Exela Technologies Holdings, Inc. Reports Full Year 2023 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Exela Technologies Inc. reported a 1.2% decline in revenue to $1,064.1 million for 2023 but saw an improvement in operating profit to $8.1 million. The net loss decreased to $124.4 million, with certain subsidiaries issuing new notes in exchange for existing ones. The company focused on stabilizing revenues, reducing debt, and investing in growth areas like cyber security and data modernization.

Positive

• Revenue declined by 1.2% to $1,064.1 million in 2023.
• Operating profit improved to $8.1 million in 2023.
• Net loss decreased to $124.4 million in 2023.
• Certain subsidiaries issued new notes in exchange for existing ones.
• Focus on stabilizing revenues, reducing debt, and investing in growth areas like cyber security and data modernization.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

The reported decline in revenue for Exela Technologies indicates a challenging economic environment, yet the company's ability to improve its gross margin from 18.5% to 21.7% is noteworthy. This improvement suggests effective cost management and possibly the successful implementation of technology that enhances operational efficiency. The reduction in SG&A expenses and the absence of impairments are also positive indicators that the company is streamlining its operations and managing its expenses more effectively.

The restructuring of debt, as evidenced by the exchange of new notes for existing ones, is a strategic move to improve the balance sheet. However, investors should be aware that while this may reduce interest expenses and extend maturities, it does not inherently reduce the total debt burden. The company's net loss, despite being an improvement from the previous year, still raises concerns about its ability to generate profits. The investments in cyber security and other growth areas could potentially lead to future revenue streams, but the return on these investments is yet to be seen.

Debt Market Analyst

The exchange of new notes for a higher principal amount of existing notes at a discount is a form of debt restructuring that can be appealing to bondholders if they believe the company's long-term prospects are improving. This transaction typically indicates that the company is actively managing its debt profile to alleviate near-term liquidity pressures. However, it is essential to assess whether this exchange impacts the company's leverage ratios and debt covenants, which can have significant implications for bondholders and shareholders alike.

Investors should consider the impact of such debt restructuring on the company's future interest payments and overall financial stability. The improvement in Adjusted EBITDA, albeit modest, is a positive sign that the company is maintaining operational profitability. Still, the sustainability of this metric and its translation into net income improvement should be closely monitored.

Market Research Analyst

The reported increase in revenue for the Healthcare Solutions and Legal and Loss Prevention Services segments indicates resilience in these markets and Exela's competitive positioning within them. The decline in the Information and Transaction Processing Solutions segment, however, warrants a closer look to understand the underlying factors contributing to this downturn. It could be a result of industry-specific challenges or increased competition.

Exela's investment in emerging areas such as cyber security and cloud computing reflects a strategic pivot towards high-growth markets. These investments could enhance the company's service offerings and create new revenue opportunities, but they also come with execution risks and competition from established players in these fields. The success of these initiatives will be critical for Exela's long-term growth and market share expansion.

• 2023 revenue of $1,064.1 million, down 1.2% year-over-year
• Gross margin of 21.7% in 2023 vs 18.5% in 2022
• Operating profit of $8.1 million, up $236.8 million due to increased gross margin, lower SG&A and no impairments in 2023 versus 2022
• Net loss of $124.4 million ($125.1 attributable to Exela Technologies Inc), an improvement of $291.4 million year-over-year
• Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries issued approximately $764.8 million of aggregate principal amount of new notes in exchange for $956.0 million of aggregate principal amount of existing 2026 notes in 2023

IRVING, Texas, April 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exela Technologies, Inc. (“Exela” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: XELA, XELAP), a global business process automation (“BPA”) leader, announced today its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2023.

“2023 was a challenging year with focus on stabilizing revenues and recovering from the effects of our network outage in 2022. We made significant improvement to our balance sheet, eliminating current liabilities, and reducing our overall debt and interest expense under a difficult macro environment and uncertain outlook. We maintained our focus on cost management and leveraging automation, and have 2023 initiatives in process continuing into 2024 to achieve our margin improvement goals. Late in the year, we made investments to position the Company for future growth by entering into cyber security, data modernization, cloud and Infrastructure-as-a-Service, in addition to previously announced investments in FAO and data science. We completed the public listing on Nasdaq of XBP Europe, our European business. We also made significant investments in people. We improved gross margins and operating income, however we did not accomplish all of our goals in 2023 and have room to grow,” said Par Chadha, Executive Chairman of Exela Technologies.

