Quanta Services to Acquire Price Gregory
September 03 2009 - 5:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Positions Quanta To Expand Participation In Natural Gas
Transmission Pipeline Opportunities Expected To Result In
Substantial Accretion to Quanta's EPS HOUSTON, Sept. 3
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE: PWR) today
announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire
privately held Price Gregory Services, Incorporated, a leading
natural gas and oil transmission pipeline infrastructure service
provider in North America, in a cash and stock transaction valued
at approximately $350 million. Under the terms of the agreement,
Quanta will issue approximately 11.1 million shares of Quanta
common stock, valued at $250 million, and will pay approximately
$100 million in cash, subject to adjustment, to the stockholders of
Price Gregory. Price Gregory is the leading energy infrastructure
services provider of its kind, specializing in the construction of
large diameter transmission pipelines. Building on Quanta's
leadership role in the electric power transmission industry, the
acquisition of Price Gregory strongly positions Quanta as a leader
in the North American energy transmission infrastructure market and
will enable the company to take advantage of the positive long-term
outlook for the natural gas industry. "The acquisition of Price
Gregory is a strategic move that will significantly expand the
scale and scope of Quanta's existing natural gas operations. We are
confident that the additional resources, expertise and client
relationships that Price Gregory brings will support our efforts to
capture attractive opportunities in the natural gas pipeline
infrastructure market, which is projected to grow significantly in
the next decade and beyond," said John R. Colson, chairman and
chief executive officer of Quanta. "Financially, this transaction
is also very compelling. We expect it to result in substantial EPS
accretion, increased revenues and strengthened margins, and to
generate significant free cash flow to continue to fund our growth
strategy. "While demand for transmission pipeline construction has
recently been impacted by the recession and low natural gas and oil
prices, substantial growth is projected over the next decade as
domestic natural gas plays a larger role in meeting this country's
energy independence and clean energy goals. Significant recoverable
gas reserves have been discovered in tight shale reservoirs
throughout the country and new pipeline infrastructure is required
to transport natural gas from these new sources to end markets.
Currently, more than 50 major pipeline projects are approved or
under construction in the U.S., with more on the horizon," he
added. "Natural gas is now the most abundant, cost effective and
cleanest burning fossil fuel and will be a vital fuel for base load
power necessary to offset intermittency of renewable generation.
Our acquisition of Price Gregory, the leading company in the
sector, positions Quanta to significantly expand its presence in
this market at an opportune time," he concluded. Prior to the
global economic downturn, Price Gregory achieved revenues of more
than $1.41 billion and earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization (EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure) of $258
million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2008. Price Gregory is expected
to achieve revenues between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion and
EBITDA between $170 million and $190 million for the year ended
Dec. 31, 2009 and revenues between $700 million and $900 million in
2010. The transaction is expected to be accretive to Quanta's
earnings per share before amortization expenses by $0.13 to $0.21
in 2010. Beyond 2010, Price Gregory's revenues and operating income
are expected to grow as a result of increasing demand for natural
gas infrastructure. John E. Jackson, president and CEO of Price
Gregory, said, "With a strong track record for safety, customer
service, quality performance, timely completion and overall
commitment to excellence, Quanta is the ideal partner for Price
Gregory as we look to build on our long history of success and to
meet the growing needs of our customers in the years ahead. We are
excited about becoming part of Quanta." Price Gregory was formed on
Jan. 31, 2008 through the combination of H.C. Price Company and
Gregory & Cook Construction, Inc. With roots dating back to the
1920s, the companies have played a significant role in the build
out of the transmission pipeline infrastructure across the U.S. The
2008 historical financial information presented for Price Gregory
represents results for the eleven months ended Dec. 31, 2008 of
Price Gregory combined with the results for the one month ended
Jan. 31, 2008 of both H.C. Price Company and Gregory & Cook
Construction, Inc. The transaction, which is subject to customary
closing conditions and regulatory approvals, is expected to close
in the fourth quarter of 2009. J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. is
acting as exclusive financial advisor to Quanta Services on this
transaction. Conference Call and Webcast Information Quanta has
scheduled a conference call for today, Sept. 3, at 9:00 a.m. ET. To
participate in the call, dial (800) 499-7921 at least 10 minutes
before the conference call begins and ask for the Quanta Services
conference call or provide confirmation code 8161474. Investors,
analysts and the general public also will have the opportunity to
listen to the conference call and view the presentation over the
Internet by visiting Quanta's website at
http://www.quantaservices.com/ in the "Investor Center" section and
a replay will be available for 30 days following the conference
call. To listen to the call live on the web, please visit the
Quanta Services website at least 15 minutes early to register,
download and install any necessary audio software. The materials
presented during the webcast will be posted on the Quanta website.
