Press release

TravelCenters of America Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results

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TravelCenters of America Inc. (Nasdaq: TA) today announced financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020.

Jonathan M. Pertchik, TA’s CEO, made the following statement regarding the 2020 fourth quarter results:

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an extensive impact on demand and our operations; however, through our mission to ‘Return every traveler to the road better than they came’, the early effectiveness of our Transformation Plan and our discipline around managing expenses, we were able to deliver improved operating results in the fourth quarter. We reduced our adjusted net loss by $2.1 million and posted a $7.2 million, or 36.1%, improvement in adjusted EBITDA and a $7.9 million, or 9.6%, improvement in adjusted EBITDAR over the prior year fourth quarter.

“Our continued focus on our fleet customers drove a 16.2% increase in diesel fuel sales volume over the prior year fourth quarter, although our adjusted fuel gross margin, which excludes the federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit recognized during 2020 and December 2019, was down 8.8% due to lower gasoline sales volume as a result of reduced four wheel traffic and low volatility in the diesel fuel wholesale market, which unfavorably impacted fuel gross margin per gallon. Additionally, the 2020 fourth quarter was impacted by diesel fuel gross margin market volatility and headwinds which also impacted the quarter results, and may continue to create challenges going forward. Nonetheless, our enhanced leadership has demonstrated its ability to effectively execute through challenging times caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

“Total nonfuel revenues decreased 1.0% over the prior year period driven almost entirely by a decline in revenues at our full service restaurants, many of which remain closed due to governmental mandates and our own precautions taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Excluding full service restaurants, total nonfuel revenues improved 7.1% over the prior year due to solid improvements in our store and retail services and truck service departments, as well as a significant improvement in revenues from diesel exhaust fluid. Our sound discipline in managing expenses, resulted in decreases of 8.7% and 4.5% in site level operating expense and selling, general and administrative expense, respectively, were primary factors in delivering improved quarter over quarter results.

“Looking ahead, while fuel gross margin headwinds may persist, we are extremely excited about our 2021 capital expenditures plans that focus on both remediation and growth on top of the operational improvements we have implemented. We expect to target a 15% to 20% cash on cash return for those capital expenditures related to growth initiatives. Equally as exciting are our burgeoning plans in the area of alternative energy, where we are moving toward onboarding dedicated leadership and finalizing a clear strategy going forward that we expect may include meaningful collaborations and ventures. This is a challenging, yet exciting and opportune time at TA.”

Reconciliations to GAAP:

Adjusted net loss, adjusted net loss per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders, adjusted fuel gross margin, adjusted fuel gross margin per gallon, adjusted fuel gross margin and nonfuel revenues, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDAR and adjusted EBITDAR margin are non-GAAP financial measures. The U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, financial measures that are most directly comparable to the non-GAAP measures disclosed herein are included in the supplemental tables below.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Highlights:

  • Cash and cash equivalents of $483.2 million and availability under TA’s revolving credit facility of $70.0 million for total liquidity of $553.2 million as of December 31, 2020.
  • The following table presents detailed results for TA’s fuel sales for the 2020 and 2019 fourth quarters.

(in thousands, except per gallon amounts)

Three Months Ended

December 31,

 

 

2020

 

2019

 

Change

Fuel sales volume (gallons):

 

 

 

 

 

Diesel fuel

492,674

 

 

423,943

 

 

16.2

%

Gasoline

63,246

 

 

73,259

 

 

(13.7)

%

Total fuel sales volume

555,920

 

 

497,202

 

 

11.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel gross margin

$

79,374

 

 

$

147,691

 

 

(46.3)

%

Adjusted fuel gross margin(1)

70,641

 

 

77,462

 

 

(8.8)

%

Fuel gross margin per gallon

$

0.143

 

 

$

0.297

 

 

(51.9)

%

Adjusted fuel gross margin per gallon(1)

0.127

 

 

0.156

 

 

(18.6)

%

(1)

 

In December 2019, the U.S. government retroactively reinstated the federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit for 2018 and 2019. The 2020 and 2019 fourth quarter amounts exclude $8.7 million and $70.2 million, respectively, of benefits recognized from the federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit. See the reconciliations from fuel gross margin to adjusted fuel gross margin and fuel gross margin per gallon to adjusted fuel gross margin per gallon in the supplemental tables below.

  • The following table presents detailed results for TA’s nonfuel revenues for the 2020 and 2019 fourth quarters.

