BRP tops $3 billion in annual revenue for first time

News release

BRP Inc. (TSX: DOO) on March 28 reported its financial results for the three- and twelve-month periods ended January 31, 2014. All financial information is in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. The complete financial results are available at www.sedar.com.

“I am pleased with our results for our first year as a publicly-traded company,” said José Boisjoli, president and CEO. “The hard work of our employees has yielded good results. Revenues and Normalized Net Income for Fiscal Year 2014 progressed by 10% and 15% respectively, and Year-Round Products have surpassed Seasonal Products in terms of Revenues for the first time, a testament to our growth strategy in these categories and the continued expansion of our dealer network.”

Commenting on the outlook for Fiscal Year 2015, Boisjoli added: “In North America we are exiting an exceptional snowmobile season with dealer inventories at an all-time low. This situation has caused shortages of snowmobiles at certain dealers but it certainly bodes very well for the next wholesale season in the second half of the year. The coldest winter in over 30 years in North America and the geopolitical uncertainty in Russia will have some impact on product deliveries early in the year, however I am confident we can continue to grow revenues and earnings with a strong product portfolio, a large geographic diversification and some exciting upcoming product news.”

Highlights for the Three- and Twelve-Month Periods Ended January 31, 2014

Revenues increased by $111.4 million, or 14.1%, to a quarterly record of $902.9 million for the three-month period ended January 31, 2014, up from $791.5 million for the corresponding period ended January 31, 2013. The increase in revenues includes a favourable foreign exchange rate variation of $53 million, mainly related to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar and the Euro against the Canadian dollar.

Revenues increased by $297.9 million, or 10.3%, to $3,194.1, million for the twelve-month period ended January 31, 2014, up from $2,896.2 million for the corresponding period ended January 31, 2013. The revenues were negatively impacted by the exit of the sport boat business in Fiscal Year 2013 that accounted for $74 million in revenues for the twelve-month period ended January 31, 2013. Excluding the exit of the sport boat business, revenues would have increased by 13.2% or $371.9 million. The increase in revenue includes a favourable foreign exchange rate variation of $114 million, mainly related to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar and the Euro against the Canadian dollar.

NET INCOME DATA

[1]  EBITDA, Normalized EBITDA, Normalized net income and Normalized earnings per share are non-IFRS measures that the Company uses to assess its operating performance. EBITDA is defined as net income before financing costs, financing income, income taxes expense (recovery), depreciation expense and foreign exchange (gain) loss on long-term debt. Normalized EBITDA is defined as net income before financing costs, financing income, income taxes expense, depreciation expense, foreign exchange (gain) loss on long-term debt, increase in fair value of redeemable common shares and unusual and non-recurring items. Normalized Net Income is defined as net income before foreign exchange (gain) loss on long-term debt, increase in fair value of redeemable common shares and unusual and non-recurring items adjusted to reflect the tax effect on these items. Normalized earnings per share – basic and Normalized earnings per share – Diluted, are respectively calculated by dividing the normalized net income by the weighted average number of basic and diluted shares.

[2]  Restated to reflect the application of the amendments to IAS 19 “Employee Benefits” standard as explained in Note 2a) of the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended January 31, 2014.

QUARTERLY REVIEW BY CATEGORIES 

Seasonal Products

Revenues from Seasonal Products increased by $35.4 million, or 9.5%, to $406.4 million for the three-month period ended January 31, 2014, compared with $371.0 million for the corresponding period ended January 31, 2013. The increase in revenues resulted primarily from PWC due to increased volume, partially offset by an unfavourable product mix effect. The increase in revenues includes a favourable foreign exchange rate variation of $20 million.

North American Seasonal Products retail sales, excluding the sport boat business, registered an increase in the low double-digit percent range as compared to the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2013.

Year-Round Products

Revenues from Year-Round Products increased by $49.1 million, or 22.0%, to $272.5 million for the three-month period ended January 31, 2014, up from $223.4 million for the corresponding period ended January 31, 2013. The increase is primarily due to higher wholesale and a favourable product mix in side-by-side vehicles resulting mainly from an expanded line-up such as the Can-Am Maverick two- and four-passenger models.The increase in revenues includes a favourable foreign exchange rate variation of $18 million.

