TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb 16, 2017) - Superior Plus Corp. (TSX:SPB) -
Financial Overview
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||
December 31 | December 31 | |||||
(millions of dollars, except per share amounts) | 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||
Revenue (1) | 583.1 | 546.0 | 2,023.7 | 2,253.1 | ||
Gross Profit (1) | 193.6 | 174.3 | 656.4 | 658.2 | ||
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations | (22.8 | ) | 20.2 | 114.2 | (8.9 | ) |
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations per share, basic | $(0.16 | ) | $0.15 | $0.80 | $(0.07 | ) |
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations per share, diluted | $(0.19 | ) | $0.13 | $0.78 | $(0.07 | ) |
Adjusted EBITDA from operations (2)(3)(4) | 94.0 | 100.3 | 303.6 | 331.6 | ||
Net cash flows from operating activities | 27.6 | 47.6 | 188.5 | 339.5 | ||
Net cash flows from operating activities per share - basic and diluted | $0.19 | $0.34 | $1.33 | $2.64 | ||
Adjusted operating cash flow before transaction and other costs (2)(5)(6) | 77.3 | 71.3 | 212.6 | 213.6 | ||
Adjusted operating cash flow before transaction and other costs per share - basic and diluted (2)(4)(5)(6)(7) | $0.54 |
$0.52 |
$1.50 |
$1.65 |
||
Adjusted operating cash flow after transaction and other costs (2) | 68.4 | 61.3 | 162.4 | 203.6 | ||
Adjusted operating cash flow per share - basic and diluted (2)(4)(6)(7) | $0.48 | $0.45 | $1.14 | $1.58 | ||
Cash dividends declared | $25.5 | $24.5 | $102.2 | $92.8 | ||
Cash dividends declared per share | $0.18 | $0.18 | $0.72 | $0.72 |
(1) | Revenue and gross profit exclude the results of Construction Products Distribution (CPD) and the Fixed-price energy service business. |
(2) | Adjusted EBITDA from operations and adjusted operating cash flow (AOCF) are non-GAAP measures. Refer to "Non-GAAP Measures" for further details and reconciliations. |
(3) | Adjusted EBITDA from operations excludes the results of the Fixed-price energy services business as substantially all assets were divested during Q1 2016. Comparative figures have been reclassified to reflect the current period presentation. |
(4) | Adjusted EBITDA from operations, AOCF and AOCF per share include the results of CPD up to the August 9, 2016 date of disposition. For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016, CPD contributed $nil per share and $0.16 per share to AOCF per share, respectively. For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015, CPD contributed $0.10 per share and $0.33 per share to AOCF per share, respectively. |
(5) | Transaction and other costs for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 are related to the terminated acquisition of Canexus Corporation, the divesture of the CPD business, restructuring costs and costs associated with the relocation of the Superior Plus Corporate office to Toronto. Refer to "Transaction and Other Costs" in the Annual MD&A (the "MD&A") for further details. |
(6) | The weighted average number of shares outstanding for the three months ended December 31, 2016 is 142.8 million (December 31, 2015 - 136.3 million) and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 is 142.1 million (December 31, 2015 - 129.0 million). |
(7) | There were no dilutive instruments with respect to AOCF per share for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. |
Highlights
Segmented Information |
|||||
Three months ended | Twelve months ended | ||||
December 31 | December 31 | ||||
(millions of dollars) | 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | |
Adjusted EBITDA from operations(1) | |||||
Energy Distribution(2) | 59.8 | 51.9 | 167.4 | 166.3 | |
Specialty Chemicals | 34.2 | 32.5 | 109.1 | 117.4 | |
Construction Products Distribution(3) | - | 15.9 | 27.1 | 47.9 | |
94.0 | 100.3 | 303.6 | 331.6 | ||
(1) | See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures". |
(2) | Adjusted EBITDA from operations excludes the results of the fixed-price energy services business as the segment was divested during Q1 2016. |
(3) | Adjusted EBITDA from operations includes the results of CPD up to the August 9, 2016 date of disposition. |
Energy Distribution
Specialty Chemicals
Construction Products Distribution
Corporate Related
2017 Financial Outlook
Superior's 2017 financial outlook of AOCF per share of $1.45 to $1.75 is consistent with the financial outlook provided at the end of the third quarter of 2016. As previously noted in the individual business financial outlook sections, Energy Distribution results are anticipated to be consistent to modestly higher and Specialty Chemicals results are anticipated to be consistent to modestly lower than 2016. The positive impact from the decrease in the realized losses on foreign currency hedging contracts in the 2017 financial outlook is offset in part by the loss of the CPD business contribution compared to 2016.