(in thousands)

Three Months Ended

December 31,

 

 

2020

 

2019

 

Change

Nonfuel revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Store and retail services

$

171,346

 

 

$

161,237

 

 

6.3

%

Truck service

166,263

 

 

153,147

 

 

8.6

%

Restaurant

75,156

 

 

107,951

 

 

(30.4)

%

Diesel exhaust fluid

29,979

 

 

24,767

 

 

21.0

%

Total nonfuel revenues

$

442,744

 

 

$

447,102

 

 

(1.0)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonfuel gross margin

$

270,137

 

 

$

274,035

 

 

(1.4)

%

Nonfuel gross margin percentage

61.0

%

 

61.3

%

 

(30)

pts

  • Adjusted fuel gross margin and nonfuel revenues of $513.4 million decreased $11.2 million, or 2.1%, as compared to the prior year period.
  • Net loss of $7.2 million decreased $50.3 million, or 116.6%, and adjusted net loss of $5.1 million improved $2.1 million, or 29.4%, as compared to the prior year period.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $27.0 million increased $7.2 million, or 36.1%, as compared to the prior year period.
  • Adjusted EBITDAR of $90.9 million increased $7.9 million, or 9.6%, as compared to the prior year period.
  • Adjusted EBITDAR margin increased to 17.7%, or 190 basis points, from 15.8% for the prior year period.

Term Loan Facility

On December 14, 2020, TA entered into a $200.0 million term loan facility, or the Term Loan Facility, which is secured by a pledge of all the equity interests of substantially all of TA’s wholly owned subsidiaries and a pledge of substantially all of TA’s other assets and the assets of such wholly-owned subsidiaries. TA expects to use the net proceeds from the Term Loan Facility for general business purposes, including the funding of deferred capital expenditures, updates to key information technology infrastructure and growth initiatives consistent with its Transformation Plan, as defined below.

QSL Business Sale

TA has entered an agreement to sell its Quaker Steak & Lube, or QSL, business, which includes 41 of its standalone restaurants, for approximately $5.0 million, excluding costs to sell and certain closing adjustments. As of December 31, 2020, TA classified the QSL business as held for sale, and as a result, recorded an impairment charge of $13.7 million in the 2020 fourth quarter. This sale is expected to close during the 2021 first quarter; however, it is subject to certain conditions. Accordingly, TA cannot be certain that it will complete this sale, that this sale will not be delayed or that the terms will not change.

Growth and Cost Control Strategies

TA has commenced numerous initiatives across its organization under the Transformation Plan, for the purpose of expanding its travel center network, improving and enhancing operational efficiencies and profitability and in support of its core mission to “Return every traveler to the road better than they came.” TA believes these and certain other initiatives will expand its franchise base, increase diesel fuel and gasoline gross margin and fuel sales volume, increase market share in the truck service industry, improve merchandising and gross margin in store and retail services and improve operating effectiveness in its food service offerings while focusing on opportunities to continue to control costs in field operations.

On April 30, 2020, TA committed to and initiated the Reorganization Plan to improve the efficiency of its operations. As part of the Reorganization Plan, TA reduced its headcount and eliminated certain positions, which TA expects to result in approximately $13.1 million of net annual savings in selling, general and administrative expense. In addition, TA has made certain changes in its leadership and their roles and created both a corporate development team and a procurement team. The non-recurring costs of the Reorganization Plan were $4.3 million, which were comprised primarily of severance, outplacement services, stock based compensation expense associated with the accelerated vesting of previously granted stock awards for certain employees and fees for recruitment of certain executive positions. These costs, along with additional separation costs of $1.1 million recognized in the fourth quarter of 2020, were recognized in selling, general and administrative expense in TA’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income during the year ended December 31, 2020.

During the 2020 second quarter, TA commenced a strategic transformation consisting of numerous initiatives across its organization, including the Reorganization Plan, to enhance operations, strengthen its financial position, reduce costs and expand its nationwide network by increasing its franchising business, or the Transformation Plan. These initiatives included significant leadership appointments of qualified candidates who bring new and valuable experiences as well as initiative, critical skills and new visions and approaches to TA’s business. Key among these initiatives was the creation of a centralized procurement group to drive economies of scale in pricing, increased leverage in vendor negotiations and ultimately lead to substantial purchasing savings and a streamlined operation. Other key initiatives are focused in areas of liquidity, identifying opportunities for realizing both costs savings and increased revenues, including merchandising in the convenience stores, internal distribution of merchandise delivery, truck repair training and staffing and information technology systems.

