Colliers International Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Yearend Results

Operating highlights:

TORONTO, Feb. 05, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Colliers International Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CIGI) (TSX:CIG) today announced record fourth quarter and yearend operating and financial results for the year ended December 31, 2015. All amounts are in US dollars.

Revenues for the fourth quarter were $556.1 million, a 3% increase (11% in local currency) relative to the strong performance in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA (note 1) was $79.1 million, up 18% (29% in local currency), and Adjusted EPS (note 2) was $1.06, up 9% from the prior year quarter. GAAP EPS from continuing operations was $0.92 per share in the quarter, compared to $0.44 for the same quarter a year ago. Fourth quarter adjusted EPS and GAAP EPS would have been approximately $0.13 higher if foreign exchange rates were held constant at prior period rates.

For the year ended December 31, 2015, revenues were $1.72 billion, a 9% increase (18% in local currency) relative to the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was $181.3 million, up 24% (34% in local currency). Adjusted EPS was $2.29, up 25% versus the prior year. GAAP EPS from continuing operations for the year was $0.59, compared to $0.54 in the prior year and was impacted by one-time transaction costs and stock-based compensation totalling $1.20 per share, both related to the separation from FirstService Corporation on June 1, 2015. Full year adjusted EPS and GAAP EPS would have been approximately $0.31 higher if foreign exchange rates were held constant at prior year rates.

“2015 was a transformational year for Colliers International in so many ways. It was our first as a stand-alone public company; we strengthened our leadership team for the future; we reported record revenues and profits despite foreign currency headwinds; exceeded our double-digit margin target we set five years ago, one year earlier than expected; further strengthened an already strong balance sheet; and declared and paid our inaugural semi-annual dividend,” said Jay S. Hennick, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Perhaps most importantly, our real estate service professionals worldwide continued to demonstrate the Colliers difference by delivering exceptional results for our clients, resulting in strong internal growth across all service lines. Finally, with several acquisitions completed during the quarter and three more acquisitions completed after yearend, Colliers International is advantageously positioned to build further momentum in 2016 while navigating the ever changing global markets in which we operate,” he concluded. 

About Colliers International Group Inc.
Colliers International Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CIGI) (TSX:CIG) is an industry leading global real estate service company with more than 16,100 professionals operating from 554 offices in 66 countries. With an enterprising culture and significant insider ownership, Colliers professionals provide a full range of services to real estate occupiers, owners and investors worldwide. Colliers people think differently, share great ideas and create effective solutions that help clients accelerate their success. Services include brokerage, global corporate solutions, investment sales and capital markets, project management and workplace solutions, property and asset management, consulting, valuation and appraisal services, and customized research and thought leadership. Colliers International has been ranked among the top 100 outsourcing firms by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals’ Global Outsourcing for 10 consecutive years, more than any other real estate services firm.

For the latest news from Colliers, visit Colliers.com or follow us on Twitter (@Colliers) and LinkedIn.

Consolidated Revenues

Consolidated revenues for the fourth quarter grew 11% on a local currency basis, led by growth in lease brokerage in the Americas and EMEA, particularly the US and UK, and strong growth in outsourcing & advisory services. Fourth quarter consolidated internal revenue growth in local currencies was 8% with the balance from acquisitions.

Consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015 grew 18% on a local currency basis, led by 32% growth in outsourcing & advisory services from significant new business wins in project management and workplace solutions, as well as recently completed acquisitions. Consolidated internal revenue growth in local currencies was 11%. For the year, outsourcing & advisory services represented 37% of total revenues, up from 34% in the prior year, demonstrating the success the Company is achieving in executing its long-term growth plan to generate a higher percentage of non-transaction revenue.

Segmented Fourth Quarter Results
The Americas region’s revenues totalled $276.4 million for the fourth quarter compared to $254.8 million in the prior year quarter, which equated to a 13% increase on a local currency basis, and led by the US. Revenue growth was comprised of 6% internal growth and 7% from acquisitions. Internal growth for the quarter was driven by increased lease brokerage revenues as well as growth in outsourcing & advisory revenues. Adjusted EBITDA was $35.2 million, up from $32.0 million the prior year quarter.

EMEA region revenues totalled $151.7 million for the fourth quarter compared to $149.6 million in the prior year quarter, which equated to a 13% increase on a local currency basis. Revenue growth was comprised of 12% internal growth and 1% from acquisitions. Internal growth was driven by strong sales and lease brokerage activity, particularly in the UK. Adjusted EBITDA was $25.5 million, up 12% from the prior year quarter.

Asia Pacific region revenues totalled $127.9 million for the fourth quarter compared to $137.1 million in the prior year quarter, which equated to a 6% increase on a local currency basis, entirely from internal growth with significant foreign exchange headwinds impacting results in US dollar reporting currency. Growth was driven by solid lease brokerage activity in the Australia and New Zealand markets. Adjusted EBITDA was $21.1 million versus $23.4 million in the prior year quarter, and was impacted by foreign exchange on translation of earnings into US dollars.

Global corporate costs were $2.8 million in the fourth quarter, relative to $11.1 million in the prior year period, and were positively impacted by lower performance-based incentive compensation and lower compensation costs due to reduced headcount.

