EX-99.1 2 exh_991.htm PRESS RELEASE EdgarFiling

EXHIBIT 99.1

FirstService Reports Strong First Quarter Results

Revenues Up 13% and Adjusted EBITDA Up 36%

Double-Digit Revenue Growth and Margin Expansion at both FirstService Residential and FirstService Brands

Operating highlights:

     
    Three months
    ended March 31
    2016 2015
          
Revenues (millions) $307.6 $272.2
Adjusted EBITDA (millions) (note 1)  12.7  9.3
Adjusted EPS (note 2)  0.08  0.02
       

TORONTO, April 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FirstService Corporation (TSX:FSV) (NASDAQ:FSV) today reported very strong results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2016. All amounts are in US dollars.

Revenues for the first quarter were $307.6 million, up 13% relative to the same quarter in the prior year, Adjusted EBITDA (note 1) increased 36% to $12.7 million, and Adjusted EPS (note 2) was $0.08, compared to $0.02 in the prior year quarter. GAAP EPS was a loss of $0.05 per share in the quarter, versus a loss of $0.09 in the same quarter a year ago.

“FirstService reported strong results for the seasonally slow first quarter, building upon the progress and momentum achieved in 2015 across our businesses,” said Scott Patterson, Chief Executive Officer of FirstService.  “FirstService Residential saw continued revenue growth primarily from contract wins, while FirstService Brands recorded double-digit organic growth as it continues to benefit from a strong U.S. home improvement market. Both of our divisions also demonstrated excellent operating performance with significantly improved margins and profitability. Our results in the first quarter position us well to achieve the annual targets we have established for the current year.”

About FirstService Corporation
FirstService Corporation is a North American leader in the essential outsourced property services sector, serving its customers through two industry-leading service 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 more than US$1.3 billion in annual revenues and has approximately 16,000 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 for shareholders. The Subordinate Voting Shares of FirstService trade on the NASDAQ and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “FSV.”  More information is available at www.firstservice.com.

Segmented Quarterly Results
FirstService Residential revenues were $249.8 million for the first quarter, up 11% versus the prior year quarter. Revenue growth was comprised of 7% organic growth and 4% from recent acquisitions.  Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $11.7 million, up from $9.3 million in the prior year period. Contract wins and continued margin expansion from operating efficiencies were the primary drivers of first quarter performance.

FirstService Brands revenues for the first quarter totalled $57.8 million, up 25% relative to the prior year period. Organic growth for the quarter was 12% (13% in local currency terms), with the balance coming from recent acquisitions, including two California Closets franchises and the Paul Davis operation in Central Pennsylvania. Adjusted EBITDA was $3.2 million, a significant increase over the $1.3 million in the prior year quarter. The strong year-over-year performance for the quarter was driven by robust growth and operating leverage across our service lines, particularly California Closets, Certa Pro Painters, Pillar To Post Home Inspection and Floor Coverings International, which continue to benefit from a buoyant U.S. home improvement market. 

Corporate costs were $2.2 million in the first quarter, relative to $1.3 million in the prior year period.  The current quarter reflects incremental public company and compensation costs.

Conference Call
FirstService will be holding a conference call on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss results for the first quarter of 2016. 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. Forward-looking statements include the Company’s financial performance outlook and statements regarding goals, beliefs, strategies, objectives, plans or current expectations. 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 the Company’s services and the cost of providing services; (ii) the ability of the Company to implement its business strategy, including the Company’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 the Company’s filings with applicable Canadian and United States securities regulatory authorities (which factors are adopted herein).

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

Notes
1. Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA:

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net earnings, adjusted to exclude: (i) income tax; (ii) other (income) expense; (iii) interest expense; (iv) depreciation and amortization; (v) acquisition-related items; and (vi) stock-based compensation expense. The Company uses adjusted EBITDA to evaluate its own operating performance, its ability to service debt, and 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 a measure is useful to investors as a reasonable indicator of operating performance, due to the low capital intensity of the Company’s 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 (loss) to adjusted EBITDA appears below.

     
    Three months ended
(in thousands of US dollars)  March 31
      2016 2015
             
Net earnings (loss)      $ 1,517  $ (434)
Income tax        850    (229)
Other (income) expense        (75)   202 
Interest expense, net        1,969    1,868 
Operating earnings        4,261    1,407 
Depreciation and amortization        7,414    6,998 
Acquisition-related items        71    247 
Stock-based compensation expense        970    669 
Adjusted EBITDA      $ 12,716  $ 9,321 
 

2. Reconciliation of net earnings and net earnings per share to adjusted net earnings and adjusted EPS:

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 expense related to intangible assets recognized in connection with acquisitions; and (iv) stock-based compensation expense. 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 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 net earnings to adjusted net earnings and of diluted net earnings per share to adjusted EPS appears below.

