Altus Group Reports Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Altus Analytics Delivers Strong Growth in Recurring Revenues

TORONTO, Nov. 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Altus Group Limited (ʺAltus Groupʺ or “the Company”) (TSX: AIF), a leading provider of software, data solutions and independent advisory services to the global commercial real estate industry, announced today its financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Third Quarter 2018 Summary:

• Consolidated revenues were $120.6 million, up 3.0%
• Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $16.5 million, down 29.2% reflecting quarterly variability of the Property Tax business and product development investments at Altus Analytics
• Altus Analytics revenues increased 9.1% to $44.1 million and adjusted EBITDA decreased by 14.7% to $10.1 million reflecting continued investments 
• Altus Analytics recurring* revenues (as defined below) grew 22.7% to $34.2 million
• Commercial Real Estate (“CRE”) Consulting revenues were up moderately to $65.3 million and adjusted EBITDA was $11.2 million, down by 41.2% reflecting quarterly variability of the Property Tax business  
• Consolidated loss, in accordance with IFRS, was $1.7 million
• Adjusted earnings per share (“adjusted EPS”) decreased 35.3% to $0.22
• Acquired Taliance Group SAS (“Taliance”), enhancing Altus Analytics offerings with global cloud-based solutions for alternative investment market

“We’re pleased that our ongoing investments in the modernization of our offerings continue to drive sustained topline growth with rising recurring revenues while significantly enhancing our value proposition for clients,” commented Robert Courteau, Chief Executive Officer at Altus Group.  “As the CRE industry continues to embrace more technological innovation, we remain exceptionally well positioned to serve this market with our industry-standard analytics solutions and technology-enabled expert services.”

*Recurring revenues represent revenues related to software and data subscriptions, maintenance for perpetual licenses and appraisal management solutions, where the contract value for software subscriptions is recognized ratably over the contract term. Consistent with recurring revenues disclosed in prior years, this depicts the economics of renewable contracts.

Summary of Operating and Financial Performance by Business Segment:

All amounts are in Canadian dollars and percentages are in comparison to the third quarter of 2017.

⁽¹⁾ Restated for the impact of IFRS 15.

On a consolidated basis, third quarter revenues grew 3.0% year-over-year to $120.6 million while adjusted EBITDA decreased by 29.2% to $16.5 million.  Exchange rate movements against the Canadian dollar, namely the U.S. and U.K. currencies, impacted consolidated revenues by 1.9% and adjusted EBITDA by 3.2%.  Acquisitions contributed 3.9% to revenue growth. 

Consolidated Profit (loss), in accordance with IFRS, was down 123.5% to $(1.7) million compared to $7.3 million in the same period in 2017, impacted by lower adjusted EBITDA, increased employee compensation expenses and amortization of intangibles from recent acquisitions, offset by a decrease in income tax expense.  Profit (loss) was $(0.04) per share basic and diluted, compared to $0.19 per share, basic and diluted, in the same period in 2017.

Adjusted EPS was $0.22 in the third quarter, down 35.3% compared to $0.34 in the third quarter of 2017.

Altus Analytics continued to deliver robust performance with revenues increasing 9.1% to $44.1 million.  Revenue growth was driven by higher license subscriptions, maintenance and appraisal management revenues, including the acquisition of Taliance which added 3.3% to revenues, offset by lower perpetual license revenues.  Due diligence revenues were also lower in the quarter.  Recurring revenues, as defined above, grew 22.7% to $34.2 million.  Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 14.7% to $10.1 million, impacted by increased investments for software product development activities, including cloud functionality and the integration of Taliance.  Changes in the exchange rates against the Canadian dollar impacted revenues by 3.6% and adjusted EBITDA by 3.6%.  Looking out into the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019, given the strength of the engagement and product pipeline, management expects Altus Analytics revenues to grow, in percentage terms, in the mid-teens to low twenties range. 

CRE Consulting revenues increased moderately to $65.3 million while adjusted EBITDA decreased 41.2% to $11.2 million, impacted by quarterly variability at Property Tax.  Property Tax revenues decreased 1.1% to $38.9 million while adjusted EBITDA decreased by 53.0% to $7.2 million.  Despite the additional revenues provided by CVS (acquired in November 2017), financial performance was impacted by process changes in Ontario  and the U.K. that has caused a deferral in case settlements in the current appeal cycle.  However, management expects to return to normalized settlement volumes in Ontario and increasing volumes in the U.K., and accordingly expect record revenues in Property Tax in 2019.  Valuation and Cost Advisory revenues increased by 6.1% to $26.4 million, and adjusted EBITDA improved by 8.4% to $4.0 million.  Changes in the exchange rates against the Canadian dollar impacted CRE Consulting revenues by 1.3% and adjusted EBITDA by 1.6%.

Geomatics’ performance continued to be impacted by ongoing market challenges however cost cutting initiatives undertaken in the first quarter yielded improved earnings.  Revenues declined by 9.9% to $11.3 million, however adjusted EBITDA improved by 21.7% to $1.8 million, resulting in healthier (year-over-year and sequential) adjusted EBITDA margins of 16.0%. 

Corporate Costs were $6.6 million, compared to $9.0 million in the same period in 2017. The decrease in corporate costs is mainly a result of lower variable compensation and the benefits of a media tax credit.

At the end of the third quarter, Altus Group’s balance sheet remained strong, reinforcing the Company’s financial flexibility to pursue its growth strategy.  During the second quarter, the Company disposed of its investment in Real Matters Inc. and used the net proceeds of approximately $54.0 million to pay down its bank debt.  As at October 2, 2018, bank debt stood at $131.1 million, representing a funded debt to EBITDA leverage ratio of 1.72 times (compared to 2.28 times as at June 30, 2018).  

