Wright
Express Corporation (NYSE: WXS), a leading global provider of
value-based business payment processing and information management
solutions, announced today that it has extended its existing fuel-price
risk management program through the second quarter of 2013.
On November 11, 2011, the Company purchased instruments to cover a
portion of its anticipated domestic fuel-price-related earnings exposure
for the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first and second quarters of
2013. At this time, Wright Express has hedged 80% of its exposure
through the fourth-quarter of 2012, 53% of its first-quarter 2013
exposure and 27% of its second-quarter 2013 exposure. Going forward, the
Company intends to hedge approximately 80% of its domestic
fuel-price-related earnings exposure in every quarter on a rolling basis.
The instruments are designed to enhance the visibility and
predictability of the Company's future earnings. The program uses
instruments that create a "costless collar" based upon both the U.S.
Department of Energy's weekly diesel fuel price index and NYMEX unleaded
gasoline contracts. The November 11 purchase locked in a fuel price
range of approximately $3.33 to $3.39 per gallon. The following table
states the approximate range of the collar and percentage of
fuel-price-related earnings exposure:
|
|
|
|
|
Q1 2012
|
|
|
Q2 2012
|
|
|
Q3 2012
|
|
|
Q4 2012
|
|
|
Q1 2013
|
|
|
Q2 2013
|
|
Average low end of range
|
|
|
|
3.09
|
|
|
3.32
|
|
|
3.45
|
|
|
3.46
|
|
|
3.35
|
|
|
3.33
|
|
Average top end of range
|
|
|
|
3.15
|
|
|
3.38
|
|
|
3.51
|
|
|
3.52
|
|
|
3.41
|
|
|
3.39
|
|
Approximate % locked in
|
|
|
|
80%
|
|
|
80%
|
|
|
80%
|
|
|
80%
|
|
|
53%
|
|
|
27%
|
Wright
Express (NYSE:WXS) is a leading provider of value-based, business
payment processing and information management solutions. The company’s
fleet, corporate and prepaid payment solutions provide its more than
350,000 customers with unparalleled security and control across a wide
spectrum of business sectors. The company’s subsidiaries include Wright
Express Financial Services, Pacific Pride and Wright Express
International, including Wright Express Prepaid Cards Australia and
Wright Express Fuel Cards Australia. Wright Express and its subsidiaries
employ more than 850 associates in six countries. For more information
about Wright Express, please visit wrightexpress.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding Wright Express Corporation's: belief that it has
purchased instruments to cover varying percentages of its anticipated
fuel-price-related earnings exposure through the second quarter of 2013;
intention to hedge approximately 80% of its domestic fuel-price-related
earnings exposure in every quarter, on a rolling basis; and belief that
the instruments will enhance the visibility and predictability of the
Company's future earnings. When used in this press release, the words
"may," "will," "could," "anticipate," "plan," "continue," "project,"
"intend," "estimate," "believe," "expect" and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all
forward-looking statements contain such words. These forward-looking
statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially, including: the Company's
failure to successfully integrate the businesses it has acquired; fuel
price volatility; the Company's failure to maintain or renew key
agreements; failure to expand the Company's technological capabilities
and service offerings as rapidly as the Company's competitors; the
actions of regulatory bodies, including banking and securities
regulators, or possible changes in banking regulations impacting the
Company's industrial loan bank and the Company as the corporate parent;
the uncertainties of litigation; the impact of foreign currency exchange
rates on the Company's operations, revenue and income; the effects of
general economic conditions, including uncertainties resulting from the
potential downgrade of the credit rating of securities issued by the
United States, on fueling patterns and the commercial activity of
fleets; the effects of the Company's international business expansion
efforts and any failure of those efforts; the impact and range of fourth
quarter and full year credit losses; changes in interest rates;
financial loss if the Company determines it necessary to unwind its
derivative instrument position prior to the expiration of a contract; as
well as other risks and uncertainties identified in Item 1A of the
Company's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed on
Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28,
2011 and the Company's subsequent periodic and current reports. The
Company's forward-looking statements and these factors do not reflect
the potential future impact of any alliance, merger, acquisition,
disposition or stock repurchases. The forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date of this press release and undue reliance should not
be placed on these statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to
update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