About Quanta Services Quanta Services is a leading specialized
contracting services company, delivering infrastructure network
solutions for the electric power, natural gas, telecommunications
and cable television industries. The company's comprehensive
services include designing, installing, repairing and maintaining
network infrastructure nationwide. Additionally, Quanta licenses
point-to-point fiber optic telecommunications infrastructure in
select markets and offers related design, procurement, construction
and maintenance services. With operations throughout North America,
Quanta has the manpower, resources and expertise to complete
projects that are local, regional, national or international in
scope. About Price Gregory Services, Incorporated Price Gregory is
a market-leading privately-held transmission pipeline contractor
based in Houston. The company has long been regarded as one of the
most technologically advanced transmission pipeline contractors in
the world and has consistently participated in the most challenging
and important pipeline projects domestically and internationally
since its founding in the 1920s. The company has operations in the
United States (lower 48 states), Canada and Alaska. Non-GAAP
Measures EBITDA and EPS before amortization expense are non-GAAP
measures. For 2008, EBITDA for Price Gregory is calculated as net
income from continuing operations of $137 million adding back net
interest expense of approximately $5 million, income taxes of $87
million, depreciation expense of $18 million and amortization
expense of $11 million. Quanta is unable to provide a
reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures for the 2009
and 2010 projected EBITDA amounts as depreciation and amortization
expenses for 2009 and 2010 cannot be determined until the final
valuation of tangible and intangible assets is completed. Projected
EBITDA for these periods was determined by deducting anticipated
direct costs (excluding depreciation) and selling, general and
administrative expenses from anticipated revenues. The non-GAAP
measures are provided in this release because no comparable GAAP
measures are available due to the inability to determine
depreciation and amortization expenses as described above.
Forward-Looking Statements Statements about Quanta's and Price
Gregory's outlook and all other statements in this release (and
statements made regarding the subjects of this release, including
on the conference call announced herein) other than historical
facts are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the
"safe harbor" from liability established by the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements
rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are
subject to a number of uncertainties and factors, many of which are
outside Quanta's and Price Gregory's control, which could cause
actual results to differ materially from such statements.
Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to,
statements regarding the new combined company, including Price
Gregory's expected revenues, operating results and cash flow,
Quanta's and Price Gregory's expected combined financial and
operating results, accretion to Quanta's earnings per share arising
from the transaction, and the timing of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. There are a
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause results to
differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking
statements, including the failure of the acquisition to be
accretive to Quanta's earnings; the failure to effectively
integrate the combined operations and realize potential synergies
such as cross-selling opportunities; the failure of the natural gas
industry to grow in the future and the timing of any such growth;
the impact on the pipeline construction industry from various
factors, such as the price of natural gas and oil, the demand for
power generation from natural gas, the discovery and development of
natural gas and oil resources and legislative developments
affecting the energy industry overall; the effect on the businesses
of Quanta and Price Gregory from the decline in economic and
financial conditions; the inability to obtain approvals from, and
the results of the review of the proposed transaction by, various
regulatory agencies; unexpected costs or unexpected liabilities
that may arise from the transaction, whether or not consummated;
the effects of purchase accounting, including the determination of
amortizable intangibles, on the combined companies' future
operating results; the potential adverse impact to the businesses
of the companies as a result of uncertainty surrounding the
transaction, including the inability to retain key personnel; the
potential adverse effect of any conditions imposed on Quanta or
Price Gregory in connection with consummation of the merger; the
possibility that dissenting stockholders will delay or increase the
costs associated with the merger; the failure to satisfy various
conditions to the closing of the merger contemplated by the merger
agreement; the termination of the merger agreement in accordance
with its terms; future regulatory or legislative actions that could
adversely affect the companies; the ability to effectively compete
for new projects and market share; estimates and assumptions in
determining financial results; the successful negotiation,
execution and performance and completion of existing transmission
projects; delays, reductions in scope or cancellations of existing
transmission projects; cancellation provisions within contracts and
the risk that contracts are not renewed or are replaced on less
favorable terms; and the potential adverse effect of other
economic, business, and/or competitive factors on the combined
companies or their respective businesses. These forward-looking
statements are also affected by the risk factors, forward-looking
statements and challenges and uncertainties described in Quanta's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009 and its other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available free of
charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/ and through
Quanta's website at http://www.quantaservices.com/. Quanta
expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update
any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise. Quanta Contacts: Press
Contacts: Investor Contacts: James Haddox, CFO Jim Barron Ken
Dennard: 713-529-6600 Reba Reid Brooke Gordon Kip Rupp:
404-872-6764 713-629-7600 Sard Verbinnen & Co DRG&E
212-687-8080 DATASOURCE: Quanta Services, Inc. CONTACT: James
Haddox, CFO, or Reba Reid, both of Quanta, +1-713-629-7600; or
Press, Jim Barron, or Brooke Gordon, both of Sard Verbinnen &
Co, +1-212-687-8080; or Investors, Ken Dennard, +1-713-529-6600, or
Kip Rupp, +1-404-872-6764, both of DRG&E, for Quanta Web Site:
http://www.quantaservices.com/
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