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FirstService Reports Strong Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results

  • Quarterly and annual revenue up 15%
  • Strong profitability further driven by significant margin improvement

Operating highlights:

     
  Three months ended Year ended
  December 31 December 31
  2017 2016 2017 2016
             
Revenues (millions)$438.1 $381.1 $1,705.5 $1,482.9
Adjusted EBITDA (millions) (note 1) 40.5  30.7  162.0  130.3
Adjusted EPS (note 2) 0.51  0.41  2.03  1.62
             
GAAP Operating Earnings 27.7  18.9  107.6  90.6
GAAP EPS 0.40  0.19  1.45  0.92
            

TORONTO, Feb. 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FirstService Corporation (TSX:FSV) (NASDAQ:FSV) today announced strong fourth quarter and full year results for the year ended December 31, 2017. All amounts are in US dollars.

Revenues for the fourth quarter were $438.1 million, a 15% increase relative to the same quarter in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA (note 1) was $40.5 million, up 32%, and Adjusted EPS (note 2) was $0.51, up 24% from the prior year quarter. GAAP Operating Earnings were $27.7 million, relative to $18.9 million in the prior year period. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.40 per share in the quarter, compared to $0.19 for the same quarter a year ago.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, revenues were $1.71 billion, a 15% increase relative to the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was $162.0 million, up 24%, and Adjusted EPS was $2.03, up 25% versus the prior year of $1.62. GAAP Operating Earnings were $107.6 million, compared to $90.6 million in the prior year period. GAAP diluted EPS for the year was $1.45, relative to $0.92 in the prior year.

“We are pleased to close 2017 with another strong quarter of financial results, further reinforcing the robust growth we delivered throughout the year. Strong focus and execution around further improving our profitability and building out our company-owned operations were key drivers to our performance,” said Scott Patterson, Chief Executive Officer of FirstService. “We feel confident about the strategic direction and prospects across our businesses moving through 2018.”

About FirstService Corporation
FirstService Corporation is a North American leader in the property services sector serving its customers through two industry leading platforms: FirstService Residential - North America’s largest manager of residential communities; and FirstService Brands - one of North America’s largest providers of essential property services delivered through individually branded franchise systems and company-owned operations.

FirstService generates US$1.7 billion in annual revenues and has more than 18,000 employees across North America. With significant insider ownership and an experienced management team, FirstService has a long-term track record of creating value and superior returns. The common shares of FirstService trade on the NASDAQ under the symbol “FSV” and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “FSV”. More information is available at www.firstservice.com.

Segmented Fourth Quarter Results
FirstService Residential revenues totalled $290.9 million for the fourth quarter, up 6% relative to $274.4 million in the prior year quarter. The revenue increase was evenly split between organic growth and growth from recent acquisitions. Adjusted EBITDA was $23.4 million, compared to $17.2 million reported in the prior year period. Fourth quarter margin expansion resulted from continuing operating efficiencies and improved labour cost management relative to the prior year quarter. GAAP Operating Earnings were $17.5 million, versus $11.6 million for the fourth quarter of last year.

FirstService Brands revenues totalled $147.2 million, up 38% versus $106.7 million in the prior year period. The increase was comprised of 16% organic growth and the balance from recent acquisitions. Organic growth for the quarter benefited from hurricane-related work at our Paul Davis National company-owned operations. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $20.2 million, up 26% versus the prior year quarter. GAAP Operating Earnings were $14.2 million, versus $10.5 million in the prior year quarter. The FirstService Brands division margin was lower in the quarter due to increased contribution from our faster-growing company-owned operations, including Paul Davis Restoration, California Closets and Century Fire Protection, relative to our higher margin franchised operations.

Corporate costs, as presented in Adjusted EBITDA were $3.1 million in the fourth quarter, relative to $2.6 million in the prior year period. On a GAAP basis, corporate costs for the quarter were $3.9, relative to $3.1 million in the prior year period.

Segmented Full Year Results
FirstService Residential revenues were $1.2 billion, up 6% relative to 2016, with the increase comprised of 4% organic growth and 2% from acquisitions. Organic growth was primarily driven by competitive contract wins across our markets. Adjusted EBITDA was $99.9 million, up 19% versus the prior year, with related margin expansion driven by continued operating improvements and further optimization of our labour resources. GAAP Operating Earnings were $77.6 million, compared to $62.6 million in the prior year.

