Points International Reports Third Quarter 2010 Financial Results
- Revenue of $23.5 million increased 8.5% sequentially
- Gross Margin1 expanded 228 basis points sequentially to 22.2%
- EBITDA2 of $1.2 million increased 391% sequentially; marks fifth consecutive quarter of positive EBITDA
- Net income of $1.1 million increases over ten-fold sequentially; marks fourth consecutive quarter of net income profitability
TORONTO, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Points International Ltd. (TSX: PTS; OTCBB: PTSEF), the owner and operator of Points.com, the world's leading reward program management web site, today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010. All financial results are in US Dollars.
"We are pleased to deliver another quarter of strong operating and financial performance," said CEO Rob MacLean. "Through the ongoing execution of our business strategy, we delivered another quarter of improved financial performance marked by sequential revenue growth, expanding margins and improved profitability. We believe our performance reflects not only the value proposition Points' proprietary technology platform offers to current and prospective loyalty program partners, but also the growing consumer interest in, and demand for a platform to build, manage and transact points."
MacLean continued, "Importantly, we continue to recognize organic revenue growth derived from increased involvement and engagement levels among existing partners as well as incremental revenue contribution from new partners to the Points Partner Network. During the third quarter, we expanded several strategic relationships including welcoming Jet Blue as one of Points.com's newest trading partners and enabling Continental One Pass members' additional opportunities to exchange and redeem miles. In addition, we continued to extend the global reach of our platform with the addition of Qatar Airways' Privilege Club frequent flyer program to the Points network, marking our expansion into the Middle East. We are also pleased with the positive response to the re-launch of Points.com, which has resulted in increased interest levels and participation among current and prospective loyalty program partners."
Third Quarter 2010 Financial Results
Total revenue for the third quarter of 2010 was $23.5 million. Revenue was up 13.4% over $20.7 million reported in the third quarter of 2009, and up 8.5% over $21.7 million reported in the second quarter of 2010.
Gross margin for the third quarter of 2010 was $5.2 million, or 22.2% of revenue, compared to gross margin of $3.8 million, or 18.1% of revenue in the third quarter of 2009. Gross margin for the second quarter of 2010 was $4.3 million, or 19.9% of revenue.
Points reported net income for the third quarter of 2010 of $1,081,000. This compares to a net loss in the third quarter of 2009 of $265,000, and to net income in the second quarter of 2010 of $92,000.
During the third quarter of 2010, Points reported EBITDA of $1,164,000 compared to EBITDA of $72,000 in the same period of 2009 and EBITDA of $237,000 in the second quarter of 2010.
As of September 30, 2010, total funds available, comprised of cash and cash equivalents together with security deposits, restricted cash, and amounts with payment processors was $28.7 million. The sequential decline is attributable to traditional seasonal cash flows, and, to a lesser degree, investment in capital expenditures. The Company remains debt-free. The Company is pleased with its overall financial position and its ability to leverage its strong cash position and positive free cash flow to fund capital expenditures internally.
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1 Gross Margin (total revenues less direct cost of principal revenue) is considered by management to be an integral measure of performance. Gross Margin is not a recognized measure under generally accepted accounting principles.
2 EBITDA (Earnings (loss) before interest, taxes, amortization, foreign exchange, impairment and restructuring) is considered by management to be an integral measure of performance. EBITDA is not a recognized measure under generally accepted accounting principles.
