Richards Packaging Income Fund announces 2014 First Quarter Results

TORONTO, May 9, 2014 /CNW/ - Richards Packaging Income Fund (TSX: RPI.UN) (the "Fund") announced today results for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.      

First quarter performance was on track with our 2014 outlook as total revenue was up 7.5% with organic revenue growth of 2.3% mainly at Richards US and a U.S./Cdn.8.5¢ weakening of the dollar.  EBITDA¹ was up $0.6 million, or 11.1%, mainly due to higher revenue and the translation impact of Richards US.  Gross profit and EBITDA as a percent of sales were 15.8% and 11.2% respectively, ahead of levels in the back half of 2013.  Net income was down $0.4 million, or 3.4¢ per Unit, mainly due to a higher mark-to-market loss on the exchangeable shares from the $1.78 unit price increase.

The $1.2 million of free cash flow² generated in the first quarter together with $1.8 million of cash on hand was utilized to pay down $0.5 million of debt, to pay $0.7 million for 2013 income taxes, to pay $0.7 million for 2013 bonuses and to fund working capital requirements for revenue growth.

The Fund increased monthly distributions by 12.2% to 7.35¢ per Unit beginning in April, which represented an annualized yield of 7.2% on the March 31^st closing price of $12.30 per Unit.  The payout ratio³ for the first quarter was 66%, or 74% on a pro forma basis at the new distribution level.

Details of the Fund's results are currently available on Richards Packaging's website at www.richardspackaging.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About Richards Packaging Income Fund

The Fund owns Richards Packaging Inc. ("Richards Packaging"), the leading packaging distributor in Canada, and third largest in North America.  Richards Packaging is a full-service packaging distributor targeting small- and medium-sized North American businesses.  Richards Packaging has operated since 1912 and currently serves over 11,300 regional food, wine and spirits, cosmetic, specialty chemical, pharmaceutical and other companies from 18 locations throughout North America.

1. Management defines EBITDA as earnings before amortization, financial expenses, exceptional items (disputed duties and patent defense costs), unrealized losses and dividends on exchangeable shares, share of income - Vision and taxes.  EBITDA is the same as profit from operations as outlined in the annual financial statements after adding back amortization and patent defense costs.  The definition was changed in 2013 to exclude disputed duties and as a result, relevant comparative amounts have been recalculated to conform to the presentation.  Management believes that in addition to net income, EBITDA is a useful supplemental measure for investors of earnings available for distribution prior to debt service, capital expenditures and taxes.  Management uses this measure as a starting point in the determination of earnings available for distribution to Unitholders and exchangeable shareholders.  In addition, EBITDA is intended to provide additional information on the operating performance.    This earnings measure should not be construed as an alternative to net income or as an alternative to cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities as a measure of liquidity and cash flows.  EBITDA does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore the method of calculating EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.
2. Management defines distributable cash flow, in accordance with Richards Packaging's credit agreement, as EBITDA less extraordinary items, interest, cash income tax expense and maintenance capital expenditures.  Free cash flow is distributable cash flow less distributions.  The objective of presenting these measures is to calculate the amount which is available for distribution to Unitholders or exchangeable shareholders and to determine the amount available to fund increases in working capital or expansion capital.   Investors are cautioned that distributable cash flow should not be construed as an alternative to cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities as a measure of liquidity and cash flows.  Distributable cash flow does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS therefore the method of calculating distributable cash flow may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.
3. Management defines payout ratio as distributions and dividends declared over distributable cash flow².  The objective of presenting this measure is to calculate the percentage of actual distributions in comparison to the amount available for distribution.  Payout ratio does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. The method of calculating the payout ratio may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.
4. This release contains certain forward looking information and statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively "Statements") regarding future growth potential, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities of the Fund. The Statements are frequently identified by the use of such words as "will", "may", "could", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe" and other similar terminology. These Statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to the management of Richards Packaging.  A number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those predicted, expressed or implied in the Statements.  Factors that could cause such differences include, among other things, changes in customer and supplier relationships, competition in the industry, inventory obsolescence, trade risks in respect to foreign suppliers and fluctuations in foreign exchange and interest rates.  Although the Statements contained in this release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these Statements.  These Statements are made as of the date of this release and the Fund assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

SOURCE Richards Packaging Income Fund