Centrus Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

BETHESDA, Md., May 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE American: LEU) today reported net income of $5.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to a net income of $11.3 million for the first quarter of 2020. The net loss allocable to common stockholders of $2.2 million, or $0.17 (basic and diluted) per common share under GAAP was the result of an exchange of common for preferred shares. Without giving effect to the exchange, on a non-GAAP basis the adjusted net income per share was $0.34 (basic) and $0.33 (diluted) (see Non-GAAP description and reconciliation table below).

"As I noted in our annual shareholder letter, Centrus continues to make progress, building on our return to profitability in 2020. With new sales commitments and the continued progress on the HALEU program, we're in a good position moving forward," said Dan Poneman, Centrus president and chief executive officer. "We are focusing every day on our customers' needs for the future, while continuing the hard work we've done in recent years to reduce our debt and lower our cost structure. We are also encouraged that the new Administration has recognized the important role that zero-carbon nuclear power can play in the transition to a clean energy future."

Financial Results

Centrus generated total revenue of $55.6 million for the first quarter of 2021, an increase of $10.6 million, or 24%, from the prior year period. Our order book increased from $969 million as of March 31, 2020, to $989 million as of March 31, 2021, including approximately $300 million in deferred revenue and advances from customers in each case.

Revenue from the LEU segment increased $7.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to the corresponding period in 2020 resulting primarily from increased volume.  The average price per SWU decreased 17% in the three-month period compared to 2020, reflecting the particular contracts under which SWU were sold during the periods. There were no uranium sales in either period.

Cost of sales for the LEU segment increased $12.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to the corresponding period in 2020 primarily due to increased volume. Cost of sales includes $15.9 million of previously deferred costs from Deferred Costs Associated with Deferred Revenue that reflect higher inventory costs from previous years. Cost of sales also includes legacy costs related to former employees of the Portsmouth and Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plants of $0.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to $1.0 million in the corresponding period in 2020. Excluding legacy costs and previously deferred sales, the average unit cost of sales for SWU decreased 14% in the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to the corresponding period in 2020.

Revenue from the technical solutions segment increased $3.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to the corresponding period in 2020, reflecting increased work performed under the HALEU and X-energy contracts. Revenue in the prior period included work performed under a contract with UT-Battelle LLC.

Cost of sales for the technical solutions segment increased $6.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to the corresponding period in 2020, reflecting the increase in contract work performed. Cost of sales benefited by $2.0 million in the current period and $3.0 million in the prior period for previously accrued contract losses attributable to work performed under the HALEU Contract.

Centrus realized a gross profit of $11.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to a gross profit of $19.6 million in the corresponding period in 2020.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to the corresponding period in 2020.  Consulting costs decreased $1.1 million and salaries and benefits decreased $0.2 million. Incentive compensation expense increased $1.2 million, primarily related to a remeasurement of obligations under long-term incentive plans which are based on our stock price. Other SG&A expenses decreased by a net $0.2 million. We ended the first quarter of 2021 with a consolidated cash balance of $163.3 million.

About Centrus Energy Corp.

Centrus is a trusted supplier of nuclear fuel and services for the nuclear power industry. Centrus provides value to its utility customers through the reliability and diversity of its supply sources – helping them meet the growing need for clean, affordable, carbon-free electricity. Since 1998, the Company has provided its utility customers with more than 1,750 reactor years of fuel, which is equivalent to 7 billion tons of coal.

