UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER

 

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of: August 2020

 

Commission file number 001-36897

 

FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

1255 Bay Street, Suite 600

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

M5R 2A9

(Address of principal executive office)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

 

Form 20-F [ ]          Form 40-F [X]

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): [ ]

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): [ ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the Registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

 

Yes [ ]          No [X]

 

If “Yes” is marked, indicate the file number assigned to the Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): N/A

 

 

- 2 -

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 

    FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION
       
Date: August 6, 2020   /s/ Jeremy Rakusin  
       
    Name: Jeremy Rakusin  
    Title: Chief Financial Officer  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 3 -

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Description of Exhibit
   
99.1 Interim consolidated financial statements and management’s discussion & analysis for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Quarter

 

June 30, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 2 of 14

 

FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

(in thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts) - in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America

 

    Three months   Six months
    ended June 30   ended June 30
      2020       2019       2020       2019  
                                 
Revenues   $ 621,597     $ 573,908     $ 1,255,428     $ 1,059,563  
                                 
Cost of revenues     412,010       388,656       847,159       729,354  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     140,799       121,976       299,585       240,638  
Depreciation     12,624       9,266       24,770       17,646  
Amortization of intangible assets     10,864       4,899       22,225       9,206  
Settlement of long-term incentive arrangement     -       314,379       -       314,379  
Acquisition-related items     397       3,202       802       3,880  
Operating earnings (loss)     44,903       (268,470 )     60,887       (255,540 )
                                 
Interest expense, net     5,530       4,772       14,417       8,341  
Other income, net (note 7)     (147 )     (6,131 )     (376 )     (6,124 )
Earnings (loss) before income tax     39,520       (267,111 )     46,846       (257,757 )
Income tax (note 8)     9,603       8,569       11,149       9,778  
Net earnings (loss)     29,917       (275,680 )     35,697       (267,535 )
                                 
Non-controlling interest share of earnings (note 12)     3,326       2,409       5,081       4,205  
Non-controlling interest redemption increment (decrement) (note 12)     (531 )     947       (1,791 )     4,967  
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Company   $ 27,122     $ (279,036 )   $ 32,407     $ (276,707 )
                                 
                                 
Net earnings (loss) per common share (note 13)                                
                                 
Basic   $ 0.64     $ (7.48 )   $ 0.77     $ (7.69 )
Diluted   $ 0.64     $ (7.48 )   $ 0.77     $ (7.69 )

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

 

 

Page 3 of 14

 

FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

(in thousands of US dollars) - in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America

 

    Three months   Six months
    ended June 30   ended June 30
      2020       2019       2020       2019  
                                 
Net earnings (loss)   $ 29,917     $ (275,680 )   $ 35,697     $ (267,535 )
                                 
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)     3,115       1,078       (2,936 )     1,406  
                                 
Comprehensive earnings (loss)     33,032       (274,602 )     32,761       (266,129 )
                                 
Less: Comprehensive earnings attributable to non-controlling interests     2,795       3,356       3,290       9,172  
                                 
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Company   $ 30,237     $ (277,958 )   $ 29,471     $ (275,301 )

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 4 of 14

 

FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands of US dollars) - in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America

 

     

June 30,

2020

     

December 31,

2019

 
Assets                
Current Assets                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 245,257     $ 121,198  
Restricted cash     20,028       13,093  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $15,369 (December 31, 2019 - $13,136)     361,046       393,730  
Income tax recoverable     -       4,147  
Inventories     100,187       94,511  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     38,010       41,457  
      764,528       668,136  
                 
Other receivables     3,934       4,033  
Other assets     7,950       7,791  
Fixed assets     128,684       131,545  
Operating lease right-of-use assets (note 6)     139,580       132,893  
Intangible assets     344,545       366,224  
Goodwill     644,794       644,847  
      1,269,487       1,287,333  
    $ 2,034,015     $ 1,955,469  
                 
Liabilities and shareholders' equity                
Current Liabilities                
Accounts payable   $ 79,501     $ 76,226  
Accrued liabilities     171,014       165,444  
Income taxes payable     6,476       -  
Unearned revenues     90,082       74,100  
Operating lease liabilities - current (note 6)     33,045       30,622  
Long-term debt - current (note 9)     56,669       5,545  
Contingent acquisition consideration - current (note 11)     3,788       6,269  
      440,575       358,206  
                 
Long-term debt - non-current (note 9)     588,525       761,078  
Operating lease liabilities - non-current (note 6)     117,024       111,247  
Contingent acquisition consideration (note 11)     6,478       8,154  
Unearned revenues     12,105       12,593  
Other liabilities     50,315       45,403  
Deferred income tax     54,063       58,239  
      828,510       996,714  
Redeemable non-controlling interests (note 12)     162,613       174,662  
                 
Shareholders' equity     602,317       425,887  
    $ 2,034,015     $ 1,955,469  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

Page 5 of 14

 

FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

(Unaudited)

(in thousands of US dollars, except share information)

 

      Common shares                       Accumulated          
      Issued and                               other          
      outstanding               Contributed               comprehensive          
      shares       Amount       surplus       Deficit       loss       Total  
                                                 
Balance, December 31, 2019     41,495,957     $ 605,428     $ 50,789     $ (229,874 )   $ (456 )   $ 425,887  
Net earnings     -       -       -       5,285       -       5,285  
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)     -       -       -       -       (6,051 )     (6,051 )
                                                 
Impact of ASU 2016-13 (Topic 326)     -       -       -       (53 )     -       (53 )
                                                 
Common Shares:                                                
Stock option expense     -       -       3,969       -       -       3,969  
Stock options exercised     120,000       4,535       (924 )     -       -       3,611  
Dividends     -       -       -       (6,867 )     -       (6,867 )
Balance, March 31, 2020     41,615,957     $ 609,963     $ 53,834     $ (231,509 )   $ (6,507 )   $ 425,781  
Net earnings     -       -       -       27,122       -       27,122  
Other comprehensive earnings     -       -       -       -       3,115       3,115  
                                                 
                                                 
Common Shares:                                                
Stock option expense     -       -       2,443       -       -       2,443  
Stock options exercised     26,150       1,310       (295 )     -       -       1,015  
Dividends     -       -       -       (7,167 )     -       (7,167 )
Issued (note 10)     1,797,359       150,008       -       -       -       150,008  
Balance, June 30, 2020     43,439,466     $ 761,281     $ 55,982     $ (211,554 )   $ (3,392 )   $ 602,317  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 6 of 14

 

FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (continued)

(Unaudited)

(in thousands of US dollars, except share information)

 

      Common shares                       Accumulated          
      Issued and                               other          
      outstanding               Contributed               comprehensive          
      shares       Amount       surplus       Deficit       loss       Total  
                                                 
Balance, December 31, 2018     35,980,047     $ 148,707     $ 45,097     $ 45,537     $ (3,115 )   $ 236,226  
Net earnings     -       -       -       2,329       -       2,329  
Other comprehensive earnings     -       -       -       -       328       328  
                                                 
