MONTREAL, Quebec and SARASOTA, Florida, March 13, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intertape Polymer Group Inc. (TSX:ITP) (the "Company") today released results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2018. All amounts in this press release are denominated in US dollars unless otherwise indicated and all percentages are calculated on unrounded numbers. For more information, you may refer to the Company's management's discussion and analysis and audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2018 ("Financial Statements").
“We delivered solid results in 2018, growing our revenue and adjusted EBITDA both organically and with acquisitions, and met our guidance for the year," said Greg Yull, President and CEO of IPG. "More importantly, we have put in place what we believe are key elements to deliver sustainable growth and performance moving forward. We have deployed more than $160 million in an extensive capital program in the past two years, including approximately $63 million in three new greenfield facilities, including the second line at the Midland, North Carolina facility for water-activated tapes and in India at our carton sealing tapes and woven products facilities. Capital that will make a more meaningful contribution to our results in the second half of calendar 2019. This capital deployment was part of our strategy to build a world-class, competitive, low-cost, manufacturing base. On the acquisition front, we strengthened our product bundle with the addition of protective packaging solutions from the Polyair acquisition and expanded our geographic and competitive footprint with the acquisition of Maiweave. As we move into 2019, we are actively integrating these businesses, as well as delivering on the synergies from the prior acquisitions of Cantech and Airtrax. Our main priorities in 2019 are commissioning the two Indian facilities on time and on budget by mid-year, scaling production at those facilities and the second Midland production line, and driving cost and revenue synergies in Cantech, Polyair and Maiweave."
Fourth Quarter 2018 Highlights (as compared to fourth quarter 2017):
Fiscal Year 2018 Highlights (as compared to fiscal year 2017):
(1) | "Polyair" refers to the acquisition by the Company of 100% of the outstanding equity value in Polyair Inter Pack, Inc.on August 3, 2018. |
(2) | "Airtrax" refers to the acquisition by the Company of substantially all of the assets and assumption of certain liabilities of Airtrax Polymers Private Limited on May 11, 2018 as part of a larger transaction involving Capstone Polyweave Private Limited (doing business as “Capstone”) and its minority shareholders. |
(3) | Non-GAAP financial measure. For definitions and reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below. |
(4) | "Cantech" refers to the acquisition by the Company of substantially all of the assets and assumption of certain liabilities of Canadian Technical Tape Ltd., which includes the shares of Cantech Industries Inc., Cantech's US subsidiary, on July 1, 2017. |
(5) | On September 12, 2018, the Company made an $11.3 million discretionary contribution to its US defined benefit pension plans. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recognized a net federal tax benefit of approximately $1.3 million primarily due to the discretionary contribution deducted on the 2017 tax return at the higher 2017 US corporate tax rate, partially offset by the reversal of the related deferred tax asset recorded using the lower US corporate tax rate provided under the new US tax reform legislation. |
(6) | "Senior Unsecured Notes" refers to the Company's offering of $250.0 million 7% senior unsecured notes due in 2026 which closed on October 15, 2018 and resulted in net proceeds of $244.9 million used to repay a portion of the borrowings outstanding under the Company's existing credit facility. |
(7) | “South Carolina Flood” refers to significant rainfall and subsequent severe flooding on October 4, 2015 that resulted in considerable damage to and the permanent closure of the Columbia, South Carolina manufacturing facility eight to nine months in advance of the planned shutdown. |
Other Highlights:
Outlook
The Company's expectations for fiscal year 2019 are as follows:
Conference Call
A conference call to discuss the Company's 2018 fourth quarter and annual results will be held Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at 10 A.M. Eastern Time. Participants may dial 877-291-4570 (USA & Canada) and 647-788-4919 (International).
AN ACCOMPANYING PRESENTATION WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE. PLEASE CLICK THE LINK OR TYPE INTO YOUR BROWSER TO ACCESS:
https://www.itape.com/investor%20relations/events%20and%20presentations/investor%20presentations
You may access a replay of the call by dialing 800-585-8367 (USA & Canada) or 416-621-4642 (International) and entering Access Code 7181929. The recording will be available from March 13, 2019 at 1:00 P.M. until April 13, 2019 at 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time.
About Intertape Polymer Group Inc.