For additional details on the assumptions underlying the 2017 financial outlook, see Superior's 2016 MD&A. Superior's 2017 financial outlook does not incorporate the Canwest acquisition. Once Superior purchases the option to acquire Canwest (the "Option") Superior anticipates providing an updated 2017 financial outlook.
Debt Management Update
Superior remains focused on managing both its total debt and its total debt to Adjusted EBITDA. Superior's total debt (including convertible debentures) to Adjusted EBITDA was 2.1X as at December 31, 2016, compared to 3.3X at December 31, 2015. The debt levels and the total leverage ratio as at December 31, 2016 are lower as the proceeds from the Sale of CPD were used to reduce indebtedness.
Superior is forecasting a total debt to Adjusted EBITDA range of 1.8X to 2.2X as at December 31, 2017, which is below the target range of 3.0X. Superior's 2017 total debt (including convertible debentures) to Adjusted EBITDA guidance does not incorporate the Canwest acquisition. Once Superior purchases the Option, Superior will provide updated total debt to Adjusted EBITDA guidance.
Superior's total debt to Adjusted EBITDA (excluding 2016 CPD results and realized losses on foreign exchange hedging contracts) on a pro forma basis including the Canwest acquisition would be 3.3X. Pro forma total debt to Adjusted EBITDA, including realized losses on foreign exchange hedging contracts (excluding 2016 CPD results) would be 3.7X.
MD&A and Financial Statements
Superior's MD&A, the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, are available online at Superior's website at www.superiorplus.com under the Investor Relations section and on www.sedar.com.
2016 Fourth Quarter Conference Call
Superior will be conducting a conference call and webcast for investors, analysts, brokers and media representatives to discuss the 2016 Fourth Quarter and Annual Results at 10:30 a.m. EST on Friday, February 17, 2017. To participate in the call, dial: 1-844-389-8661. An archived recording of the call will be available on Superior's website until February 17, 2018. Internet users can listen to the call live, or as an archived call, on Superior's website at: www.superiorplus.com under the Events section.
Non-GAAP Measures
Throughout the fourth quarter earnings release, Superior has used the following terms that are not defined by GAAP, but are used by management to evaluate the performance of Superior and its business. These measures may also be used by investors, financial institutions and credit rating agencies to assess Superior's performance and ability to service debt. Non-GAAP financial measures do not have standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies, securities regulations require that Non-GAAP financial measures be clearly defined, qualified and reconciled to their most comparable GAAP financial measures. Except as otherwise indicated, these Non-GAAP financial measures are calculated and disclosed on a consistent basis from period to period. Specific adjusting items may only be relevant in certain periods.
The intent of Non-GAAP financial measures is to provide additional useful information to investors and analysts. The measures do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. The measures should not, therefore, be considered in isolation or used in substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Other issuers may calculate Non-GAAP financial measures differently.
Investors should be cautioned that AOCF, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA from operations should not be construed as alternatives to net earnings, cash flow from operating activities or other measures of financial results determined in accordance with GAAP as an indicator of Superior's performance.
Non-GAAP financial measures are identified and defined as follows:
Adjusted Operating Cash Flow
AOCF is equal to cash flow from operating activities as defined by IFRS, adjusted for changes in non-cash working capital, other expenses, non-cash interest expense, current income taxes and finance costs. Superior may deduct or include additional items in its calculation of AOCF; these items would generally, but not necessarily, be infrequent in nature and could distort the analysis of trends in business performance. Excluding these items does not imply that they are non-recurring. AOCF and AOCF per share are presented before and after transaction and other costs.
AOCF per share before transaction and other costs is calculated by dividing AOCF before transaction and other costs by the weighted average number of shares outstanding. AOCF per share is calculated by dividing AOCF by the weighted average number of shares outstanding.
AOCF is the main performance measure used by management and investors to evaluate Superior's ongoing performance of its businesses and ability to generate cash flow. AOCF represents cash flow generated by Superior that is available for, but not necessarily limited to, changes in working capital requirements, investing activities and financing activities of Superior. AOCF is also used as one component in determining short-term incentive compensation for certain management employees.
The seasonality of Superior's individual quarterly results must be assessed in the context of annualized AOCF. Adjustments recorded by Superior as part of its calculation of AOCF include, but are not limited to, the impact of the seasonality of Superior's businesses, principally the Energy Distribution segment, by adjusting for non-cash working capital items, thereby eliminating the impact of the timing between the recognition and collection/payment of Superior's revenues and expenses, which can differ significantly from quarter to quarter.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before taxes, depreciation, amortization, losses/(gains) on disposal of assets, finance expense, restructuring, transaction and other costs and unrealized gains/(losses) on derivative financial instruments. Adjusted EBITDA is used by Superior and investors to assess its consolidated results and those of its operating segments.
