Cott Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results

(Unless stated otherwise, all second quarter 2017 comparisons are relative to the second quarter of 2016; all information is in U.S. dollars.)

TORONTO and TAMPA, FL, Aug. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Cott Corporation (NYSE:COT; TSX:BCB) today announced its results for the second quarter ended July 1, 2017.

SECOND QUARTER 2017 HIGHLIGHTS

• On July 25, 2017, Cott announced the signing of a definitive agreement to sell its traditional manufacturing business to Refresco Group N.V. for $1.25 billion. The transaction includes Cott's traditional North America, U.K. and Mexico businesses but excludes the RCI International division and its associated concentrate facility as well as the Aimia Foods division in the U.K. This transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2017 and the proceeds will be used to repay indebtedness and reduce overall leverage.
  
  
• Revenue increased 33% to $1,014 million compared to $765 million.
  
  
• Gross profit increased 36% to $342 million compared to $253 million and gross margin as a percentage of revenue increased to 33.8% compared to 33.0%.
  
  
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $105 million less $40 million of capital expenditures resulted in reported free cash flow of $65 million and adjusted free cash flow of $71 million (adjusted for acquisition, integration, and other cash costs) compared to adjusted free cash flow of $55 million in the prior year, representing a $16 million or 29% improvement.

"I am pleased with the performance of our water and coffee solutions segment during the quarter as we continued to see top and bottom line growth. S&D Coffee and Tea and Eden Springs are both tracking ahead of their acquisition models and we are on track with our DS Services 2017 revenue and EBITDA improvement plan. As I look forward, I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead to grow our water and coffee solutions businesses given the reduced leverage we will have following the announced transaction to sell our traditional business," commented Jerry Fowden, Cott's Chief Executive Officer.  "As we progress towards the closing of the sale of our traditional business, our motto is business as usual and it was good to see an improved top line in our traditional business during the quarter, especially in the U.K.," continued Mr. Fowden. 

SECOND QUARTER 2017 GLOBAL PERFORMANCE

• Revenue was $1,014 million despite $18 million of foreign exchange headwinds. Revenue increased 33% (35% on a foreign exchange neutral basis) driven primarily by the additions of S&D Coffee and Tea ("S&D") and Eden Springs ("Eden") as well as growth at DS Services, offset in part by the adverse foreign exchange impact and mix shift within the traditional business.
  
  
• Gross profit increased 36% to $342 million, driven primarily by the addition of Eden and S&D, offset in part by the negative impact of foreign exchange rates and operational factors within our traditional business. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue increased to 33.8% compared to 33.0%.
  
  
• Income tax expense was $1 million compared to income tax benefit of $2 million as a result of placing valuation allowances against North American net operating losses.
  
  
• Reported net loss and net loss per diluted share were $25 million and $0.18, respectively, compared to reported net income and net income per diluted share of $7 million and $0.06, respectively. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share (including adjustments for acquisition, integration, debt redemption and other costs) were $9 million and $0.06, respectively, compared to adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share of $19 million and $0.15, respectively.
  
  
• Reported EBITDA was $82 million compared to $87 million in the prior year due primarily to net debt refinancing and redemption costs of $19 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased 13% to $122 million due primarily to the improved contributions from our water and coffee solutions segment, offset in part by $6 million of adverse foreign exchange headwinds and other operational factors within our traditional business.
  
  
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $105 million less $40 million of capital expenditures resulted in free cash flow of $65 million and adjusted free cash flow of $71 million (adjusted for acquisition, integration, and other cash costs) compared to adjusted free cash flow of $55 million in the prior year, representing a $16 million or 29% improvement.

SECOND QUARTER 2017 REPORTING SEGMENT PERFORMANCE

Water and Coffee Solutions

• Revenue increased 95% to $539 million driven primarily by the additions of S&D and Eden alongside continued revenue growth at DS Services. A detailed breakdown is tabulated below.  Gross profit increased 64% to $280 million from $171 million due primarily to the additions of Eden and S&D. 

• DS Services U.S. total customers grew approximately 2% and revenue increased approximately 3%.
  
  
• Eden and S&D contributed $104 million and $154 million of revenue, respectively, in line with our acquisition models.  Eden total customers grew approximately 2%. Integration and synergy capture accelerated and is now tracking ahead of plan.  S&D integration continues to track in line with plan while revenues and coffee volume continue to track ahead of plan with 13% growth in coffee pounds.    

Traditional Business

• Cott North America reporting segment volume was up 2% in actual cases due primarily to 33% growth in contract manufacturing and 12% growth in value added and sparkling water products which offset general market and private label declines in carbonated soft drinks and shelf stable juices.
  
