ST. LOUIS, March 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LMI Aerospace Inc. (Nasdaq:LMIA) ("LMI" or the "Company") announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2016.
Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Results
For the fourth quarter of 2016, net sales were $85.2 million, compared to $89.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2016, excluding $0.3 million of net unfavorable, non-recurring items, was $1.7 million, compared to $5.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, excluding the impact of $1.1 million in net unfavorable, non-recurring items. The Company realized a net loss of $3.8 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to a net loss of $1.2 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2015. Diluted loss per share, excluding the impact of non-recurring items, was $0.26 in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to diluted earnings per share, excluding the impact of non-recurring items, of $0.01 in the fourth quarter of 2015.
For the full-year 2016, net sales were $346.2 million compared to $375.1 million in 2015. Operating income in 2016, excluding $30.2 million of net unfavorable, non-recurring items, which included a $28.4 million goodwill and intangible asset impairment charge recorded in the second quarter, was $15.8 million. This compares to operating income of $23.1 million in 2015, excluding the impact of $2.3 million in net unfavorable, non-recurring items. The Company realized a net loss in 2016 of $35.1 million, or $2.68 per diluted share, compared to a net loss in 2015 of $2.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted share. Diluted loss per share, excluding the impact of non-recurring items, was $0.37 in 2016, compared to diluted earnings per share, excluding the impact of non-recurring items, of $0.02 in 2015.
“We knew 2016 would be a year of transition as we began preparing our operations for significant growth ahead, and we also faced some unexpected challenges that further impacted our performance for the quarter and the year,” said LMI Aerospace Chief Executive Officer Dan Korte. “At the start of 2017, we reviewed our leadership structure and found a balanced way to manage the business more efficiently and effectively by naming Keith Schrader as vice president of Operations and confirming Jay Inman as president of Engineering Services. They are bringing renewed leadership strength as we ready our Aerostructures business for production ramp-ups and pursue new revenue opportunities for Engineering Services.
"These leadership changes, coupled with our ongoing investment in people, processes and capital, position us for substantial growth in 2017 and beyond. We expect to meet increased production rates and deliver higher content on our critical programs, which include Boeing 737 MAX and 777X, Gulfstream G500/G600 and HondaJet HA-420. We also look ahead to closing the transaction to be acquired by Sonaca Group, which will bring our combined company to the forefront as a leader in the design and manufacture of complex aerostructures while helping to diversify our global customer base.”
The following table illustrates the impact of non-recurring items on the Company's operating income for the fourth quarter of 2016 and on the Company's operating loss for the year ended December 31, 2016:
| Operating Income Excluding Non-Recurring Items | |||||||
| (Amounts in thousands) | |||||||
| Quarter Ended | Year Ended | ||||||
| December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||
| Operating income (loss), as reported | $ | 1,393 | $ | (14,318 | ) | ||
| Non-recurring items | |||||||
| Goodwill and intangible asset impairment | — | 28,368 | |||||
| Integration expenses | 234 | 295 | |||||
| Restructuring expenses | 21 | 1,212 | |||||
| Other expenses | 89 | 286 | |||||
| Total non-recurring adjustments | $ | 344 | $ | 30,161 | |||
| Net operating income excluding non-recurring items | $ | 1,737 | $ | 15,843 | |||
Segment Results
| Q4 | Q4 | Full-Year | Full-Year | |||||||||||||
| ($ millions) | 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
| Net sales: | ||||||||||||||||
| Aerostructures | $ | 78.3 | $ | 77.6 | $ | 311.1 | $ | 327.2 | ||||||||
| Engineering Services | 7.1 | 12.3 | 36.3 | 49.1 | ||||||||||||
| Eliminations | (0.2 | ) | (0.5 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | ||||||||
| Total net sales | $ | 85.2 | $ | 89.4 | $ | 346.2 | $ | 375.1 | ||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations: | ||||||||||||||||
| Aerostructures | $ | 3.0 | $ | 3.9 | $ | 16.1 | $ | 24.0 | ||||||||
| Engineering Services (1) | (1.6 | ) | 0.7 | (30.1 | ) | (3.1 | ) | |||||||||
| Eliminations | 0.0 | (0.1 | ) | (0.3 | ) | (0.1 | ) | |||||||||
| Total income (loss) from operations | $ | 1.4 | $ | 4.5 | $ | (14.3 | ) | $ | 20.8 | |||||||
(1) The year ended December 31, 2016, included a goodwill and intangible asset impairment charge of $28.4 million in the Engineering Services segment. Excluding the impact of the impairment charge, the Engineering Services segment recorded a loss from operations of $1.7 million and the total company recorded income from operations of $14.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2016.
