Indigo Reports Fiscal 2021 Third Quarter Financial Results – Exceptional holiday sales momentum dampened by government-mandated retail closures and capacity restrictions

Canada NewsWire

TORONTO, Feb. 4, 2021 /CNW/ – Indigo Books & Music Inc. (TSX: IDG), Canada’s largest book and lifestyle retailer, reported third quarter financial results.

Double-digit revenue growth in the first seven weeks of the quarter provided some cushion but could not overcome the severe impact of new government-mandated closures in several provinces, as well as severe customer capacity restrictions in markets with open stores.  As a result, revenue for the third quarter ended December 26, 2020, initially headed to show real growth, came in at $365.4 million compared to revenue of $383.7 million in the same period last year, a decrease of $18.3 million or 5 percent.  

Revenues were challenged by a significant wave of mandated COVID-19 store closures in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec during the second part of November and December, a critical period of sales. The Company achieved exceptional e-commerce revenue growth of 92%, and the success of the Company’s enhanced omnichannel capabilities, including click-and-collect, curbside pickup and Instacart, did blunt some of the effects of mandated re-closures. Bright spots in the quarter also included double-digit growth in the Company’s baby and wellness categories and continued strength in its proprietary lifestyle brand OUI, showcasing customers’ affinity for both core categories and new product assortment.

Commenting on the results, CEO Heather Reisman said: “These results are a testament to the demonstrated resilience of our teams and a deep affinity for our brand, achieved against massive disruption from mandated shut-downs and store limitations during the most important six weeks of our year. These shutdowns created a particularly uneven playing field in Ontario with ‘essential’ retailers selling all non-essential items, a practice disallowed by other provinces. Nevertheless, we remain energized by the momentum we saw pre-closures and look forward to having COVID-19 behind us.”

Adjusted EBITDA for the period was $37.8 million for the 13-week period ended December 26, 2020, compared to $43.3 million for the same period last year. In the quarter, the Company recognized $9.7 million in occupancy expense abatement to share the financial burden of COVID-19 and $3.2 million in government support from the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

Indigo reported net earnings of $30.7 million ($1.11 net earnings per basic common share) for the third quarter ended December 26, 2020, compared to net earnings of $25.8 million ($0.94 net earnings per basic common share) last year. This improvement was a result of income taxes and the application of previously unrecognized income tax losses.

With no outstanding debt and a cash balance of $229.4 million, the Company continues to be well positioned to manage through these uncertain times.

Analyst/Investor Call 
Indigo will host a conference call for analysts and investors to review these results at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) tomorrow, February 5th, 2021. The call can be accessed by dialing 647-427-7450 from within the Toronto area, or 1-888-231-8191 outside of Toronto. The seven-digit participant code is 6671095.           

A playback of the call will also be available by telephone until 11:59 p.m. (ET) on February 12, 2021. The call playback can be accessed after 12:00 p.m. (ET) on February 6, by dialing 416-849-0833 from within the Toronto area, or 1-855-859-2056outside of Toronto. The seven-digit replay passcode number is 6671095. The conference call transcript will be archived in the Investor Relations section of the Indigo website, www.indigo.ca

Forward-Looking Statements 
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. To the extent any forward-looking information constitutes “financial outlooks” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, such information is being provided as preliminary financial and operational results. Financial outlooks, as with forward-looking information generally, are, without limitation, based on the assumptions and subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied in this news release. Among the key factors that could cause such differences are: general economic, market or business conditions; the future impacts and government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including any impact to online and/or retail operations of the Company; competitive actions by other companies; changes in laws or regulations; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, as set out in the Company’s annual information form dated June 23, 2020 and available on the Company’s issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Any forward-looking information included in this news release is made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures 
The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). In order to provide additional insight into the business, the Company has also provided non-IFRS data, specifically adjusted EBITDA, in this press release. These measures do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS and are therefore specific to Indigo and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. 

For additional context see “Results of Operations” and “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis (which can be found at www.indigo.ca/investor-relations or www.sedar.com).

