Cott Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2018 Results and Declares Dividend

(Unless stated otherwise, all fourth quarter 2018 comparisons are relative to the fourth quarter of 2017 and all fiscal year 2018 comparisons are relative to fiscal year 2017; all information is in U.S. dollars.)

TORONTO and TAMPA, FL, Feb. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Cott Corporation (NYSE:COT; TSX:BCB) today announced its results for the fiscal year and fourth quarter ended December 29, 2018.

FISCAL YEAR 2018 HIGHLIGHTS – CONTINUING OPERATIONS         

• Increased revenue 5% to $2,373 million compared to $2,270 million.
• Increased gross profit 4% to $1,176 million compared to $1,128 million.
• Increased operating income 34% to $59 million compared to $44 million.
• Reported net income and net income per diluted share of $29 million and $0.21, respectively, compared to reported net loss and net loss per diluted share of $4 million and $0.03, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA increased 6% to $312 million.
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $244 million less $130 million of capital expenditures resulted in reported free cash flow of $114 million and adjusted free cash flow of $150 million, representing a $72 million or a 91% improvement from the comparable prior period due to increased earnings as well as working capital benefits.
• Returned approximately $108 million to shareowners through $33 million in quarterly dividends and $75 million of share repurchases.

"With the sale of our traditional business at the beginning of 2018, we became a growth-oriented company with predominantly recurring revenues and multiple scalable platforms.  This allowed us to deliver strong financial results in 2018: we grew revenue by 5% and delivered on our adjusted free cash flow commitment, which came in at $125 million when excluding approximately $25 million of working capital benefits.  This strong performance enabled us to execute our capital deployment strategy that increases the pace and scale of tuck-in acquisitions, returns funds to shareholders, and improves our balance sheet," commented Tom Harrington, Cott's Chief Executive Officer. 

FOURTH QUARTER 2018 GLOBAL PERFORMANCE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

• Revenue increased 5% (7% excluding the impact of foreign exchange and adjusting for the change in average cost of coffee within our Coffee, Tea and Extract Solutions segment) to $599 million, driven primarily by growth in customers and volume and an increase in the average selling price per 5-gallon bottle within our Route Based Services segment.

• Gross profit increased 4% to $290 million, driven primarily by overall revenue growth offset in part by increased freight and transportation costs as well as foreign exchange.
• Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 4% to $276 million, driven primarily by acquisitions made during the year as well as $5 million of increased incentive accruals made within our Route Based Services operating segment as a result of reaching a number of internal financial targets during the quarter.
• Interest expense was $19 million compared to $23 million.
• Income tax benefit was $9 million compared to $31 million as we recorded a $6 million of valuation allowance release and a $2 million tax reserve release in 2018 compared to a $33 million income tax benefit in connection with U.S. tax reform in 2017.
• Reported net income and net income per diluted share were $4 million and $0.03, respectively, compared to reported net income and net income per diluted share of $10 million and $0.07, respectively, driven primarily by the aforementioned income tax activity.
• Reported EBITDA was $63 million compared to $49 million in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was $72 million compared to $70 million in the prior year as growth within the Route Based Services segment driven by increased customers, volume, pricing and acquisitions, was partially offset by increased freight and transportation costs, the impact of foreign exchange and approximately $5 million of additional incentive accruals made within the Route Based Services operating segment as a result of meeting certain financial targets.
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $98 million less $36 million of capital expenditures resulted in free cash flow of $62 million and adjusted free cash flow of $65 million (adjusted for acquisition, integration and other cash costs).

"Our fourth quarter operations delivered on our revenue goals, met our external EBITDA expectations, albeit at the lower end due to some additional incentive accruals that were recorded within our Route Based Services segment, and exceeded our free cash flow targets," commented Mr. Harrington.  "With these results and good momentum going into 2019, we believe we are well positioned to deliver on our free cash flow target for 2019 as well as our goal of 4% to 5% topline growth," continued Mr. Harrington.

FOURTH QUARTER 2018 REPORTING SEGMENT PERFORMANCE        

Route Based Services

• Revenue increased 7% (8% excluding the impact of foreign exchange) to $393 million, driven by growth coming from a positive mix shift in our North American customer base, growth of our overall customer base and the benefits of our North American pricing initiatives. Our customer base grew 5% relative to the prior year (over 1% excluding Crystal Rock and Mountain Valley) with volume up 4%, and average selling price per 5-gallon bottle up 3% in the quarter.

