First Quarter 2021 Results
Total revenue in the first quarter of 2021 increased 119.3% to $133.8 million, compared to $61.0 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding discontinued services, which contributed zero revenue in the first quarter 2021 and $2.5 million in the first quarter 2020, total revenue increased 128.7%. The increase in revenues was driven by CTEH (acquired in April 2020) and organic growth in our Remediation and Reuse segment, partially offset by a decrease in revenues in our Measurement and Analysis segment, which was expected.
Net loss was $11.6 million, compared to a net loss of $41.2 million in the prior year quarter. The year-over-year change was primarily attributable to an increase in both revenues and margins as well as lower non-cash fair value adjustment expenses.
Adjusted EBITDA1 increased to $16.8 million, compared to $5.6 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA1 was primarily driven by higher revenues and favorable shifts in business mix. Adjusted EBITDA margin1 improved 350 basis points to 12.6%, compared to 9.1% in the prior year quarter, mainly due to business mix and operating leverage from lower corporate expenses as a percentage of revenue.
Operating Cash Flow Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash used in operating activities was $13.9 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to cash used in operations of $9.0 million in the prior year quarter. Cash used in operations in both quarters was driven by seasonality and the payment of annual bonuses. In addition, in the first quarter of 2021, working capital increased by $27.1 million as a result of the significant increase in revenues versus the fourth quarter of 2020. We remain confident in our ability to generate strong cash flows on a full year basis in 2021.
At March 31, 2021, Montrose had total debt, net of deferred debt issuance costs, of $175.6 million and $10.6 million of cash. As of March 31, 2021, the Company’s leverage ratio under its credit facility, which includes the impact of acquisition-related contingent earnout payments that may become payable in cash, was 3.1 times. The leverage ratio increased from December 31, 2020 primarily due to the typical use of cash in the first quarter, the change in working capital due to the significant increase in the first quarter revenues, and the acquisition of MSE. With expected strong operating cash flows for the remainder of 2021, we remain confident in being able to continue executing on our organic and acquisition-related strategy while maintaining our leverage between 2.5x-3.5x.
In April 2021 the Company entered into a new sustainability-linked credit facility in the form of a term loan, in an aggregate principal amount of $175.0 million, and a revolving credit facility, in an aggregate principal amount of $125.0 million. The Company used net proceeds from the new debt to repay all of its outstanding borrowings under its former term loan and former revolver. The new credit facility’s opening spread of LIBOR plus 2.0% not only reduces the previous term loan interest rate of 5.5%, but also provides up to a 5 basis point pricing adjustment based on Montrose’s performance against certain sustainability and ESG related objectives pursuant to the agreement.
Acquisitions
In January 2021, Montrose acquired MSE Group (“MSE”), a leading provider of environmental solutions primarily to the U.S. federal government. The addition of the MSE team is strategically additive to our Remediation and Reuse Segment, increases our environmental service offerings for select U.S. federal agencies, and expands our geographic presence in the Southeast U.S. The Company’s M&A pipeline and outlook for deal activity in 2021 remain strong.