Since the beginning of 2019, TA has entered into franchise agreements covering 33 travel centers to be operated under TA’s travel center brand names, including 21 new agreements in 2020. Four of these franchised travel centers began operations during 2019, 10 began operations during 2020, one began operations thus far in 2021 and TA anticipates the remaining 18 franchised travel centers will begin operations by the end of the 2022 first quarter.

As previously disclosed, on October 28, 2019, TA entered into a multi unit franchise agreement with IHOP Franchisor LLC, a subsidiary of IHOP®, or IHOP, to rebrand and convert up to 94 of its full service restaurants to IHOP restaurants. TA had opened one location before the COVID-19 pandemic and is now proceeding with the conversion of five additional locations at a cost of approximately $1.4 million per location, following a period of delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In addition, TA is carefully evaluating other opportunities to drive value within its full service restaurants.

TA’s capital expenditures plan for 2021 contemplates aggregate investments in the range of $175.0 million to $200.0 million targeted towards improving and growing TA’s core travel center business. The 2021 capital expenditures plan includes projects to upgrade TA’s travel center locations and technology systems infrastructure as well as growth initiatives. Approximately half of TA’s capital expenditure plan for 2021 is focused on growth initiatives that meet or exceed TA’s 15% to 20% cash on cash return hurdle.

Importantly, TA is committed to embracing environmentally friendly sources of energy and is currently planning on expanding its biodiesel blending capabilities, as well as availability of diesel exhaust fluid at the pump. Moreover, TA intends to onboard dedicated internal resources, as well as create relationships within the supply, storage and distribution chain for non-fossil fuels. TA believes its large, irreplaceably well located sites and its focus as a pure supplier provide a unique opportunity to make both fossil and non-fossil fuels available as it determines the appropriate timeframes to do so.

Conference Call

On Friday, February 26, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time, TA will host a conference call to discuss its financial results and other activities for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020. Following management’s remarks, there will be a question and answer period.

The conference call telephone number is 877-329-4614. Participants calling from outside the United States and Canada should dial 412-317-5437. No pass code is necessary to access the call from either number. Participants should dial in about 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. A replay of the conference call will be available for about a week after the call. To hear the replay, dial 412-317-0088. The replay pass code is 10150721.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will also be available in a listen only mode on TA’s website at www.ta-petro.com. To access the webcast, participants should visit TA’s website about five minutes before the call. The archived webcast will be available for replay on TA’s website for about one week after the call. The transcription, recording and retransmission in any way of TA’s fourth quarter conference call is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of TA. The Company’s website is not incorporated as part of this press release.

About TravelCenters of America Inc.

TA’s nationwide business includes travel centers located in 44 U.S. states and in Canada, standalone truck service facilities located in three states and standalone restaurants located in 12 states. TA’s travel centers operate under the “TravelCenters of America,” “TA,” “TA Express,” “Petro Stopping Centers” and “Petro” brand names and offer diesel fuel and gasoline, restaurants, truck repair services, travel/convenience stores and other services designed to provide attractive and efficient travel experiences to professional drivers and other motorists. TA’s standalone truck service facilities operate under the “TA Truck Service” brand name. TA’s standalone restaurants operate principally under the “Quaker Steak & Lube,” or QSL, brand name.

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Three Months Ended

December 31,

 

Year Ended

December 31,

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

$

840,104

 

 

$

1,071,577

 

 

$

3,084,323

 

 

$

4,247,069

 

Nonfuel

 

442,744

 

 

 

447,102

 

 

 

1,747,418

 

 

 

1,856,147

 

Rent and royalties from franchisees

 

3,814

 

 

 

3,532

 

 

 

14,296

 

 

 

14,143

 

Total revenues

 

1,286,662

 

 

 

1,522,211

 

 

 

4,846,037

 

 

 

6,117,359

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

 

760,730

 

 

 

923,886

 

 

 

2,750,971

 

 

 

3,868,351

 

Nonfuel

 

172,607

 

 

 

173,067

 

 

 

685,391

 

 

 

726,418

 

Total cost of goods sold

 

933,337

 

 

 

1,096,953

 

 

 

3,436,362

 

 

 

4,594,769

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Site level operating expense

 

214,379

 

 

 

234,705

 

 

 

870,329

 

 

 

943,810

 

Selling, general and administrative expense

 