Impact of ASC 842 - Leases     -       -       -       (338 )     -       (338 )
                                                 
Subsidiaries’ equity transactions     -       -       (19 )     -       -       (19 )
Common Shares:                                                
Stock option expense     -       -       2,855       -       -       2,855  
Stock options exercised     134,650       5,342       (1,338 )     -       -       4,004  
Dividends     -       -       -       (5,418 )     -       (5,418 )
Balance, March 31, 2019     36,114,697     $ 154,049     $ 46,595     $ 42,110     $ (2,787 )   $ 239,967  
Net earnings (loss)     -       -       -       (279,036 )     -       (279,036 )
Other comprehensive earnings     -       -       -       -       1,078       1,078  
                                                 
Impact of ASC 842 - Leases     -       -       -       (52 )     -       (52 )
                                                 
Subsidiaries’ equity transactions     -       -       39       -       -       39  
Common Shares:                                                
Stock option expense     -       -       1,755       -       -       1,755  
Stock options exercised     188,400       5,401       (959 )     -       -       4,442  
Dividends     -       -       -       (5,883 )     -       (5,883 )
Issued     2,918,860       251,503       -       -       -       251,503  
Balance, June 30, 2019     39,221,957     $ 410,953     $ 47,430     $ (242,861 )   $ (1,709 )   $ 213,813  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 7 of 14

 

FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands of US dollars) - in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America

 

    Three months ended   Six months ended
    June 30   June 30
      2020       2019       2020       2019  
Cash provided by (used in)                                
                                 
Operating activities                                
Net earnings (loss)   $ 29,917       (275,680 )   $ 35,697     $ (267,535 )
                                 
Items not affecting cash:                                
Depreciation and amortization     23,488       14,164       46,995       26,851  
Non-cash settlement of long-term incentive arrangement     -       289,721       -       289,721  
Deferred income tax     (2,149 )     992       (4,205 )     1,465  
Other     1,845       (4,192 )     5,669       (1,058 )
                                 
Changes in non-cash working capital:                                
Accounts receivable     11,911       (27,828 )     32,893       (19,228 )
Inventories     (3,539 )     (2,496 )     (5,669 )     1,208  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     3,595       1,045       2,876       806  
Payables and accruals     28,814       11,439       18,335       (4,922 )
Unearned revenues     13,088       9,044       15,492       14,700  
Other liabilities     6,252       2,619       4,958       3,340  
Contingent acquisition consideration     -       -       -       (962 )
Net cash provided by operating activities     113,222       18,828       153,041       44,386  
                                 
Investing activities                                
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired (note 5)     -       (519,758 )     -       (545,531 )
Disposal of business, net of cash disposed (note 7)     -       13,030       -       13,030  
Purchases of fixed assets     (6,733 )     (11,551 )     (22,081 )     (22,287 )
Other investing activities     (603 )     3,188       (786 )     859  
Net cash used in investing activities     (7,336 )     (515,091 )     (22,867 )     (553,929 )
                                 
Financing activities                                
Increase in long-term debt     7,887       543,216       25,282       590,750  
Repayment of long-term debt     (112,959 )     -       (147,206 )     (1,871 )
Proceeds received on common share issuance (note 10)     150,008       -       150,008       -  
Purchases of non-controlling interests, net     (11,316 )     (14,223 )     (15,067 )     (33,210 )
Contingent acquisition consideration     (2,179 )     (2,182 )     (3,398 )     (8,035 )
Proceeds received on exercise of options     1,015       4,442       4,626       8,446  
Financing fees paid     -       (3,428 )     -       (3,696 )
Dividends paid to common shareholders     (6,867 )     (5,418 )     (13,091 )     (10,275 )
Distributions paid to non-controlling interests     -       (3,075 )     (50 )     (4,269 )
Net cash provided by financing activities     25,589       519,332       1,104       537,840  
                                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash     626       (508 )     (284 )     (311 )
                                 
Increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash     132,101       22,561       130,994       27,986  
                                 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period     133,184       85,269       134,291       79,844  
                                 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period   $ 265,285       107,830     $ 265,285     $ 107,830  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

 

Page 8 of 14

 

FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

June 30, 2020

(Unaudited)

(in thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts)

 

 

1.       DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS – FirstService Corporation (the “Company”) is a North American provider of residential property management and other essential property services to residential and commercial customers. The Company’s operations are conducted in two segments: FirstService Residential and FirstService Brands. The segments are grouped with reference to the nature of services provided and the types of clients that use those services.

 

FirstService Residential is a full-service property manager and in many markets provides a full range of ancillary services primarily in the following areas: on-site staffing, including building engineering and maintenance, full-service amenity management, security, concierge and front desk personnel; proprietary banking and insurance products; and energy conservation and management solutions.

 

FirstService Brands provides a range of essential property services to residential and commercial customers in North America through franchise networks and company-owned locations. The principal brands in this division include Paul Davis Restoration, Global Restoration, California Closets, Century Fire Protection, Certa Pro Painters, Pillar to Post Home Inspectors, and Floor Coverings International.

 

2.       RISKS and UNCERTAINTIES – Currently, one of the most significant risks and uncertainties is the potential adverse effect of the current pandemic of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic in North America has had an impact on most of the Company’s operations, particularly its service lines tied to home improvement. All of its businesses have been designated essential services in most of their geographic regions. The various “stay-at-home” and social distancing measures continue to impact the Company’s ability to operate on the premises of its residential and commercial customers. Although many regions where the Company operates have re-opened, it is challenging to predict the financial performance in upcoming reporting periods with reasonable accuracy due to the lack of visibility around the duration and severity of the crisis and its dynamic changes.

 

Given the uncertainties surrounding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company took certain actions during the first and second quarters to preserve liquidity, manage cash flow and strengthen its financial flexibility. Such actions included, but were not limited to, expense containment initiatives in areas including labour costs and other operating expenses, capital expenditures reductions, and management of its working capital requirements, as well as completing a private placement for $150,008 in the second quarter of the current year. Refer to note 10 for more detail.

 

3.       SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with the disclosure requirements for the presentation of interim financial information pursuant to applicable Canadian securities law. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted in accordance with such disclosure requirements, although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information not misleading. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

These interim financial statements follow the same accounting policies as the most recent audited consolidated financial statements, with the exception of the change described below. In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as at June 30, 2020 and the results of operations and its cash flows for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2020 and 2019. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The results of operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020.

 

 

Page 9 of 14

 

Credit Losses

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326), which replaces existing incurred loss impairment guidance and establishes a single allowance framework for financial assets carried at amortized cost. The Company adopted Topic 326 using a modified retrospective approach, which requires a cumulative-effect adjustment, if any, to the opening balance of retained earnings (deficit) to be recognized on the date of adoption with prior periods not restated. The cumulative-effect adjustment recorded on January 1, 2020 was not material.

 

Accounting policy for Credit Losses

Accounts receivable: The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, credit quality, the age of the accounts receivable balances, and current economic conditions that may impact a customer’s ability to pay.