FirstService Brands revenues for the year totalled $531.1 million, up 44% versus the prior year, comprised of 12% organic growth and the balance from recent acquisitions. Organic growth was largely due to very strong growth from our Paul Davis company-owned operations, particularly Paul Davis National, as well as double digit revenue growth at our California Closets and Century Fire company-owned operations and within our CertaPro Painters, California Closets and Floor Coverings International franchised systems. Adjusted EBITDA for the year was $74.4 million, up 32% relative to the prior year. The division operating margin was impacted by the increased revenue mix from our faster-growing, lower-margin company-owned operations, as well as weak performance at Service America. GAAP Operating Earnings were $46.7 million, versus $41.2 million a year ago.

Corporate costs, as presented in Adjusted EBITDA, were $12.3 million for the full year, relative to $10.1 million in the prior year. On a GAAP basis, corporate costs were $16.6 million, relative to $13.2 million a year ago. The increase reflects headcount additions at our corporate office, as well as the impact of foreign exchange.

Stock Repurchases
During the year, the Company repurchased 271,378 Subordinate Voting Shares on the open market under its Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”) at an average price of $62.96 per share. All shares purchased under the NCIB were cancelled. The Company is authorized to repurchase up to an additional 2,958,622 Subordinate Voting Shares under its NCIB, which expires on August 23, 2018.

Conference Call & Presentation
FirstService will be holding a conference call on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss results for the fourth quarter and full year. The number to use for this call is 416-623-0333 for Toronto area callers or 1-855-353-9183 for all other callers, passcode 30080# for both. The call will be simultaneously web cast and can be accessed live or after the call at www.firstservice.com in the Investors / Newsroom section.

Forward-looking Statements
This press release includes or may include forward-looking statements. Much of this information can be identified by words such as “expect to,” “expected,” “will,” “estimated” or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. FirstService believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements contemplated in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include: (i) general economic and business conditions, which will, among other things, impact demand for FirstService’s services and the cost of providing services; (ii) the ability of FirstService to implement its business strategy, including FirstService’s ability to acquire suitable acquisition candidates on acceptable terms and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses with its existing businesses; (iii) changes in or the failure to comply with government regulations; and (iv) other factors which are described in FirstService’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2016 under the heading “Risk factors” (a copy of which may be obtained at www.sedar.com) and Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (a copy of which may be obtained at www.sec.gov), and subsequent filings (which factors are adopted herein). Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we do not intend, nor do we undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect subsequent information, events, results or circumstances or otherwise.

Summary financial information is provided in this press release. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and MD&A to be made available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Notes
1. Reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted EBITDA:

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net earnings, adjusted to exclude: (i) income tax; (ii) other expense (income); (iii) interest expense; (iv) depreciation and amortization; (v) goodwill impairment charges; (vi) acquisition-related items; and (vii) stock-based compensation expense. The Company uses adjusted EBITDA to evaluate its own operating performance and its ability to service debt, as well as an integral part of its planning and reporting systems. Additionally, this measure is used in conjunction with discounted cash flow models to determine the Company’s overall enterprise valuation and to evaluate acquisition targets. Adjusted EBITDA is presented as a supplemental measure because the Company believes such measure is useful to investors as a reasonable indicator of operating performance because of the low capital intensity of its service operations. The Company believes this measure is a financial metric used by many investors to compare companies, especially in the services industry. This measure is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP in the United States, and should not be considered as a substitute for operating earnings, net earnings or cash flow from operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s method of calculating adjusted EBITDA may differ from other issuers and accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to measures used by other issuers. A reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted EBITDA appears below.

     
  Three months ended Twelve months ended
(in thousands of US$)December 31 December 31
  2017 2016  2017  2016 
             
Net earnings$24,647 $11,716  $76,673  $54,243 
Income tax 589  4,848   22,607   27,387 
Other expense (income) 2  (60)  (1,520)  (232)
Interest expense, net 2,489  2,413   9,867   9,152 
Operating earnings 27,727  18,917   107,627   90,550 
Depreciation and amortization 11,816  11,013   42,049   36,969 
Goodwill impairment charge -  -   6,150   - 
Acquisition-related items 68  209   2,019   61 
Stock-based compensation expense 895  521   4,132   2,744 
Adjusted EBITDA$40,506 $30,660  $161,977  $130,324 
               

2. Reconciliation of net earnings and net earnings (loss) per common share to adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share:

Adjusted EPS is defined as diluted net earnings per share, adjusted for the effect, after income tax, of: (i) the non-controlling interest redemption increment; (ii) acquisition-related items; (iii) amortization of intangible assets recognized in connection with acquisitions; (iv) goodwill impairment charges; (v) stock-based compensation expense; (vi) a stock-based compensation tax adjustment related to a US GAAP change; and (vii) an income tax recovery on the enactment of US Tax Reform. The Company believes this measure is useful to investors because it provides a supplemental way to understand the underlying operating performance of the Company and enhances the comparability of operating results from period to period. Adjusted EPS is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered as a substitute for diluted net earnings per common share, as determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s method of calculating this non-GAAP measure may differ from other issuers and, accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to measures used by other issuers.  A reconciliation of diluted net earnings per common share to adjusted EPS appears below.

     
  Three months ended Twelve months ended
(in thousands of US$)December 31 December 31
  2017  2016  2017  2016 
             
Net earnings$24,647  $11,716  $76,673  $54,243 
Non-controlling interest share of earnings (1,487)  (59)  (8,228)  (5,238)
Acquisition-related items 68   209   2,019   61 
Amortization of intangible assets 4,014   4,495   14,354   14,195 
Goodwill impairment charge -   -   6,150   - 
Stock-based compensation expense 895   521   4,132   2,744 
Stock-based compensation tax adjustment for US GAAP change (2,530)  -   (8,460)  - 
Income tax recovery on enactment of US Tax Reform (2,514)  -   (2,514)  - 
Income tax on adjustments (4,317)  (1,980)  (9,586)  (6,638)
Non-controlling interest on adjustments (82)  (105)  (356)  (278)
Adjusted net earnings$18,694  $14,797  $74,184  $59,089 
             
  Three months ended Twelve months ended
(in US$)December 31 December 31
  2017  2016  2017  2016 
             
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share$0.40  $0.19  $1.45  $0.92 
Non-controlling interest redemption increment 0.23   0.13   0.42   0.42 
Acquisition-related items -   0.01   0.05   - 
Amortization of intangible assets, net of tax 0.07   0.07   0.23   0.23 
Goodwill impairment charge, net of tax (0.07)  -   0.10   - 
Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax 0.02   0.01   0.08   0.05 
Stock-based compensation tax adjustment for US GAAP change (0.07)  -   (0.23)  - 
Income tax recovery on enactment of US Tax Reform (0.07)  -   (0.07)  - 
Adjusted earnings per share$0.51  $0.41  $2.03  $1.62 
                


 
FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION
Operating Results
(in thousands of US$, except per share amounts)
     Three months  Twelve months
     ended December 31  ended December 31
(unaudited)  2017  2016   2017   2016 
               
Revenues $438,109 $381,116  $1,705,456  $1,482,889 
               
Cost of revenues  297,923  268,758   1,189,373   1,050,087 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  100,575  82,219   358,238   305,222 
Depreciation   7,802  6,518   27,695   22,774 
Amortization of intangible assets  4,014  4,495   14,354   14,195 
Goodwill impairment charge  -  -   6,150   - 
Acquisition-related items (1)  68  209   2,019   61 
Operating earnings  27,727  18,917   107,627   90,550 
Interest expense, net  2,489  2,413   9,867   9,152 
Other expense (income)  2  (60)  (1,520)  (232)
Earnings before income tax  25,236  16,564   99,280   81,630 
Income tax  589  4,848   22,607   27,387 
Net earnings  24,647  11,716   76,673   54,243 
Non-controlling interest share of earnings  1,487  59   8,228   5,238 
Non-controlling interest redemption increment   8,538  4,874   15,367   15,408 
Net earnings attributable to Company $14,622 $6,783  $53,078  $33,597 
               
Net earnings per common share             
               
  Basic  $0.41 $0.19  $1.48  $0.93 
  Diluted   0.40  0.19   1.45   0.92 
               
Adjusted earnings per share (2) $0.51 $0.41  $2.03  $1.62 
               
Weighted average common shares (thousands)            
  Basic   35,908  35,904   35,909   35,966 
  Diluted   36,584  36,305   36,559   36,366 
                  

(1)     Acquisition-related items include transaction costs, and contingent acquisition consideration fair value adjustments.
(2)     See definition and reconciliation above.