36,867

 

 

 

38,624

 

 

 

145,038

 

 

 

155,474

 

Real estate rent expense

 

63,850

 

 

 

63,668

 

 

 

255,743

 

 

 

257,762

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

38,676

 

 

 

28,142

 

 

 

127,789

 

 

 

100,260

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income from operations

 

(447

)

 

 

60,119

 

 

 

10,776

 

 

 

65,284

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

8,415

 

 

 

7,094

 

 

 

30,479

 

 

 

28,356

 

Other expense (income), net

 

270

 

 

 

(1,250

)

 

 

1,379

 

 

 

(880

)

(Loss) income before income taxes

 

(9,132

)

 

 

54,275

 

 

 

(21,082

)

 

 

37,808

 

Benefit (provision) for income taxes

 

1,956

 

 

 

(11,158

)

 

 

6,178

 

 

 

(4,339

)

Net (loss) income

 

(7,176

)

 

 

43,117

 

 

 

(14,904

)

 

 

33,469

 

Less: net (loss) income for noncontrolling interest

 

(1,109

)

 

 

35

 

 

 

(1,005

)

 

 

124

 

Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders

$

(6,067

)

 

$

43,082

 

 

$

(13,899

)

 

$

33,345

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted

$

(0.42

)

 

$

5.29

 

 

$

(1.23

)

 

$

4.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average vested shares of common shares

 

14,151

 

 

 

7,821

 

 

 

10,961

 

 

 

7,783

 

Weighted average unvested shares of common shares

 

304

 

 

 

326

 

 

 

344

 

 

 

316

 

These financial statements should be read in conjunction with TA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(in thousands, unless indicated otherwise)

TA believes the non-GAAP financial measures presented in the tables below are meaningful supplemental disclosures. Management uses these measures in developing internal budgets and forecasts and analyzing TA’s performance and believes that they may help investors gain a better understanding of changes in TA’s operating results and its ability to pay rent or service debt when due, make capital expenditures and expand its business. These non-GAAP financial measures also may help investors to make comparisons between TA and other companies and to make comparisons of TA’s financial and operating results between periods.

The non-GAAP financial measures TA presents should not be considered as alternatives to net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders, net (loss) income, (loss) income from operations, operating margin or net (loss) income per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders as an indicator of TA’s operating performance or as a measure of TA’s liquidity. Also, the non-GAAP financial measures TA presents may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts calculated by other companies.

TA believes that adjusted net loss, adjusted net loss per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders, adjusted fuel gross margin and nonfuel revenues, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted fuel gross margin, and adjusted fuel gross margin per gallon are meaningful disclosures that may help investors to better understand TA’s financial performance by providing financial information that represents the operating results of TA’s operations without the effects of items that do not result directly from TA’s normal recurring operations and may allow investors to better compare TA’s performance between periods and to the performance of other companies. TA calculates EBITDA as net (loss) income before interest, income taxes and depreciation and amortization expense, as shown below. TA calculates adjusted EBITDA by excluding items that it considers not to be normal, recurring, cash operating expenses or gains or losses.

In addition, TA believes that, because it leases a majority of its travel centers, presenting adjusted EBITDAR and adjusted EBITDAR margin may help investors compare the value of TA against companies that own and finance ownership of their properties with debt financing, since these measures eliminate the effects of variability in leasing methods and capital structures. These measures may also help investors evaluate TA’s valuation if it owned its leased properties and financed that ownership with debt, in which case the interest expense TA incurred for that debt financing would be added back when calculating EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDAR and adjusted EBITDAR margin are presented solely as valuation measures and should not be viewed as measures of overall operating performance or considered in isolation or as an alternative to net (loss) income because they exclude the real estate rent expense associated with TA’s leases and they are presented for the limited purposes referenced herein. TA calculates EBITDAR as net (loss) income before interest, income taxes, real estate rent expense and depreciation and amortization expense and adjusted EBITDAR by excluding items that it considers not to be normal, recurring, cash operating expenses or gains or losses. TA calculates adjusted EBITDAR margin as adjusted EBITDAR as a percentage of adjusted fuel gross margin and nonfuel revenues.

TA excluded the federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit when calculating its adjusted non-GAAP financial measures. In December 2019, the U.S. government retroactively reinstated the federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit for 2018 and 2019, as well as approved the federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit through 2022. As a result, adjusted non-GAAP financial measures for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019, do not include the benefit of the federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit and excluding the benefit for the three months and year ended December 31 2020, allows investors to better compare TA’s performance between periods.