     
    Three months ended
(in thousands of US dollars)  March 31
      2016 2015
             
Net earnings (loss)      $ 1,517  $ (434)
Non-controlling interest share of earnings        (808)   (1,119)
Acquisition-related items        71    247 
Amortization of intangible assets        2,392    2,550 
Stock-based compensation expense        970    669 
Income tax on adjustments        (1,296)   (1,255)
Non-controlling interest on adjustments        (33)   (44)
Adjusted net earnings      $ 2,813  $ 614 
             
    Three months ended
(in US dollars)  March 31
      2016 2015
             
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share      $ (0.05) $ (0.09)
Non-controlling interest redemption increment        0.07    0.05 
Acquisition-related items        -    0.01 
Amortization of intangible assets, net of tax        0.04    0.04 
Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax        0.02    0.01 
Adjusted EPS      $ 0.08  $ 0.02 


 
FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION
Operating Results
(in thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts)
        Three months
        ended March 31
(unaudited)        2016    2015 
              
Revenues      $ 307,586  $ 272,189 
              
Cost of revenues        222,506    197,307 
Selling, general and administrative expenses        73,334    66,230 
Depreciation        5,022    4,448 
Amortization of intangible assets        2,392    2,550 
Acquisition-related items (1)        71    247 
Operating earnings        4,261    1,407 
Interest expense, net        1,969    1,868 
Other (income) expense        (75)   202 
Earnings before income tax        2,367    (663)
Income tax        850    (229)
Net earnings (loss)        1,517    (434)
Non-controlling interest share of earnings        808    1,119 
Non-controlling interest redemption increment        2,366    1,758 
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Company         (1,657)   (3,311)
              
Net earnings (loss) per share            
 Basic      $ (0.05) $ (0.09)
 Diluted        (0.05)   (0.09)
              
              
Adjusted EPS (2)      $ 0.08  $ 0.02 
              
Weighted average common shares (thousands)           
  Basic        35,991    35,971 
  Diluted        36,368    36,363 
                  

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

      
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets     
(in thousands of US dollars)
      
       
(unaudited)March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015
       
Assets     
Cash and cash equivalents$37,075 $45,560
Restricted cash 8,140  3,769
Accounts receivable 118,222  114,521
Prepaid and other current assets 49,682  47,532
Deferred income tax 18,662  18,840
 Current assets 231,781  230,222
Other non-current assets 5,210  6,009
Fixed assets 60,848  57,575
Deferred income tax 6,963  6,553
Goodwill and intangible assets 308,058  300,124
 Total assets$612,860 $600,483
       
       
Liabilities and shareholders' equity     
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities$102,290 $102,043
Other current liabilities 25,627  24,015
Long-term debt - current 1,769  4,041
 Current liabilities 129,686  130,099
Long-term debt - non-current 209,505  197,158
Other liabilities 15,079  14,670
Deferred income tax 13,936  13,971
Non-controlling interests 80,216  77,559
Shareholders' equity 164,438  167,026
 Total liabilities and equity$612,860 $600,483
       
       
Supplemental balance sheet information     
Total debt$211,274 $201,199
Total debt, net of cash 174,199  155,639


       
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows      
(in thousands of US dollars)
       Three months ended
       March 31
(unaudited)        2016    2015 
             
Cash provided by (used in)           
             
Operating activities           
Net earnings      $ 1,517  $ (434)
Items not affecting cash:           
 Depreciation and amortization        7,414    6,998 
 Deferred income tax        (536)   880 
 Other        (94)   666 
          8,301    8,110 
             
Changes in non cash working capital           
 Accounts receivable        (3,389)   9,695 
 Payables and accruals        (3,427)   (3,162)
 Other        353    4,027 
Net cash provided by operating activities        1,838    18,670 
             
Investing activities           
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired        (5,038)   (4,202)
Purchases of fixed assets        (6,900)   (3,586)
Other investing activities        (4,581)   941 
Net cash used in investing activities        (16,519)   (6,847)
             
Financing activities           
Increase in long-term debt, net        10,076    7,617 
Net distributions to Old FSV        -    (29,911)
Sale (purchases) of non-controlling interests, net        246    (7,636)
Dividends paid to common shareholders        (3,461)   - 
Other financing activities        (789)   (3,168)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities        6,072    (33,098)
             
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash        124    (373)
             
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents        (8,485)   (21,648)
             
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period        45,560    66,790 
             
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period      $ 37,075  $ 45,142 
             


Segmented Results
(in thousands of US dollars)
             
           
  FirstService FirstService    
(unaudited)Residential Brands Corporate Consolidated
             
Three months ended March 31           
             
2016           
 Revenues$249,806 $ 57,780  $ -  $307,586
 Adjusted EBITDA 11,738   3,195    (2,217)  12,716
             
 Operating earnings 6,357   1,391    (3,487)  4,261
             
2015           
 Revenues$225,802 $ 46,387  $ -  $272,189
 Adjusted EBITDA 9,329   1,275    (1,283)  9,321
             
 Operating earnings 3,977   (471)   (2,099)  1,407
                 

















COMPANY CONTACTS:

D. Scott Patterson
Chief Executive Officer

Jeremy Rakusin
Chief Financial Officer

(416) 960-9500