Third Quarter 2010 Business Metrics
Q3/10 | Q2/10 | Q3/10 vs. Q2/10 |
Q3/09 | Q3/10 vs. Q3/09 |
|
TOTAL ALL CHANNELS(*) | |||||
Points/Miles Transacted (in 000s) | 2,553,133 | 2,724,245 | -6% | 2,395,492 | 7% |
# of Points/Miles Transactions | 292,295 | 286,953 | 2% | 255,233 | 15% |
LOYALTY CURRENCY SERVICES(*) | |||||
Points/Miles Transacted (in 000s) | 2,349,167 | 2,484,218 | -5% | 2,113,388 | 11% |
# of Points/Miles Transactions | 278,805 | 271,374 | 3% | 231,221 | 21% |
Cumulative Points/Miles Transacted (in 000s) | 49,259,005 | 46,909,838 | 5% | 39,110,256 | 26% |
POINTS.COM CHANNELS | |||||
Points/Miles Transacted (in 000s) | 203,966 | 240,027 | -15% | 282,104 | -28% |
# of Points/Miles Transactions | 13,490 | 15,579 | -13% | 24,012 | -44% |
Cumulative Registered Users | 2,499,802 | 2,525,059 | -1% | 2,324,611 | 8% |
* For comparative purposes, Buy, Gift and Transfer activity for Delta has been excluded from the 2009 metrics presented.
Business Outlook
The Company is reiterating its financial guidance for the year ended December 31, 2010, as follows:
- Revenue is expected to be in the range of $85 million to $95 million, representing a 7% to 19% increase over 2009 revenue
- EBITDA, as a percentage of revenue, is expected to be in the range of 3% to 5%
- Net Income is expected to be positive on a full year basis
MacLean continued, "Looking to the remainder of 2010, we are on track to meet our strategic and financial goals. As such, we are reiterating our 2010 full year guidance which reflects solid year-over-year revenue growth and expansion in EBITDA profitability. Our ongoing ability to drive expansion of the Points Partner Network across our white label and branded Points.com platforms, grow revenues and deliver improved margins and strengthened profitability, provide us increased confidence in our business strategy and growth prospects for the remainder of 2010 and beyond."
Special Shareholders' Meeting Results
As previously announced, at the Special Meeting of its shareholders held on October 26, 2010, the following proposals were overwhelmingly approved by the Company's shareholders:
- Authorized the Company's Board of Directors to affect a share consolidation through a reverse stock split in the range of one-for-eight to one-for-twelve; and
- Authorized the Company's Board of Directors to amend the Company's incentive stock option plan to increase the maximum number of pre-consolidation common shares that may be issued thereunder by an additional 4,500,000
Implementation of the Share Consolidation and Option Plan Amendment are now at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors, which may choose to do so at any time prior to October 26, 2011. The Share Consolidation and Option Plan Amendment are also subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Investor Conference Call
Points' quarterly conference call with investors will be held today at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. To participate in the conference call, investors from the US and Canada should dial 877-941-2069 ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time. International callers should dial 480-629-9713. Points International will also offer a live and archived webcast, accessible from the "Investor Relations" section of the company's Web site at www.pointsinternational.com. A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available until 11:59 pm ET on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 by dialing 877-870-5176 and entering passcode: 4374761.
About Points International Ltd
Points International Ltd. is the owner and operator of Points.com, the world's leading reward program management web site which was recently named one of the 28 Best Travel Sites by Kiplinger's. At Points.com consumers can Swap, Earn, Buy, Gift, Share and Redeem miles and points from more than 25 of the world's leading reward programs. Participating programs include American Airlines AAdvantage(R) program, Aeroplan(R), AsiaMiles(TM), British Airways Executive Club, Delta SkyMiles(R) and InterContinental Hotels Group's Priority Club(R) Rewards. Redemption partners include Amazon.com(R) and Starbucks. For more information, visit www.pointsinternational.com.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains or incorporates forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements include our guidance for 2010 with respect to revenue, net income and EBITDA. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only Points' expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.