TA believes that net (loss) income is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to adjusted net loss, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDAR; net (loss) income per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to adjusted net loss per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders; fuel gross margin and nonfuel revenues are the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to adjusted fuel gross margin and nonfuel revenues; and that fuel gross margin and fuel gross margin per gallon are the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures to adjusted fuel gross margin and adjusted fuel gross margin per gallon, respectively.

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(in thousands, unless indicated otherwise)

The following tables present the reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the respective most directly comparable GAAP financial measures for the three months and years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

 

Three Months Ended

 December 31,

 

Year Ended

December 31,

Calculation of adjusted net loss:  

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

Net (loss) income

 

$

(7,176

)

 

$

43,117

 

 

$

(14,904

)

 

$

33,469

 

Add: QSL impairment(1)

 

 

13,715

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,715

 

 

 

 

Add: Asset write offs(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,906

 

 

 

 

Add: Reorganization Plan and other separation costs(3)

 

 

1,076

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,364

 

 

 

 

Add: Field employee bonus expenses(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,769

 

 

 

 

Add: Goodwill impairment(5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,046

 

 

 

 

Add: Executive officer retirement agreement expenses(6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,109

 

 

 

 

Add: Impairment of property and equipment(7)

 

 

 

 

 

2,369

 

 

 

6,574

 

 

 

2,369

 

Add: Impairment of operating lease assets(7)

 

 

 

 

 

579

 

 

 

1,262

 

 

 

579

 

Add: Costs of SVC transactions(8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

458

 

Less: Loyalty award expiration(9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,911

)

Less: Employee retention tax credit(10)

 

 

(3,268

)

 

 

 

 

 

(3,268

)

 

 

 

Less: Federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit(11)

 

 

(8,733

)

 

 

(70,229

)

 

 

(29,521

)

 

 

(70,229

)

(Less) add: Net (loss) income tax impact(12)

 

 

(703

)

 

 

16,954

 

 

 

(3,013

)

 

 

17,572

 

Adjusted net loss

 

$

(5,089

)

 

$

(7,210

)

 

$

(5,961

)

 

$

(18,693

)

         
Calculation of adjusted net loss per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders  

Three Months Ended 

 December 31,

 

Year Ended

December 31,

(basic and diluted):  

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

Net (loss) income per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders (basic and diluted)

 

$

(0.42

)

 

$

5.29

 

 

$

(1.23

)

 

$

4.12

 

Add: QSL impairment(1)

 

 

0.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.21

 

 

 

 

Add: Asset write offs(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.79

 

 

 

 

Add: Reorganization Plan and other separation costs(3)

 

 

0.07

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.47

 

 

 

 

Add: Field employee bonus expenses(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.33

 

 

 

 

Add: Goodwill impairment(5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.27

 

 

 

 

Add: Executive officer retirement agreement expenses(6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.19

 

 

 

 

Add: Impairment of property and equipment(7)

 

 

 

 

 

0.29

 

 

 

0.58

 

 

 

0.29

 

Add: Impairment of operating lease assets(7)

 

 

 

 

 

0.07

 

 

 

0.11

 

 

 

0.07

 

Add: Costs of SVC transactions(8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.06

 

Less: Loyalty award expiration(9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(0.36

)

Less: Employee retention tax credit(10)

 

 

(0.23

)

 

 

 

 

 

(0.29

)

 

 

 

Less: Federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit(11)

 

 

(0.60

)

 

 

(8.62

)

 

 

(2.61

)

 

 

(8.67

)

(Less) add: Net (loss) income tax impact(12)

 

 

(0.05

)

 

 

2.08

 

 

 

(0.26

)

 

 

2.17

 

Adjusted net loss per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders (basic and diluted)

 

$

(0.28

)

 

$

(0.89

)

 

$

(0.44

)

 

$

(2.32

)

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(in thousands, unless indicated otherwise)

       
Calculation of adjusted fuel gross margin  

Three Months Ended 

 December 31,

 

Year Ended

December 31,

and nonfuel revenues:  

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

Fuel gross margin

 

$

79,374

 

 

$

147,691

 

 

$

333,352

 

 

$

378,718

 

Nonfuel revenues

 

 

442,744

 

 

 

447,102

 

 

 

1,747,418

 

 

 

1,856,147

 