 

A reconciliation of our allowance for doubtful accounts is found below:

 

(In thousands)     2020  
         
Allowance for doubtful accounts, December 31, 2019   $ 13,136  
Bad debt expense     5,295  
Write-offs to accounts receivable     (3,266 )
Recoveries to accounts receivable     495  
Adjustment to opening retained earnings     53  
Other     (344 )
Allowance for doubtful accounts, June 30, 2020   $ 15,369  

 

4.       REVENUE RECOGNITION STANDARD – Within the FirstService Brands segment, franchise fee revenue recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2020 that was included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the period was $2,387 (2019 - $2,062). These fees are recognized over the life of the underlying franchise agreement, usually between 5 - 10 years.

 

External broker costs and employee sales commissions in obtaining new franchisees are capitalized in accordance with the new revenue standard and are amortized over the life of the underlying franchise agreement. Costs amortized during the six months ended June 30, 2020 were $1,047 (2019 - $934). The closing amount of the capitalized costs to obtain contracts on the balance sheet as at June 30, 2020 was $5,981 (December 31, 2019 - $6,711). There were no impairment losses recognized related to those assets in the quarter.

 

The Company’s backlog represents remaining performance obligations and is defined as contracted work yet to be performed. As at June 30, 2020, the aggregate amount of backlog was $332,530. The Company expects to recognize revenue on the remaining backlog over the next 12 months.

 

Disaggregated revenues are as follows:

 

    Three months   Six months
    ended June 30   ended June 30
      2020       2019       2020       2019  
Revenues                                
                                 
FirstService Residential   $ 338,153     $ 370,405     $ 677,816     $ 689,715  
FirstService Brands company-owned     252,261       162,862       516,361       298,563  
FirstService Brands franchisor     29,538       39,413       58,813       69,223  
FirstService Brands franchise fee     1,645       1,228       2,438       2,062  

 

The Company disaggregates revenue by segment, and within the FirstService Brands segment, further disaggregates its company-owned operations revenue; these businesses primarily recognize revenue over time as they perform because of continuous transfer of control to the customer. As such, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. The Company generally uses the cost-to-cost measure of progress method. The extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation. Revenues, including estimated fees or profits, are recorded proportionally as costs are incurred.

 

 

Page 10 of 14

 

We believe this disaggregation best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of the Company’s revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.

 

5.       ACQUISITIONS – During the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company did not complete any acquisitions. In the prior year period, the Company completed eleven acquisitions, including three in the FirstService Residential segment and eight in the FirstService Brands segment; the acquisition date fair value of consideration transferred was as follows: cash of $545,531, and contingent consideration of $4,605.

 

Certain vendors, at the time of acquisition, are entitled to receive a contingent consideration payment if the acquired businesses achieve specified earnings levels during the one- to two-year periods following the dates of acquisition. The ultimate amount of payment is determined based on a formula, the key inputs to which are (i) a contractually agreed maximum payment; (ii) a contractually specified revenue or earnings level; and (iii) the actual revenue or earnings for the contingency period. If the acquired business does not achieve the specified revenue or earnings level, the maximum payment is reduced for any shortfall, potentially to nil.

 

Contingent consideration is recorded at fair value each reporting period. The fair value recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as at June 30, 2020 was $10,266 (see note 11). The estimated range of outcomes (undiscounted) for these contingent consideration arrangements is $10,303 to a maximum of $12,121. The contingencies will expire during the period extending to September 2023. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, $3,398 was paid with reference to such contingent consideration (2019 - $8,997).

 

6.       LEASES – The Company has operating leases for corporate offices, copiers, and certain equipment. Its leases have remaining lease terms of 1 year to 10 years, some of which may include options to extend the leases for up to 8 years, and some of which may include options to terminate the leases within 1 year. The Company evaluates renewal terms on a lease by lease basis to determine if the renewal is reasonably certain. The amount of operating lease expense recorded in the statement of earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $18,371 (2019 - $14,635).

 

Other information related to leases was as follows (in thousands, except lease term and discount rate):

 

Supplemental Cash Flows Information, six months ended June 30     2020  
         
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities   $ 18,151  
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligation   $ 22,226  

 

7.      OTHER INCOME - Other income is comprised of the following:

 

    Three months ended   Six months ended
    June 30   June 30
      2020       2019       2020       2019  
                                 
Gain on disposal of business   $ -     $ (6,082 )   $ -     $ (6,082 )
Other (income) expense     (147 )     (49 )     (376 )     (42 )
    $ (147 )   $ (6,131 )   $ (376 )   $ (6,124 )

 

During the second quarter of the prior year, the Company completed the divestiture of two non-core businesses. The Company sold its national accounts commercial painting operations for cash consideration of $3,386 and notes receivable of $2,800. The pre-tax gain on disposal was $1,406. The Company also completed the sale of its Florida and Arizona-based landscaping operations for cash consideration of $9,644 (net of cash disposed of $600). The pre-tax gain on disposal was $4,676.

 

 

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8.       INCOME TAX – The provision for income tax for the six months ended June 30, 2020 reflected an effective tax rate of 24% (2019 - negative 4%) relative to the statutory rate of approximately 27% (2019 - 27%). The difference between the effective rate and the statutory rate relates to the differential between tax rates in certain jurisdictions, as well as taxable permanent differences.

 

9.       LONG-TERM DEBT – The Company has $150,000 of senior secured notes (the “Senior Notes”) bearing interest at a rate of 3.84%. The Senior Notes are due on January 16, 2025, with five annual equal repayments beginning on January 16, 2021.

 

The Company has a Credit Agreement with a syndicate of lenders. The Credit Agreement is comprised of a committed multi-currency revolving credit facility of $450,000 (the “Facility”) and a term loan (drawn in a single advance) in the aggregate amount of $440,000 (the “Term Loan”). The Facility portion of the Credit Agreement has a term ending on January 17, 2023 and bears interest at 0.25% to 2.50% over floating preference rates, depending on certain leverage ratios. The Term Loan portion of the Credit Agreement has a term ending on June 21, 2024, with repayments of 5% per annum, paid quarterly, beginning in September 2020, with the balance payable at maturity, and bears interest at 0.25% to 2.50% over floating preference rates, depending on certain leverage ratios. The Credit Agreement requires a commitment fee of 0.25% to 0.50% of the unused portion, depending on certain leverage ratios. The Company may repay amounts owing under the Credit Agreement at any time without penalty. The Facility is available to fund working capital requirements (including acquisitions and any associated contingent purchase consideration) and other general corporate purposes.

 

The indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes rank equally in terms of seniority. The Company has granted the lenders under the Credit Agreement and the holders of the Senior Notes various security, including an interest in all of our assets. The Company is prohibited under the Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes from undertaking certain acquisitions and dispositions, and incurring certain indebtedness and encumbrances, without prior approval of the lenders under the Credit Agreement and the holders of the Senior Notes.

 

10.       PRIVATE PLACEMENT – On May 22, 2020, the Company completed the sale, on a private placement basis, of a total of 1,797,359 common shares of FirstService, at a price of US$83.46 per share, to Durable Capital Partners LP, for proceeds of $150,008. The net proceeds of the private placement were used to repay existing indebtedness under the Facility.