•  
  • Gross profit increased 5% to $240 million, due primarily to growth in revenue offset in part increased freight and transportation costs as well as foreign exchange.

Coffee, Tea and Extract Solutions

• Revenue decreased 4% to $156 million (flat adjusting for the change in average cost of coffee) driven primarily by the pass-through of lower green coffee commodity costs, the competitive environment, change in customer mix and the lapping of outsized coffee and tea volume growth last year, offset in part by growth in extracts and other service channels. Coffee and tea volumes were flat during the quarter while liquid extract volume increased by 4%.

•  
  • Gross profit was $41 million compared to $44 million and operating income was $4 million compared to $3 million as the effect of a price/mix shift into larger quick service restaurants was more than offset by liquid extract growth and reduced SG&A costs.

FISCAL YEAR 2018 GLOBAL PERFORMANCE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

• Revenue increased 5% (5% excluding the impact of foreign exchange, adjusting for the change in the average cost of coffee, and adjusting for comparable trading days) to $2,373 million, driven primarily by growth within the Route Based Services segment including acquisitions. Our Route Based Services operating segment saw customers increase 5% (over 1% excluding Crystal Rock and Mountain Valley), volume up 4%, and average selling price per 5-gallon bottle up 2%.

• Gross profit increased 4% to $1,176 million, driven primarily by revenue growth which included the implementation of pricing actions taken during the year that mostly offset the general inflation prevalent in 2018 within the Route Based Services segment.
  
  
• Income tax benefit was $5 million compared to $30 million as we recorded a $6 million of valuation allowance release and a $2 million tax reserve release in 2018 compared to a $37 million income tax benefit in connection with U.S. tax reform and valuation allowance releases in 2017.
  
  
• Reported net income and net income per diluted share were $29 million and $0.21, respectively, compared to reported net loss and net loss per diluted share of $4 million and $0.03, respectively, driven by growth in earnings, reduced interest charges and reduced acquisition and integration expenses.
  
  
• Reported EBITDA was $296 million compared to $241 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased 6% to $312 million due to the growth in earnings, partially offset by inflation prevalent in 2018.
  
  
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $244 million less $130 million of capital expenditures resulted in reported free cash flow of $114 million and adjusted free cash flow of $150 million, representing a $72 million or a 91% improvement from the comparable prior period due to increased earnings and $25 million of working capital benefits.

2019 FULL YEAR CONTINUING OPERATIONS REVENUE AND FREE CASH FLOW OUTLOOK

Cott is targeting full year 2019 revenue from continuing operations in excess of $2.4 billion and adjusted free cash flow of over $150 million (when excluding acquisition, integration and other one-time cash costs). The targets incorporate the sale of the soft drink concentrate production business and RCI international division which occurred on February 8, 2019 and represented over $80 million in annual revenue.   

DECLARATION OF DIVIDEND

Cott's Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.06 per share on common shares, payable in cash on March 27, 2019 to shareowners of record at the close of business on March 12, 2019.

SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM  

Cott repurchased approximately 2 million shares at an average price of $14.02 totaling approximately $28 million during the fourth quarter under its previously announced share repurchase program.

During fiscal year 2018, the Company's Board of Directors approved a 12-month repurchase program which commenced on May 7, 2018 and was capped at $50 million.  Upon repurchasing 2,973,282 common shares, the Company's Board of Directors approved a new 12-month share repurchase program of up to $50 million which commenced on December 14, 2018 and replaced the then-existing program which was scheduled to expire on May 6, 2019.  Cott intends to manage this program opportunistically and make repurchases from time to time when management believes market conditions are favorable.

There can be no assurance as to the precise number of shares, if any, that will be repurchased under the share repurchase program in the future, or the aggregate dollar amount of the shares to be purchased in future periods. Cott may discontinue purchases at any time, subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. Shares purchased pursuant to the share repurchase program were cancelled.

FOURTH QUARTER AND FISCAL YEAR 2018 RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL

Cott Corporation will host a conference call today, February 22, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. ET, to discuss fourth quarter and full year results, which can be accessed as follows:

North America: (888) 231-8191
International: (647) 427-7450
Conference ID: 6344129

A slide presentation and live audio webcast will be available through Cott's website at http://www.cott.com. The earnings conference call will be recorded and archived for playback on the investor relations section of the website for a period of two weeks following the event.