Aerostructures Segment
| Q4 | Q4 | |||||||||||||
| Net Sales ($ millions) | 2016 | % of Total | 2015 | % of Total | ||||||||||
| Large commercial aircraft | $ | 46.5 | 59.4 | % | $ | 43.6 | 56.2 | % | ||||||
| Corporate and regional aircraft | 17.6 | 22.5 | % | 19.3 | 24.9 | % | ||||||||
| Military | 9.4 | 12.0 | % | 8.3 | 10.7 | % | ||||||||
| Other | 4.8 | 6.1 | % | 6.4 | 8.2 | % | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 78.3 | 100.0 | % | $ | 77.6 | 100.0 | % | ||||||
Aerostructures revenues increased 0.9% to $78.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 from $77.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. The increase in sales was primarily due to higher sales of wing modification products of $2.4 million and higher sales on the Bombardier C-Series and Honda HA-420 programs of $1.5 million and $1.0 million, respectively. Sales in the fourth quarter of 2016 on the Gulfstream G450/550 and Boeing 747 platforms decreased $2.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively, when compared to the prior-year period.
The segment generated gross profit of $12.6 million, or 16.1 percent of net sales, in the fourth quarter of 2016 versus $14.1 million, or 18.2 percent of net sales, in the fourth quarter of 2015. Gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2016 was negatively impacted by inefficiencies at the Company's processing plants, a $0.6 million unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustment on the Mitsubishi Regional Jet contract and higher-than-expected medical costs. Gross profit margin in the fourth quarter of 2015 was unfavorably impacted by a $0.5 million unfavorable cumulative catch-up adjustment on the previously mentioned Mitsubishi Regional Jet contract.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $9.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 versus $10.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. The decline in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to lower salary and related expenses of $0.8 million, primarily the result of cost-saving activities and a reduction in incentive compensation expense.
Engineering Services Segment
| Q4 | Q4 | |||||||||||||
| Net Sales ($ millions) | 2016 | % of Total | 2015 | % of Total | ||||||||||
| Large commercial aircraft | $ | 2.4 | 33.8 | % | $ | 5.8 | 47.2 | % | ||||||
| Corporate and regional aircraft | 1.0 | 14.1 | % | 2.8 | 22.8 | % | ||||||||
| Military | 2.2 | 31.0 | % | 3.2 | 26.0 | % | ||||||||
| Other | 1.5 | 21.1 | % | 0.5 | 4.0 | % | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 7.1 | 100.0 | % | $ | 12.3 | 100.0 | % | ||||||
Engineering Services revenue decreased 42.3 percent to $7.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 from $12.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. Sales decreased $1.8 million related to maintenance and repair revenues and $1.2 million, $0.9 million and $0.7 million on the Bombardier C-Series, Boeing F-18 and Aerion A2 programs, respectively. Unfavorable cumulative catchup adjustments on the Mitsubishi Regional Jet program of $1.1 million and $0.6 million were recognized in the fourth quarters of 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Gross loss for the segment was $0.4 million, or (5.8) percent of net sales, for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to $2.2 million, or 17.7 percent of net sales, for the prior-year quarter. Gross profit in the fourth quarters of 2016 and 2015 was negatively impacted by the previously mentioned cumulative catchup adjustments. Cost overruns on firm, fixed-price contracts and lower fixed cost utilization on the decline in revenues also negatively impacted the fourth quarter of 2016.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the segment decreased to $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 from $1.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. The fourth quarter of 2016 was favorably impacted by a decrease in salaries and related expense of $0.2 million.
