency, especially at border crossings.

Readers should review and consider these factors along with the various disclosures by the company in its press releases, stockholder reports, and filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the factors affecting the forward-looking information.

- tables follow -

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands except per share and par value amounts)

                                                       September 30,  June 30,

                                                       2009           2009

ASSETS                                                 (unaudited)

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents                              $1,917         $863

Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful
accounts of $1,016 and $1,059 at September 30, 2009    60,364         55,291
and June 30, 2009, respectively

Prepaid expenses and other current assets              16,488         10,044

Tires in service                                       5,379          4,336

Equipment held for resale                              ---            8,012

Income tax receivable                                  ---            232

Deferred income taxes                                  2,878          2,780

Total current assets                                   87,026         81,558

Property and equipment                                 243,043        237,167

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization         76,010         70,025

Net property and equipment                             167,033        167,142

Tires in service                                       1,592          1,581

Goodwill                                               19,137         19,137

Other assets                                           1,192          1,581

Total assets                                           $275,980       $270,999

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable                                       $5,545         $5,461

Accrued salaries and benefits                          11,401         10,084

Accrued insurance and claims                           8,708          8,508

Accrued fuel expense                                   9,428          8,592

Other accrued expenses                                 12,887         11,547

Provision for income taxes                             947            ---

Current maturities of long-term debt                   968            1,109

Current maturities of capital lease obligations        6,757          6,693

Total current liabilities                              56,641         51,994

Long-term debt, net of current maturities              7,082          5,870

Capital lease obligations, net of current maturities   33,580         35,311

Deferred income taxes                                  33,116         34,132

Minority interest                                      ---            25

Stockholders' equity:

Common stock, $0.033 par value, authorized 40,000,000
shares; issued 23,756,003 and 23,840,677 shares at     784            787
September 30, 2009 and June 30, 2009, respectively

Treasury stock at cost; 1,674,640 and 1,744,245 shares (11,546  )     (12,025  )
at September 30, 2009 and June 30, 2009, respectively

Additional paid-in capital                             97,219         97,030

Retained earnings                                      63,520         62,955

Accumulated other comprehensive loss                   (4,416   )     (5,080   )

Total stockholders' equity                             145,561        143,667

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity             $275,980       $270,999

Key Operating Statistics

                          For the three months ended  For the three months ended

                          September 30,               September 30,

                          2009                        2008

Operating Statistics
(U.S./Canada Truckload)

Average revenue per       $1.407                      $1.511
loaded mile (*)

Average revenue per total $1.266                      $1.362
mile (*)

Avg. revenue per tractor  $2,495                      $2,680
per week (*)

Average miles per tractor 1,971                       1,967
per week

Average tractors (**)     2,865                       2,625

Tractors at end of period 3,221                       2,947
(***)

Trailers at end of period 9,983                       8,894
(***)

Operating Ratio (*)       97.5   %                    93.6   %

* Excluding fuel
surcharges.

** Excludes tractors operated by our Mexican
subsidiary, Jaguar.

*** Total fleet, including equipment operated by independent contractors and our
Mexican subsidiary, Jaguar.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

For the three months ended September 30,

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

                                       2009        2008

Revenue:

Freight revenue                        $110,686    $109,289

Fuel surcharges                        17,151      37,579

Total revenue                          127,837     146,868

Operating expenses:

Salaries, wages, and employee benefits 40,005      41,329

Fuel                                   29,737      48,066

Operations and maintenance             8,682       9,387

Insurance and claims                   3,945       3,619

Depreciation and amortization          7,997       8,032

Revenue equipment rentals              9,376       6,063

Purchased transportation               18,128      15,761

Cost of products and services sold     1,632       1,569

Communications and utilities           1,238       1,218

Operating taxes and licenses           2,362       2,384

General and other operating            2,018       2,489

Total operating expenses               125,120     139,917

Operating income                       2,717       6,951

Other (income) expense:

Interest income                        (21      )  (5       )

Interest expense                       663         1,102

Other (income) expense, net            91          ---

Income before income taxes             1,984       5,854

Provision for income taxes             1,419       3,085

Net income                             $565        $2,769

Earnings per common share:

Diluted earnings per share             $0.03       $0.13

Basic earnings per share               $0.03       $0.13

Average shares outstanding:

Diluted                                22,190      22,031

Basic                                  21,847      21,581

    Source: Celadon Group Inc.

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