Intertape Polymer Group Inc. is a recognized leader in the development, manufacture and sale of a variety of paper and film based pressure-sensitive and water-activated tapes, polyethylene and specialized polyolefin films, protective packaging, engineered coated products and complementary packaging systems for industrial and retail use. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec and Sarasota, Florida, the Company employs approximately 3,500 employees with operations in 29 locations, including 22 manufacturing facilities in North America, two in Asia and one in Europe.
For information about the Company, visit www.itape.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), which are made in reliance upon the protections provided by such legislation for forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including statements regarding integration of recently acquired businesses, the Company's primary priorities for 2019, the Company’s commitment to capital projects and driving cost and revenue synergies from recently acquired businesses; the Company’s anticipated amount of capital expenditures in 2019; the Company’s expected strategic and financial benefits from its ongoing capital investment, product development, manufacturing facility expansion and merger and acquisition programs; dividends; the Company’s expected revenue and synergies from the Maiweave acquisition; the Company’s organic growth expectations; and the Company's fiscal year 2019 outlook, including Adjusted EBITDA, capital expenditures, effective tax rate and income tax expenses and revenue, may constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections made by the Company's management. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "continue," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "plan," "foresee," "believe" or "seek" or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements, by their nature, involve risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements are also subject to assumptions concerning, among other things: business conditions and growth or declines in the Company's industry, the Company's customers' industries and the general economy; the anticipated benefits from the Company's manufacturing facility closures, manufacturing rationalization initiatives, greenfield developments, and other restructuring efforts; the anticipated benefits from the Company’s manufacturing facility capacity expansions; the impact of fluctuations in raw material prices and freight costs; the anticipated benefits from the Company's acquisitions and partnerships; the anticipated benefits from the Company's capital expenditures; the quality and market reception of the Company's products; the Company's anticipated business strategies; risks and costs inherent in litigation; the Company's ability to maintain and improve quality and customer service; anticipated trends in the Company's business; the expected strategic and financial benefits from the Company's ongoing capital investment and mergers and acquisitions programs; anticipated cash flows from the Company's operations; availability of funds under the Company's 2018 Credit Facility; the Company's flexibility to allocate capital as a result of the Senior Unsecured Notes offering; and the Company's ability to continue to control costs. The Company can give no assurance that these estimates and expectations will prove to have been correct. Actual outcomes and results may, and often do, differ from what is expressed, implied or projected in such forward-looking statements, and such differences may be material. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. For additional information regarding important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and other risks and uncertainties, and the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements, you are encouraged to read "Item 3 Key Information - Risk Factors", "Item 5 Operating and Financial Review and Prospects (Management's Discussion & Analysis)" and statements located elsewhere in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the other statements and factors contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators and the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Each of these forward-looking statements speaks only as of the date of this press release. The Company will not update these statements unless applicable securities laws require it to do so.
Note to readers: Complete consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion & Analysis are available on the Company's website at www.itape.com in the Investor Relations section and under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Intertape Polymer Group Inc. | ||||||||||||
Consolidated Earnings | ||||||||||||
Periods ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(In thousands of US dollars, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||