Full Year Highlights

• Revenue: Revenue for 2023 was $1,064.1 million, a decline of 1.2% compared to $1,077.2 million in 2022
  • Revenue for the Information and Transaction Processing Solutions segment was $732.3 million, a decline of 4.3% year-over-year
  • Healthcare Solutions generated $251.4 million, a 5.0% increase year-over-year
  • Legal and Loss Prevention Services generated $80.4 million in revenue, a 10.6% increase year-over-year
• Operating profit: Operating profit in 2023 was $8.0 million, up $236.8 million compared with an operating loss of $228.8 million in 2022. Higher gross margin from technology advancements, lower SG&A with reductions in professional services and facility expenses, and a lack of goodwill impairment contributed to the profit improvement on a year-over-year basis.    
• Net Loss: Net loss for 2023 was $124.4 million ($125.1 attributable to Exela Technologies Inc), an improvement of $291.4 million compared with a net loss of $415.6 million in 2022. The year over year decrease was materially driven by improvements in operating profit, lower interest expense and a gain on debt modification and extinguishment costs relative 2022.
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾: Adjusted EBITDA for 2023 was $60.0 million compared to $56.8 million in 2022. Adjusted EBITDA margin for 2023 was 5.6%, an increase of 30 basis points from 2022.
• Capital Expenditures: Capital expenditures for 2023 were 1.1% of revenue compared to 2% of revenue in 2022 as we continue to migrate from capital intensive infrastructure to cloud computing, by making investments in our platforms and operations.

^{Below is the note referenced above:
(1) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA is attached to this release.}

About Exela
Exela Technologies is a business process automation (BPA) leader, leveraging a global footprint and proprietary technology to provide digital transformation solutions enhancing quality, productivity, and end-user experience. With decades of experience operating mission-critical processes, Exela serves a growing roster of more than 4,000 customers throughout 50 countries, including over 60% of the Fortune® 100. Utilizing foundational technologies spanning information management, workflow automation, and integrated communications, Exela’s software and services include multi-industry, departmental solution suites addressing finance and accounting, human capital management, and legal management, as well as industry-specific solutions for banking, healthcare, insurance, and the public sector. Through cloud-enabled platforms, built on a configurable stack of automation modules, and approximately 14,100 employees operating in 20 countries, Exela rapidly deploys integrated technology and operations as an end-to-end digital journey partner.

To automatically receive Exela financial news by e-mail, please visit the Exela Investor Relations website, http://investors.exelatech.com/, and subscribe to E-mail Alerts. 

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “may”, “should”, “would”, “plan”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “seem”, “seek”, “continue”, “future”, “will”, “expect”, “outlook” or other similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding our industry, future events, estimated or anticipated future results and benefits, future opportunities for Exela, and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on the current expectations of Exela management and are not predictions of actual performance. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation the network outage described in this press release and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report and in subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In addition, forward-looking statements provide Exela’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Exela anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Exela’s assessments to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Exela’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

For more Exela news, commentary, and industry perspectives, visit:
Website: https://investors.exelatech.com/
X: @ExelaTech
LinkedIn: /exela-technologies
Facebook: @exelatechnologies
Instagram: @exelatechnologies
The information posted on the Company's website and/or via its social media accounts may be deemed material to investors. Accordingly, investors, media and others interested in the Company should monitor the Company's website and its social media accounts in addition to the Company's press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts.