About

Indigo Books

& Music Inc. 
Indigo is a publicly traded Canadian company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (IDG). Indigo is the world’s first Cultural Department Store – a physical and digital meeting place inspired by and filled with books, music, art, ideas, and beautifully designed lifestyle products. Indigo believes in real books, in living life fully and generously, in being kind to each other and that stories – big and little – connect us.

Indigo founded the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation in 2004 to address the underfunding of public elementary school libraries. Every year the Foundation provides grants to high-needs elementary schools so they can transform their libraries with the purchase of new books and educational resources. To date, the Foundation has committed over $32 million to more than 3,000 elementary schools, benefitting more than 1,000,000 students. Most recently in April 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented nation-wide school closures, the Foundation committed $1.0 million to provide books to families in need. To learn more about Indigo, please visit the “Our Company” section at indigo.ca.


Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)


 As at 

 As at 

 As at 


December 26, 

December 28, 

March 28, 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)


2020

2019

2020


ASSETS


Current

Cash and cash equivalents


229,424

216,198

120,473

Short-term investments



7,750

Accounts receivable


26,395

19,755

7,640

Inventories


218,163

247,261

241,812

Prepaid expenses


7,937

6,604

6,062

Income taxes receivable


138

138

138

Derivative assets



19

3,794

Other assets


3,202

4,185

2,320


Total current assets


485,259

501,910

382,239

Loan receivable


446

926

446

Property, plant, and equipment, net


80,982

110,455

91,215

Right-of-use assets, net


366,104

430,994

382,146

Intangible assets, net


21,475

29,351

24,571

Equity investment, net


2,350

2,611

2,353

Deferred tax assets



89,782


Total assets


956,616

1,166,029

882,970


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY


Current

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities


249,992

261,281

164,294

Unredeemed gift card liability


68,626

65,676

51,673

Provisions


2,185

180

2,034

Deferred revenue


16,880

10,234

10,682

Short-term lease liabilities


63,022

65,454

68,402

Derivative liabilities


1,716

803


Total current liabilities


402,421

403,628

297,085

Long-term accrued liabilities


1,371

1,476

1,196

Long-term provisions


696

45

469

Long-term lease liabilities


491,378

509,708

500,215


Total liabilities


895,866

914,857

798,965


Equity

Share capital


226,986

226,986

226,986

Contributed surplus


14,075

12,463

12,822

Retained earnings (deficit)


(177,202)

12,522

(158,801)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)


(3,109)

(799)

2,998


Total equity


60,750

251,172

84,005


Total liabilities and equity


956,616

1,166,029

882,970

 


Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss) and Comprehensive Earnings (Loss)

(Unaudited)


13-week

13-week


39-week

39-week


period ended

period ended


period ended

period ended


December 26,

December 28,


December 26,

December 28,

(thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share data)


2020

2019


2020

2019


Revenue 


365,426

383,737


705,786

779,657

Cost of sales 


(217,940)

(216,872)


(440,773)

(444,119)


Gross profit


147,486

166,865


265,013

335,538

Operating, selling, and other expenses


(110,843)

(124,641)


(264,948)

(334,233)


Operating profit


36,643

42,224


65

1,305

Net interest expense


(5,921)

(5,964)


(18,466)

(17,234)

Share of loss from equity investments





(1,588)


Earnings (loss) before income taxes


30,722

36,260


(18,401)

(17,517)

Income tax recovery (expense)



(10,411)



3,842


Net earnings (loss) 


30,722

25,849


(18,401)

(13,675)


Other comprehensive loss

Items that are or may be reclassified subsequently to net earnings (loss):

Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges
   [net of taxes of 0 and 0; 2019 – 190 and 283]


(3,151)

(520)


(4,654)

(771)

Reclassification of net realized (gain) loss
   [net of taxes of 0 and 0; 2019 – 0 and 215]


(861)

2


(856)

(586)

Foreign currency translation adjustment [net of taxes of 0 and 0; 2019 – 0 and 0]


