(TSX:CSS)
WOODSTOCK, ON, July 29, 2014 /CNW/ -
Financial Highlights
For the periods ended June 30 |
Three Months |
Six Months |
($CAD millions except for share and per share
amounts) |
|
2014 |
|
2013 Restated (2)
|
|
2014 |
2013 Restated
(2) |
Continuing operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue - total |
$ |
153.7 |
|
|
$ |
132.6 |
|
|
$ |
302.0 |
|
|
$ |
261.7 |
|
|
- fuel surcharges |
|
(24.3) |
|
|
|
(20.3) |
|
|
|
(49.4) |
|
|
|
(41.5) |
|
|
Revenue - services |
|
129.4 |
100.0 |
% |
|
112.3 |
100.0 |
% |
|
252.6 |
100.0 |
% |
|
220.2 |
100.0 |
% |
Direct operating expenses - net of fuel surcharges
(1) |
|
102.7 |
79.4 |
|
|
89.2 |
79.4 |
|
|
204.8 |
81.1 |
|
|
178.3 |
81.0 |
|
Gross margin |
|
26.7 |
20.6 |
|
|
23.1 |
20.6 |
|
|
47.8 |
18.9 |
|
|
41.9 |
19.0 |
|
General and administration expenses |
|
12.9 |
10.0 |
|
|
11.5 |
10.2 |
|
|
24.7 |
9.8 |
|
|
23.3 |
10.6 |
|
Gain on sale of equipment |
|
(0.5) |
(0.4) |
|
|
(0.3) |
(0.3) |
|
|
(0.7) |
(0.3) |
|
|
(0.5) |
(0.2) |
|
Net financing costs |
|
1.4 |
1.1 |
|
|
1.7 |
1.5 |
|
|
3.0 |
1.2 |
|
|
3.5 |
1.6 |
|
Earnings before income taxes |
|
12.9 |
9.9 |
|
|
10.2 |
9.2 |
|
|
20.8 |
8.2 |
|
|
15.6 |
7.0 |
|
Income tax expense |
|
2.9 |
2.2 |
|
|
2.8 |
2.5 |
|
|
5.1 |
2.0 |
|
|
4.3 |
2.0 |
|
Net earnings and comprehensive income from
continuing operations |
|
10.0 |
7.7 |
% |
|
7.4 |
6.7 |
% |
|
15.7 |
6.2 |
% |
|
11.3 |
5.0 |
% |
Gain on sale of waste collection segment - net of
tax |
|
26.3 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
26.3 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
Discontinued operations |
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
0.8 |
|
|
|
1.5 |
|
|
Net earnings and comprehensive income for the
period |
$ |
36.8 |
|
|
$ |
8.1 |
|
|
$ |
42.8 |
|
|
$ |
12.8 |
|
|
Earnings per share - continuing operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
$ |
0.29 |
|
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
|
$ |
0.46 |
|
|
$ |
0.34 |
|
|
Diluted |
$ |
0.29 |
|
|
$ |
0.21 |
|
|
$ |
0.46 |
|
|
$ |
0.33 |
|
|
Earnings per share - total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
$ |
1.08 |
|
|
$ |
0.24 |
|
|
$ |
1.26 |
|
|
$ |
0.38 |
|
|
Diluted |
$ |
1.07 |
|
|
$ |
0.24 |
|
|
$ |
1.25 |
|
|
$ |
0.38 |
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding (000s): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
33,951 |
|
|
|
33,808 |
|
|
|
33,912 |
|
|
|
33,761 |
|
|
Diluted |
|
34,443 |
|
|
|
34,130 |
|
|
|
34,370 |
|
|
|
34,053 |
|
|
Dividends declared per share |
$ |
0.15 |
|
|
$ |
0.10 |
|
|
$ |
0.275 |
|
|
$ |
0.225 |
|
|
Depreciation - continuing operations |
$ |
6.5 |
|
|
$ |
5.7 |
|
|
$ |
12.9 |
|
|
$ |
11.6 |
|
|
Amortization of intangibles - continuing
operations |
$ |
0.8 |
|
|
$ |
0.9 |
|
|
$ |
1.7 |
|
|
$ |
1.8 |
|
|
(1)
Referred to as "direct operating expenses" hereafter. See
"Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2) Comparative
information has been restated to disclose results from discontinued
operations separately. |
|
"I am very pleased with Contrans' second quarter
results," stated Contrans Group Inc.'s Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, Stan Dunford. "The
Company recorded strong earnings, a reflection of continuing good
management of our operations and improved business conditions.