Q3 2018 Results Conference Call & Webcast

About Altus Group Limited

Altus Group Limited is a leading provider of software, data solutions and independent advisory services to the global commercial real estate industry. Our businesses, Altus Analytics and Altus Expert Services, reflect decades of experience, a range of expertise, and technology-enabled capabilities. Our solutions empower clients to analyze, gain insight and recognize value on their real estate investments. Headquartered in Canada, we have approximately 2,500 employees around the world, with operations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Our clients include some of the world’s largest real estate industry participants. Altus Group pays a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share and our shares are traded on the TSX under the symbol AIF.

For more information on Altus Group, please visit: www.altusgroup.com.

Non-IFRS Measures

Altus Group uses certain non-IFRS measures as indicators of financial performance. Readers are cautioned that they are not defined performance measures, and do not have any standardized meaning, under IFRS and may differ from similar computations as reported by other similar entities and, accordingly, may not be comparable to financial measures as reported by those entities. We believe that these measures are useful supplemental measures that may assist investors in assessing an investment in our shares and provide more insight into our performance.

Adjusted Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, (“Adjusted EBITDA”), represents profit (loss) before income taxes adjusted for the effects of finance costs (income), amortization of intangibles, depreciation of property, plant and equipment, acquisition and related transition costs (income), restructuring costs, share of profit (loss) of associates, unrealized foreign exchange gains (losses), gains (losses) on disposal of property, plant and equipment, gains (losses) on investments, impairment charges, non-cash Executive Compensation Plan costs, gains (losses) on hedging transactions, gains (losses) on equity derivatives net of mark-to-market adjustments on related restricted share units (“RSUs”) and deferred share units (“DSUs”) being hedged and other costs or income of a non-operating and/or non-recurring nature. Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenues.

Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Share, (“Adjusted EPS”), represents basic earnings (loss) per share adjusted for the effects of amortization of intangibles acquired as part of business acquisitions, non-cash finance costs (income) related to the revaluation of amounts payable to U.K. unitholders, net of changes in fair value of related equity derivatives, acquisition and related transition costs (income), restructuring costs, share of profit (loss) of associates, unrealized foreign exchange gains (losses), gains (losses) on disposal of property, plant and equipment, gains (losses) on investments, interest accretion on contingent consideration payables, impairment charges, non-cash Executive Compensation Plan costs, gains (losses) on hedging transactions, gains (losses) on equity derivatives net of mark-to-market adjustments on related RSUs and DSUs being hedged and other costs or income of a non-operating and/or non-recurring nature. All of the adjustments are made net of tax.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this press release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All information contained in this press release, other than statements of current and historical fact, is forward-looking information. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the discussion of our business and operating initiatives, focuses and strategies, our expectations of future performance for our various business units and our consolidated financial results, and our expectations with respect to cash flows and liquidity. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by use of words such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “believe”, “plan”, “would”, “could” and other similar terminology. All of the forward-looking information in this press release is qualified by this cautionary statement.

Forward-looking information is not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events. Forward-looking information is based on, among other things, opinions, assumptions, estimates and analyses that, while considered reasonable by us at the date the forward-looking information is provided, inherently are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements, industry results or events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. The material factors or assumptions that we identified and were applied by us in drawing conclusions or making forecasts or projections set out in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: engagement and product pipeline opportunities in Altus Analytics will result in associated definitive agreements; settlement volumes in Property Tax will occur on a timely basis and that assessment authorities will process appeals in a manner consistent with expectations; the successful execution of our business strategies; consistent and stable economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; consistent and stable legislation in the various countries in which we operate; no disruptive changes in the technology environment; the opportunity to acquire accretive businesses; the successful integration of acquired businesses; and the continued availability of qualified professionals.

Inherent in the forward-looking information are known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Those risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general state of the economy; currency risk; ability to maintain profitability and manage growth; commercial real estate market; competition in the industry; acquisitions; oil and gas sector; ability to attract and retain professionals; information from multiple sources; reliance on larger enterprise transactions with longer and less predictable sales cycles; success of new product introductions; ability to respond to technological change and develop products on a timely basis; protection of intellectual property or defending against claims of intellectual property rights of others; ability to implement technology strategy and ensure workforce adoption; information technology governance and security, including cyber security; engagement and product pipeline opportunities do not result in sufficient definitive agreements; property tax assessment regulators do not process appeals in a manner consistent with expectations; fixed-price and contingency engagements; appraisal and appraisal management mandates; Canadian multi-residential market; weather; legislative and regulatory changes; customer concentration and loss of material clients; interest rate risk; credit risk; income tax matters; revenue and cash flow volatility; health and safety hazards; performance of contractual obligations and client satisfaction; risk of legal proceedings; insurance limits; ability to meet solvency requirements to pay dividends; leverage and financial covenants; unpredictability and volatility of common share price; capital investment; and issuance of additional common shares diluting existing shareholders’ interests, as well as those described in Altus Group’s publicly filed documents, including the MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2017 (which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com).

Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information as a prediction of actual results. The forward-looking information reflects management’s current expectations and beliefs regarding future events and operating performance and is based on information currently available to management. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information contained herein, there are other factors that could cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is current as of the date of this press release and, except as required under applicable law, we do not undertake to update or revise it to reflect new events or circumstances. Additionally, we undertake no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Altus Group, our financial or operating results, or our securities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Camilla Bartosiewicz
Vice President, Investor Relations, Altus Group Limited
(416) 641-9773
camilla.bartosiewicz@altusgroup.com