Daily News logo Newsletter logo   Search News    

Premium Brands Holdings Corporation Announces 2010 First Quarter Results

  Share This Story

Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (TSX: PBH), a leading producer, marketer and distributor of branded specialty food products, announced today its results for the first quarter of 2010.

HIGHLIGHTS

- Revenue for the quarter increased by 5.6% or $5.8 million to a record $109.7 million as compared to $103.9 million in the first quarter of 2009.

- Record EBITDA for the quarter of $7.3 million as compared to $6.3 million in the first quarter of 2009.

- Rolling twelve months free cash flow of $28.4 million as compared to declared distributions and dividends of $20.7 million.

- Earnings before unrealized exchange gains/losses, non-controlling interest and income taxes of $2.2 million or $0.12 per share as compared to $2.2 million or $0.12 per share in the first quarter of 2009.

- Record Retail segment sales and earnings for the quarter of $51.9 million and $4.3 million, respectively, as compared to $47.5 million and $2.8 million, respectively, in the first quarter of 2009.

- The Foodservice segment increased its sales to $57.8 million from $56.4 million in the first quarter of 2009 and its earnings to $2.0 million from $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2009.

- During the quarter the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of the shares of South Seas Meats Ltd. South Seas is a distributor of specialty meats, including a wide range of Halal and other ethnic foods, to restaurants, hotels and specialty butcher shops in the Greater Vancouver area.

- Subsequent to the quarter the Company completed the acquisition of an 80% interest in Vancouver, BC based Duso's Enterprises Ltd. Duso's is a specialty manufacturer of high quality branded and private label fresh pastas and sauces.


SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(In thousands of dollars except per share amounts)            Quarter Ended
Mar 27,     Mar 28,
2010        2009
Revenue                                                 109,677     103,903
EBITDA                                                    7,317       6,307
Normalized earnings before taxes (1)                      2,178       2,077
Normalized earnings before taxes per share (1)             0.12        0.12
Earnings                                                  1,826       2,072
Earnings per share                                         0.10        0.12

(1) Excludes unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency contracts and
non-controlling interest.


Rolling Four Quarters Ended
Mar 27,     Dec 26,
2010        2009
Free cash flow                                           28,396      28,475
Declared distributions and dividends                     20,721      20,687
Declared distributions and dividends per share            1.176       1.176
Free cash flow ratio                                      73.0%       72.6%

'In general terms, we are pleased with our first quarter performance given the continued weakness of Western Canada's economy,' said Mr. George Paleologou, President and CEO. 'While our involvement with the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics had a positive impact on our results, the more significant factors were the strong organic growth achieved by our Retail segment and the continued focus by all of our businesses on margin expansion and cost management.

'Looking forward, we are encouraged by the improving tone of the overall economy and the positive signs of recovery that we are starting to see in our more economically sensitive foodservice and convenience store focused businesses.

'In 2009 our diverse portfolio of specialty food manufacturing and differentiated food distribution businesses enabled us to be one of the few food companies in Canada to post record sales and EBITDA. For 2010, with an improving economic environment and our strong balance sheet, we are even better positioned to generate industry leading results.

'In terms of business acquisitions, we continue to enjoy a full pipeline of promising opportunities and fully expect to add to the two acquisitions we have completed so far in 2010,' added Mr. Paleologou.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Revenue

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 weeks            13 weeks
ended               ended
(in thousands of dollars except        Mar 27,        %    Mar 28,        %
percentages)                            2010        (1)     2009        (1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Revenue by segment:
Retail                                51,925      47.3%   47,489      45.7%
Foodservice                           57,752      52.7%   56,414      54.3%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consolidated                         109,677     100.0%  103,903     100.0%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Expressed as a percentage of consolidated revenue

Retail's revenue for the first quarter of 2010 increased by $4.4 million or 9.3% as compared to the first quarter of 2009 primarily due to: (i) general organic growth across a broad range of products and customers of $3.6 million representing an organic growth rate of approximately 7.6%; (ii) the Company's involvement with the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics which resulted in approximately $1.9 million in incremental sales; and (iii) an early Easter which resulted in approximately $0.5 million in sales occurring in the first quarter in 2010 versus the second quarter in 2009. Retail's organic growth rate of 7.6% was after accounting for a $1.3 million decrease in the Company's sales to the convenience store channel which continues to be impacted, albeit at a much lesser degree than in the latter part of 2009, by weaker economic conditions in western Canada.