Three months ended December 31 (unaudited) | Years ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Revenue | 287,656 | 237,404 | 1,053,019 | 898,126 | ||||||||
Cost of sales | 231,015 | 183,381 | 834,136 | 696,719 | ||||||||
Gross profit | 56,641 | 54,023 | 218,883 | 201,407 | ||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 31,460 | 34,125 | 122,466 | 107,592 | ||||||||
Research expenses | 2,644 | 2,889 | 12,024 | 11,601 | ||||||||
34,104 | 37,014 | 134,490 | 119,193 | |||||||||
Operating profit before manufacturing facility closures, restructuring and other related charges | 22,537 | 17,009 | 84,393 | 82,214 | ||||||||
Manufacturing facility closures, restructuring and other related charges | 1,583 | 466 | 7,060 | 1,359 | ||||||||
Operating profit | 20,954 | 16,543 | 77,333 | 80,855 | ||||||||
Finance costs (income) | ||||||||||||
Interest | 6,713 | 2,525 | 17,072 | 7,246 | ||||||||
Other expense (income), net | 2,854 | (4,693 | ) | 3,810 | (3,398 | ) | ||||||
9,567 | (2,168 | ) | 20,882 | 3,848 | ||||||||
Earnings before income tax expense (benefit) | 11,387 | 18,711 | 56,451 | 77,007 | ||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | ||||||||||||
Current | (323 | ) | (1,064 | ) | 934 | 6,635 | ||||||
Deferred | 1,093 | (1,405 | ) | 8,868 | 6,414 | |||||||
770 | (2,469 | ) | 9,802 | 13,049 | ||||||||
Net earnings | 10,617 | 21,180 | 46,649 | 63,958 | ||||||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to: | ||||||||||||
Company shareholders | 10,634 | 21,319 | 46,753 | 64,224 | ||||||||
Non-controlling interests | (17 | ) | (139 | ) | (104 | ) | (266 | ) | ||||
10,617 | 21,180 | 46,649 | 63,958 | |||||||||
Earnings per share attributable to Company shareholders | ||||||||||||
Basic | 0.18 | 0.36 | 0.79 | 1.09 | ||||||||
Diluted | 0.18 | 0.36 | 0.79 | 1.08 |
Intertape Polymer Group Inc. | ||||||||||||
Consolidated Cash Flows | ||||||||||||
Periods ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
(In thousands of US dollars) | ||||||||||||
Three months ended December 31 (unaudited) | Years ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Net earnings | 10,617 | 21,180 | 46,649 | 63,958 | ||||||||
Adjustments to net earnings | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 13,064 | 9,867 | 44,829 | 36,138 | ||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 770 | (2,469 | ) | 9,802 | 13,049 | |||||||
Interest expense | 6,713 | 2,525 | 17,072 | 7,246 | ||||||||
Non-cash charges in connection with manufacturing facility closures, restructuring and other related charges | 901 | 149 | 6,136 | 133 | ||||||||
(Reversals of impairment) impairment of inventories | (248 | ) | 760 | 716 | 801 | |||||||
Share-based compensation expense | 371 | 6,358 | 1,914 | 3,291 | ||||||||
Pension, post-retirement and other long-term employee benefits | 680 | 655 | 2,695 | 2,730 | ||||||||
Loss (gain) on foreign exchange | 2,226 | (3,103 | ) | 1,933 | (2,578 | ) | ||||||
Other adjustments for non-cash items | 665 | (1,480 | ) | 928 | (1,958 | ) | ||||||
Income taxes paid, net | (1,238 | ) | (436 | ) | (1,577 | ) | (6,452 | ) | ||||
Contributions to defined benefit plans | (328 | ) | (915 | ) | (13,802 | ) | (4,143 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from operating activities before changes in working capital items | 34,193 | 33,091 | 117,295 | 112,215 | ||||||||
Changes in working capital items | ||||||||||||
Trade receivables | 10,905 | 9,418 | (9,660 | ) | (6,847 | ) | ||||||
Inventories | (5,409 | ) | 441 | (30,388 | ) | (9,969 | ) | |||||
Other current assets | (1,812 | ) | (752 | ) | (6,523 | ) | 89 | |||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities and share-based compensation liabilities, current | 31,459 | 17,407 | 19,215 | (1,493 | ) | |||||||
Provisions | 833 | (350 | ) | 859 | (1,863 | ) | ||||||
35,976 | 26,164 | (26,497 | ) | (20,083 | ) | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | 70,169 | 59,255 | 90,798 | 92,132 | ||||||||
INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired | (20,802 | ) | — | (165,763 | ) | (67,027 | ) | |||||
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | (18,159 | ) | (13,960 | ) | (75,781 | ) | (85,312 | ) | ||||
Purchase of intangible assets | (705 | ) | (1,868 | ) | (1,558 | ) | (1,914 | ) | ||||
Other investing activities | (388 | ) | 303 | (173 | ) | 1,338 | ||||||
Cash flows from investing activities | (40,054 | ) | (15,525 | ) | (243,275 | ) | (152,915 | ) | ||||
FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Proceeds from borrowings | 312,089 | 39,578 | 991,917 | 257,021 | ||||||||
Repayment of borrowings | (308,617 | ) | (82,576 | ) | (762,622 | ) | (162,107 | ) | ||||
Payments of debt issue costs | (5,101 | ) | (683 | ) | (7,862 | ) | (683 | ) | ||||
Interest paid | (2,830 | ) | (2,806 | ) | (10,901 | ) | (7,360 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 455 | — | 618 | 1,362 | ||||||||