 

11.       FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS – The following table provides the financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2020:

 

        Fair value measurements at June 30, 2020
                 
      Carrying value at                          
      June 30, 2020       Level 1       Level 2       Level 3  
                                 
Contingent consideration liability   $ 10,266     $ -     $ -     $ 10,266  
Interest rate swap liability     2,572       -       2,572       -  

 

The Company has one interest rate swap in place to exchange the floating interest rate on $100,000 of debt under its Credit Agreement for a fixed rate. The fair value of the interest rate swap liability was determined using widely accepted valuation techniques. The inputs to the measurement of the fair value of contingent consideration related to acquisitions are Level 3 inputs using a discounted cash flow model; significant model inputs were expected future operating cash flows (determined with reference to each specific acquired business) and discount rates (which range from 8% to 10%). The range of discount rates is attributable to level of risk related to economic growth factors combined with the length of the contingent payment periods; and the dispersion was driven by unique characteristics of the businesses acquired and the respective terms for these contingent payments. Within the range of discount rates, there is a data point concentration at 9%. A 2% increase in the weighted average discount rate would not have a significant impact on the fair value of the contingent consideration balance.

 

 

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Changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration liability are comprised of the following:

 

      2020  
         
Balance, January 1   $ 14,423  
Fair value adjustments     (1,723 )
Resolved and settled in cash     (3,398 )
Other     964  
Balance, June 30   $ 10,266  
         
Less: Current portion     3,788  
Non-current portion   $ 6,478  

 

The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair values due to the short maturity of these instruments, unless otherwise indicated. The inputs to the measurement of the fair value of long term debt are Level 3 inputs. The fair value measurements were made using a net present value approach; significant model inputs were expected future cash outflows and discount rates (which range from 1.5% to 2.0%).

 

    June 30, 2020   December 31, 2019
      Carrying       Fair       Carrying       Fair  
      amount       value       amount       value  
                                 
Other receivables   $ 3,934     $ 3,934     $ 4,033     $ 4,033  
Long-term debt     645,194       663,685       766,623       779,279  

 

12.       REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS – The minority equity positions in the Company’s subsidiaries are referred to as redeemable non-controlling interests (“RNCI”). The RNCI are considered to be redeemable securities. Accordingly, the RNCI is recorded at the greater of: (i) the redemption amount; or (ii) the amount initially recorded as RNCI at the date of inception of the minority equity position. This amount is recorded in the “mezzanine” section of the balance sheet, outside of shareholders’ equity. Changes in the RNCI amount are recognized immediately as they occur. The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending RNCI amounts:

 

      2020  
         
Balance, January 1   $ 174,662  
RNCI share of earnings     5,081  
RNCI redemption increment (decrement)     (1,791 )
Distributions paid to RNCI     (50 )
Purchases of interests from RNCI, net     (15,067 )
Other     (222 )
Balance, June 30   $ 162,613  

 

The Company has shareholders’ agreements in place at each of its non-wholly owned subsidiaries. These agreements allow the Company to “call” the non-controlling interest at a price determined with the use of a formula price, which is usually equal to a fixed multiple of trailing two-year average earnings before income taxes, interest, depreciation, and amortization, less debt. The agreements also have redemption features which allow the owners of the RNCI to “put” their equity to the Company at the same price subject to certain limitations. The formula price is referred to as the redemption amount and may be paid in cash or in the Company’s Common Shares. The redemption amount as of June 30, 2020 was $159,160. The redemption amount is lower than that recorded on the balance sheet as the formula prices of certain RNCI are lower than the amount initially recorded at the inception of the minority equity position. If all put or call options were settled with Common Shares as at June 30, 2020, approximately 1,600,000 such shares would be issued; this would be accretive to net earnings per common share.

 

Increases or decreases to the formula price of the underlying shares are recognized in the statement of earnings as the NCI redemption increment.

 

 

Page 13 of 14

 

13.       NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE – Earnings per share calculations cannot be anti-dilutive, therefore diluted shares are not used in the denominator when the numerator is in a loss position. The following table reconciles the basic and diluted common shares outstanding:

 

    Three months ended   Six months ended
(in thousands)   June 30   June 30
      2020       2019       2020       2019  
                                 
Basic shares     42,397       37,284       41,977       36,002  
Assumed exercise of Company stock options     313       431       345       450  
Diluted shares     42,710       37,715       42,322       36,452  

 

14.       STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

Company stock option plan

The Company has a stock option plan for certain directors, officers and full-time employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, other than its Founder and Chairman. The stock option plan came into existence on June 1, 2015. Options are granted at the market price for the underlying shares on the date of grant. Each option vests over a four-year term, expires five years from the date granted and allows for the purchase of one Common Share. All Common Shares issued are new shares. Grants under the Company’s stock option plan are equity-classified awards. As at June 30, 2020, there were 214,500 options available for future grants.

 

Grants under the Company’s stock option plan are equity-classified awards. There were no stock options granted during the three months ended June 30, 2020 (2019 - nil). Stock option activity for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was as follows:

 

                      Weighted          
                      average          
              Weighted       remaining        
            average       contractual       Aggregate  
      Number of       exercise       life       intrinsic  
      options       price       (years)       value  
                                 
Shares issuable under options -                                
Beginning of period     1,639,100     $ 60.26                  
Granted     475,000       111.36                  
Exercised     (146,150 )     33.98                  
Shares issuable under options -                                
End of period     1,967,950     $ 74.55       2.84     $ 56,604  
Options exercisable - End of period     856,527     $ 57.59       1.90     $ 37,470  

 

The amount of compensation expense recorded in the statement of earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $6,412 (2019 - $4,610). As of June 30, 2020, there was $16,588 of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested awards which is expected to be recognized over the next 5 years. During the six month period ended June 30, 2020, the fair value of options vested was $6,837 (2019 - $4,591).

 

15.       CONTINGENCIES – In the normal course of operations, the Company is subject to routine claims and litigation incidental to its business. Litigation currently pending or threatened against the Company includes disputes with former employees and commercial liability claims related to services provided by the Company. The Company believes resolution of such proceedings, combined with amounts set aside, will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or the results of operations.

 

16.       SEGMENTED INFORMATION – The Company has two reportable operating segments. The segments are grouped with reference to the nature of services provided and the types of clients that use those services. The Company assesses each segment’s performance based on operating earnings or operating earnings before depreciation and amortization. FirstService Residential provides property management and related property services to residential communities in North America. FirstService Brands provides franchised and company-owned essential property services to residential and commercial customers in North America. Corporate includes the costs of operating the Company’s corporate head office.