Foodservice's revenue for the first quarter of 2010 increased by $1.3 million or 2.4% as compared to the first quarter of 2009 due to: (i) acquisitions made in the first quarter of 2010 and part way through the first quarter of 2009 which accounted for a sales increase of approximately $3.2 million; and (ii) the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics which resulted in approximately $0.7 million in incremental sales. Partially offsetting these increases was a decrease in the segment's sales to hotels and restaurants due to the continuing impact, albeit at a much lesser degree than in the latter part of 2009, of weaker economic conditions in western Canada.


Gross Profit

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 weeks            13 weeks
ended               ended
(in thousands of dollars except        Mar 27,        %    Mar 28,        %
percentages)                            2010        (1)     2009        (1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gross profit by segment:
Retail                                16,516      31.8%   14,436      30.4%
Foodservice                           11,869      20.6%   10,886      19.3%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consolidated                          28,385      25.9%   25,322      24.4%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Expressed as a percentage of the corresponding segment's revenue

Retail's gross profit as a percentage of its revenue (gross margin) for the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009 increased by 1.4 percentage points primarily due to: (i) improved production efficiencies resulting from a number of factors, including improved overhead coverage caused by its higher sales levels; and (ii) the segment's gross margin in the first quarter of 2009 being impacted by approximately $0.4 million in production line start up costs.

Foodservice's gross margin for the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009 increased by 1.3 percentage points primarily due to: (i) lower costs for a variety of commodities purchased by the segment; (ii) improved purchasing power for imported products resulting from a stronger Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar; and (iii) improved production efficiencies at several of its Centennial business' custom cutting operations.


Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (SG&A)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 weeks            13 weeks
ended               ended
(in thousands of dollars except        Mar 27,        %    Mar 28,        %
percentages)                            2010        (1)     2009        (1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

SG&A by segment:
Retail                                10,634      20.5%    9,966      21.0%
Foodservice                            9,002      15.6%    8,103      14.4%
Corporate                              1,432                 946
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consolidated                          21,068      19.2%   19,015      18.3%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Expressed as a percentage of the corresponding segment's revenue

Retail's selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) for the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009 increased by $0.7 million primarily due to: (i) costs associated with the Company's involvement in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics; and (ii) increased variable selling costs, such as sales commissions, resulting from the segment's higher sales levels. Retail's SG&A as a percentage of its sales decreased to 20.5% from 21.0% in the first quarter of 2009 primarily due to its higher sales levels relative to a variety of fixed SG&A costs, including the cost of operating its truck fleet.

Foodservice's SG&A for the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009 increased by $0.9 million primarily due to: (i) SG&A associated with acquisitions made in the first quarter of 2010 and part way through the first quarter of 2009; and (ii) increased costs resulting from ramping up its infrastructure in anticipation of improving economic conditions and the successful execution of a variety of sales initiatives focused on growing its multi-unit restaurant chain business.


Adjusted EBITDA

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 weeks            13 weeks
ended               ended
(in thousands of dollars except        Mar 27,        %    Mar 28,        %
percentages)                            2010        (1)     2009        (1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adjusted EBITDA by segment:
Retail                                 5,882      11.3%    4,470       9.4%
Foodservice                            2,867       5.0%    2,783       4.9%
Corporate                             (1,432)               (946)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consolidated                           7,317       6.7%    6,307       6.1%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Expressed as a percentage of the corresponding segment's revenue

The Company's adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009 increased by $1.0 million or 16.0% primarily due to the strong performance of the Company's Retail segment which, in turn, was due to:

- Strong organic growth across a broad range of its products and customers;

- The Company's involvement with the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics; and

- Continuing improvement in the efficiency of its manufacturing operations.

Interest

Interest and other financing costs for the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009 increased by $1.0 million due primarily to: (i) an increase in the Company's borrowing spread resulting from the renegotiation of its credit facilities in July 2009, combined with relatively similar base borrowing rates (i.e. the bank prime and bankers acceptance rates) in both quarters; and (ii) the pay down of lower cost senior debt through the issuance of unsecured convertible debentures in the third quarter of 2009.

The Company's interest and other financing costs for the first quarter of 2010 were consistent with the amount incurred in the fourth quarter of 2009 given that there were no significant changes in the Company's total funded debt during the first quarter of 2010 or in its base borrowing rates.