Repurchases of common shares | (2,160 | ) | (1,014 | ) | (2,160 | ) | (7,451 | ) | ||||
Dividends paid | (8,089 | ) | (8,368 | ) | (32,776 | ) | (33,199 | ) | ||||
Cash outflow from capital transactions with non-controlling interest in Capstone | — | — | (2,630 | ) | — | |||||||
Acquisition of non-controlling interest in Powerband through settlement of call option | (9,869 | ) | — | (9,869 | ) | — | ||||||
Other financing activities | 263 | 668 | 452 | 154 | ||||||||
Cash flows from financing activities | (23,859 | ) | (55,201 | ) | 164,167 | 47,737 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash | 6,256 | (11,471 | ) | 11,690 | (13,046 | ) | ||||||
Effect of foreign exchange differences on cash | (242 | ) | (220 | ) | (2,132 | ) | 1,183 | |||||
Cash, beginning of period | 12,637 | 20,784 | 9,093 | 20,956 | ||||||||
Cash, end of period | 18,651 | 9,093 | 18,651 | 9,093 |
Intertape Polymer Group Inc. | ||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||
As of | ||||||
(In thousands of US dollars) | ||||||
December 31, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | |||||
$ | $ | |||||
ASSETS | ||||||
Current assets | ||||||
Cash | 18,651 | 9,093 | ||||
Trade receivables | 129,285 | 106,634 | ||||
Inventories | 190,675 | 146,804 | ||||
Other current assets | 24,395 | 16,188 | ||||
363,006 | 278,719 | |||||
Property, plant and equipment | 377,076 | 313,520 | ||||
Goodwill | 107,714 | 41,690 | ||||
Intangible assets | 122,389 | 47,318 | ||||
Deferred tax assets | 25,069 | 27,627 | ||||
Other assets | 9,586 | 6,998 | ||||
Total assets | 1,004,840 | 715,872 | ||||
LIABILITIES | ||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 154,838 | 104,812 | ||||
Share-based compensation liabilities, current | 5,066 | 10,265 | ||||
Call option redemption liability | — | 12,725 | ||||
Provisions, current | 2,262 | 657 | ||||
Borrowings, current | 14,389 | 14,979 | ||||
176,555 | 143,438 | |||||
Borrowings, non-current | 485,596 | 264,484 | ||||
Pension, post-retirement and other long-term employee benefits | 14,898 | 29,298 | ||||
Share-based compensation liabilities, non-current | 4,125 | 4,984 | ||||
Non-controlling interest put options | 10,499 | — | ||||
Deferred tax liabilities | 42,321 | 13,769 | ||||
Provisions, non-current | 4,194 | 3,221 | ||||
Other liabilities | 5,224 | 1,956 | ||||
743,412 | 461,150 | |||||
EQUITY | ||||||
Capital stock | 350,267 | 350,759 | ||||
Contributed surplus | 17,074 | 17,530 | ||||
Deficit | (95,814 | ) | (106,687 | ) | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (21,680 | ) | (13,469 | ) | ||
Total equity attributable to Company shareholders | 249,847 | 248,133 | ||||
Non-controlling interests | 11,581 | 6,589 | ||||
Total equity | 261,428 | 254,722 | ||||
Total liabilities and equity | 1,004,840 | 715,872 |
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined under applicable securities legislation, including adjusted net earnings (loss), adjusted earnings (loss) per share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flows (please see the "Adjusted Net Earnings (Loss) and Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share" section below for a description and reconciliation of adjusted net earnings (loss) and adjusted earnings (loss) per share, “EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA” section below for a description and reconciliation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, and the “Free Cash Flows” section below for a description and reconciliation of free cash flows). In determining these measures, the Company excludes certain items which are otherwise included in determining the comparable GAAP financial measures. The Company believes such non-GAAP financial measures improve the period-to-period comparability of the Company’s results and provide investors with more insight into, and an additional tool to understand and assess, the performance of the Company's ongoing core business operations. As required by applicable securities legislation, the Company has provided definitions of those measures and reconciliations of those measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Investors and other readers are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures set forth below and should consider non-GAAP financial measures only as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for or as a superior measure to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Adjusted Net Earnings (Loss) and Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share