 

 

Page 14 of 14

 

OPERATING SEGMENTS

 

      FirstService       FirstService                  
      Residential       Brands       Corporate       Consolidated  
                                 
Three months ended June 30                                
                                 
2020                                
Revenues   $ 338,153     $ 283,444     $ -     $ 621,597  
Depreciation and amortization     7,260       16,208       20       23,488  
Operating earnings     31,980       17,364       (4,441 )     44,903  
                                 
2019                                
Revenues   $ 370,405     $ 203,503     $ -     $ 573,908  
Depreciation and amortization     6,696       7,458       11       14,165  
Operating earnings     32,278       20,705       (321,453 )     (268,470 )

 

      FirstService       FirstService                  
      Residential       Brands       Corporate       Consolidated  
                                 
Six months ended June 30                                
                                 
2020                                
Revenues   $ 677,816     $ 577,612     $ -     $ 1,255,428  
Depreciation and amortization     13,136       33,811       48       46,995  
Operating earnings     49,404       22,271       (10,788 )     60,887  
                                 
2019                                
Revenues   $ 689,715     $ 369,848     $ -     $ 1,059,563  
Depreciation and amortization     12,662       14,168       22       26,852  
Operating earnings     47,926       24,597       (328,063 )     (255,540 )

 

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

 

      United States       Canada       Consolidated  
                         
Three months ended June 30                        
                         
2020                        
Revenues   $ 546,191     $ 75,406     $ 621,597  
Total long-lived assets     987,499       270,104       1,257,603  
                         
2019                        
Revenues   $ 534,180     $ 39,728     $ 573,908  
Total long-lived assets     992,705       255,520       1,248,225  

 

      United States       Canada       Consolidated  
                         
Six months ended June 30                        
                         
2020                        
Revenues   $ 1,105,326     $ 150,102     $ 1,255,428  
                         
2019                        
Revenues   $ 989,478     $ 70,085     $ 1,059,563  

 

17.       SUBSEQUENT EVENT – On July 2, 2020, the Company’s subsidiary, Global Restoration Holdings, acquired a controlling interest in Rolyn Companies, Inc. (“Rolyn”), a leading commercial and large loss restoration services provider in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Rolyn generates annual run-rate revenues of approximately $75,000.

 

 

 

 

 

FIRSTSERVICE CORPORATION

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

For the Six Month Period Ended June 30, 2020

(in US dollars)

August 6, 2020

 

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) should be read together with the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of FirstService Corporation (the “Company” or “FirstService”) for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2020 and the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements, and MD&A, for the year ended December 31, 2019. The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). All financial information herein is presented in United States dollars.

 

The Company has prepared this MD&A with reference to National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations of the Canadian Securities Administrators (the "CSA"). Under the U.S./Canada Multijurisdictional Disclosure System, the Company is permitted to prepare this MD&A in accordance with the disclosure requirements of Canada, which requirements are different from those of the United States. This MD&A provides information for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2020 and up to and including August 6, 2020.

 

Additional information about the Company, including the Company’s Annual Information Form, which is included in FirstService’s Annual Report on Form 40-F, can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the US Securities and Exchange Commission website at www.sec.gov.

 

 

Consolidated review

 

We reported solid operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020. Consolidated revenue growth was 8% relative to the same quarter in the prior year, and resulted in growth in adjusted EBITDA, operating earnings and earnings per share. On an organic basis, our top-line decreased approximately 9%, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the various “stay at home” measures mandated by governments in the markets in which we operate.

 

During the past year, we completed several acquisitions, which provided additional revenue growth for the second quarter of 2020, most notably our acquisition of Global Restoration Holdings (“Global”). Global provides us with a market leader in large loss and commercial property restoration and a platform for future growth both organically and through tuck-under acquisitions to expand its geographic footprint and increase its national client account coverage.

 

Results of operations - three months ended June 30, 2020

 

Revenues for our second quarter were $621.6 million, 8% higher than the comparable prior year quarter. On an organic basis, revenues declined 9%, as most of our operations were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Adjusted EBITDA (see “Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures” below) for the second quarter was $71.2 million versus $65.0 million reported in the prior year quarter. Our Adjusted EBITDA margin was 11.5% of revenues versus 11.3% of revenues in the prior year quarter. Operating earnings for the second quarter were $44.9 million, up from an operating loss of $268.5 million in the prior year quarter, the difference being primarily attributable to the 2019 settlement of the long-term incentive arrangement (“LTIA”) with our Founder and Chairman for $314.4 million.

 

Depreciation and amortization expense totalled $23.5 million for the quarter relative to $14.2 million in the prior year quarter, with the increase mainly due to the amortization of intangible assets from our Global Restoration acquisition in the FirstService Brands segment.

 

Other income of $6.1 million in the prior year quarter was primarily due to the gain on sale from two small, non-core divestitures: (i) our Arizona and Florida-based landscaping operations: and (ii) our national accounts commercial painting operations.

 

 

Page 2 of 11

 

The consolidated income tax rate for the quarter was 24% of earnings before income tax, compared to negative 3% in the prior year quarter, and relative to the statutory rate of 27% in both periods. In the prior year quarter, the tax rate was impacted by the settlement of the LTIA, which was not deductible for tax purposes. The effective tax rate for the full year is expected to be approximately 25%.

 

Net earnings for the quarter were $29.9 million, versus a loss of $275.7 million in the prior year quarter, with the difference primarily attributable to the settlement of the LTIA.

 

The NCI redemption increment for the second quarter was a recovery of $0.5 million, versus an expense of $0.9 million in the prior period, and was attributable to changes in the trailing two-year average of earnings of non-wholly owned subsidiaries.

 

The FirstService Residential segment reported revenues of $338.2 million for the second quarter, down 9% versus the prior year quarter. The revenue decline was primarily attributable to client facility closures that negatively impacted the delivery of our amenity management services, stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjusted EBITDA was $37.2 million, versus $39.2 million in the prior year quarter. Operating earnings were $32.0 million, versus $32.3 million for the second quarter of last year. Margins expanded during the quarter from a combination of aggressive cost reduction initiatives and lower than expected decline in higher margin ancillary revenue.

 

Second quarter revenues at our FirstService Brands segment were $283.4 million, up 39% relative to the prior year period. Revenues declined 10% on an organic basis, but was more than offset by the contribution from the large Global Restoration transaction and other tuck-under acquisitions, which were not reflected in last year’s second quarter. The decrease in organic revenue resulted from the various government-mandated “stay at home” measures which negatively impacted activity levels in our service lines tied to home improvement. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $35.8 million, or 12.6% of revenues, versus $28.4 million, or 14.0% of revenues, in the prior year period. The year-over-year margin decline was principally driven by acquisition mix, with the addition of Global Restoration yielding lower margins than the overall division. Operating earnings for the second quarter were $17.4 million, or 6.1% of revenues, versus $20.7 million, or 10.2% of revenues, in the prior year quarter, with the decrease due to increased amortization of intangible assets arising from the Global Restoration transaction.

 

Corporate costs, as presented in Adjusted EBITDA, were $1.9 million in the quarter, relative to $2.6 million in the prior year period. On a GAAP basis, corporate costs for the quarter were $4.4 million, relative to $321.4 million in the prior year, with the decrease in costs attributable to the 2019 settlement of the LTIA.

 

Results of operations - six months ended June 30, 2020

 

Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2020 were $1.26 billion, 18% higher than the comparable prior year. Revenues declined 1% on an organic basis.