(597)


(597)

Other comprehensive loss


(4,609)

(518)


(6,107)

(1,357)


Total comprehensive earnings (loss)


26,113

25,331


(24,508)

(15,032)


Net earnings (loss) per common share

Basic


$


1.11

$                    0.94


$                 (0.67)

$                 (0.50)

Diluted 


$


1.09

$                    0.94


$                 (0.67)

$                 (0.50)

 


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)


 13-week  

13-week 


 39-week 

 39-week 


 period ended 

period ended


period ended

 period ended 


 December 26,  

December 28, 


December 26, 

 December 28,  

(thousands of Canadian dollars)


2,020

2019


2020

2019


OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net earnings (loss)


30,722

25,849


(18,401)

(13,675)

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to cash flows from
operating activities

Depreciation of property, plant, and equipment


4,129

5,651


13,020

17,475

Depreciation of right-of-use assets


10,183

9,980


31,728

30,002

Amortization of intangible assets


3,187

3,393


9,718

9,971

Gain on disposal of equity investment



(1,484)



(1,484)

Loss on disposal of capital assets



70


247

1,021

Share-based compensation 


425

359


1,031

980

Directors’ compensation


74

65


222

222

Deferred income tax expense (recovery)



10,411



(3,842)

Rent concessions


(462)


(4,141)

Other


(787)

278


(899)

634

Net change in non-cash working capital balances related to operations


54,853

113,337


111,540

93,806

Interest expense


6,154

6,466


19,107

18,867

Interest income


(233)

(460)


(641)

(1,633)

Share of loss from equity investments





1,588


Cash flows from operating activities


108,245

173,915


162,531

153,932


INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Net purchases of property, plant, and equipment


(1,543)

1,098


(3,528)

(3,134)

Addition of intangible assets 


(2,385)

(1,879)


(6,635)

(6,804)

Change in short-term investments



12,750



79,400

Interest received


233

587


641

1,413


Cash flows from (used for) investing activities


(3,695)

12,556


(9,522)

70,875


FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Repayment of principal on lease liabilities


(7,052)

(10,137)


(25,890)

(30,752)

Interest paid


(6,154)

(6,465)


(19,107)

(18,867)


Cash flows used for financing activities


(13,206)

(16,602)


(44,997)

(49,619)

Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents


559

(286)


939

(280)


Net increase in cash and cash equivalents during the period


91,903

169,583


108,951

174,908

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period


137,521

46,615


120,473

41,290


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period


229,424

216,198


229,424

216,198

 


Non-IFRS Financial Measures

The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA to net earnings (loss) before income taxes, the most comparable IFRS
measure:


13-week

13-week


39-week

39-week


period ended

period ended


period ended

period ended


December 26, 

December 28, 


December 26, 

December 28, 

(millions of Canadian dollars)


2020

2019


2020

2019

Revenue


365.4

383.7


705.8

779.7

Cost of sales


(217.9)

(216.9)


(440.8)

(444.1)

Cost of operations


(69.4)

(77.8)


(154.2)

(197.4)

Selling, general and administrative expenses


(23.9)

(29.2)


(57.2)

(79.8)

Depreciation of right-of-use assets


(10.2)

(10.0)


(31.7)

(30.0)

Finance charges related to leases


(6.2)

(6.5)


(19.1)

(18.9)


Adjusted EBITDA1


37.8

43.3


2.8

9.5

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment


(4.1)

(5.7)


(13.0)

(17.5)

Amortization of intangible assets


(3.2)

(3.4)


(9.7)

(10.0)

Gain on disposal of capital assets



1.4


0.9

0.5

Net interest income


0.2

0.5


0.6

1.6

Share of loss from equity investments





(1.6)


Earnings (loss) before income taxes 


30.7

36.3


(18.4)

(17.5)


1Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, impairment, asset disposals, and share of loss from equity investments, and includes IFRS 16 right-of-use asset depreciation and associated finance charges. 

 

SOURCE Indigo Books & Music Inc.