Taiga Building Products Ltd. - Steady Second Quarter Results Lead to 37%
Increase in Net Earnings Year to Date
						
						
						
					
				
				
			BURNABY, BC, 
 
Results from Operations - Three Months Ended 
 
Net earnings for the quarter were 
 
Sales weakness was offset by reduced selling and admin costs as management continued its cost reduction program. Also, income tax related expenses were lower compared to the prior year. The prior year comparative quarter included costs associated with Taiga's CRA tax assessment. On the other hand, distribution expenses were higher due to non-cash charge of 
 
Sales were reduced by 17.1% to 
 
Gross margin dollars decreased to 
 
EBITDA for the three months ended 
 
Results from Operations - Six Months Ended 
 
Net earnings were 
 
Sales were reduced by 17.3% to 
 
Gross margin dollars decreased to 
 
EBITDA for the six months ended 
 
During the quarter, Taiga continued to defer its subordinated note interest payments, which, when unpaid, attract a further 14% interest on interest. The amount of deferred interest payable representing the interests earned from the month of March to 
 
    
                 Selected Consolidated Statement of Earnings
                   For the Three Months Ended September 30
           (in thousands of dollars, except for per share amounts)
                                 (Unaudited)
                                                         2009         2008
                                                          $            $
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Sales                                               260,390      314,035
    Gross margin                                         28,228       32,385
    Distribution                                          5,774        5,191
    Selling and administration                           12,822       14,886
    Interest                                              1,009        1,733
    Subordinated debt interest expense                    4,152        3,946
    Non-operating expense (income)                         (224)         705
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Earnings before income taxes                          4,695        5,924
    Provision for income taxes                            1,333        2,774
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net Earnings                                          3,362        3,150
    Net earnings per share(1)                              0.10         0.10
    EBITDA(2)                                            10,643       13,297
    The following is the reconciliation of net earnings to EBITDA:
                                                          Three Months Ended
                                                            September 30,
                                                         2009         2008
    (in thousands of dollars)                             $            $
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net Earnings                                          3,362        3,150
    Income Tax Expense                                    1,333        2,774
    Interest Expense                                      5,161        6,529
    Amortization                                            787          844
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    EBITDA                                               10,643       13,297
                 Selected Consolidated Statement of Earnings
                    For the Six Months Ended September 30
           (in thousands of dollars, except for per share amounts)
                                 (Unaudited)
                                                         2009         2008
                                                          $            $
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Sales                                               507,301      613,371
    Gross margin                                         55,450       64,168
    Distribution                                         10,038        9,187
    Selling and administration                           21,529       30,414
    Interest                                              2,052        3,765
    Subordinated debt interest expense                    8,179        7,891
    Non-operating expense (income)                         (407)         453
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Earnings before income taxes                         14,059       12,458
    Provision for income taxes                            4,104        5,152
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net earnings                                          9,955        7,306
    Net earnings per share(1)                              0.31         0.23
    EBITDA(2)                                            25,963       26,602
    The following is the reconciliation of net earnings to EBITDA:
                                                           Six Months Ended
                                                            September 30,
                                                         2009         2008
    (in thousands of dollars)                             $            $
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net Earnings                                          9,955        7,306
    Income Tax Expense                                    4,104        5,152
    Interest Expense                                     10,231       12,506
    Amortization                                          1,673        1,638
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    EBITDA                                               25,963       26,602
    Notes:
    (1) EPS is earnings per share calculated using the weighted average
    number of shares.
    (2) Reference is made above to EBITDA, which represents earnings before
    interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. As there is no generally
    accepted method of calculating EBITDA, the measure as calculated by Taiga
    might not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other
    issuers. EBITDA is presented as management believes it is a useful
    indicator of a company's ability to meet debt service and capital
    expenditure requirements and because management interprets trends in
    EBITDA as an indicator of relative operating performance. EBITDA should
    not be considered by an investor as an alternative to net income or cash
    flows as determined in accordance with Canadian generally accepted
    accounting principles.
    
The foregoing selected financial information is qualified in its entirety by and should be read in conjunction with, Taiga's unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and the corresponding notes thereto and related management's discussion and analysis for the quarters ended 
 
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains certain forward-looking information and statements relating, but not limited, to future events or performance and strategies and expectations of Taiga. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "consider", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "likely", "may", "will", "should", "predict", "potential", "continue" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Examples of such forward looking statements within this press release include statements relating to: our anticipated results of operations, including cost reduction savings; our expectations regarding market conditions; the sufficiency of our cash requirements and our ability to remain in compliance with our debt covenants. Readers should be aware that these statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations or beliefs and are based on information currently available to Taiga and although Taiga believes it has a reasonable basis for making the forward-looking statements included in this document, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. By its nature, the forward-looking information of Taiga involves numerous assumptions and inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These risks include, but are not limited to, changes in business strategies; the effects of litigation, competition and pricing pressures; changes in operational costs; changes in laws and regulations, including tax, environmental, employment, competition, anti-terrorism and trade laws; and Taiga's anticipation of and success in managing the risks associated with the foregoing. A further description of these additional factors can be found in the periodic and other reports filed by Taiga with Canadian securities commissions and available on SEDAR (http://www.sedar.com).These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Taiga does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update or revise any forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
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For further information: regarding Taiga please contact: Tom Stefan, Vice President, Finance and Administration, Phone: (604) 438-1471, Fax: (604) 439-4242; Mark Schneidereit, Manager, Corporate Planning, Phone: (604) 438-1471, Fax: (604) 439-4242
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