With world-class technical capabilities, Centrus offers turnkey engineering and advanced manufacturing solutions to its customers. The Company is also advancing the next generation of centrifuge technologies so that America can restore its domestic uranium enrichment capability in the future. Find out more at www.centrusenergy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, may address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "will", "should", "could", "would" or "may" and other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For Centrus Energy Corp., particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following which are, and will be, exacerbated by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and any worsening of the global business and economic environment as a result: risks related to natural and other disasters, including the continued impact of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan on the nuclear industry and on our business, results of operations and prospects; risks related to financial difficulties experienced by customers, including possible bankruptcies, insolvencies or any other inability to pay for our products or services or delays in making timely payment; risks related to pandemics and other health crises, such as the global COVID-19 pandemic; the impact and potential extended duration of the current supply/demand imbalance in the market for low-enriched uranium ("LEU"); risks related to our ability to sell the LEU we procure pursuant to our purchase obligations under our supply agreements; risks related to the imposition of sanctions, restrictions or other requirements, including those imposed under the 1992 Russian Suspension Agreement ("RSA"), as amended, international trade legislation and other international trade restrictions; risks related to existing or new trade barriers and contract terms that limit our ability to deliver LEU to customers; pricing trends and demand in the uranium and enrichment markets and their impact on our profitability; movement and timing of customer orders; our dependence on others for deliveries of LEU including deliveries from the Russian government-owned entity TENEX, Joint-Stock Company ("TENEX"), under a commercial supply agreement with TENEX and deliveries under a long-term supply agreement with Orano Cycle ("Orano"); risks associated with our reliance on third-party suppliers to provide essential products and services to us; the fact that we face significant competition from major producers who may be less cost sensitive or are wholly or partially government owned; limitations on our ability to compete in foreign markets; our revenue is largely dependent on our largest customers; risks related to our sales order book, including uncertainty concerning customer actions under current contracts and in future contracting due to market conditions and our lack of current production capability; risks related to whether or when government funding or demand for high-assay low-enriched uranium ("HALEU") for government or commercial uses will materialize; risks and uncertainties regarding funding for continuation and deployment of the American Centrifuge technology and our ability to perform and absorb costs under our agreement with DOE to demonstrate the capability to produce HALEU and our ability to obtain and/or perform under other agreements; uncertainty regarding our ability to commercially deploy competitive enrichment technology; the potential for further demobilization or termination of our American Centrifuge work; risks that we will not be able to timely complete the work that we are obligated to perform; risks related to our ability to perform fixed-price and cost-share contracts, including the risk that costs could be higher than expected; risks related to our significant long-term liabilities, including material unfunded defined benefit pension plan obligations and postretirement health and life benefit obligations; risks relating to our 8.25% notes (the "8.25% Notes") maturing in February 2027 and our Series B Senior Preferred Stock; the risks of revenue and operating results fluctuating significantly from quarter to quarter, and in some cases, year to year; the impact of financial market conditions on our business, liquidity, prospects, pension assets and insurance facilities; risks related to the Company's capital concentration; risks related to the value of our intangible assets related to the sales order book and customer relationships; risks related to the limited trading markets in our securities; risks related to decisions made by our Class B stockholders and our Series B Senior Preferred stockholders regarding their investment in the Company based upon factors that are unrelated to the Company's performance; risks that a small number of Class A stockholders, whose interests may not be aligned with other Class A stockholders, may exert significant influence over the direction of the Company; risks related to the use of our net operating loss ("NOLs") carryforwards and net unrealized built-in losses ("NUBILs") to offset future taxable income and the use of the Rights Agreement (as defined herein) to prevent an "ownership change" as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and our ability to generate taxable income to utilize all or a portion of the NOLs and NUBILs prior to the expiration thereof; failures or security breaches of our information technology systems; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; the potential for the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") to seek to terminate or exercise its remedies under its agreements with the Company; risks related to actions, including government reviews, that may be taken by the United States government, the Russian government or other governments that could affect our ability to perform under our contract obligations or the ability of our sources of supply to perform under their contract obligations to us; risks related to our ability to perform and receive timely payment under agreements with DOE or other government agencies, including risks and uncertainties related to the ongoing funding by the government and potential audits; any changes or termination of agreements with the U.S. government; the competitive environment for our products and services; changes in the nuclear energy industry; the competitive bidding process associated with obtaining contracts, including government contracts; risks that we will be unable to obtain new business opportunities or achieve market acceptance of our products and services or that products or services provided by others will render our products or services obsolete or noncompetitive; potential strategic transactions that could be difficult to implement, disrupt our business or change our business profile significantly; the outcome of legal proceedings and other contingencies (including lawsuits and government investigations or audits); the impact of government regulation and policies including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; risks of accidents during the transportation, handling or processing of hazardous or radioactive material that may pose a health risk to humans or animals, cause property or environmental damage, or result in precautionary evacuations; risks associated with claims and litigation arising from past activities at sites that we no longer operate, including the Paducah, Kentucky, and Portsmouth, Ohio, gaseous diffusion plants; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in this and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under Part I, Item1A - "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in this report and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, except as required by law.

Contacts:

Investors: Dan Leistikow (301) 564-3399 or LeistikowD@centrusenergy.com
Media: Lindsey Geisler (301) 564-3392 or GeislerLR@centrusenergy.com

CENTRUS ENERGY CORP.
ADJUSTED NET INCOME PER SHARE RECONCILIATION TABLE 

The Company measures Net Income per Share both on a GAAP basis and adjusted to exclude deemed dividends allocable to retired preferred stock shares ("Adjusted Net Income per Share").  We believe Adjusted Net Income per Share, a non-GAAP financial measure, provides investors with additional understanding of the Company's financial performance and period-to-period comparability.

On February 2, 2021, the Company completed the exchange of 3,873 shares of its outstanding Preferred Stock, for (i) 231,276 shares of its Class A Common Stock, and (ii) the Warrant to purchase 250,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $21.62 per share, for an aggregate valuation of approximately $7.5 million. The carrying value on the Balance Sheet was $1.00 per share par value. The aggregate liquidation preference, including accrued but unpaid dividends, was $1,291.04 per share as of December 31, 2020.

The aggregate valuation of approximately $7.5 million, less accrued but unpaid dividends attributable to the acquired and retired Series B preferred shares, is considered for purposes of Net Income per Share to be a deemed dividend to the extent it exceeds the carrying value on the Balance Sheet, or $6.6 million.

Below we present Net Income Per Share and Adjusted Net Income per Share. The non-GAAP financial measure is used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with our GAAP results. The non-GAAP financial measure should be viewed in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measure used by the Company may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/centrus-reports-first-quarter-2021-results-301289198.html

SOURCE Centrus Energy Corp.