Total fuel gross margin and nonfuel revenues

 

 

522,118

 

 

 

594,793

 

 

 

2,080,770

 

 

 

2,234,865

 

Less: Loyalty award expiration(9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,911

)

Less: Federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit(11)

 

 

(8,733

)

 

 

(70,229

)

 

 

(29,521

)

 

 

(70,229

)

Adjusted fuel gross margin and nonfuel revenues

 

$

513,385

 

 

$

524,564

 

 

$

2,051,249

 

 

$

2,161,725

 

     
Calculation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and  

Three Months Ended 

 December 31,

 

Year Ended

December 31,

adjusted EBITDAR:  

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

Net (loss) income

 

$

(7,176

)

 

$

43,117

 

 

$

(14,904

)

 

$

33,469

 

(Less) add: (Benefit) provision for income taxes

 

 

(1,956

)

 

 

11,158

 

 

 

(6,178

)

 

 

4,339

 

Add: Depreciation and amortization expense

 

 

38,676

 

 

 

28,142

 

 

 

127,789

 

 

 

100,260

 

Add: Interest expense, net

 

 

8,415

 

 

 

7,094

 

 

 

30,479

 

 

 

28,356

 

EBITDA

 

 

37,959

 

 

 

89,511

 

 

 

137,186

 

 

 

166,424

 

Add: Reorganization Plan and other separation costs(3)

 

 

1,076

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,364

 

 

 

 

Add: Field employee bonus expenses(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,769

 

 

 

 

Add: Executive officer retirement agreement expenses(6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,109

 

 

 

 

Add: Impairment of operating lease assets(7)

 

 

 

 

 

579

 

 

 

1,262

 

 

 

579

 

Add: Costs of SVC transactions(8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

458

 

Less: Loyalty award expiration(9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,911

)

Less: Employee retention tax credit(10)

 

 

(3,268

)

 

 

 

 

 

(3,268

)

 

 

 

Less: Federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit(11)

 

 

(8,733

)

 

 

(70,229

)

 

 

(29,521

)

 

 

(70,229

)

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

27,034

 

 

 

19,861

 

 

 

116,901

 

 

 

94,321

 

Add: Real estate rent expense

 

 

63,850

 

 

 

63,668

 

 

 

255,743

 

 

 

257,762

 

Less: Impairment of operating lease assets(7)

 

 

 

 

 

(579

)

 

 

(1,262

)

 

 

(579

)

Adjusted EBITDAR

 

$

90,884

 

 

$

82,950

 

 

$

371,382

 

 

$

351,504

 

         
 

Three Months Ended 

 December 31,

 

Year Ended

December 31,

Calculation of operating margin:  

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

Total revenues

 

$

1,286,662

 

 

$

1,522,211

 

 

$

4,846,037

 

 

$

6,117,359

 

Operating (loss) income

 

 

(447

)

 

 

60,119

 

 

 

10,776

 

 

 

65,284

 

Operating margin

 

 

NM

 

 

 

3.9

%

 

 

0.2

%

 

 

1.1

%

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(in thousands, unless indicated otherwise)

       
 

Three Months Ended 

 December 31,

 

Year Ended

December 31,

Calculation of adjusted EBITDAR margin:  

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

Adjusted EBITDAR(13)

 

$

90,884

 

 

$

82,950

 

 

$

371,382

 

 

$

351,504

 

Adjusted fuel gross margin and nonfuel revenues(13)

 

 

513,385

 

 

 

524,564

 

 

 

2,051,249

 

 

 

2,161,725

 

Adjusted EBITDAR margin

 

 

17.7

%

 

 

15.8

%

 

 

18.1

%

 

 

16.3

%

         
Calculation of adjusted fuel gross margin  

Three Months Ended 

 December 31,

 

Year Ended

December 31,

and adjusted fuel gross margin per gallon:  

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

2019

Fuel gross margin

 

$

79,374

 

 

$

147,691

 

 

$

333,352

 

 

$

378,718

 

Less: Loyalty award expiration(9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,840

)

Less: Federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit(11)

 

 

(8,733

)

 

 

(70,229

)

 

 

(29,521

)

 

 

(70,229

)

Adjusted fuel gross margin

 

$

70,641

 

 

$

77,462

 

 

$

303,831

 

 

$

305,649

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel gross margin per gallon

 

$

0.143

 

 

$

0.297

 

 

$

0.161

 

 

$

0.191

 

