KEW MEDIA GROUP Reports Financial Results for Second Quarter of 2018
- Results in Line with Management Expectations; Reaffirms Full Year 2018 Outlook
KEW MEDIA GROUP INC. (“KEW MEDIA”, “KEW” or the “Company”) (TSX:KEW and KEW.WT) today released its financial results for the
three-month period ended June 30, 2018 (“Q2 2018”). KEW MEDIA’s unaudited interim financial statements along with its Management’s
Discussion and Analysis for Q2 2018 are available on the Company’s website at http://www.kewmedia.com/financialinfo.php and under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com.
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Q2 2018 Financial Highlights
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Revenue: |
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$49.7 million |
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Gross Profit: |
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$13.4 million |
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Adjusted EBITDA1
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$2.7 million |
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Net Loss: |
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$5.0 million, or $0.45 per share
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Adjusted Net Income2
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$1.5 million, or $0.12 per share
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Segmented Results: |
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Production
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Distribution
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Revenue: |
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$36.9 million |
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$12.8 million |
Gross Profit: |
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$7.5 million |
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$5.9 million |
Operating Profit: |
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$3.1 million |
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$1.9 million |
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Steven Silver, Chief Executive Officer of KEW MEDIA, stated, “We are pleased with our solid performance in the second quarter,
where we delivered revenue of $49.8 million and Adjusted EBITDA1 of $2.7 million, which were in line with our
expectations. KEW MEDIA is on track for another strong year, and our performance through the first half of the year provides us
with the confidence to reaffirm our 2018 Adjusted EBITDA1 guidance of $26.5 million. With the successful completion of
our acquisition of Essential Quail Media Group in July, we continue to execute our strategy to deliver sustainable long-term
shareholder value creation through attractive organic growth opportunities and accretive acquisitions.”
Q2 2018’s revenue of $49.7 million was comprised of $36.9 million from Production and $12.8 million from Distribution. Gross
profit of $13.4 million included $7.5 million from Production and $5.9 million from Distribution. Gross margin percentage was
26.9%, with segmented gross margin percentage of 20.4% for Production and 45.6% for Distribution. Adjusted EBITDA1 after
non-controlling interests was $2.7 million, which was consistent with the Company’s expectations given the anticipated timing of
production and sales. Q2 2018 Net Loss was $5.0 million, or $0.45 per share. Adjusted Net Income2 was $1.5 million, or
$0.12 per share.
Balance Sheet and Net Debt
As of June 30, 2018, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $25.6 million, approximately $25.7 million in loan
availability and net debt3 of $54.5 million. The strength of the balance sheet allowed the Company to acquire Essential
Quail Media Group (“Essential”) from our existing cash and debt resources.
Adjusted net debt4, taking account of material FX movements since the beginning of the year and amounts expended on
interim production financing by the group, was $45.2 million, an increase of $10.2 million for the quarter. The major reasons for
this increase were payments of deferred consideration of $4.7 million and a large increase in product acquisition spend in our
distribution unit of $12.3 million This spend is already significantly covered by contractual sales that will be predominantly
recognized in the second half of this year, particularly the last quarter, and into next year. These known contractual sales are,
in part, the reason for our confidence related to the full year result.
Essential Acquisition
On July 24, 2018, the Company purchased Essential for an initial purchase price of AUD$32.8 million (C$32 million based on the
prevailing CAD/AUD FX rate of approximately 0.9757), comprised of AUD$20.0 million (C$19.5 million) in cash and AUD$12.8 million
(C$12.5 million) in Variable Voting Shares of KEW valued at C$10.00 per share. Essential combines several entities with aggregate
pro forma revenue of over AUD$60 million (C$58.5 million). Essential’s vendors can earn additional aggregate contingent
consideration based on Essential meeting certain financial and other tests over the next three years payable at KEW’s sole option,
in cash or Variable Voting shares, provided that at least 20% of such consideration is paid in cash. The Company has begun
integrating Essential into its group infrastructure such that synergies across the group will be realized beginning next year.
Outlook5
KEW MEDIA reaffirms its prior guidance for Adjusted EBITDA1 of $26.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018,
which includes an Adjusted EBITDA1 contribution of approximately $5 million from Essential in the period following the
closing of the acquisition on July 24, 2018. As previously disclosed, KEW expects a significantly stronger second half compared to
the first half of FY18 as production activity ramps up over the summer months, with the majority of related revenue being
recognized in the third and fourth quarters. Further, the Company believes it has good visibility, particularly in its production
segment based on shows ordered and the expected dates of delivery, but also in its distribution segment based on contractual sales
to date and the segment’s slate of titles being delivered in the second half of the year.
Normal Course Issuer Bid
KEW is also pleased to announce its intention to establish a normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”), subject to acceptance of the
TSX, for up to 854,282 variable voting shares or common voting shares of KEW (the “Shares”), representing 10% of KEW’s “public
float” (as such term is defined in the TSX Company Manual).
KEW intends to establish the NCIB because it believes that, from time to time, the market price of the Shares may not fully
reflect the underlying value of KEW’s business and future prospects. KEW believes that, at such times, the repurchase of the Shares
for cancellation would be in the best interests of shareholders.
As KEW is presently exploring a number of potential acquisitions and financings, KEW will not commence purchases under the NCIB
at this time. Any Shares purchased pursuant to the NCIB will be cancelled by KEW.
Important Information for KEW Shareholders
KEW is also pleased to announce that it has received exemptive relief (the “Decision”) from the securities regulatory
authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada to allow KEW’s shareholders to treat the common voting shares and
variable voting shares as a single class for the purposes of applicable take-over bid and early warning reporting rules and related
news release and continuous disclosure requirements under Canadian securities laws. A copy of the Decision is available on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
Conference Call
KEW will host a conference call to discuss the second quarter 2018 financial results on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at 9:00 a.m.