Investor and/or Media Contacts:
Vincent Kondaveeti

E: vincent.kondaveeti@exelatech.com

Exela Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets As of December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands of United States dollars except share and per share amounts)
	December 31,
	2023				2022
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	23,341			$	15,073
Restricted cash		43,812				29,994
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $6,628 and $6,402, respectively		76,893				101,616
Related party receivables and prepaid expenses		296				759
Inventories, net		11,502				16,848
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		25,364				26,206
Total current assets		181,208				190,496
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $213,142 and $207,520, respectively		58,366				71,694
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net		33,874				40,734
Goodwill		170,452				186,802
Intangible assets, net		164,920				200,982
Deferred income tax assets		3,043				1,483
Other noncurrent assets		24,474				29,721
Total assets	$	636,337			$	721,912
Liabilities and Stockholders' Deficit
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	$	30,029			$	154,802
Accounts payable		61,109				79,249
Related party payables		1,938				2,473
Income tax payable		2,080				2,045
Accrued liabilities		63,699				61,340
Accrued compensation and benefits		65,012				54,143
Accrued interest		52,389				60,901
Customer deposits		23,838				16,955
Deferred revenue		12,099				16,405
Obligation for claim payment		66,988				44,380
Current portion of finance lease liabilities		4,856				5,485
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		10,845				11,867
Total current liabilities		394,882				510,045
Long-term debt, net of current maturities		1,030,580				942,035
Finance lease liabilities, net of current portion		5,953				9,448
Pension liabilities, net		13,192				16,917
Deferred income tax liabilities		11,692				11,180
Long-term income tax liabilities		6,359				2,742
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion		26,703				31,030
Other long-term liabilities		5,811				6,104
Total liabilities		1,495,172				1,529,501
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)
Stockholders' deficit
Common Stock, par value of $0.0001 per share; 1,600,000,000 shares authorized; 6,365,353 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 1,393,889 shares issued and 1,393,276 shares outstanding at December 31, 2022		261				162
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 20,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively
Series A Preferred Stock, 2,778,111 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022		1				1
Series B Preferred Stock, 3,029,900 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022		—				—
Additional paid in capital		1,179,098				1,102,619
Less: Common Stock held in treasury, at cost; 0 shares at December 31, 2023 and 612 shares at December 31, 2022		—				(10,949	)
Equity-based compensation		57,073				56,958
Accumulated deficit		(2,084,114	)			(1,948,009	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(7,648	)			(4,788	)
Unrealized pension actuarial losses, net of tax		(174	)			(3,583	)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss		(7,822	)			(8,371	)
Total stockholders’ deficit attributable to Exela Technologies, Inc.		(855,503	)			(807,589	)
Noncontrolling interest in XBP Europe		(3,332	)			—
Total stockholders’ deficit		(858,835	)			(807,589	)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	$	636,337			$	721,912

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Exela Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Operations For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands of United States dollars except share and per share amounts)
	Years ended December 31,
	2023				2022
Revenue	$	1,064,124			$	1,077,157
Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)		833,422				877,474
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)		150,672				176,524
Depreciation and amortization		60,535				71,831
Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets		—				171,182
Related party expense		11,444				8,923
Operating profit (loss)		8,051				(228,777	)
Other expense (income), net:
Interest expense, net		139,656				164,870
Debt modification and extinguishment costs (gain), net		(16,129	)			4,522
Sundry expense (income), net		973				(957	)
Other expense (income), net		(884	)			14,170
Loss before income taxes		(115,565	)			(411,382	)
Income tax expense		(8,868	)			(4,199	)
Net loss		(124,433	)			(415,581	)
Net profit (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in XBP Europe, net of taxes		723				—
Net loss attributable to Exela Technologies, Inc.	$	(125,156	)		$	(415,581	)
Cumulative dividends for Series A Preferred Stock		(3,961	)			(3,588	)
Cumulative dividends for Series B Preferred Stock		(4,718	)			(3,665	)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	$	(133,835	)		$	(422,834	)
Loss per share:
Basic and diluted	$	(22.37	)		$	(1,372.98	)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Exela Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands of United States dollars unless otherwise stated)
	Years ended December 31,
	2023				2022
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$	(124,433	)		$	(415,581	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss
Depreciation and amortization		60,535				71,831
Original issue discount, debt premium and debt issuance cost amortization		5,411				15,261
Interest paid on BR Exar AR Facility		(10,754	)			—
Debt modification and extinguishment gain, net		(17,534	)			(1,803	)
Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets		—				171,182
Impairment of operating lease right-of-use assets		1,942				—
Credit loss expense		4,486				1,573
Deferred income tax provision		(1,048	)			147
Share-based compensation expense		115				970
Unrealized foreign currency gain		(70	)			(1,288	)
(Gain) loss on sale of assets		(7,044	)			707
Fair value adjustment for private warrants liability of XBP Europe		597				—
Change in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable		22,729				77,650
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		5,523				(7,813	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		63,711				(520	)
Related party payables		(71	)			945
Additions to outsource contract costs		(539	)			(423	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		3,556				(87,162	)
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		(8,075	)			(18,299	)
Additions to patents		—				(15	)
Additions to internally developed software		(3,818	)			(3,650	)
Proceeds from sale of assets		29,811				194
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		17,918				(21,770	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock from private placement		—				55
Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock from at the market offerings		69,260				276,337
Cash received in exchange for the issuance of noncontrolling interest shares in XBP Europe		5,205				—
Cash paid for equity issuance costs from at the market offerings		(2,232	)			(9,482	)
Dividend paid on Series B Preferred Stock		—				(2,532	)
Payment for fractional shares on reverse stock split		(31	)			—
Repurchases of Common Stock for retirement		—				(487	)
Borrowings under factoring arrangement and Securitization Facility		88,396				123,353
Principal repayment on borrowings under factoring arrangement and Securitization Facility		(92,536	)			(216,812	)
Cash paid for withholding taxes on vested RSUs		—				(135	)
Lease terminations		—				3
Cash paid for debt issuance costs		(8,496	)			(7,125	)
Principal payments on finance lease obligations		(4,570	)			(5,523	)
Borrowings from senior secured revolving facility and BRCC revolver		9,600				20,000
Repayments on senior secured revolving facility		—				(49,477	)
Proceeds from issuance of July 2026 Notes		—				70,269
Borrowings from other loans		8,709				10,095
Cash paid for debt repurchases		(11,858	)			(4,712	)
Proceeds from Senior secured term loan		40,000				—
Proceeds from Second Lien Note		31,500				—
Borrowing under BR Exar AR Facility		42,539				—
Repayments under BR Exar AR Facility		(42,546	)			—
Repayment of BRCC term loan		(48,529	)			(66,471	)
Principal repayments on senior secured term loans and other loans		(83,787	)			(30,717	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		624				106,639
Effect of exchange rates on cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents		(12	)			(700	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents		22,086				(2,993	)
Cash, restricted cash, and cash equivalents
Beginning of period		45,067				48,060
End of period	$	67,153			$	45,067
Supplemental cash flow data:
Income tax payments, net of refunds received	$	5,494			$	5,790
Interest paid		111,835				98,602
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Assets acquired through right-of-use arrangements	$	405			$	4,790
Issuance of April 2026 Notes in exchange of July 2026 Notes		764,800				—
Issuance of April 2026 Notes in exchange of 2023 term loan		2,963				—
Accrued PIK interest paid through issuance of PIK Notes		44,146				—
Common Stock exchanged for Series B Preferred Stock		—				6
Accrued liability for true-up obligation settled through the issuance of July 2026 Notes		—				10,351
Accrued capital expenditures		2,261				1,851