Free Cash Flow

The following table provides a reconciliation of free cash flow to cash flow from operating activities:


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
52 weeks  13 weeks  13 weeks
ended     ended     ended      Four
Dec 26,   Mar 28,   Mar 27,  Rolling
(in thousands of dollars)                2009      2009      2010  Quarters
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash flow from operating activities    26,634     1,588    10,591    35,637
Changes in non-cash working capital     3,867     3,561    (5,492)   (5,186)
Capital maintenance expenditures       (2,026)     (411)     (440)   (2,055)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Free cash flow                         28,475     4,738     4,659    28,396
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

PREMIUM BRANDS

Premium Brands owns a broad range of leading specialty food manufacturing and differentiated food distribution businesses with operations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Washington. The Company services over 25,000 customers and its family of brands include Grimm's, Harvest, McSweeney's, Bread Garden Express, Hygaard, Hempler's, Quality Fast Foods, Gloria's Best of Fresh, Harlan's, Creekside Bakehouse, Centennial Foodservice, B&C Foods and Duso's.


Premium Brands Holdings Corporation

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited and in thousands)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mar 27,     Dec 26,     Mar 28,
2010        2009        2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents               $      588  $      469  $    1,052
Accounts receivable                         33,720      34,380      31,914
Current portion of other assets                187         180         230
Inventories                                 49,093      45,991      53,161
Prepaid expenses                             2,708       2,116       2,395
Future income taxes                          4,925       4,926          87
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
91,221      88,062      88,839

Capital assets                               65,063      66,029      69,108
Investment in significantly influenced
company                                        744         891       1,307
Future income taxes                          42,607      43,529           -
Intangible assets                            38,102      38,298      40,468
Goodwill                                    110,981     110,535     110,853
Other assets                                  2,645       2,663       3,378
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

$  351,363  $  350,007  $  313,953
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Current liabilities:
Cheques outstanding                     $    1,586  $    2,470  $    2,724
Bank indebtedness                            2,455       2,411       9,314
Dividend payable                             5,204       5,180       1,723
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities    44,559      37,429      43,660
Puttable interest in subsidiaries            1,877       1,992           -
Deferred credit                              4,068       4,068           -
Current portion of long-term debt            8,293       8,212         389
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
68,042      61,762      57,810

Puttable interest in subsidiaries             1,977       2,001       4,311
Future income taxes                               -           -       1,823
Deferred credit                              36,420      37,087           -
Long-term debt                               73,229      74,705     114,756
Convertible unsecured subordinated
debentures                                  36,910      36,769           -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
216,578     212,324     178,700

Non-controlling interest                      1,147       1,099       1,074

Shareholders' equity:
Accumulated earnings                       73,594      71,768      54,983
Accumulated distributions and dividends
declared                                 (92,943)    (87,739)    (72,222)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained earnings (deficit)                (19,349)    (15,971)    (17,239)
Share capital                              156,675     156,483     156,122
Equity component of convertible
debentures                                  1,225       1,225           -
Accumulated other comprehensive loss        (4,913)     (5,153)     (4,704)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
133,638     136,584     134,179
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

$  351,363  $  350,007  $  313,953
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------



Premium Brands Holdings Corporation

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited and in thousands except per share amounts)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 weeks   13 weeks
ended      ended
Mar 27,    Mar 28,
2010       2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue                                              $   109,677 $  103,903
Cost of goods sold                                        81,292     78,581
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gross profit                                              28,385     25,322
Selling, general and administrative expenses              21,068     19,015
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
7,317      6,307
Depreciation of capital assets                             1,924      2,099
Interest and other financing costs                         2,340      1,357
Amortization of intangible and other assets                  615        647
Amortization of financing costs                              113         54
Unrealized loss on foreign currency contracts                156         16
Equity loss in significantly influenced company              147         73
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before income taxes and non-controlling
interest                                                  2,022      2,061

Provision for income taxes
Current                                                     11          -
Future                                                     137         70
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
148         70
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before non-controlling interest                   1,874      1,991
Non-controlling interest - net of income taxes                48        (81)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings                                             $     1,826 $    2,072
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earnings per share
Basic and diluted                                  $      0.10 $     0.12