North American Year-Round Products retail sales increased on a percentage basis by low double digits compared with the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2013.

Propulsion Systems

Revenues from Propulsion Systems increased by $5.1 million, or 7.3%, to $75.3 million for the three-month period ended January 31, 2014, compared with $70.2 million for the corresponding period ended January 31, 2013. The increase in revenues is mainly attributable to a favourable foreign exchange rate variation of $7 million.

PAC (Parts, Accessories & Clothing)

Revenues from PAC increased by $21.8 million, or 17.2%, to $148.7 million for the three-month period ended January 31, 2014, up from $126.9 million for the corresponding period ended January 31, 2013. The increase is primarily due to a higher volume driven by the growth of Year-Round Products and Seasonal Products businesses. The revenue increase includes a favourable foreign exchange rate variation of $8 million.

Gross profit increased by $24.7 million, or 12.4%, to $223.2 million for the three-month period ended January 31, 2014, up from $198.5 million for the corresponding period ended January 31, 2013. Gross profit margin percentage decreased by 40 basis points to 24.7% from 25.1% for the three-month period ended January 31, 2013. The decrease in gross profit margin percentage was primarily due to an unfavourable product mix mainly in Seasonal Products, the additional expenses related to the transfer of PWC manufacturing to the Querétaro, Mexico facility, warranty cost adjustments and increased sales program costs in Year-Round Products. The decrease was partially offset by a favourable foreign exchange rate variation of $20 million.

Operating expenses increased by $17.6 million, or 13.8%, to $145.0 million for the three-month period ended January 31, 2014, up from $127.4 million for the three-month period ended January 31, 2013. This increase was mainly due to a negative foreign exchange impact of $14 million, higher investments in research and development projects to support the Company’s growth, partially offset by lower variable employee compensation expenses.

Normalized net income increased by $11.8 million to $48.3 million for the three-month period ended January 31, 2014, compared with $36.5 million for the corresponding period last year. The increase is primarily due to higher wholesale in Seasonal and Year-Round Products and their related PAC and a favourable foreign exchange rate.

Fiscal Year 2015 Guidance and First Quarter Outlook

The Company is introducing its financial guidance for Fiscal Year 2015 with an increase in Company Revenues and Normalized Net Income of between 9% and 13%, and between 10% and 17% respectively, when compared to Fiscal Year 2014. The guidance includes an assumption for lower sales and profitability as a result of the growing geopolitical uncertainty in Russia.

The table below sets forth BRP’s financial guidance for Fiscal Year 2015 when compared to actual results for Fiscal Year 2014. The individual targets are based on current currency exchange rates and exclude the effects of future fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

[1] Effective tax rate based on Normalized Earnings before Income Tax.

[2] Assuming $116M Depreciation and Amortization expense.

[3] The 10% to 17% increase assumes a constant weighted average number of diluted shares of 118.9 million for both Fiscal Year 2015 and Fiscal Year 2014.

The first quarter of Fiscal Year 2015 is expected to be affected by costs associated with the transfer of the distribution of the PAC business to a third-party provider, delays in deliveries of PWC due to a more difficult than anticipated production ramp-up at the Querétaro facility and the longer winter affecting summer products deliveries. As such, the Company expects Revenues and Normalized EBITDA for the three-month period ending April 30, 2014 to decrease by an estimated 5% to 10% and approximately 50% respectively, when compared to the same period last year.

The above targets are based on a number of economic and market assumptions the Company has made in preparing its Fiscal Year 2015 financial guidance, including assumptions regarding the performance of the economies in which it operates, foreign exchange currency fluctuations, market competition and tax laws applicable to its operations. The Company cautions that the assumptions used to prepare the forecasts for Fiscal Year 2015, although reasonable at the time they were made, may prove to be incorrect or inaccurate. In addition, the above forecasts do not reflect the potential impact of any non-recurring or other special items or of any new material commercial agreements, dispositions, mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations or other transactions that may be announced or that may occur after March 28, 2014. The financial impact of such transactions and non-recurring and other special items can be complex and depends on the facts particular to each of them. We therefore cannot describe the expected impact in a meaningful way or in the same way we present known risks affecting our business. Accordingly, our actual results could differ materially from our expectations as set forth in this news release. The outlook provided constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and should be read in conjunction with the “Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” section.