Contrans also sold its waste collection segment during the second
quarter. This sale generated over $70
million in proceeds and contributed an after-tax gain of
$26.3 million ($0.76 diluted earnings per share)."
"TransForce has announced its intention to
submit to Contrans' shareholders a formal offer to acquire their
shares," continued Mr. Dunford. "Contrans' Board of Directors has
stated that it supports this proposal for reasons that will be set
out in detail in a Directors' Circular that will be sent out to
shareholders. TransForce is a strategic player with greater
potential for realizing operating synergies than would a financial
investor. Accordingly, Contrans' Board of Directors believes this
has resulted in a higher offer price."
"I am proud of everything that Contrans'
management has been able to accomplish over the past 25 years,"
added Mr. Dunford. "The Company's success is attributable to a
dedicated group of individuals whose talents are unsurpassed in our
industry. I am truly grateful for all of their efforts and
enthusiasm. I look forward to seeing this group continue to
flourish."
RESULTS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Revenue
Major contracts previously awarded to Contrans that did not take
effect until the second half of 2013 contributed $4.5 million of service revenue ("revenue") in
the second quarter of 2014 ("2014 Q2") and $9.0 million in the first half of 2014 ("2014
YTD"). These contracts are for the transportation of waste from
Calgary, Alberta to Coronation, Alberta and for the transportation
of metallurgical coke from Hamilton,
Ontario to Nanticoke,
Ontario. Revenue resulting from the December 2013 acquisition of the Best Transfer
assets amounted to $2.2 million in
2014 Q2 ($4.9 million 2014 YTD).
Contrans' Ontario waste
transportation operation has also received awards of new work from
an existing customer that contributed $1.2
million of additional revenue in 2014 Q2 ($1.6 million 2014 YTD). Contrans recently entered
into another waste hauling agreement in 2014 Q2 that is expected to
generate $3.5 million annually. Work
on this agreement is expected to commence in September 2014.
Revenue from the Company's customers in the construction
industry also contributed to the increase in revenue over 2013 YTD.
Last year, an unusually wet spring and a construction strike in
Quebec adversely affected
shipments of construction materials. Revenue from customers in this
industry were $4.7 million greater in
2014 Q2 compared to 2013 Q2 (2014 - $7.9
million greater YTD).
Revenue in 2014 YTD was negatively impacted by unusually harsh
winter conditions in the first quarter. This was mitigated,
however, by increased shipments of road salt which added
$4.3 million in additional revenue in
2014 YTD compared to 2013 YTD. In addition, some shippers of bulk
materials resorted to truck transportation due to disruptions to
rail service and due to an unusually early freeze-up and a late
thaw of the Great Lakes.
Direct operating expenses
Fuel costs were positively impacted by a decrease in fuel prices in
2014 Q2. Lower fuel prices also reversed the effects of the lag
between the Company's fuel surcharge programs and fuel prices. This
lag adversely affected direct operating expenses in 2014 Q1 when
prices steadily increased. Accident claim costs were
$0.8 million higher in 2014 Q2
compared to 2013 Q2 (2014 - $1.5
million higher YTD). Direct operating expenses in 2014 YTD
were adversely affected by prolonged and unusually cold
temperatures during the first quarter that resulted in increased
maintenance costs and fuel consumption. The poor weather also
resulted in lost working days which negatively impacted equipment
utilization.
General and administration expenses
("G&A")
Contrans' share-based, cash-settled compensation expense was
$0.6 million higher in 2014 Q2
compared to 2013 Q2. The trading value of the Company's shares
appreciated by 14% in 2014 Q2 whereas the trading value declined by
8% in 2013 Q2 (appreciation of 9.5% in 2014 YTD, 10.3% appreciation
in 2013 YTD). An amount of $1.0
million was provided in 2014 Q2 for property restoration
costs. G&A expenses were reduced in 2014 Q2 due to the
$0.5 million recovery of a note
receivable against which a 100% provision had been taken in
2009. The note was part of the consideration received for the
disposal of the Company's plant services operation in 2008.