 

Year-to-date Adjusted EBITDA (see “Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures” below) was $115.1 million versus $94.2 million reported in the comparable prior year period. Operating earnings for the period were $60.9 million, versus an operating loss of $255.5 million in the prior year, with the variance primarily attributable to the 2019 settlement of the LTIA.

 

We recorded depreciation and amortization expense of $47.0 million for the six month period relative to $26.9 million in the prior year period, with the increase primarily related to recently acquired company-owned operations in our FirstService Brands segment.

 

Net interest expense for the six month period was $14.4 million, up from $8.3 million recorded in the prior year period. The increase was driven primarily by the increase in our average outstanding debt versus the prior year.

 

Our consolidated income tax rate for the six month period was 24%, compared to negative 4% of earnings before income tax in the prior year-to-date period, and relative to the statutory rate of 27% in both periods. In the prior year period, the tax rate was impacted by the settlement of the LTIA, which was not deductible for tax purposes.

 

 

Page 3 of 11

 

Net earnings for the six month period were $35.7 million, versus a net loss of $267.5 million in the prior year period. The increase was primarily attributable to the settlement of the LTIA in the prior year period.

 

The NCI redemption increment for the period was a recovery of $1.8 million, versus an expense of $5.0 million in the prior period, and was attributable to changes in the trailing two-year average of earnings of non-wholly owned subsidiaries.

 

Our FirstService Residential segment reported revenues of $677.8 million for the six month period, down 2% over the prior year period. Revenue decline was attributable to reduced demand for certain ancillary services during the second quarter as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by contribution from contract wins earlier in the year. Adjusted EBITDA was $61.1 million relative to $61.0 million in the prior year period. Operating earnings were $49.4 million for the six month period, relative to $47.9 million in the prior year period. Our operating earnings margins were up modestly versus the prior year.

 

Year-to-date revenues at FirstService Brands were $577.6 million, an increase of 56% relative to the prior year period. On an organic basis, revenues were down 3%. Organic growth in the division was negatively impacted in the second quarter by the COVID-19 pandemic and government-mandated “stay at home” measures, with our home improvement brands being particularly affected by these events. Adjusted EBITDA for the period was $57.8 million, or 10.0% of revenues, versus $39.5 million, or 10.7% of revenues, for the prior year period. Operating earnings were $22.3 million, or 3.9% of revenues, versus $24.6 million, or 6.7% of revenues, in the prior year period. Margins were impacted by our Global Restoration operation, which has lower margins than the overall division. Our operating earnings margin was also impacted by increased intangible amortization from the Global Restoration acquisition.

 

Corporate costs, as presented in Adjusted EBITDA, for the six month period were $3.8 million, relative to $6.3 million in the prior year period. On a GAAP basis, corporate costs were $10.8 million versus $328.1 million in the prior year period, with the decrease primarily attributable to the settlement of the LTIA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 4 of 11

 

Summary of quarterly results (unaudited)

 

The following table sets forth FirstService’s unaudited quarterly consolidated results of operations data for each of the ten most recent quarters. The information in the table below has been derived from FirstService’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements that, in management’s opinion, have been prepared on a consistent basis and include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of information. The information below is not necessarily indicative of results for any future quarter. 

 

Quarter Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4
(in thousands of US$, except per share amounts)                      
                         
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2020                      
Revenues $ 633,831   $ 621,597            
Operating earnings   15,984     44,903            
Net earnings per share                      
  Basic   0.13     0.64            
  Diluted   0.13     0.64            
                         
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019                      
Revenues $ 485,655   $ 573,908   $ 672,253   $ 675,594
Operating earnings   12,930     (268,470)     49,698     31,423
Net earnings per share                      
  Basic   0.06     (7.48)     0.51     0.13
  Diluted   0.06     (7.48)     0.50     0.13
                         
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018                      
Revenues $ 426,456   $ 495,348   $ 506,356   $ 503,313
Operating earnings   11,073     42,350     45,298     28,847
Net earnings per share                      
  Basic   0.17     0.63     0.72     0.32
  Diluted   0.17     0.62     0.70     0.31
                         
OTHER DATA                      
Adjusted EBITDA - 2020 $ 43,865   $ 71,231            
Adjusted EBITDA - 2019   29,150     65,031   $ 77,144   $ 63,857
Adjusted EBITDA - 2018   25,414     57,118     59,426     48,653
Adjusted EPS - 2020   0.37     0.86            
Adjusted EPS - 2019   0.30     1.12     0.92     0.66
Adjusted EPS - 2018   0.25     0.86     0.89     0.62

 

Seasonality and quarterly fluctuations

 

Certain segments of the Company’s operations are subject to seasonal variations. The seasonality of the service lines results in variations in quarterly revenues and operating margins. Variations can also be caused by acquisitions or dispositions, which alter the consolidated service mix.

 

FirstService Residential generates peak revenues and earnings in the third quarter, as seasonal ancillary swimming pool management revenues are earned. FirstService Brands includes certain franchise operations, which generate the majority of their revenues during the second and third quarters, and restoration operations which are influenced by weather patterns that typically should result in higher revenues and earnings in the fourth quarter.

 

 

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Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures

 

In this MD&A, we make reference to “adjusted EBITDA” and “adjusted earnings per share”, which are financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP.

 

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net earnings, adjusted to exclude: (i) income tax; (ii) other expense (income); (iii) interest expense; (iv) depreciation and amortization; (v) acquisition-related items; (vi) stock-based compensation expense; and (vii) settlement of the LTIA. We use adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our own operating performance and our ability to service debt, as well as an integral part of our planning and reporting systems. Additionally, we use this measure in conjunction with discounted cash flow models to determine the Company’s overall enterprise valuation and to evaluate acquisition targets. We present adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure because we believe such measure is useful to investors as a reasonable indicator of operating performance because of the low capital intensity of the Company’s service operations. We believe 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. Our 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 to adjusted EBITDA appears below.

 

    Three months ended   Six months ended
(in thousands of US$)   June 30   June 30
      2020       2019       2020       2019  
                                 
Net earnings (loss)   $ 29,917     $ (275,680 )   $ 35,697     $ (267,535 )
Income tax     9,603       8,569       11,149       9,778  
Other income, net     (147 )     (6,131 )     (376 )     (6,124 )
Interest expense, net     5,530       4,772       14,417       8,341  
Operating earnings (loss)     44,903       (268,470 )     60,887       (255,540 )
Depreciation and amortization     23,488       14,165       46,995       26,852  
Settlement of long-term incentive arrangement     —         314,379       —         314,379  
Acquisition-related items     397       3,202       802       3,880  
Stock-based compensation expense     2,443       1,755       6,412       4,610  
Adjusted EBITDA   $ 71,231     $ 65,031     $ 115,096     $ 94,181  

 

Adjusted earnings per share 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; (iv) stock-based compensation expense; (v) a stock-based compensation tax adjustment related to a US GAAP change; and (vi) settlement of the LTIA. We believe 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 earnings per share 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. Our 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 earnings per share appears below.