Non-Segment
The Company recognized no income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to an income tax benefit of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.
The Company generated cash flow from operations of $14.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 and funded net capital expenditures of $3.5 million, resulting in positive free cash flow of $11.3 million. The Company generated cash flow from operations of $26.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 and funded net capital expenditures of $1.3 million, resulting in positive free cash flow of $25.4 million. In both the fourth quarter of 2016 and the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company used its free cash flow to reduce long-term debt.
Conference Call and Outlook for 2017
Due to the pending transaction to be acquired by Sonaca Group, the Company will not hold an earnings conference call for the fourth quarter of 2016 and will not be issuing guidance or financial targets at this time.
About LMI Aerospace
LMI Aerospace Inc. is a leading supplier of structural assemblies, kits and components and provider of engineering services to the commercial, business and regional, and military aerospace markets. Manufacturing more than 40,000 products for a variety of platforms and providing turnkey engineering capabilities to support aircraft lifecycles, LMI offers complete, integrated solutions in aerostructures, engineering and program management. Headquartered in St. Louis, LMI has 21 locations across the United States and in Mexico, the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka. For more information, visit: www.lmiaerospace.com.
The Company entered into a Plan of Merger with Sonaca, S.A. on February 16, 2017, as detailed in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 17, 2017.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed merger with a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Sonaca S.A., the Company filed a preliminary proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on Schedule 14A on March 15, 2017, and will file or furnish other relevant materials with the SEC. Once the SEC completes its review of the preliminary proxy statement, a definitive proxy statement and a form of proxy will be filed with the SEC and mailed to the shareholders of the Company. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, THE COMPANY’S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE PROXY STATEMENT (IF ANY) BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED MERGER. Investors and shareholders may obtain a free copy of documents filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders may obtain a free copy of the Company’s filings with the SEC from the Company’s website at http://www.lmiaerospace.com or by directing a request to: LMI Aerospace, Inc., 411 Fountain Lakes Boulevard, St. Charles, Missouri 63301, Attention: Corporate Secretary, (636) 946-6525.
Participants in the Solicitation
The Company and certain of its directors, executive officers, and certain other members of management and employees of the Company may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders of the Company in favor of the proposed merger. Information about directors and executive officers of the Company and their ownership of the Company’s common stock is set forth in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, as filed with the SEC on March 15, 2017, its preliminary proxy statement referenced above, and its definitive proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on April 29, 2016. Certain directors, executive officers, other members of management and employees of the Company may have direct or indirect interests in the proposed merger due to securities holdings, vesting of equity awards, rights to severance payments and other rights set forth in current employment agreements and prospective employment agreements that are expected to become effective as of the closing of the merger. Additional information regarding the direct and indirect interests of these individuals and other persons who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation will be included in the proxy statement with respect to the merger the Company will file with the SEC and furnish to the Company’s shareholders.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may include forward-looking statements, including statements related to LMI's strategy and outlook for 2017 and beyond, and other statements based on current management expectations, estimates and projections. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees and are inherently subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties may include, among other things, uncertainties and risks arising from the announcement of and failure to consummate the proposed merger transaction, difficulties implementing the Company's growth strategy, continued decline in demand in the Engineering Services segment, the potential impact of changes regarding U.S. trade partnerships, treaties, and tax law, managing leverage resulting from our notes and revolving credit facility, complying with debt covenants with respect to such indebtedness and competitive pressures, as well as those Risk Factors detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and any risk factors set forth in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements included in this document are only made as of the date of this document and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