Segmented Full Year Results
The Americas region’s revenues totalled $889.7 million for the full year compared to $823.1 million in the prior year, which equated to a 13% increase on a local currency basis. Revenue growth was comprised of 8% internal growth and 5% from acquisitions, all attributable to US operations. Internal growth for the year was driven by increased outsourcing & advisory and lease brokerage revenues. Adjusted EBITDA was $88.7 million, up 20% from the prior year as a result of operating leverage.

EMEA region revenues totalled $446.1 million for the year compared to $352.4 million in the prior year, which equated to a 41% increase on a local currency basis. Revenue growth was comprised of 21% internal growth and 20% from acquisitions. Internal growth was driven by strong outsourcing & advisory revenues and solid growth in lease brokerage, primarily in the UK. Adjusted EBITDA was $56.6 million, up 34% from the prior year.

Asia Pacific region revenues totalled $385.1 million for the year compared to $406.0 million in the prior year, which equated to a 7% increase on a local currency basis, entirely from internal growth with significant foreign exchange headwinds impacting results in US dollar reporting currency. Growth was driven by solid lease and sales brokerage activity, particularly in the Australia and New Zealand markets. Adjusted EBITDA was $47.8 million versus $53.3 million in the prior year, and was impacted by foreign exchange on translation of earnings into US dollars.

Global corporate costs were $11.8 million in the year, relative to $22.5 million in the prior year, and were positively impacted by lower performance-based incentive compensation, foreign currency translation and lower compensation costs due to reduced headcount.

Conference Call
Colliers will be holding a conference call on Friday, February 5, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the quarter’s results. The call, as well as a supplemental slide presentation, will be simultaneously web cast and can be accessed live or after the call at www.colliers.com in the “Investors / Newsroom” section.

Forward-looking Statements
This press release includes or may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include the Company’s financial performance outlook and statements regarding goals, beliefs, strategies, objectives, plans or current expectations. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements contemplated in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include: economic conditions, especially as they relate to commercial and consumer credit conditions and consumer spending, particularly in regions where our business may be concentrated; commercial real estate property values, vacancy rates and general conditions of financial liquidity for real estate transactions; trends in pricing and risk assumption for commercial real estate services; the effect of significant movements in average cap rates across different property types; a reduction by companies in their reliance on outsourcing for their commercial real estate needs, which would affect revenues and operating performance; competition in the markets served by the Company; the ability to attract new clients and to retain major clients and renew related contracts; the ability to retain and incentivize producers; increases in wage and benefit costs; the effects of changes in interest rates on the cost of borrowing; unexpected increases in operating costs, such as insurance, workers’ compensation and health care; changes in the frequency or severity of insurance incidents relative to historical experience; the effects of changes in foreign exchange rates in relation to the US dollar on the Company’s Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, UK pound and Euro denominated revenues and expenses; the ability to identify and make acquisitions at reasonable prices and successfully integrate acquired operations; the ability to execute on, and adapt to, information technology strategies and trends; the ability to comply with laws and regulations related to our global operations, including real estate licensure, labour and employment laws and regulations, as well as the anti-corruption laws and trade sanctions; political conditions, including political instability and any outbreak or escalation of terrorism or hostilities and the impact thereof on our business; and changes in government laws and policies at the federal, state/provincial or local level that may adversely impact the business.

Additional information and risk factors are identified in the Company’s other periodic filings with Canadian and US securities regulators (which factors are adopted herein and a copy of which can be obtained at www.sedar.com). Forward looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Except as required by applicable law, Colliers undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Summary financial information is provided in this press release. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's annual consolidated financial statements and MD&A to be made available at www.sedar.com.

Notes
1. Reconciliation of net earnings from continuing operations to adjusted EBITDA:

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net earnings from continuing operations, adjusted to exclude: (i) income tax; (ii) other expense (income); (iii) interest expense; (iv) depreciation and amortization; (v) acquisition-related items; (vi) Spin-off stock-based compensation costs; (vii) Spin-off transaction costs; (viii) corporate costs allocated to Spin-off and (ix) stock-based compensation expense. 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 from continuing operations 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 (loss) from continuing operations to adjusted EBITDA appears below.

2. Reconciliation of net earnings from continuing operations and diluted net earnings per common share from continuing operations to adjusted net earnings and adjusted EPS:

Adjusted EPS is defined as diluted net earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations, adjusted for the effect, after income tax, of: (i) the non-controlling interest redemption increment; (ii) amortization expense related to intangible assets recognized in connection with acquisitions; (iii) acquisition-related items; (iv) Spin-off stock-based compensation costs; (v) Spin-off transaction costs; (vi) corporate costs allocated to Spin-off and (vii) stock-based compensation expense. 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 EPS is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered as a substitute for diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations, 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 (loss) from continuing operations to adjusted net earnings and of diluted net earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations to adjusted EPS appears below.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss)
(1) Acquisition-related items include transaction costs, contingent acquisition consideration fair value adjustments and contingent acquisition consideration-related compensation expense.
(2) Stock-based compensation costs related to the exchange of non-controlling interests in the former Commercial Real Estate Services division for publicly traded shares of Colliers International Group Inc., in connection with the Spin-off completed on June 1, 2015.
(3) Transaction costs related to the Spin-off of FirstService completed on June 1, 2015.
(4) Discontinued operations include FirstService, which was spun off on June 1, 2015; a commercial real estate consulting business which was sold in July 2014; and an REO rental operation which was sold in April 2014.
(5) See definition and reconciliation above.