Morneau Shepell reports 2018 strong second-quarter financial results

Highlights

• Revenue increased by 7.5 per cent to $171.2 million
• Adjusted EBITDA increased by 7.7 per cent to $33.7 million
• Profit increased by 12.8 per cent to $13.7 million
• LifeWorks acquisition completed subsequent to quarter end

TORONTO, Aug. 9, 2018 /CNW/ - Morneau Shepell Inc. (the "Company" or "Morneau Shepell") (TSX:MSI) today reported its financial results for the three and six-month period ended June 30, 2018 (all amounts are in Canadian dollars, unless noted otherwise).

"Our second-quarter results showed solid growth in revenue and profit over the comparable period – we are continuing to execute against our strategy that delivers for shareholders today while strongly positioning the Company for tomorrow," said Stephen Liptrap, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"We're especially pleased that subsequent to the second quarter we announced and closed the LifeWorks acquisition that allows us to deliver an expanded set of well-being services in a more integrated way to our clients globally." 

LifeWorks is a significant global well-being provider operating in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. The acquisition of LifeWorks by the Company was announced on July 9, 2018 and completed on July 27, 2018 for a total purchase price of approximately $426 million, before closing working capital adjustments. The transaction consideration was satisfied by issuing common shares of $32 million, and cash consideration of $394 million, of which $231 million (including exercise of over-allotment option) was financed from an equity offering, with the remainder coming from the draw down of the Company's amended credit facility.

Year-to-date, the Company reported $338.7 million in revenue, an increase of 7.3 per cent over last year.  Adjusted EBITDA, at $67.3 million, is up 7.5 per cent over the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA margin for year-to-date was up slightly at 19.9 per cent compared to 19.8 per cent in the comparative period.

Q2 2018 Financial Review

For the three months ended June 30, 2018, the Company reported $171.2 million in revenue, an increase of 7.5 per cent or $12.0 million from the same period in 2017.

Total operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expenses) were $138.5 million in Q2, 2018, compared to $130.1 million in Q2, 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by 7.7 per cent to $33.7 million compared to the same period in 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA margin remained unchanged at 19.7 per cent compared to Q2, 2017.

Profit was $13.7 million for the quarter, compared to $12.1 million in Q2, 2017.

During Q2, 2018, the Company generated Normalized Free Cash Flow of $16.9 million compared to $15.4 million in Q2, 2017.

The Company is maintaining its policy of paying a monthly dividend of 6.5 cents per share.

Notice of Conference Call
Management of Morneau Shepell will host a conference call on Friday, August 10, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. ET. The conference call is open to all those wishing to attend, with a question and answer period to follow the presentation. In order to participate in the live conference call, please call 416.695.7850 (participant code 8057392) in the Toronto area, or 1.866.696.5894 (participant code 8057392) throughout the rest of Canada. A replay of the call will be available via the Morneau Shepell Web site at morneaushepell.com.

About Morneau Shepell
Morneau Shepell is the only human resources consulting and technology company that takes an integrated approach to employee well-being, health, benefits and retirement needs. The Company is the largest administrator of retirement and benefits plans and the largest provider of integrated absence management solutions in Canada. LifeWorks by Morneau Shepell is a total well-being solution that combines employee assistance, wellness, recognition and incentive programs. As a leader in strategic HR consulting and innovative pension design, the Company also helps clients solve complex workforce problems and provides integrated productivity, health and retirement solutions.  Established in 1966, Morneau Shepell serves approximately 24,000 clients, ranging from small businesses to some of the largest corporations and associations.  With more than 4,500 employees in offices across North America, Morneau Shepell provides services to organizations around the globe. Morneau Shepell is a publicly-traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.

Financial Measures
To assist investors in assessing the Company's financial performance, this news release also makes reference to certain financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and Normalized Free Cash Flow. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and Normalized Free Cash Flow are useful supplemental measures to assist our investors in assessing our financial performance. See the Company's Management, Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") for more details. These financial measures do not have any standard meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, such as statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations that are not historical facts. Use of words such as "may", "will", "expect", "believe", or other words of similar effect may indicate a "forward-looking" statement. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's publicly filed documents (available on SEDAR at sedar.com) and in the firm's MD&A under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties". Those risks and uncertainties include the ability to maintain profitability and manage growth, reliance on information systems and technology, reputational risk, dependence on key clients, reliance on key professionals and economic conditions. Many of these risks and uncertainties can affect the firm's actual results and could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement made by the Company or on the firm's behalf. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. All forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. These statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company, its financial or operating results or its securities.

SOURCE Morneau Shepell - Corporate