Although Points believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to important risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Certain material assumptions or estimates are applied in making forward-looking statements, and may not prove to be correct. In particular, the financial outlooks herein assume we will be able to generate new business from our pipeline at expected margins, our in-market and newly launched products and services will perform in a manner consistent with the Company's past experience, and we will be able to contain costs and realize operational efficiencies from our upgraded technology platform. Other important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the risk factors discussed in Points' annual information form, Form-20-F, annual and interim management's discussion and analysis, and annual and interim financial statements and the notes thereto. These documents are available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date of this release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as required by law, Points does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made or incorporated in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Points International Ltd.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As at | ||||
(United States $ in thousands) | (Unaudited) September 30, 2010 |
(Audited) December 31, 2009 |
||
ASSETS | ||||
Current Assets | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 21,313 | $ 26,414 | ||
Restricted cash | 1,761 | 802 | ||
Funds receivable from payment processors | 3,026 | 5,855 | ||
Security deposits | 2,624 | 2,463 | ||
Accounts receivable | 1,518 | 1,907 | ||
Future income tax assets | 1,233 | 945 | ||
Current portion of deferred costs | 102 | 139 | ||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 1,051 | 759 | ||
32,628 | 39,284 | |||
Deferred costs | 65 | 82 | ||
Other assets | 666 | 951 | ||
Property and equipment | 1,669 | 607 | ||
Intangible assets | 5,150 | 2,014 | ||
Goodwill | 4,205 | 4,205 | ||
11,755 | 7,859 | |||
$ 44,383 | $ 47,143 | |||
LIABILITIES | ||||
Current Liabilities | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ 3,055 | $ 3,087 | ||
Current portion of other liabilities | 764 | 609 | ||
Payable to loyalty program partners | 24,450 | 30,215 | ||
28,269 | 33,911 | |||
Other liabilities | 997 | 301 | ||
29,266 | 34,212 | |||
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (2,445) | (2,566) | ||
Accumulated deficit | (47,830) | (49,463) | ||
(50,275) | (52,029) | |||
Capital stock | 56,668 | 56,662 | ||
Contributed surplus | 8,724 | 8,298 | ||
15,117 | 12,931 | |||
$ 44,383 | $ 47,143 |
Points International Ltd. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME |
|||||||
(Unaudited) (United States $ in thousands, except per share amounts) | For the three months ended | For the nine months ended | |||||
September 30, 2010 |
September 30, 2009 |
September 30, 2010 |
September 30, 2009 |
||||
REVENUE | |||||||
Principal | $ 22,038 | $ 18,886 | $ 63,938 | $ 57,886 | |||
Other partner revenue | 1,468 | 1,841 | 4,727 | 5,267 | |||
Interest | 3 | 5 | 9 | 49 | |||
23,509 | 20,732 | 68,674 | 63,202 | ||||
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES | |||||||
Direct cost of principal revenue | 18,300 | 16,975 | 54,943 | 52,527 | |||
Employment costs | 2,480 | 2,538 | 7,790 | 7,994 | |||
Marketing & communications | 376 | 328 | 920 | 1,057 | |||
Technology services | 270 | 253 | 705 | 695 | |||
Amortization | 158 | 200 | 445 | 550 | |||
Foreign exchange gain | (77) | (70) | (112) | (239) | |||
Operating expenses | 919 | 566 | 2,669 | 2,003 | |||
Restructuring | - | 332 | - | 332 | |||
22,426 | 21,122 | 67,360 | 64,919 | ||||
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) - before undernoted | 1,083 | (390) | 1,314 | (1,717) | |||
Interest and other charges | 2 | (28) | 23 | (4) | |||
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 1,081 | (362) | 1,291 | (1,713) | |||
Future income taxes (recovery) expense | - | (97) | (342) | 122 | |||
NET INCOME (LOSS) | $ 1,081 | $ (265) | $ 1,633 | $ (1,835) | |||
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS: | |||||||
Gain on foreign exchange derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, net of income taxes expense of $87 and $95 | 194 | - | 210 | - | |||
Reclassification to net income of gain on foreign exchange derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, net of income taxes expense of $14 and $40 | (32) | - | (89) | - | |||