 

 

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    Three months ended   Six months ended
(in thousands of US$)   June 30   June 30
      2020       2019       2020       2019  
                                 
Net earnings (loss)   $ 29,917     $ (275,680 )   $ 35,697     $ (267,535 )
Non-controlling interest share of earnings     (3,326 )     (2,409 )     (5,081 )     (4,205 )
Settlement of long-term incentive arrangement     —         314,379       —         314,379  
Acquisition-related items     397       3,202       802       3,880  
Amortization of intangible assets     10,864       4,899       22,225       9,206  
Stock-based compensation expense     2,443       1,755       6,412       4,610  
Stock-based compensation tax adjustment for US GAAP change     —         (1,510 )     —         (2,854 )
Income tax on adjustments     (3,460 )     (2,439 )     (7,446 )     (4,301 )
Non-controlling interest on adjustments     (298 )     (80 )     (520 )     (168 )
Adjusted net earnings   $ 36,537     $ 42,117     $ 52,089     $ 53,012  

 

    Three months ended   Six months ended
(in US$)   June 30   June 30
      2020       2019       2020       2019  
                                 
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share   $ 0.64     $ (7.40 )   $ 0.77     $ (7.59 )
Non-controlling interest redemption increment (decrement)     (0.01 )     0.03       (0.04 )     0.14  
Settlement of long-term incentive arrangement     —         8.34       —         8.62  
Acquisition-related items     0.01       0.07       0.02       0.09  
Amortization of intangible assets, net of tax     0.18       0.09       0.37       0.18  
Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax     0.04       0.03       0.11       0.09  
Stock-based compensation tax adjustment for US GAAP change     —         (0.04 )     —         (0.08 )
Adjusted earnings per share   $ 0.86     $ 1.12     $ 1.23     $ 1.45  

 

We believe that the presentation of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per share, which are non-GAAP financial measures, provides important supplemental information to management and investors regarding financial and business trends relating to the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. We use these non-GAAP financial measures when evaluating operating performance because we believe that the inclusion or exclusion of the items described above, for which the amounts are non-cash or non-recurring in nature, provides a supplemental measure of our operating results that facilitates comparability of our operating performance from period to period, against our business model objectives, and against other companies in our industry. We have chosen to provide this information to investors so they can analyze our operating results in the same way that management does and use this information in their assessment of our core business and the valuation of the Company. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per share are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, and should be considered supplemental to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the costs or benefits associated with the operations of our business as determined in accordance with GAAP. As a result, investors should not consider these measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.

 

Liquidity and capital resources

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for the six month period ended June 30, 2020 was $153.0 million, up from $44.4 million in the prior year period. The increase in operating cash flow was primarily attributable to changes in non-cash working capital, including a focus on accounts receivable collections, and the deferral of certain current-year tax payments to the third quarter of 2020. We believe that cash from operations and other existing resources will continue to be adequate to satisfy the ongoing working capital needs of the Company.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, capital expenditures were $22.1 million, relatively flat versus the prior year period. Current year investments include service vehicle fleet replacements and additions in the FirstService Brands segment, as well as information technology system and hardware investments in both segments. Based on our current operations, maintenance capital expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2020 are expected to be approximately $45 million.

 

 

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In July 2020, we paid a quarterly dividend of $0.165 per share on the Common Shares in respect of the quarter ended June 30, 2020.

 

Net indebtedness as at June 30, 2020 was $399.9 million, versus $645.6 million at December 31, 2019. Net indebtedness is calculated as the current and non-current portion of long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents. We are in compliance with the covenants contained in our financing agreements as at June 30, 2020 and, based on our outlook for the balance of the year, we expect to remain in compliance with these covenants. We had $381.1 million of available un-drawn credit as of June 30, 2020.

 

In relation to acquisitions completed during the past two years, we have outstanding contingent consideration totalling $10.3 million as at June 30, 2020 ($14.4 million as at December 31, 2019) assuming all contingencies are satisfied and payment is due in full. Such payments, if any, are due during the period extending to September 2023. The contingent consideration liability is recognized at fair value upon acquisition and is updated to fair value each quarter, unless it contains an element of compensation, in which case such element is treated as compensation expense over the contingency period. The contingent consideration is based on achieving specified earnings levels, and is paid or payable at the end of the contingency period. We estimate that, based on current operating results, approximately 85% of the contingent consideration outstanding as of June 30, 2020 will ultimately be paid.

 

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as at June 30, 2020:

 

Contractual obligations Payments due by period
(in thousands of US$)         Less than                 After
    Total     1 year     1-3 years     4-5 years     5 years
                             
Long-term debt $ 634,140   $ 52,649   $ 151,219   $ 430,272   $ -
Interest on long-term debt   78,190     24,227     40,118     13,269     576
Capital lease obligations   11,054     4,020     5,142     1,892     -
Contingent acquisition consideration   10,266     3,788     6,478     -     -
Operating leases   163,729     18,773     69,167     39,075     36,714
                             
Total contractual obligations $ 897,379   $ 103,457   $ 272,124   $ 484,508   $ 37,290

 

At June 30, 2020, we had commercial commitments totaling $7.9 million comprised of letters of credit outstanding due to expire within one year. We are required to make semi-annual payments of interest on our senior secured notes at an interest rate of 3.8%.

 

Redeemable non-controlling interests

 

In most operations where managers or employees are also minority owners, the Company is party to shareholders’ agreements. These agreements allow us to “call” the minority position at a value determined with the use of a formula price, which is in most cases equal to a multiple of trailing two-year average earnings, less debt. Minority owners may also “put” their interest to the Company at the same price, with certain limitations including: (i) the inability to “put” more than one-third to one-half of their holdings in any twelve-month period; and (ii) the inability to “put” any holdings for at least one year after the date of our initial acquisition of the business or the date the minority shareholder acquired the stock, as the case may be. The total value of the minority shareholders’ interests (the “redemption amount”), as calculated in accordance with shareholders’ agreements, was as follows.

 

      June 30       December 31  
(in thousands of US$)     2020       2019  
                 
FirstService Residential   $ 57,502     $ 62,407  
FirstService Brands     101,658       108,576  
    $ 159,160     $ 170,983  

 

 

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The amount recorded on our balance sheet under the caption “Redeemable non-controlling interests” (“RNCI”) is the greater of: (i) the redemption amount (as above); and (ii) the amount initially recorded as RNCI at the date of inception of the minority equity position. As at June 30, 2020, the RNCI recorded on the balance sheet was $162.6 million. The purchase prices of the RNCI may be satisfied in cash or in Common Shares of FirstService. If all RNCI were redeemed with cash on hand and borrowings under our Facility, the pro forma estimated accretion to diluted net earnings per share for the six months ended June 30, 2020 would be $0.03 and the accretion to adjusted EPS would be $0.07.

 

Off-balance sheet arrangements

 

The Company does not believe that it has off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on the Company’s financial performance or financial condition.