Weighted average shares outstanding                       17,629     17,585



Premium Brands Holdings Corporation

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited and in thousands)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 weeks  13 weeks
ended     ended
Mar 27,   Mar 28,
2010      2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings before non-controlling interest                 $ 1,874   $ 1,991
Items not involving cash:
Depreciation of capital assets                            1,924     2,099
Amortization of intangible assets                           614       646
Amortization of other assets                                  1         1
Amortization of financing costs                             113        54
Accretion of puttable interest in subsidiaries                -         -
Loss on sale of assets                                        3         6
Restricted Share Plan accrual                               141        95
Employee benefit plan accrual                                 -       155
Accrued interest income                                     (11)      (57)
Unrealized loss on foreign currency contracts               156        16
Equity loss in significantly influenced company             147        73
Future income taxes                                         137        70
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
5,099     5,149
Change in non-cash working capital                         5,492    (3,561)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
10,591     1,588
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term debt - net                                      (1,869)    7,474
Bank indebtedness and cheques outstanding                   (840)    1,008
Purchase of shares under normal course issuer bid              -      (115)
Dividends paid to shareholders                            (5,180)   (5,170)
Other                                                         (8)        -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(7,897)    3,197
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
Collection of notes receivable                                 3        77
Net proceeds from sales of assets                            165         9
Capital asset additions                                   (1,069)   (1,210)
Business acquisitions                                     (1,590)   (1,681)
Repayment of share purchase loans                             21        25
Investment in significantly influenced company                 -    (1,380)
Promissory note from significantly influenced company          -    (1,240)
Payments to shareholders of non-wholly owned subsidiaries   (115)        -
Other                                                         (5)        -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2,590)   (5,400)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents                         104      (615)

Effects of exchange on cash and cash equivalents               15       (12)

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period               469     1,679
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period                 $   588   $ 1,052
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interest and other financing costs paid                   $ 1,516   $ 1,468

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward looking statements with respect to Premium Brands, including its business operations strategy and financial performance and condition. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward looking words such as 'may', 'could', 'should', 'would', 'will', 'expect', 'intend', 'plan', 'estimate', 'project', 'anticipate', 'believe' or 'continue', or the negative thereof or similar variations. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward looking statements are reasonable and represent Premium Brands' internal expectations and belief as of May 6, 2010, such statements involve unknown risks and uncertainties beyond Premium Brands' control which may cause its actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Premium Brands' expectations include, among other things: (i) seasonal and/or weather related fluctuations in its sales; (ii) changes in consumer discretionary spending resulting from changes in economic conditions and/or general consumer confidence levels; (iii) changes in the cost of raw materials used for its products; (iv) changes in the cost of products sourced from third party manufacturers and sold through Premium Brands' proprietary distribution networks; (v) changes in Canadian income tax laws; (vi) changes in consumer preferences for food products; (vii) competition from other food manufacturers and distributors; (viii) new government regulations affecting Premium Brands' business and operations; (ix) the inability to realize anticipated tax attributes associated with its recent conversion to a corporation; (x) exposure to third party credit/contractual risk and operational risk relating to its recent conversion to a corporation; and (xi) other factors as discussed in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for 2009, which is filed electronically through SEDAR and is available online at www.sedar.com. It should be noted that this list of important factors affecting forward looking information may not be exhaustive.

Unless otherwise indicated, the forward looking information in this document is made as of May 6, 2010 and, except as required by applicable law, will not be publicly updated or revised. This cautionary statement expressly qualifies the forward looking information in this document.



 
Support Wikipedia

NeswBlaze top writers

Find more stories recommended by Stumbleupon.

newsletter logo

What's Hot?
1 .Supermodel Bar Refaeli Adorns the Cover of the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue on Newsstands Today! - 134
2 .Go Social Film Magazine Partners with the San Jose Short Film Festival to Stream Official Selections Online to a Global Audience via iPad - 36
3 .Africa Oil Operations Update - 28
4 ."K-1 Rising 2012 - K-1 World Max Final 16 2012" Announces May 27 Pay-Per-View Ustream Channel - 28
5 .Photos: Valkyrie MEDEVAC - 35
6 .Oprah Winfrey Come Out of The Closet! Admit You're a Lesbian! - 23
7 .These 10 Comfortable Walking Shoes Are a Step in the Right Direction - 24
8 .WeDoRecover Expands Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre Network with a New Partner Rehab Centre in Durban, South Africa That Will Focus on Upmarket South African and UK, English Patients - 22
9 .F-Secure Protection Service for Business Now Protects Mobile Devices Too - 21
10 .Give a Great Valedictorian Speech - Joey Asher - 20
Updated: 15:45 PDT     2991

NewsBlaze Editors

editors

NewsBlaze Writers

news writer images

Writers Wanted

Help NewsBlaze provide daily news, including top stories, Home and Garden, Technology, The Environment and more. NewsBlaze Writer

Follow NewsBlaze

NewsBlaze Social Media Logos NewsBlaze Facebook NewsBlaze LinkedIn NewsBlaze Twitter NewsBlaze YouTube NewsBlaze MySpace NewsBlaze Fan Page NewsBlaze StumbleUpon NewsBlaze Political Cartoons NewsBlaze Editorial Cartoons
NewsBlaze 
Copyright © 2004-2012 NewsBlaze LLC
Use of this website is subject to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy  | DMCA Notice |         Press Room