ABOUT COTT CORPORATION

Cott is a water, coffee, tea, extracts and filtration service company with a leading volume-based national presence in the North American and European home and office delivery industry for bottled water, and a leader in custom coffee roasting, iced tea blending, and extract solutions for the U.S. foodservice industry.  Our platform reaches over 2.5 million customers or delivery points across North America and Europe and is supported by strategically located sales and distribution facilities and fleets, as well as wholesalers and distributors.  This enables us to efficiently service residences, businesses, restaurant chains, hotels and motels, small and large retailers and healthcare facilities.

Non-GAAP Measures

To supplement its reporting of financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP, Cott utilizes certain non-GAAP financial measures.  Cott excludes from GAAP revenue the impact of foreign exchange and the change in average costs of coffee to separate the impact of these factors from Cott's results of operations.  Cott utilizes EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA on a global basis to separate the impact of certain items from the underlying business.  Because Cott uses these adjusted financial results in the management of its business, management believes this supplemental information is useful to investors for their independent evaluation and understanding of Cott's underlying business performance and the performance of its management.  Additionally, Cott supplements its reporting of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing operations determined in accordance with GAAP by excluding additions to property, plant and equipment to present free cash flow, and by excluding acquisition and integration cash costs,  a working capital adjustment related to the Concentrate Supply Agreement with Refresco and other cash inflows to present adjusted free cash flow, which management believes provides useful information to investors in assessing our performance, comparing our performance to the performance of our peer group and assessing our ability to service debt and finance strategic opportunities, which include investing in our business, making strategic acquisitions, paying dividends, repurchasing common shares and strengthening the balance sheet.  The non-GAAP financial measures described above are in addition to, and not meant to be considered superior to, or a substitute for, Cott's financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures included in this earnings announcement reflect management's judgment of particular items, and may be different from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures reported by other companies. 

Safe Harbor Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 conveying management's expectations as to the future based on plans, estimates and projections at the time Cott makes the statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and Cott cautions you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to the amount of shares that may be repurchased under the share repurchase program, the execution of our strategic priorities, future financial and operating trends and results (including Cott's outlook on 2019 revenue and free cash flow) and related matters. The forward-looking statements are based on assumptions regarding management's current plans and estimates. Management believes these assumptions to be reasonable, but there is no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in this press release include, among others: our ability to compete successfully in the markets in which we operate; our ability to pass on increased costs to our customers or hedge against such rising costs and the impact of those increased prices on our volumes; our ability to manage our operations successfully; our ability to fully realize the potential benefit of acquisitions or other strategic opportunities that we pursue; potential liabilities associated with the Refresco transaction; our ability to realize the revenue and cost synergies of our acquisitions because of integration difficulties and other challenges; our exposure to intangible asset risk; currency fluctuations that adversely affect the exchange between the U.S. dollar and the British pound sterling, the Euro, the Canadian dollar and other currencies, and the exchange between the British pound sterling and the Euro; our ability to maintain favorable arrangements and relationships with our suppliers; our ability to meet our obligations under our debt agreements, and risks of further increases to our indebtedness; our ability to maintain compliance with the covenants and conditions under our debt agreements; fluctuations in interest rates, which could increase our borrowing costs; the incurrence of substantial indebtedness to finance our recent acquisitions; the impact on our financial results from uncertainty in the financial markets and other adverse changes in general economic conditions; credit rating changes; any disruption to production at our manufacturing facilities; our ability to maintain access to our water sources; our ability to protect our intellectual property; compliance with product health and safety standards; liability for injury or illness caused by the consumption of contaminated products; liability and damage to our reputation as a result of litigation or legal proceedings; changes in the legal and regulatory environment in which we operate; the seasonal nature of our business and the effect of adverse weather conditions;  the impact of national, regional and global events, including those of a political, economic, business and competitive nature; our ability to recruit, retain and integrate new management; our ability to renew our collective bargaining agreements on satisfactory terms; disruptions in our information systems; our ability to securely maintain our customers' confidential or credit card information, or other private data relating to our employees or our company; our ability to maintain our quarterly dividend; our ability to adequately address the challenges and risks associated with our international operations and address difficulties in complying with laws and regulations including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010; increased tax liabilities in the various jurisdictions in which we operate; and the impact of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on our tax obligations and effective tax rate.

The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures, including but not limited to risk factors contained in Cott's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other filings with the securities commissions. Cott does not undertake to update or revise any of these statements in light of new information or future events, except as expressly required by applicable law. 

Website: www.cott.com

SOURCE Cott Corporation

Related Links

http://www.cott.com

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