Net financing costs
Net financing costs decreased by $0.2
million in 2014 Q2 compared to 2013 Q2 (2014 - $0.4 million decrease YTD). This decrease
resulted primarily from the Company's repayment of a $31.9 million term loan in December 2013 and from the receipt of proceeds
from the sale of the waste collection segment on May 1, 2014.
Cash Flow
Contrans incurred capital expenditures of $16.9 million in 2014 Q2 ($27.5 million 2014 YTD). Of this amount,
$9.6 million was incurred to support
growth initiatives in 2014 Q2 ($15.6
million 2014 YTD). The majority of this
expenditure was used to acquire equipment to service work awarded
to Contrans' waste transportation operations. These amounts include
capital expenditures that were funded through finance leases.
Contrans has received regulatory approval to
proceed with a normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") to purchase up to
1.7 million of its outstanding Class A shares for cancellation
between March 17, 2014 and
March 16, 2015. There have been
no purchases made under this NCIB to date. There were no purchases
under Contrans' previous NCIB, which lapsed on March 14, 2014.
Dividends
Contrans' Board of Directors ("Board") has declared the following
dividends in 2014:
Declaration Date |
|
|
|
Paid or Payable on |
Per share amount |
|
|
|
Total |
January 15, 2014 |
|
|
|
February 14, 2014 |
$0.125 |
|
|
|
$4.2 million |
April 15, 2014 |
|
|
|
May 15, 2014 |
$0.15 |
|
|
|
$5.1 million |
July 15, 2014 |
|
|
|
August 15, 2014 |
$0.15 |
|
|
|
$5.1 million |
The payment of dividends is subject to the discretion of
Contrans' Board. Prior to declaring a dividend, the Board considers
many factors, including Contrans' overall financial condition, its
expected future financial performance, its anticipated capital
requirements as well as its debt repayment obligations and the
covenants that are contained in Contrans' loan agreements.
Proposed Transaction
On July 23, 2014, Contrans,
TransForce Inc. ("TransForce") and a subsidiary of TransForce
entered into a support agreement pursuant to which TransForce will
make an offer to shareholders of Contrans to acquire 100% of
Contrans' outstanding subordinate voting and multiple voting shares
for cash consideration of $14.60 per
share. The agreement also provides for the payment by Contrans of a
special dividend of $0.40 per share
prior to closing. The offer is subject to a number of conditions,
including regulatory approvals.
Circulation of documents to shareholders
relating to this bid is expected to take place in August 2014.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial
Measures
Management has included a non-GAAP financial measure, "Direct
operating expenses - net of fuel surcharges", in this press
release. Management believes that it is important to isolate the
effects of fuel surcharges, a volatile source of revenue and direct
operating expenses, when analyzing operating results. Management
regards revenue from services as the most relevant indicator of
business level activity. Accordingly, the percentages in the
Financial Highlights and Results from Operations tables were
calculated using revenue from services alone as the base. In
addition, direct operating expenses are stated after netting fuel
surcharges against fuel expenses in the Financial Highlights and
Results from Operations tables. Management believes that this
facilitates a better comparison of operating costs between
periods.
This non-GAAP financial measure does not have a
standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and therefore may not be
comparable to similar measures employed by other issuers. The data
is intended to provide additional information and should not be
considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of
performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Forward-looking Statements
Management's discussion and analysis contains certain
forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. Forward-looking statements relate to future events
or future performance and include, but are not limited to, changes
in government regulations regarding weights and dimensions of
highway equipment, the age and condition of the transportation
fleet and the growth of Contrans' business. Often, but not always,
forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as
"may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe",
"estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue" or the negative of
these terms or other comparable terminology. Such statements
reflect the current views and estimates of management with respect
to future events, as of the date such statements are made, and they
involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause
actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by forward-looking statements. In evaluating these
statements, readers should specifically consider factors such as
the risks outlined under "Risk Factors" in Contrans' Annual
Information Form, which is available at www.sedar.com. Although
Contrans has attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual events, actions or results to differ materially from
those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be
other factors that cause such events, actions or results to differ.
Contrans is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such
obligation) to update forward-looking statements if circumstances
or management's views or estimates change. Accordingly, readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements.
SOURCE Contrans Group Inc.