| LMI Aerospace, Inc. | |||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||||||
| (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | ||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 2,491 | $ | 10,504 | |||
| Trade accounts receivable, net | 51,269 | 48,491 | |||||
| Inventories | 122,761 | 114,775 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 3,586 | 4,147 | |||||
| Total current assets | 180,107 | 177,917 | |||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 99,515 | 100,969 | |||||
| Goodwill | 62,482 | 86,784 | |||||
| Intangible assets, net | 38,852 | 46,582 | |||||
| Other assets | 2,676 | 3,728 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 383,632 | $ | 415,980 | |||
| Liabilities and shareholders’ equity | |||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 29,378 | $ | 13,156 | |||
| Accrued expenses | 25,543 | 30,015 | |||||
| Current installments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations | 2,655 | 2,362 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 57,576 | 45,533 | |||||
| Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, less current installments | 237,398 | 247,633 | |||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 3,117 | 4,322 | |||||
| Deferred income taxes | — | 536 | |||||
| Total long-term liabilities | 240,515 | 252,491 | |||||
| Shareholders’ equity: | |||||||
| Common stock, $0.02 par value per share; authorized 28,000,000 shares; issued 13,625,205 and 13,287,688 shares at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively | 273 | 266 | |||||
| Preferred stock, $0.02 par value per share; authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued at either date | — | — | |||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 99,955 | 97,617 | |||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (282 | ) | (211 | ) | |||
| Treasury stock, at cost, 39,419 shares at December 31, 2015 | — | (418 | ) | ||||
| Retained (deficit) earnings | (14,405 | ) | 20,702 | ||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | 85,541 | 117,956 | |||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 383,632 | $ | 415,980 | |||
| Supplemental Balance Sheet Information: | December 31, | December 31, | |||||
| 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
| Product inventory | $ | 85,885 | $ | 82,587 | |||
| Capitalized contract costs | 36,876 | 32,188 | |||||
| Total inventories | $ | 122,761 | $ | 114,775 | |||
| LMI Aerospace, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) | |||||||||||||||||||
| (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
| Sales and service revenue | |||||||||||||||||||
| Product sales | $ | 77,907 | $ | 76,882 | $ | 308,089 | $ | 323,611 | |||||||||||
| Service revenues | 7,276 | 12,556 | 38,091 | 51,485 | |||||||||||||||
| Net sales | 85,183 | 89,438 | 346,180 | 375,096 | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales and service revenue | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of product sales | 64,706 | 62,399 | 249,227 | 259,610 | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of service revenue | 8,285 | 10,846 | 37,150 | 46,700 | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales | 72,991 | 73,245 | 286,377 | 306,310 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 12,192 | 16,193 | 59,803 | 68,786 | |||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 10,778 | 11,697 | 44,541 | 45,678 | |||||||||||||||
| Goodwill and intangible asset impairment | — | — | 28,368 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Restructuring expense | 21 | (45 | ) | 1,212 | 2,322 | ||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations | 1,393 | 4,541 | (14,318 | ) | 20,786 | ||||||||||||||
| Other (expense) income: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (5,104 | ) | (5,638 | ) | (21,171 | ) | (22,439 | ) | |||||||||||
| Other, net | (47 | ) | (148 | ) | (352 | ) | (236 | ) | |||||||||||
| Total other expense | (5,151 | ) | (5,786 | ) | (21,523 | ) | (22,675 | ) | |||||||||||
| Loss before income taxes | (3,758 | ) | (1,245 | ) | (35,841 | ) | (1,889 | ) | |||||||||||
| (Benefit) provision for income taxes | (1 | ) | (57 | ) | (734 | ) | 352 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | (3,757 | ) | (1,188 | ) | (35,107 | ) | (2,241 | ) | |||||||||||
| Other comprehensive (loss) income | |||||||||||||||||||
| Change in foreign currency translation adjustment | 50 | (10 | ) | (71 | ) | (41 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | $ | (3,707 | ) | $ | (1,198 | ) | $ | (35,178 | ) | $ | (2,282 | ) | |||||||
| Amounts per common share: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss per common share | $ | (0.29 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (2.68 | ) | $ | (0.17 | ) | |||||||