      
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets     
(in thousands of US$)
      
       
(unaudited)December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016
       
Assets     
Cash and cash equivalents$57,187 $43,384
Restricted cash 9,707  13,450
Accounts receivable 182,442  164,074
Other current assets 71,987  58,146
Deferred income tax -  24,738
 Current assets 321,323  303,792
Other non-current assets 4,916  5,115
Deferred income tax 674  1,693
Fixed assets 85,056  73,083
Goodwill and intangible assets 425,764  387,281
 Total assets$837,733 $770,964
       
       
Liabilities and shareholders' equity     
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities$154,280 $135,266
Other current liabilities 46,998  38,813
Long-term debt - current  2,751  1,043
 Current liabilities 204,029  175,122
Long-term debt - non-current  266,874  249,866
Other liabilities 41,204  31,429
Deferred income tax 4,685  31,167
Redeemable non-controlling interests  117,708  102,352
Shareholders' equity 203,233  181,028
 Total liabilities and equity$837,733 $770,964
       
       
Supplemental balance sheet information     
Total debt$269,625 $250,909
Total debt, net of cash 212,438  207,525
      


        
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows       
(in thousands of US$)
    Three months ended  Twelve months ended
    December 31  December 31
(unaudited)  2017   2016   2017   2016 
              
Cash provided by (used in)            
              
Operating activities            
Net earnings $24,647  $11,716  $76,673  $54,243 
Items not affecting cash:            
 Depreciation and amortization  11,815   11,014   42,049   36,969 
 Goodwill impairment charge  -   -   6,150   - 
 Deferred income tax  (6,907)  (2,075)  (7,110)  1,304 
 Other   939   152   5,664   737 
    30,494   20,807   123,426   93,253 
              
Changes in operating assets and liabilities  8,875   (802)  (7,791)  15,752 
Net cash provided by operating activities  39,369   20,005   115,635   109,005 
              
Investing activities            
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired   (4,524)  (10,418)  (39,573)  (90,852)
Purchases of fixed assets  (10,182)  (9,043)  (36,257)  (29,122)
Other investing activities  5,743   (765)  (88)  (10,869)
Net cash used in investing activities  (8,963)  (20,226)  (75,918)  (130,843)
              
Financing activities            
Increase (decrease) in long-term debt, net  (25,130)  7,167   17,422   49,385 
Purchases of non-controlling interests, net  (1,471)  (1,098)  (6,939)  (1,057)
Dividends paid to common shareholders   (4,398)  (3,958)  (17,141)  (15,471)
Repurchases of subordinate voting shares  (3,555)  (8,166)  (17,085)  (9,515)
Distributions paid to non-controlling interests  (1,455)  (741)  (4,504)  (4,985)
Other financing activities  645   1,234   1,919   1,143 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  (35,364)  (5,562)  (26,328)  19,500 
              
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash  (67)  (13)  414   162 
              
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  (5,025)  (5,796)  13,803   (2,176)
              
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period  62,212   49,180   43,384   45,560 
              
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $57,187  $43,384  $57,187  $43,384 
              


 
Segmented Results
(in thousands of US$)
             
           
  FirstService FirstService    
(unaudited)Residential Brands Corporate Consolidated
             
Three months ended December 31           
             
2017           
 Revenues$290,948 $147,161 $-  $438,109
 Adjusted EBITDA 23,418  20,219  (3,131)  40,506
 Operating earnings 17,466  14,168  (3,907)  27,727
             
2016           
 Revenues$274,436 $106,680 $-  $381,116
 Adjusted EBITDA 17,203  16,086  (2,629)  30,660
 Operating earnings 11,566  10,507  (3,156)  18,917
             
             
           
  FirstService FirstService    
  Residential Brands Corporate Consolidated
             
Year ended December 31           
             
2017           
 Revenues$1,174,332 $531,124 $-  $1,705,456
 Adjusted EBITDA 99,869  74,405  (12,297)  161,977
 Operating earnings 77,569  46,655  (16,597)  107,627
             
2016           
 Revenues$1,112,820 $370,069 $-  $1,482,889
 Adjusted EBITDA 84,189  56,283  (10,148)  130,324
 Operating earnings 62,539  41,173  (13,162)  90,550
              


COMPANY CONTACTS:

D. Scott Patterson
President & CEO

Jeremy Rakusin
Chief Financial Officer

(416) 960-9500

 

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