Brampton Brick Reports Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2013

BRAMPTON, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 18, 2014) -

(All amounts are stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts.)

Brampton Brick Limited (TSX:BBL.A) today reported net income of $2,629, or $0.23 per Class A Subordinate Voting share and Class B Multiple Voting Share, for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to net income of $1,485, or $0.14 per share, in 2012. The aggregate weighted average number of Class A Subordinate Voting shares and Class B Multiple Voting shares outstanding was 10,940,354 in 2013 and 10,937,717 in 2012.

DISCUSSION OF OPERATIONS

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013

Revenues were $95,286 compared to $97,061 in 2012, representing a slight decline of $1,775, or 2%. Revenues in the Masonry Products business segment declined by $1,830. In the Landscape Products business segment, revenues increased marginally.

Cost of sales for the 2013 year amounted to $73,051, compared to $75,160 for 2012. The decrease in cost of sales was due to lower sales volumes of masonry products and lower yard and delivery expenses as a result of the decreased shipments.

Selling expenses for the year ended December 31, 2013 increased by $1,003. This increase is primarily due to an increase in personnel costs and the Company's ongoing investment in upgrading its information systems and enhancing its customer support capabilities.

General and administrative expenses increased by $63, to $6,742 for the year ended December 31, 2013 from $6,679 for the same period in 2012.

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment amounted to $334. The loss largely relates to certain equipment which was replaced at the Brampton clay brick plant in order to increase long-term operational efficiencies and to reduce production costs.

Other income of $140 for 2013 and $93 for 2012 includes the net of gains and losses on the translation of foreign currency transactions translated into the functional currency using exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions.

As at December 31, 2013, the Company evaluated the recoverability of its secured, non-interest bearing, non-current loan receivable from Universal Resource Recovery Inc. ("Universal"), in the amount of $7,343. The recoverability of the loan was evaluated based on the fair value of the underlying Universal assets. The value of the assets was assessed by independent professional real estate and equipment appraisers. Accordingly, as at December 31, 2013, the Company determined that the loan receivable was impaired and reduced the carrying value of the loan receivable to $5,200, the fair value representing the Company's share of Universal's underlying assets. Accordingly the Company has recognized an accumulated impairment charge of $2,143, of which $707 was recorded in the fourth quarter and $865 was recorded for the full year.

Operating income decreased to $6,215 compared to $6,725 in 2012, largely due to the decrease in revenues, partially offset by improved operating margins.

Finance costs of $2,736 for the year ended December 31, 2013 decreased by $938 from 2012. The decrease was due to lower interest expense attributable to lower debt balances outstanding on the Company's term loans due to principal payments made during the year, and the redemption of all the subordinated secured debentures in the principal amount of $9,000 in the latter half of 2012.

Provision for income taxes totaling $850 for the 2013 year related solely to the pre-tax income of the Company's Canadian operations compared to $1,566 for the same period in 2012. The effective income tax rate was 24.4% in 2013 compared to 51.3% in 2012. Losses incurred in the U.S. subsidiaries were lower in 2013 compared to 2012. The Company has not recorded a deferred tax asset with respect to the potential deferred tax benefit pertaining to non-capital losses carried forward by its U.S. operations.

FOURTH QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded a loss of $1,108, or $0.10 per Class A Subordinate Voting share and Class B Multiple Voting share, compared to a loss of $1,708, or $0.16 per Class A Subordinate Voting share and Class B Multiple Voting share, for the fourth quarter of 2012. The aggregate weighted average number of Class A Subordinate Voting shares and Class B Multiple Voting shares outstanding for the fourth quarter of each of 2013 and 2012 was 10,940,354.

For the fourth quarter of 2013, revenues decreased by $1,253 to $21,489 from $22,742 for the same period in 2012. The decrease in revenues was a result of lower masonry product shipments in the Canadian market.