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | 162 | - | 121 | - | |||
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | $ 1,243 | $ (265) | $ 1,754 | $ (1,835) | |||
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share | $ 0.01 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.01 | $ (0.01) |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ACCUMULATED DEFICIT AND ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS |
||||||||||
For the three months ended | For the nine months ended | |||||||||
(Unaudited) (United States $ in thousands, except per share amounts) | September 30, 2010 |
September 30, 2009 |
September 30, 2010 |
September 30, 2009 |
||||||
ACCUMULATED DEFICIT - Beginning of period | $ (48,911) | $ (51,097) | $ (49,463) | $ (49,527) | ||||||
NET INCOME (LOSS) | 1,081 | (265) | 1,633 | (1,835) | ||||||
ACCUMULATED DEFICIT - End of period | $ (47,830) | $ (51,362) | $ (47,830) | $ (51,362) | ||||||
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS - Beginning of period | $ (2,607) | $ (2,566) | $ (2,566) | $ (2,566) | ||||||
Other comprehensive income | 162 | - | 121 | - | ||||||
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS - End of period | $ (2,445) | $ (2,566) | $ (2,445) | $ (2,566) | ||||||
Points International Ltd. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
||||||||||||
(Unaudited) (United States $ in thousands) |
For the three months ended | For the nine months ended | ||||||||||
September 30, 2010 | September 30, 2009 | September 30, 2010 | September 30, 2009 | |||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ 1,081 | $ (265) | $ 1,633 | $ (1,835) | ||||||||
Items not affecting cash | ||||||||||||
Amortization of property and equipment | 104 | 92 | 251 | 266 | ||||||||
Amortization of deferred costs | - | - | - | 2 | ||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets | 54 | 108 | 194 | 282 | ||||||||
Future income tax (recovery) expense | - | (97) | (342) | 122 | ||||||||
Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss | (389) | (80) | 104 | (491) | ||||||||
Employee stock option expense | 133 | 176 | 427 | 499 | ||||||||
Unrealized gain on derivative contracts designated as cash flow hedges |
236 | - | 176 | - | ||||||||
Changes in non-cash balances related to operations | (1,221) | 3,939 | (1,842) | 5,882 | ||||||||
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES | (2) | 3,873 | 601 | 4,727 | ||||||||
Additions to property and equipment | (432) | (14) | (1,313) | (224) | ||||||||
Additions to intangible assets | (1,081) | (443) | (3,330) | (620) | ||||||||
Changes in restricted cash | 6 | - | (944) | - | ||||||||
CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES | (1,507) | (457) | (5,587) | (844) | ||||||||
Issuance of capital stock on exercise of stock options | 3 | - | 5 | - | ||||||||
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES | 3 | - | 5 | - | ||||||||
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH HELD IN FOREIGN CURRENCY | 433 | 34 | (120) | 407 | ||||||||
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (1,073) | 3,450 | (5,101) | 4,290 | ||||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - Beginning of period | 22,386 | 23,694 | 26,414 | 22,854 | ||||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - End of period | $ 21,313 | $ 27,144 | $ 21,313 | $ 27,144 | ||||||||
Points International Ltd.
SCHEDULE OF NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS
Gross Margin Information | For the three months ended | For the nine months ended | ||||
(In thousands of US dollars) | September 30, 2010 |
June 30, 2010 |
September 30, 2009 |
September 30, 2010 |
September 30, 2009 |
|
Total revenue | $ 23,509 | $ 21,663 | $ 20,732 | $ 68,674 | $ 63,202 | |
Direct cost of principal revenue | 18,300 | 17,356 | 16,975 | 54,943 | 52,527 | |
Gross margin | $ 5,209 | $ 4,307 | $ 3,757 | $ 13,731 | $ 10,675 | |
Gross margin % | 22% | 20% | 18% | 20% | 17% |
Reconciliation of Operating Income (Loss) to EBITDA
For the three months ended | For the nine months ended | ||||||||
(In thousands of US dollars) | Sept. 30, 2010 |
June 30, 2010 |
Sept. 30, 2009 |
Sept. 30, 2010 |
Sept. 30, 2009 |
||||
Operating income (loss) | $ 1,083 | $ 98 | $ (390) | $ 1,314 | $ (1,717) | ||||
Amortization | 158 | 152 | 200 | 445 | 550 | ||||
Foreign exchange gain | (77) | (13) | (70) | (112) | (239) | ||||
Restructuring charges | - | - | 332 | - | 332 | ||||
EBITDA | $ 1,164 | $ 237 | $ 72 | $ 1,647 | $ (1,074) |
SOURCE Points International Ltd.
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