Colliers International reports strong financial results for second quarter

Operating highlights:

TORONTO, July 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Colliers International Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CIGI) (TSX:CIG) today reported strong financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2016. All amounts are in US dollars.

Revenues for the second quarter were $482.5 million, an 18% increase (21% in local currency) relative to the same quarter in the prior year and Adjusted EBITDA (note 1) was $52.8 million, up 18% (23% in local currency). Adjusted EPS (note 2) was $0.63, up 9% versus the prior year quarter, impacted by a higher income tax rate. Second quarter Adjusted EPS would have been approximately $0.03 higher excluding foreign exchange impacts. GAAP Operating Earnings were $37.6 million, relative to a loss of $16.7 million in the prior year period. GAAP EPS from continuing operations was $0.55 per share in the quarter, versus a loss of $0.79 per share for the same quarter a year ago. Second quarter GAAP EPS would have been approximately $0.03 higher excluding changes in foreign exchange rates. Prior year GAAP Operating Earnings and GAAP EPS results included one-time costs related to the separation from FirstService Corporation completed on June 1, 2015.

For the six months ended June 30, 2016, revenues were $858.6 million, a 15% increase (19% in local currency) relative to the comparable prior year period and Adjusted EBITDA was $75.0 million, up 27% (32% in local currency). Adjusted EPS was $0.82, up 19% versus the prior year period, impacted by a higher income tax rate. Year-to-date Adjusted EPS would have been approximately $0.05 higher excluding foreign exchange impacts.  GAAP Operating Earnings were $46.5 million, relative to a loss of $14.4 million in the prior year period. GAAP EPS from continuing operations for the six month period was $0.37 per share, compared to a loss of $0.58 per share in the prior year period. Year-to-date GAAP EPS would have been approximately $0.05 higher excluding changes in foreign exchange rates. Prior year GAAP Operating Earnings and GAAP EPS results included one-time costs related to the separation from FirstService Corporation completed on June 1, 2015.

“Colliers delivered excellent results in the second quarter despite key operating currencies declining against the US dollar and negatively impacting our results on a reported basis. Strong internal growth continued in most major markets, especially in the Americas region,” said Jay S. Hennick, Chairman and CEO of Colliers International. “Since the beginning of the second quarter, and shortly after, we have expanded operations in Florida, Michigan and New York and added to our project and development management services business in the Northeast US. With a disciplined growth strategy, long-term track record of success and strong balance sheet, Colliers International is better positioned than ever to continue capitalizing on growth opportunities and strengthening the Colliers International brand and global platform,” he concluded.

About Colliers International Group Inc.
Colliers International Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CIGI) (TSX:CIG) is an industry leading global real estate services company with more than 16,000 skilled professionals operating in 66 countries. With an enterprising culture and significant employee ownership, Colliers professionals provide a full range of services to real estate occupiers, owners and investors worldwide. Services include strategic advice and execution for property sales, leasing and finance; global corporate solutions; property, facility and project management; workplace solutions; appraisal, valuation and tax consulting; customized research; and thought leadership consulting.

Colliers professionals think differently, share great ideas and offer thoughtful and innovative advice that help clients accelerate their success. Colliers has been ranked among the top 100 outsourcing firms by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals’ Global Outsourcing for 11 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 second quarter grew 21% on a local currency basis, with each service line contributing strongly. Consolidated internal revenue growth in local currencies was 11% with the balance coming from acquisitions completed during the past year.

For the six months ended June 30, 2016, consolidated revenues grew 19% on a local currency basis with each service line contributing strongly. Year-to-date consolidated internal revenue growth in local currencies was 9% with the balance coming from acquisitions completed during the past year.

Segmented Quarterly Results
The Americas region’s revenues totalled $263.0 million for the second quarter compared to $205.8 million in the prior year quarter, up 28% (30% on a local currency basis). Local currency revenue growth was comprised of 14% internal growth and 16% growth from recent acquisitions. Internal growth for the quarter was driven by Sales Brokerage and Outsourcing & Advisory revenues in the US and Canada. Adjusted EBITDA was $28.4 million, up 63% from the prior year quarter as a result of operating leverage and the impact of acquisitions. GAAP Operating Earnings were $22.6 million, up 89%.

EMEA region revenues totalled $117.2 million for the second quarter compared to $105.1 million in the prior year quarter, up 11% (14% on a local currency basis). Local currency revenue growth was comprised of 6% internal growth and 8% growth from recent acquisitions. Internal growth was driven by strong Outsourcing & Advisory services activity, particularly project management. Adjusted EBITDA was $17.1 million, versus $17.8 million in the prior year quarter, and was primarily impacted by revenue mix, with project management assignments generating lower margins in the quarter compared to other services, and the timing of certain expenses. GAAP Operating Earnings were $11.7 million, versus $13.1 million in the prior year quarter.

Asia Pacific region revenues totalled $102.1 million for the second quarter compared to $98.7 million in the prior year quarter, up 3% (9% on a local currency basis), entirely from internal growth with foreign exchange impacting results in the US dollar reporting currency. Growth was driven by solid Sales Brokerage activity in the Australia and New Zealand markets, offset by a modest decline in revenues in Asia. Adjusted EBITDA was $10.5 million versus $12.1 million in the prior year quarter, and was impacted by significant additions of key personnel in several Asian markets. GAAP Operating Earnings were $9.1 million, versus $10.7 million in the prior year period.

Global corporate costs were $3.1 million in the second quarter, relative to $2.7 million in the prior year period. The GAAP Operating Loss for the second quarter was $5.8 million, relative to $52.5 million in the prior period, with the prior period impacted by costs related to the separation from FirstService Corporation completed on June 1, 2015.

Consolidation of Global Leadership to Toronto
During the second quarter, coinciding with Colliers’ first anniversary as an independent public company, the Company implemented a plan to consolidate global leadership in Toronto, with Seattle and Vancouver continuing as shared services centres. The plan resulted in the downsizing of the Seattle office and a modest headcount reduction. Restructuring costs incurred during the quarter totalled $2.8 million and are reflected as reconciling items in the computation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS. The plan will be completed, and additional costs of approximately $1.5 million will be incurred, during the third quarter of 2016.

Conference Call
Colliers will be holding a conference call on Tuesday, July 26, 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 factors are identified in the Company’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2015 under the heading “Risk Factors” (which factors are adopted herein and a copy of which can be obtained at www.sedar.com) and other periodic filings with Canadian and US securities regulators. 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 quarterly financial statements and MD&A to be made available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Notes
1. Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) 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) corporate costs allocated to spin-off; (vii) restructuring costs and (viii) stock-based compensation expense. We use adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our own operating performance and our ability to incur 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 from continuing operations to adjusted EBITDA appears below.

2. Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) from continuing operations and diluted net earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations to adjusted net earnings and adjusted earnings per share:

Adjusted earnings per share 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) corporate costs allocated to spin-off; (v) restructuring costs and (vi) 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 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 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 from continuing operations to adjusted net earnings and of diluted net earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations to adjusted earnings per share 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 Corporation completed on June 1, 2015.
(4) Discontinued operations comprise FirstService Corporation, which was spun off on June 1, 2015.
(5) See definition and reconciliation above.

 (1) Operating loss of Corporate for the three month and six month periods ended June 30, 2015 includes $35,400 of spin-off stock-based compensation costs and $13,134 of spin-off transaction costs.