| Net loss per common share assuming dilution | $ | (0.29 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (2.68 | ) | $ | (0.17 | ) | |||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding | 13,176,538 | 12,922,461 | 13,113,901 | 12,869,353 | |||||||||||||||
| Weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding | 13,176,538 | 12,922,461 | 13,113,901 | 12,869,353 | |||||||||||||||
| LMI Aerospace, Inc. | |||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | |||||||
| (Amounts in thousands) | |||||||
| Year Ended | |||||||
| December 31, | |||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
| Operating activities: | |||||||
| Net loss | $ | (35,107 | ) | $ | (2,241 | ) | |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 19,043 | 20,404 | |||||
| Amortization of debt issuance cost | 1,899 | 1,961 | |||||
| Goodwill and intangible asset impairment | 28,368 | — | |||||
| Stock based compensation | 1,481 | 1,717 | |||||
| Deferred taxes | (723 | ) | 78 | ||||
| Other noncash items | (84 | ) | (1,005 | ) | |||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquired business: | |||||||
| Trade accounts receivable | (2,965 | ) | 9,624 | ||||
| Inventories | (8,610 | ) | (1,047 | ) | |||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | 975 | 325 | |||||
| Current income taxes | 181 | 6,506 | |||||
| Accounts payable | 13,433 | (8,427 | ) | ||||
| Accrued expenses | (3,340 | ) | 4,467 | ||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 14,551 | 32,362 | |||||
| Investing activities: | |||||||
| Additions to property, plant and equipment | (11,813 | ) | (16,599 | ) | |||
| Proceeds from sale of equipment | 639 | 285 | |||||
| Net cash used by investing activities | (11,174 | ) | (16,314 | ) | |||
| Financing activities: | |||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of debt | 1,465 | — | |||||
| Principal payments on long-term debt and notes payable | (12,699 | ) | (13,276 | ) | |||
| Advances on revolving line of credit | 60,000 | 99,000 | |||||
| Payments on revolving line of credit | (60,000 | ) | (99,000 | ) | |||
| Debt issuance costs | (156 | ) | (195 | ) | |||
| Net cash used by financing activities | (11,390 | ) | (13,471 | ) | |||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (8,013 | ) | 2,577 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 10,504 | 7,927 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | $ | 2,491 | $ | 10,504 | |||
| LMI Aerospace, Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Selected Non-GAAP Disclosures | ||||||||||||||||||
| (Amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP Financial Information | ||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA)(1): | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (3,757 | ) | $ | (1,188 | ) | $ | (35,107 | ) | $ | (2,241 | ) | ||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | (1 | ) | (57 | ) | (734 | ) | 352 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 4,507 | 5,385 | 19,043 | 20,404 | ||||||||||||||
| Goodwill and intangible asset impairment | — | — | 28,368 | — | ||||||||||||||
| Stock based compensation | 771 | 648 | 2,932 | 3,236 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 5,104 | 5,638 | 21,171 | 22,439 | ||||||||||||||
| Restructuring expense | 21 | (45 | ) | 1,212 | 2,322 | |||||||||||||
| Integration expense | 234 | 178 | 295 | 526 | ||||||||||||||
| Other, net (2) | 60 | 355 | 595 | (1,619 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 6,939 | $ | 10,914 | $ | 37,775 | $ | 45,419 | ||||||||||
| Free Cash Flow (3): | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 14,868 | $ | 26,645 | $ | 14,551 | $ | 32,362 | ||||||||||
| Less: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net capital expenditures | (3,530 | ) | (1,269 | ) | (11,174 | ) | (16,314 | ) | ||||||||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 11,338 | $ | 25,376 | $ | 3,377 | $ | 16,048 | ||||||||||
(1) The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA is a measure important to many investors as an indication of operating performance by the business. We feel this measure provides additional transparency to investors that augments but does not replace the GAAP reporting of net income and provides a good comparative measure. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance defined by GAAP and should not be used in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measure of net income.
(2) In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded a net gain of $3.3 million related to a legal settlement. The gain realized from the settlement offsets expenses of $1.9 million that were recorded as a favorable adjustment to EBITDA when incurred in prior quarters. For consistency, the above table reflects only $1.9 million of the net gain as an unfavorable EBITDA adjustment.
(3) The Company believes Free Cash Flow is a measure of the operating cash flow of the Company that is useful to investors. Free Cash Flow is a measure of cash generated by the Company for such purposes as repaying debt or funding acquisitions. Free Cash Flow is not a measure of performance defined by GAAP and should not be used in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measure of cash provided by operating activities.