Less: Loyalty award expiration(9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(0.001

)

Less: Federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit(11)

 

 

(0.016

)

 

 

(0.141

)

 

 

(0.014

)

 

 

(0.035

)

Adjusted fuel gross margin per gallon

 

$

0.127

 

 

$

0.156

 

 

$

0.147

 

 

$

0.155

 

(1)

 

QSL Impairment. TA is party to an agreement for it to sell the QSL business for approximately $5.0 million, excluding costs to sell and certain closing adjustments. TA has classified its QSL business as held for sale as of December 31, 2020. During the three months and year ended December 31, 2020, TA recorded an impairment charge of $13.7 million relating to its QSL business, which is included in depreciation and amortization expense in TA’s consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

(2)

 

Asset Write Offs. During the year ended December 31, 2020, TA wrote off $8.1 million and $0.8 million related to programs that were canceled and intangibles relating to three QSL franchises that closed in April 2020, respectively. These amounts were included in depreciation and amortization expense in TA’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

(3)

 

Reorganization Plan and Other Separation Costs. On April 30, 2020, TA commenced a company wide Reorganization Plan. During the three months and year ended December 31, 2020, TA recognized $1.1 million and $5.4 million, respectively, of costs related to the Reorganization Plan and other separation agreements, which were included in selling, general and administrative expense in TA’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

(4)

 

Field Employee Bonus Expense. In March and April 2020, TA paid cash bonuses to certain employees who continued to work at its locations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These bonuses resulted in additional compensation expense of $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, which were included in site level operating expense in TA’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

(5)

 

Goodwill Impairment. During the year ended December 31, 2020, TA recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $3.0 million with respect to its QSL reporting unit, which was recognized in depreciation and amortization expense in TA’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

(6)

 

Executive Officer Retirement Agreement Expenses. TA agreed to accelerate the vesting of previously granted stock awards and make cash payments as part of TA’s retirement and separation agreements with certain former executive officers. The accelerations and cash payments resulted in additional compensation expense of $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, which were included in selling, general and administrative expense in TA’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

(7)

 

Impairment of Property and Equipment and Operating Lease Assets. During the year ended December 31, 2020, TA recognized $6.6 million and $1.3 million of impairment charges to property and equipment and operating lease assets, respectively, related to certain standalone restaurants. During the three months and year ended December 31, 2019, TA recognized $2.4 million and $0.6 million of impairment charges to property and equipment and operating lease assets, respectively, related to certain standalone restaurants. The impairment charges were recognized in depreciation and amortization expense and real estate rent expense, respectively, in TA’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

(8)

 

Costs of SVC Transactions. In January 2019, TA entered transaction agreements with SVC pursuant to which they amended their leases. During the year ended December 31, 2019, TA incurred $0.5 million of expenses associated with amendments of these leases. These expenses were included in selling, general and administrative expense in TA’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

(9)

 

Loyalty Award Expiration. During the year ended December 31, 2019, TA introduced a new customer loyalty program, UltraONE 2.0. As a result of introducing the new customer loyalty program, certain loyalty awards earned under the program now expire 10 days after issuance for all loyalty members. This update resulted in the immediate expiration of certain loyalty awards upon adoption of the new customer loyalty program, generating $2.9 million of additional revenue during the year ended December 31, 2019, $2.8 million of which was recognized to fuel revenues and $0.1 million to nonfuel revenues in TA’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

(10)

 

Employee Retention Tax Credit. On March 27, 2020, the U.S. government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act, as a response to the economic uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act, among other things, includes provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits. As a result, TA recognized $3.3 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020, which was recognized as a reduction to site level operating expense in TA’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

(11)

 

Federal Biodiesel Blenders’ Tax Credit. In December 2019, the U.S. government retroactively reinstated the federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit for 2018 and 2019, as well as approved the federal biodiesel blenders’ tax credit through 2022. As a result, TA recognized $8.7 million and $70.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $29.5 million and $70.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, which were recognized as a reduction to fuel cost of goods sold in TA’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

(12)

 

Net (Loss) Income Tax Impact. TA calculated the income tax impact of the adjustments described above by using its estimated statutory rate of 25.2% for each of the three months and years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

(13)

 

Reconciliations from net (loss) income and fuel gross margin and nonfuel revenues, the financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP to the non-GAAP financial measures disclosed herein, are included in the supplemental tables above.