 

Critical accounting policies and estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions with respect to the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. These estimates and assumptions are based upon management’s historical experience and are believed by management to be reasonable under the circumstances. Such estimates and assumptions are evaluated on an ongoing basis and form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Our critical accounting policies and estimates have been reviewed and discussed with our Audit Committee. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates from those disclosed in the Company’s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2019, except as noted below.

 

Credit Losses

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326), which replaces existing incurred loss impairment guidance and establishes a single allowance framework for financial assets carried at amortized cost. The Company adopted Topic 326 using a modified retrospective approach, which requires a cumulative-effect adjustment, if any, to the opening balance of retained earnings (deficit) to be recognized on the date of adoption with prior periods not restated. The cumulative-effect adjustment recorded on January 1, 2020 was not material.

 

Accounting policy for Credit Losses

Accounts receivable: The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, credit quality, the age of the accounts receivable balances, and current economic conditions that may impact a customer’s ability to pay.

 

Financial instruments

 

We use financial instruments as part of our strategy to manage the risk associated with interest rates and currency exchange rates from time to time. We do not use financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. As of the date of this MD&A, we have one interest swap in place to exchange the floating interest rate on $100 million of debt under our Credit Agreement for a fixed rate.

 

Transactions with related parties

 

The Company has entered into office space rental arrangements and property management contracts with senior managers of certain subsidiaries. These senior managers are usually also minority shareholders of the subsidiaries. The business purpose of the transactions is to rent office space for the Company and to generate property management revenues for the Company. The recorded amount of the rent expense for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $0.8 million (2019 - $0.5 million).

 

As at June 30, 2020, the Company had $2.6 million of loans receivable from minority shareholders (December 31, 2019 - $2.6 million). The business purpose of the loans receivable was to finance the sale of non-controlling interests in subsidiaries to senior managers. The loan amounts are measured based on the formula price of the underlying non-controlling interests, and interest rates are determined based on the Company’s cost of borrowing plus a spread. The loans generally have terms of 5 to 10 years, but are open for repayment without penalty at any time.

 

 

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Outstanding share data

 

The authorized capital of the Company consists of an unlimited number of Common Shares. The holders of Common Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Common Share held at all meetings of the shareholders of the Company.

 

As of the date hereof, the Company has outstanding 43,466,716 Common Shares. In addition, as at the date hereof, 1,940,700 Common Shares are issuable upon exercise of options granted under the Company’s stock option plan.

 

Canadian tax treatment of dividends

 

For the purposes of the enhanced dividend tax credit rules contained in the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any corresponding provincial and territorial tax legislation, all dividends (and deemed dividends) paid by us to Canadian residents on our Common Shares are designated as “eligible dividends”. Unless stated otherwise, all dividends (and deemed dividends) paid by us hereafter are designated as “eligible dividends” for the purposes of such rules.

 

Changes in internal controls over financial reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2020 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal controls over financial reporting.

 

Public Health Crisis

 

FirstService’s business, operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected by the outbreak of epidemics or pandemics or other health crises beyond our control, including current or future waves of the COVID-19 outbreak. Many governments may declare that an outbreak, or one or more waves or an outbreak, constitutes an emergency in their jurisdictions. Reactions to the spread of an outbreak, or the worsening of an outbreak from time to time, may lead to, among other things, significant restrictions on travel, business closures, quarantines, social distancing and other containment measures and a general reduction in consumer activity. While these effects may be temporary, the duration of any business disruptions and related financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated, and may be instituted, terminated and re-instituted from time to time as an outbreak worsens or waves of an outbreak occur from time to time.

 

Such public health crises can also result in volatility and disruptions in the supply and demand for various products and services, global supply chains and financial markets, as well as declining trade and market sentiment and reduced mobility of people, all of which could affect interest rates, credit ratings, credit risk and inflation. The risks to FirstService of such public health crises also include risks to employee health and safety and a slowdown or temporary suspension of operations in geographic locations impacted by an outbreak.

 

 

 

 

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Forward-looking statements

 

This MD&A contains forward-looking statements with respect to expected financial performance, strategy and business conditions. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “project,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements reflect management's current beliefs with respect to future events and are based on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risk and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause such differences include, but are not limited to those set out below, those set out above under “Public Health Crisis” and those set out in detail in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Information Form, which is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 40-F:

 

· The COVID-19 pandemic and its related impact on global, regional and local economic conditions, and in particular its impact on client demand for our services, our ability to deliver services and ensure the health and productivity of our employees.
· Economic conditions, especially as they relate to credit conditions, consumer spending and demand for managed residential property, particularly in regions where our business may be concentrated.
· Residential real estate property values, resale rates and general conditions of financial liquidity for real estate transactions.
· Extreme weather conditions impacting demand for our services or our ability to perform those services.
· Economic deterioration impacting our ability to recover goodwill and other intangible assets.
· A decline in our ability to generate cash from our businesses to fund future acquisitions and meet our debt obligations.
· The effects of changes in foreign exchange rates in relation to the U.S. dollar on our Canadian dollar denominated revenues and expenses.
· Competition in the markets served by the Company.
· Labour shortages or increases in wage and benefit costs.
· The effects of changes in interest rates on our cost of borrowing.
· A decline in our performance impacting our continued compliance with the financial covenants under our debt agreements, or our ability to negotiate a waiver of certain covenants with our lenders.
· Unexpected increases in operating costs, such as insurance, workers’ compensation, health care and fuel prices.
· Changes in the frequency or severity of insurance incidents relative to our historical experience.
· A decline in our ability to make acquisitions at reasonable prices and successfully integrate acquired operations.
· The performance of acquired businesses and potential liabilities acquired in connection with such acquisitions.
· Changes in laws, regulations and government policies at the federal, state/provincial or local level that may adversely impact our businesses.
· Risks related to liability for employee acts or omissions, or installation/system failure, in our fire protection businesses.
· A decline in our performance impacting our ability to pay dividends on our common shares.
· Risks arising from any regulatory review and litigation.
· Risks associated with intellectual property and other proprietary rights that are material to our business.
· Disruptions or security failures in our information technology systems.
· Political conditions, including any outbreak or escalation of terrorism or hostilities and the impact thereof on our business.
· Performance in our commercial and large loss property restoration business.
· Volatility of the market price of our common shares.
· Potential future dilution to the holders of our common shares.
· Risks related to our qualification as a foreign private issuer.
· Although the spin-off is complete, the transaction exposes FirstService to certain ongoing tax and indemnification risks.

 

 

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We caution that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all possible factors, as other factors could adversely affect our results, performance or achievements. The reader is cautioned against undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove inaccurate and, therefore, there can be no assurance that the results contemplated in such forward-looking statements will be realized. The inclusion of such forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the future events, plans or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved. We note that past performance in operations and share price are not necessarily predictive of future performance, particularly in light of the ongoing and developing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy and its anticipated impact on our business. All forward-looking statements in this MD&A are qualified by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this MD&A and, unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we do not intend, nor do we undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this MD&A to reflect subsequent information, events, results or circumstances or otherwise.

 

Additional information

 

Additional information regarding the Company, including our Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2019, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

 

Further information about us can also be obtained at www.firstservice.com.