A reconciliation of the Company’s adjusted net earnings (loss), a non-GAAP financial measure, to IPG Net Earnings, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is set out in the adjusted net earnings (loss) reconciliation table below. Adjusted net earnings (loss) should not be construed as IPG Net Earnings as determined by GAAP. The Company defines adjusted net earnings (loss) as IPG Net Earnings before (i) manufacturing facility closures, restructuring and other related charges (recoveries); (ii) advisory fees and other costs associated with mergers and acquisitions activity, including due diligence, integration and certain non-cash purchase price accounting adjustments ("M&A Costs"); (iii) share-based compensation expense (benefit); (iv) impairment of goodwill; (v) impairment (reversal of impairment) of long-lived assets and other assets; (vi) write-down on assets classified as held-for-sale; (vii) (gain) loss on disposal of property, plant, and equipment; (viii) other discrete items as shown in the table below; and (ix) the income tax effect of these items. The term “adjusted net earnings (loss)” does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Adjusted net earnings (loss) is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to IPG Net Earnings as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. The Company has included this non-GAAP financial measure because it believes that it permits investors to make a more meaningful comparison of the Company’s performance between periods presented by excluding certain non-cash expenses and non-recurring expenses. In addition, adjusted net earnings (loss) is used by management in evaluating the Company’s performance because it believes it provides an indicator of the Company’s performance that is often more meaningful than GAAP financial measures for the reasons stated in the previous sentence.
Adjusted earnings (loss) per share is also presented in the following table and is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted earnings (loss) per share should not be construed as IPG Net Earnings per share as determined by GAAP. The Company defines adjusted earnings (loss) per share as adjusted net earnings (loss) divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, both basic and diluted. The term “adjusted earnings (loss) per share” does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Adjusted earnings (loss) per share is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to IPG Net Earnings per share as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. The Company has included this non-GAAP financial measure because it believes that it permits investors to make a more meaningful comparison of the Company’s performance between periods presented by excluding certain non-cash expenses and non-recurring expenses. In addition, adjusted earnings (loss) per share is used by management in evaluating the Company’s performance because it believes it provides an indicator of the Company’s performance that is often more meaningful than GAAP financial measures for the reasons stated in the previous sentence.
Adjusted Net Earnings Reconciliation to IPG Net Earnings | |||||||||||
(In millions of US dollars, except per share amounts and share numbers) | |||||||||||
(Unaudited) | |||||||||||
Three months ended December 31, | Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
IPG Net Earnings | 10.6 | 21.3 | 46.8 | 64.2 | |||||||
Manufacturing facility closures, restructuring and other related charges | 1.6 | 0.5 | 7.1 | 1.4 | |||||||
M&A Costs | 2.5 | 2.2 | 9.5 | 7.5 | |||||||
Share-based compensation expense | 0.4 | 6.4 | 1.9 | 3.3 | |||||||
Impairment of long-lived assets and other assets | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | |||||||
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | |||||||
Income tax effect of these items | (0.9 | ) | (3.1 | ) | (3.3 | ) | (3.5 | ) | |||
Other item: special income tax events(1) | — | (9.6 | ) | — | (9.6 | ) | |||||
Adjusted net earnings | 14.2 | 17.9 | 62.2 | 63.7 | |||||||
IPG Net Earnings per share | |||||||||||
Basic | 0.18 | 0.36 | 0.79 | 1.09 | |||||||
Diluted | 0.18 | 0.36 | 0.79 | 1.08 | |||||||
Adjusted earnings per share | |||||||||||
Basic | 0.24 | 0.30 | 1.06 | 1.08 | |||||||
Diluted | 0.24 | 0.30 | 1.05 | 1.07 | |||||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | |||||||||||
Basic | 58,831,432 | 58,831,518 | 58,815,526 | 59,072,119 | |||||||
Diluted | 59,055,824 | 59,154,509 | 59,084,175 | 59,587,769 |
(1) | Represents the impact of the net tax benefit in the fourth quarter of 2017 resulting mainly from the remeasurement of the US net deferred tax liability using the lower US corporate tax rate provided under the TCJA. |
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