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)

 

 

December 31,

 

2020

 

2019

Assets:

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

483,151

 

 

$

17,206

 

Accounts receivable, net

94,429

 

 

173,496

 

Inventory

172,830

 

 

196,611

 

Other current assets

35,506

 

 

32,456

 

Total current assets

785,916

 

 

419,769

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

801,789

 

 

868,503

 

Operating lease assets

1,734,883

 

 

1,817,998

 

Goodwill

22,213

 

 

25,259

 

Intangible assets, net

11,529

 

 

20,707

 

Other noncurrent assets

87,530

 

 

78,659

 

Total assets

$

3,443,860

 

 

$

3,230,895

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

158,075

 

 

$

147,440

 

Current operating lease liabilities

111,255

 

 

104,070

 

Other current liabilities

175,867

 

 

138,455

 

Total current liabilities

445,197

 

 

389,965

 

 

 

 

 

Long term debt, net

525,397

 

 

329,321

 

Noncurrent operating lease liabilities

1,763,166

 

 

1,880,188

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

69,121

 

 

58,885

 

Total liabilities

2,802,881

 

 

2,658,359

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity (14,574 and 8,307 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively)

640,979

 

 

572,536

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

3,443,860

 

 

$

3,230,895

 

These financial statements should be read in conjunction with TA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Warning Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other securities laws. Whenever TA uses words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “will,” “may” and negatives or derivatives of these or similar expressions, TA is making forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon TA’s present intent, beliefs or expectations, but forward-looking statements are not guaranteed to occur and may not occur. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by TA’s forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond TA’s control. Among others, the forward-looking statements which appear in this press release that may not occur include:

  • Statements about increased and improved operating results may imply that TA will realize similar or better results in the future and that TA’s business may be profitable in the future. TA operates in a highly competitive industry and its business is subject to various market and other risks and challenges, many of which are beyond its control, including the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, TA may not be able to realize similar or better results in the future and it may fail to be profitable in the future for these or other reasons. Since TA became publicly traded in 2007, TA’s operations have generated losses and only occasionally generated profits;
  • Statements about TA commencing numerous initiatives which it believes will improve and enhance its operational efficiencies and profitability, increase diesel fuel and gasoline gross margin and fuel sales volume, increase market share in the truck service industry, improve merchandising and gross margin in store and retail services, improve operating effectiveness in its full service restaurants and expand its franchise base. However, TA may not be able to recognize the improvements to its operating results that it anticipates. In addition, the costs incurred to complete the initiatives may cost more than TA anticipates;
  • Statements about TA’s ability to effectively execute through challenging times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may imply TA will continue to be able to effectively execute during the pandemic and its aftermath. However, it is uncertain when the pandemic may end and what its ultimate impact will be on the economy, the travel center industry and TA’s business. As a result, TA may be unable to effectively execute if the pandemic continues for an extended duration or worsens;
  • Statements about TA’s targeted returns on its capital expenditures. TA may not be able to realize those returns;
  • Statements about the expectation that TA will recognize annual cost savings of approximately $13.1 million as a result of the Reorganization Plan, as well as certain other cost savings it realized in the 2020 fourth quarter and its discipline around managing expenses. However, TA may not realize or maintain these cost savings;
  • Statements about the successful expansion of TA’s franchise business will depend on TA’s ability to increase the number of sites available for franchising, to identify qualified franchisees and to enter into franchising agreements with those franchisees on agreeable terms. Further, the success of any franchise arrangements will depend on the ability of the franchisees to profitably operate those franchises;
  • Statements about TA entering into a multi unit franchise agreement with IHOP to rebrand and convert up to 94 of its full service restaurants to IHOP restaurants. TA is only obligated to convert the initial 20 full service restaurants to IHOP with the remaining conversions at TA’s discretion. TA may fail to convert those 20 initial restaurants and may determine not to convert some or all of the remaining 74 restaurants. The timing and costs for these conversions may exceed TA’s expectations and TA may fail to complete these conversions in accordance with the schedule; and
  • Statements about investing capital into relationships with companies that supply, distribute or store electric or other non-fossil fuel, alternative energy resources. TA may decide not to invest capital into these relationships and these relationships may not materialize or become beneficial. 

The information contained in TA’s periodic reports, including TA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which has been or will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, under the caption “Risk Factors,” or elsewhere in those reports, or incorporated therein, identifies other important factors that could cause differences from TA’s forward-looking statements. TA’s filings with the SEC are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

You should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, TA does not intend to update or change any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.