An impairment loss of $707 on the Universal loan receivable was recognized in December 2013 compared to $656 in the fourth quarter of 2012 as discussed above.

Finance costs decreased for the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012 for the same reasons discussed above for the year ended December 31, 2013.

A more detailed discussion with respect to each operating business segment follows:

MASONRY PRODUCTS

For the year ended December 31, 2013, revenues decreased by $1,830, or 3%, to $70,276 from $72,106 in 2012. A decrease in masonry product shipments in the Canadian market was offset, partially by increases in masonry product shipments in the U.S. market.

For the year ended December 31, 2013, this business segment reported operating earnings of $5,779, compared to $7,246 in 2012. Cost of sales decreased by $1,492 to $54,026 compared to $55,518 in 2012. The decrease in cost of sales due to lower shipments was offset by an increase in the per unit cost of production. Lower production volumes compared to 2012 negatively affected the operating margins and consequently operating income.

For the fourth quarter of 2013, revenues decreased by 14% to $15,579, from $18,097, in 2012 due to the same reasons as discussed above for fiscal 2013.

Fourth quarter operations in 2013 were negatively impacted by lower shipments and lower operating margins resulting in an operating loss of $96 compared to an operating income of $146 for the same period in 2012.

LANDSCAPE PRODUCTS

Revenues of the Landscape Products business segment increased slightly to $25,010, for the year ended December 31, 2013, from $24,955 in 2012.

The increase in revenues in this business segment occurred in the second half of the year and was due to new product introductions and a catch up in sales impacted by poor weather through the first two quarters in 2013.

For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Landscape Products business segment recorded operating income of $1,303 compared to $757 in 2012.

The Landscape Products business segment reported an operating loss of $151 on revenues of $5,910 for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013 compared to an operating loss of $568 on revenues of $4,645 in 2012. The improvement in operating results was due to the same reasons discussed above for the year ended December 31, 2013.

CASH FLOWS

For the year ended December 31, 2013, cash flow provided by operating activities totaled $9,695 compared to $16,153 in 2012. Higher payables disbursements and higher amounts in other assets related to a deposit paid in December 2013 in the amount of $1,890 pertaining to the Atlas Block asset acquisition contributed to the decrease in cash flows from operations.

The income tax payable on 2013 taxable income was offset by the utilization of a deferred tax asset in the amount of $2,031, thus reducing the net income tax payments to $1,653 for 2013. This deferred tax asset relates to the cumulative advances to Universal totaling $16,251 which were determined under taxation rules to be an allowable business investment loss and accordingly this deferred tax asset was recognized in 2011.

Cash utilized for purchases of property, plant and equipment totaled $3,422 in 2013, compared to $3,101 in 2012. In 2013, capital expenditures included approximately $490 relating to new quarry development costs, $646 relating to new products and equipment upgrades and $409 for upgrading the Company's management information systems.

Advances to Universal relating to the loan receivable for the year ended December 31, 2013 amounted to $4,673 compared to $2,670 in 2012.

Cash received from sale of property, plant and equipment in 2013, amounted to $62. In 2012, proceeds totaled $520 of which $461 pertained to the sale of certain obsolete production equipment no longer supported by the Company's operational processes.

Proceeds from issuance of a demand non-revolving loan amounted to $2,598 in December 2013. These funds were advanced to Universal and used, in part, to fully repay the outstanding balance of Universal's term bank loan and to facilitate the completion of the lease arrangement with Universal's new tenant at its Welland, Ontario facility.

Payments of term loans during 2013 and 2012 totaled $2,571 and $2,730, respectively.

In August and October 2012, the Company redeemed all of the subordinated secured debentures in the amount of $9,000. In addition, a 2% early redemption fee on the principal amount was paid to all debenture holders, as the debentures were to have matured in February 2013.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

The Company's Masonry Products and Landscape Products business segments are seasonal in nature. The Landscape Products business is affected to a greater degree than the Masonry Products business. As a result of this seasonality, operating results are impacted accordingly and cash requirements are generally expected to increase through the first half of the year and decline through the second half of the year.