Adjusted EBITDA from Operations
Adjusted EBITDA from operations is defined as adjusted EBITDA excluding gains/(losses) on foreign currency hedging contracts, corporate costs and transaction and other costs. For purposes of this MD&A, foreign currency hedging contract gains and losses are excluded from the results of the operating segments. Adjusted EBITDA from operations is used by Superior and investors to assess the results of its operating segments. Adjusted EBITDA from operations is reconciled to net earnings before income taxes.
Reconciliation of Net Earnings Before Income Taxes to Adjusted EBITDA from Operations
For the three months ended December 31, 2016 (millions of dollars) | Energy Distribution | Specialty Chemicals | Construction Products Distribution | |||
Net earnings before income taxes | 48.5 | 21.6 | − | |||
Add: Depreciation and amortization included in selling, distribution and administrative costs | 15.0 | − | − | |||
Depreciation included in cost of sales | − | 13.6 | − | |||
Realized losses on foreign currency hedging contracts | − | 1.5 | − | |||
Losses (gains) on disposal of assets | (0.5 | ) | 0.2 | − | ||
Finance expense | 0.7 | 0.1 | − | |||
Restructuring | 3.4 | 3.7 | − | |||
Unrealized (gains) on derivative financial instruments | (7.3 | ) | (6.5 | ) | − | |
Adjusted EBITDA from operations | 59.8 | 34.2 | − | |||
For the three months ended December 31, 2015 (millions of dollars) | Energy Distribution | Specialty Chemicals | Construction Products Distribution | |||
Net earnings (loss) before income taxes | 32.1 | (0.9 | ) | 11.9 | ||
Add: Depreciation and amortization included in selling, distribution and administrative costs | 14.2 | − | 2.2 | |||
Depreciation included in cost of sales | − | 19.1 | − | |||
Realized losses on foreign currency hedging contracts | 3.1 | 11.7 | 1.5 | |||
Losses on disposal of assets | − | 1.0 | − | |||
Finance expense | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | |||
Unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments | 1.6 | 1.3 | − | |||
Adjusted EBITDA from operations | 51.9 | 32.5 | 15.9 |
For the year ended December 31, 2016 (millions of dollars) | Energy Distribution | Specialty Chemicals | Construction Products Distribution | ||||
Net earnings (loss) before income taxes | 143.4 | 30.7 | (21.4 | ) | |||
Add (Deduct): | |||||||
Depreciation included in selling, distribution, and administrative costs and amortization of intangible assets | 58.2 | − | 4.8 | ||||
Depreciation included in cost of sales | − | 54.5 | − | ||||
Realized losses (gains) on foreign currency hedging contracts | (0.1 | ) | 26.1 | 3.6 | |||
Losses (gains) on disposal of assets | (1.0 | ) | 0.7 | 39.4 | |||
Finance expense | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.7 | ||||
Restructuring | 3.4 | 3.7 | − | ||||
Unrealized (gains) on derivative financial instruments | (39.4 | ) | (7.0 | ) | − | ||
Adjusted EBITDA from operations | 167.4 | 109.1 | 27.1 | ||||
For the year ended December 31, 2015 (millions of dollars) | Energy Distribution |
Specialty Chemicals |
Construction Products Distribution | ||||
Net earnings before income taxes | 121.3 | 8.0 | 34.9 | ||||
Add (Deduct): | |||||||
Depreciation included in selling, distribution, and administrative costs and amortization of intangible assets | 52.9 | − | 7.5 | ||||
Depreciation included in cost of sales | − | 63.8 | − | ||||
Realized losses on foreign currency hedging contracts | 7.7 | 40.0 | 4.6 | ||||
Losses on disposal of assets | 1.3 | 1.2 | − | ||||
Finance expense | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | ||||
Unrealized (gains) losses on derivative financial instruments | (19.8 | ) | 3.5 | − | |||
Adjusted EBITDA from operations | 166.3 | 117.4 | 47.9 | ||||
Adjusted Operating Cash Flow Reconciled to Net Cash Flow from Operating Activities(1)(2) | |||||||||
Three months ended | Twelve months ended | ||||||||
December 31 | December 31 | ||||||||
(millions of dollars) | 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||
Net cash flow from operating activities | 27.6 | 47.6 | 188.5 | 339.5 | |||||
Add (Deduct): | |||||||||
Non-cash interest expense | 1.1 | 1.9 | 7.4 | 13.6 | |||||
Changes in non-cash operating working capital | 48.6 | 21.4 | 35.1 | (87.5 | ) | ||||
Discontinued operations | 0.4 | (1.8 | ) | 14.6 | (3.6 | ) | |||
Cash income tax expense | (1.1 | ) | (0.1 | ) | (4.9 | ) | (2.1 | ) | |
Finance expense recognized in net earnings | (8.2 | ) | (7.7 | ) | (78.3 | ) | (56.3 | ) | |
Adjusted Operating Cash Flow | 68.4 | 61.3 | 162.4 | 203.6 |
(1) | See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures". |
(2) | See the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for net cash flow from operating activities and changes in non-cash working capital. |
Forward Looking Information
Certain information included herein is forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information may include statements regarding the objectives, business strategies to achieve those objectives, expected financial results (including those in the area of risk management), economic or market conditions, and the outlook of or involving Superior, Superior LP and its businesses. Such information is typically identified by words such as "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "plan", "forecast", "future", "outlook, "guidance", "may", "project", "should", "strategy", "target", "will" or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes.