  
• Revenue was lower by 1% at $345 million due primarily to ongoing product mix shifts within the business.

• Gross profit was $46 million or 13.7% of revenue compared to $52 million or 15.1% of revenue due primarily to inventory timing and associated costs from an increase in maintenance and upgrades performed on manufacturing lines during the period to improve efficiency and to better accommodate new business wins, as well as commodity inflation and mix. 
  
  
• Cott U.K. reporting segment volume was ahead of expectations and increased 1% in actual cases.
  
  
• Revenue also exceeded expectations and while USD reported revenue was lower by 6% relative to the prior year, local currency revenue increased by 6%. Details of the revenue drivers are tabulated below.

• Gross profit as a percentage of revenue was lower at 9.0% due primarily to the adverse foreign exchange impact on commodity costs, the costs of a voluntary product withdrawal during the quarter and mix.  The agreed U.K. pricing changes were fully implemented by the end of the second quarter of 2017 and are expected to offset the commodity cost increases caused by the weakness of the British pound. 

FREE CASH FLOW OUTLOOK

Our traditional manufacturing business will be accounted for as an asset held for sale beginning in the third quarter and all of its results from operations will be presented as discontinued operations and excluded from our continuing operating income and continuing operating cash flow.  Until the sale of the traditional manufacturing business closes and we use the proceeds to repay certain outstanding indebtedness, interest expense associated with debt to be redeemed may be incorporated into our continuing operating results.  This accounting methodology will impact our 2017 and possibly 2018 reported results.

Assuming that the sale of our traditional manufacturing business closes as expected, we are targeting full year 2019 cash flow provided by operations of approximately $265 to $270 million and capital expenditures of $115 to $120 million, resulting in adjusted free cash flow of approximately $150 million (when excluding acquisition, integration and other cash costs).

SECOND QUARTER 2017 RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL

Cott Corporation will host a conference call today, August 3, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. ET, to discuss second quarter results, which can be accessed as follows:

North America: (888) 231-8191
International: (647) 427-7450
Conference ID: 50669182

A 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 diversified beverage company with a leading volume-based national presence in the North America and European home and office bottled water delivery industry, a leader in custom coffee roasting and blending of iced tea for the U.S. foodservice industry, and a leader in the production of beverages on behalf of retailers, brand owners, and distributors.  Our platform reaches over 2.3 million customers or delivery points across North America and Europe 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 to separate the impact of this factor from Cott's results of operations. Cott utilizes adjusted net income (loss), adjusted income (loss) per diluted share, and 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 operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP by excluding additions to property, plant and equipment to present free cash flow, and by excluding acquisition, integration, and other cash costs to present adjusted free cash flow, which management believes provides useful information to investors about the amount of cash generated by the business that, after the acquisition of property and equipment, can be used for strategic opportunities, including investing in our business, making strategic acquisitions, paying dividends, 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 use of proceeds in the sale of our traditional business to Refresco, the completion of the transaction on the terms proposed, the anticipated timing of the transaction, the potential impact the acquisition will have on Cott and related matters, the execution of our strategic priorities, future financial and operating trends and results 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 and Refresco's ability to complete the transaction on the anticipated terms and schedule, including the ability to obtain Refresco shareholder and regulatory approvals; risks relating to any unforeseen changes to or effects on liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, indebtedness, financial condition, losses and future prospects; the risk that disruptions from the transaction will harm Cott's business; and the effect of economic, competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors on Cott's business; our ability to compete successfully in the markets in which we operate; changes in consumer tastes and preferences for existing products and our ability to develop and timely launch new products that appeal to such changing consumer tastes and preferences; a loss of or a reduction in business in our traditional business with key customers, particularly Walmart; consolidation of retail customers; fluctuations in commodity prices and 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; our ability to realize the revenue and cost synergies of recent acquisitions because of integration difficulties and other challenges; the limited nature of our indemnification rights under the acquisition agreements for our recent acquisitions; the incurrence of substantial indebtedness to finance our recent acquisitions; significant one-time transaction costs in connection with our recent acquisitions; 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, the Mexican peso and other currencies; our ability to maintain favorable arrangements and relationships with our suppliers; our substantial indebtedness and 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; credit rating changes; the impact of global financial events on our financial results; our ability to fully realize the expected cost savings and/or operating efficiencies from our restructuring activities; any disruption to production at our beverage concentrates or other 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 impact of proposed taxes on soda and other sugary drinks; enforcement of compliance with the Ontario Environmental Protection Act; 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; and our ability to use net operating losses to offset future taxable income.

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