A reconciliation of the Company’s EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to net earnings, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is set out in the EBITDA reconciliation table below. EBITDA should not be construed as earnings before income taxes, net earnings or cash flows from operating activities as determined by GAAP. The Company defines EBITDA as net earnings before (i) interest and other finance costs (income); (ii) income tax expense (benefit); (iii) amortization of intangible assets; and (iv) depreciation of property, plant and equipment. The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA before (i) manufacturing facility closures, restructuring and other related charges (recoveries); (ii) advisory fees and other costs associated with mergers and acquisitions activity, including due diligence, integration and certain non-cash purchase price accounting adjustments ("M&A Costs"); (iii) share-based compensation expense (benefit); (iv) impairment of goodwill; (v) impairment (reversal of impairment) of long-lived assets and other assets; (vi) write-down on assets classified as held-for-sale; (vii) (gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment; and (viii) other discrete items as shown in the table below. The terms "EBITDA" and "adjusted EBITDA" do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by GAAP and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to cash flows from operating activities or as alternatives to net earnings as indicators of the Company’s operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. The Company has included these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes that they allow investors to make a more meaningful comparison between periods of the Company’s performance, underlying business trends and the Company’s ongoing operations. The Company further believes these measures may be useful in comparing its operating performance with the performance of other companies that may have different financing and capital structures, and tax rates. Adjusted EBITDA excludes costs that are not considered by management to be representative of the Company’s underlying core operating performance, including certain non-operating expenses, non-cash expenses and non-recurring expenses. In addition, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are used by management to set targets and are metrics that, among others, can be used by the Company’s Human Resources and Compensation Committee to establish performance bonus metrics and payout, and by the Company’s lenders and investors to evaluate the Company’s performance and ability to service its debt, finance capital expenditures and acquisitions, and provide for the payment of dividends to shareholders. The Company experiences normal business seasonality that typically results in adjusted EBITDA that is proportionately higher in the second, third and fourth quarters of the year relative to the first quarter.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation to Net Earnings | ||||||||||||
(In millions of US dollars) | ||||||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||||||
Three months ended December 31, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Net earnings | 10.6 | 21.2 | 46.6 | 64.0 | ||||||||
Interest and other finance costs (income) | 9.6 | (2.2 | ) | 20.9 | 3.8 | |||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 0.8 | (2.5 | ) | 9.8 | 13.0 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 13.1 | 9.9 | 44.8 | 36.1 | ||||||||
EBITDA | 34.0 | 26.4 | 122.2 | 117.0 | ||||||||
Manufacturing facility closures, restructuring and other related charges | 1.6 | 0.5 | 7.1 | 1.4 | ||||||||
M&A Costs | 2.5 | 2.2 | 9.5 | 7.5 | ||||||||
Share-based compensation expense | 0.4 | 6.4 | 1.9 | 3.3 | ||||||||
Impairment of long-lived assets and other assets | — | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | ||||||||
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment | — | — | 0.2 | 0.3 | ||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | 38.5 | 35.7 | 140.9 | 129.6 |
Free Cash Flows
Free cash flows is defined by the Company as cash flows from operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment.
The Company is including free cash flows, a non-GAAP financial measure, because it is used by management and investors in evaluating the Company’s performance and liquidity. Free cash flows does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Free cash flows should not be interpreted to represent the total cash movement for the period as described in the Company's Financial Statements, or to represent residual cash flow available for discretionary purposes, as it excludes other mandatory expenditures such as debt service.
A reconciliation of free cash flows to cash flows from operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is set forth below.
Free Cash Flows Reconciliation to Cash Flows from Operating Activities | ||||||||||||
(In millions of US dollars) | ||||||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||||||
Three months ended December 31, | Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | 70.2 | 59.3 | 90.8 | 92.1 | ||||||||
Less purchases of property, plant and equipment | (18.2 | ) | (14.0 | ) | (75.8 | ) | (85.3 | ) | ||||
Free cash flows | 52.0 | 45.3 | 15.0 | 6.8 |