Forward-looking information in this document includes: future financial position, consolidated and business segment outlooks, expected EBITDA from operations, expected AOCF and AOCF per share, expected leverage ratios and debt repayment, expectations in terms of the cost of operations, business strategy and objectives, development plans and programs, business expansion and cost structure and other improvement projects, expected product margins and sales volumes, market conditions in Canada and the U.S., continued improvements in operational efficiencies and sales and marketing initiatives in Energy Distribution, expected synergies as a result of the acquisition of Canwest, anticipated acquisition closing and financing, future economic conditions, future exchange rates, exposure to such rates and incremental earnings associated with such rates, expected weather, expectations for to the global economic environment, our trading strategy and the risk involved in these strategies, the impact of certain hedges on future reported earnings and cash flows, commodity prices and costs, the impact of contracts for commodities, demand for propane, heating oil and similar products, demand for chemicals including sodium chlorate and chlor-alkali, effect of operational and technological improvements, anticipated costs and benefits of business enterprise system upgrade plans, future working capital levels, expected governmental regulatory regimes and legislation and their expected impact on regulatory and legislative compliance costs, expectations for the outcome of existing or potential legal and contractual claims, our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms, expected life of facilities and statements regarding net working capital and capital expenditure requirements of Superior or Superior LP.
Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans about the future and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking information herein is based on various assumptions and expectations that Superior believes are reasonable in the circumstances. No assurance can be given that these assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct. Those assumptions and expectations are based on information currently available to Superior, including information obtained from third party industry analysts and other third party sources, and the historic performance of Superior's businesses. Such assumptions include anticipated financial performance, current business and economic trends, the amount of future dividends paid by Superior, business prospects, availability and utilization of tax basis, regulatory developments, currency, exchange and interest rates, future commodity prices relating to the oil and gas industry, future oil rig activity levels as well as receipt of required regulatory approvals to complete the acquisition of Canwest, trading data, cost estimates, our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms, the assumptions set forth under the "Financial Outlook" sections of our MD&A and are subject to the risks and uncertainties set forth below.
By its very nature, forward-looking information involves numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, both general and specific. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, as many important factors are beyond our control, Superior's or Superior LP's actual performance and financial results may vary materially from those estimates and intentions contemplated, expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include incorrect assessments of value when making acquisitions, increases in debt service charges, the loss of key personnel, fluctuations in foreign currency and exchange rates, inadequate insurance coverage, liability for cash taxes, counterparty risk, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, reduced customer demand, operational risks involving our facilities, force majeure, labour relations matters, our ability to access external sources of debt and equity capital, and the risks identified in (i) our MD&A under the heading "Risk Factors" and (ii) Superior's most recent Annual Information Form. The preceding list of assumptions, risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive.
When relying on our forward-looking information to make decisions with respect to Superior, investors and others should carefully consider the preceding factors, other uncertainties and potential events. Any forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this document and, except as required by law, neither Superior nor Superior LP undertakes to update or revise such information to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
For more information about Superior, visit our website at www.superiorplus.com.
Superior Plus Corp.
Beth Summers
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(416) 340-6015
[email protected]
Superior Plus Corp.
Rob Dorran
Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer
(416) 340-6003 or Toll Free: 1-866-490-PLUS (7587)
[email protected]
www.superiorplus.com