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Exela Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries Schedule 1: Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and constant currency revenues
	Year Ended December 31,
	2023				2022
Net Loss	$	(124,433	)		$	(415,581	)
Taxes		8,868				4,199
Interest expense		139,656				164,870
Depreciation and amortization		60,535				71,831
EBITDA		84,626				(174,681	)
Transaction and integration costs (1)		6,172				18,586
Non-cash equity compensation (2)		115				985
Other charges including non-cash (3)		(12,991	)			35,932
Loss/(gain) on sale of assets (4)		1,105				1,357
Loss/(gain) on business disposals (5)		(7,223	)			—
Debt modification and extinguishment costs (gain), net		(16,129	)			4,522
Loss/(gain) on derivative instruments		—				(1,091	)
Exit costs related to China operations		1,850				—
XBP Europe related de-SPAC costs		2,478				—
Impairment of goodwill, other intangible assets		—				171,182
Adjusted EBITDA	$	60,003			$	56,792

(1) Represents non-recurring legal, consulting and other fees and expenses incurred in connection with acquisitions, dispositions, debt-exchanges and other extraordinary transactions and events during the applicable period.
(2) Represents the non-cash charges related to restricted stock units and options.
(3) Represents fair value adjustments to our true-up guarantee obligation under the Revolver Exchange (as defined below), network outage related costs and related insurance recoveries, legal settlement costs for class action.
(4) Represents a loss/(gain) recognized on the disposal of property, plant, and equipment and other assets.
(5) Represents a loss/(gain) recognized on the sale of high-speed scanner business in the second quarter of 2023.

Source: Exela Technologies, Inc. 

FAQ

What was Exela Technologies Inc.'s revenue for 2023?

Exela Technologies Inc.'s revenue for 2023 was $1,064.1 million, a 1.2% decline from the previous year.

What was the operating profit for Exela Technologies Inc. in 2023?

Exela Technologies Inc.'s operating profit in 2023 was $8.1 million, showing improvement from the previous year.

What was the net loss for Exela Technologies Inc. in 2023?

Exela Technologies Inc.'s net loss for 2023 was $124.4 million, reflecting a decrease compared to the previous year.

What did certain subsidiaries of Exela Technologies Inc. do in 2023?

Certain subsidiaries of Exela Technologies Inc. issued new notes in exchange for existing ones in 2023.

What areas did Exela Technologies Inc. focus on for growth in 2023?

Exela Technologies Inc. focused on growth areas like cyber security and data modernization in 2023.