(ET). The dial-in numbers for participants are 800 908 8386 in North America, 0800 496 0822 in the United Kingdom, and +1 212 231
2902 elsewhere.
The telephone replay will be available until 11:59 pm ET on September 14, 2018. To access the replay, dial 416 626 4100 or 800
558 5253, and enter reservation number 21893738. A transcript of the call will be posted on the Company’s website.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may include forward-looking statements. All such statements constitute forward looking information within
the meaning of securities law and are made pursuant to the “safe harbour” provisions of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking
statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about anticipated future events or results including comments with
respect to the Company’s objectives and priorities for 2018 and beyond, and strategies or further actions with respect to the
Company, its business operations, financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements are statements that are
predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions and are identified by words such as “will”, “expects”,
“anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates” or similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.
Such statements are based on current expectations of the Company’s management and inherently involve numerous risks and
uncertainties, known and unknown, including economic factors.
In particular, the statements set out in the Outlook section of this press release regarding our expected Adjusted EBITDA for
the year ending December 31, 2018 (including the contribution from Essential), our expected financial performance for the second
half of 2018 and our expectations regarding the performance of our production and distribution segments for the second half of
2018, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current strategies, assumptions concerning
growth and assessment of the outlook for the business. In particular, such statements assume that: (i) our production companies
will continue to develop, produce and deliver successful productions in a manner consistent with past experience and on expected
delivery schedules;(ii) we will continue to acquire and distribute content in a manner consistent with past experience; (iii) our
operating and overhead costs will be within budget; and (iv) that the companies we acquired on the QA and since the QA will meet or
exceed our performance expectations. We consider the foregoing assumptions to be reasonable in the circumstances, given the time
period for such outlook however, readers are cautioned that KEW’s actual result may vary from these forward-looking statements and
that variation could be material. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is presented for the purpose of
assisting readers in understanding the Company’s business and strategic priorities and objectives as at the periods indicated and
may not be appropriate for other purposes. A number of risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, including, among other factors, those referenced in
the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2017, a copy of which
is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com under the Company’s profile. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are not
guarantees of future performance and, while forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that the Company considers
reasonable, actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by
the Company. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully when making decisions with respect to the Company
and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Circumstances affecting the Company may change rapidly. Except as may
be expressly required by applicable law, KEW MEDIA does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Non-IFRS Measures
This news release contains references to certain measures that do not have a standardized meaning under International
Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as prescribed by the International Accounting Standards Board and are therefore unlikely to
be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to
complement IFRS measures by providing a further understanding of operations from management’s perspective. Accordingly, non-IFRS
measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of financial information reported under IFRS. The
Company believes that non-IFRS measures, specifically EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, are frequently used by securities analysts,
investors and other interested parties as measures of financial performance and to provide supplemental measures of operating
performance and thus highlight trends that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures. Please see
the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 for a detailed description of
these measures and a reconciliation of these measures to the nearest IFRS measure.
About KEW MEDIA GROUP INC.
KEW MEDIA GROUP is a leading publicly-listed content company that produces and distributes multi-genre content worldwide.
Companies included in the KEW family are the production companies: Architect Films, Awesome Media & Entertainment, Bristow
Global Media, Campfire Film & Television, Collins Avenue Productions, Essential Media Group, Frantic Films, Jigsaw Productions,
Media Headquarters, Our House Media, Sienna Films and Spirit Digital Media; and the distribution companies: Kew Media Distribution
and TCB Media Rights.
With primary offices in London, Los Angeles, New York, Sydney and Toronto, the KEW MEDIA GROUP companies develop, produce and
distribute more than 1,000 hours of content every year, as well as distribute a library of more than 13,000 hours, to almost every
available viewing platform internationally. KEW aspires to offer great content from all over the world to viewers of all ages and
tastes. The Company promotes transparency, equality, respect, and inclusiveness and plans to grow with the benefit of people from a
wide range of perspectives and backgrounds.
1 Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA excluding certain items to better analyze trends in performance. These adjustments result
in a truer economic representation on a comparative basis. Adjusted EBITDA includes the add-backs made to calculate the adjusted
net income and additionally add-backs for interest expense, net of interest income, depreciation and any non-cash amortization (to
the extent not added in to adjusted net income). See “Non-IFRS Measures” and “Forward-Looking Statements” below in this press
release.
2Adjusted net income is profit or loss before other items and income tax expenses, excluding certain items to better
analyze trends in performance and present a truer economic representation on a comparative basis. Adjusted net profit includes
add-backs for items such as transaction costs, reorganization and non-recurring exceptional costs, stock-based compensation,
non-cash other intangibles amortization and realized gain/loss on the change in fair value of financial liabilities. See “Non-IFRS
Measures” and “Forward-Looking Statements” below in this press release.
3 Net debt is debt less any cash and cash equivalent balances.
4Adjusted net debt is Net debt less Interim production loans provided by the Group less effect of foreign exchange
movements. See “Non-IFRS Measures” and “Forward-Looking Statements” below in this press release.
5 The statements set out in the Outlook section regarding KEW’s Adjusted EBITDA1 margins in 2018, and the
other noted assumptions contained in the section, are based on management’s current strategies and assessment of the outlook for
the business. These statements constitute forward-looking information for purposes of applicable Canadian securities legislation
and readers are cautioned that KEW’s actual result may vary from these forward-looking statements and that variation could be
material. See “Forward Looking Statements” for a description of the assumptions and risks associated with these forward-looking
statements.
Investor Relations:
KEW MEDIA GROUP INC.
Steven Silver
Chief Executive Officer
investors@kewmedia.com
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