As at December 31, 2013, bank operating advances were $11,641 compared to $10,435 as at December 31, 2012.

Trade payables totaled $11,514 at December 31, 2013 compared to $11,675 at December 31, 2012.

The ratio of total liabilities to shareholders' equity was 0.49:1 at December 31, 2013 compared to 0.50:1 at December 31, 2012. The decrease in this ratio from December 2012 to December 2013 was primarily due to higher retained earnings resulting from the improvement in operating results in 2013 and the increase in the foreign currency translation gain in 'Accumulated other comprehensive income' due to the weakening of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar in 2013.

As at December 31, 2013, working capital was $7,766, representing a working capital ratio of 1.25:1 compared to working capital and a working capital ratio at December 31, 2012 of $7,325 and 1.25:1, respectively. The increase in working capital was primarily due to an increase in inventories offset, in part, by higher current debt. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $1,200 at December 31, 2013 compared to $1,412 at December 31, 2012.

The Company's bank credit agreement provides for borrowings up to $22,000 based on margin formulae for trade receivables and inventories, less priority claims and the mark-to-market exposure on swap contracts, if applicable. It is a demand facility secured by a general security agreement over all assets. The agreement also contains certain financial covenants.

As at December 31, 2013, the borrowing limit was $18,951. The utilization was $11,905 and was comprised of a $8,900 banker's acceptance 90 day note, a current account balance of $2,741, and outstanding letters of credit for $264.

The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants under its term financing agreement and operating credit facility as at December 31, 2013 and anticipates that it will maintain compliance throughout 2014.

The Company expects that future cash flows from operations, cash and cash equivalents on hand and the unutilized balance of its operating credit facility will be sufficient to satisfy its obligations as they become due.

On January 3, 2014, the Company completed its new $40,000 demand revolving reducing loan (the "Loan"). The proceeds were utilized to finance the purchase of the Atlas Block assets and to repay the outstanding balance of the term loan and an associated prepayment penalty.

The term of the new loan is nine years with interest payments only for the first year. Principal repayments commence in July 2015 at $500 per month in the months of July to November inclusive ($2,500 per year) to 2022, and a balloon payment in November 2022. The rate of interest is floating at the bank's prime rate plus a credit spread of 0.70% or at Banker's Acceptance rates plus a credit spread of 2.25%. The Company's credit spread is variable and determined by its interest coverage ratio. This loan is secured primarily by real estate and production equipment of the Company's Masonry Products and Landscape Products business segments in both Canada and the U.S. This liability will be classified as current on the consolidated balance sheets in 2014. Notwithstanding the classification of the loan as a current liability, the Company's new debt affords it many benefits including a lower interest rate, flexibility to have interest rates at either floating or fixed and flexibility to accelerate principal payments without any penalty. The Company is also permitted to redraw under the loan for the purchase of capital assets.

On January 7, 2014, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of a concrete masonry and landscape products company located in the province of Ontario. The assets acquired included two concrete products manufacturing plants located in Hillsdale and Brockville, Ontario, plus inventory for a purchase price of $13,288.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including, among others, statements regarding the expected repayment of the loan receivable from Universal, forecasts of sufficient cash flows from operations and other sources of financing, anticipated compliance with financial covenants under debt agreements, anticipated sales of masonry and landscape products, and other statements regarding future plans, objectives, results, business outlook and financial performance. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate.

Such forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to management, and are based on assumptions and analyses made by management in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, including, among others, assumptions regarding pricing, weather and seasonal expectations, production efficiency, and there being no significant disruptions affecting operations or other material adverse changes.

Such forward-looking statements also involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others: changes in economic conditions, including the demand for the Company's primary products and the level of new home, commercial and other construction; large fluctuations in production levels; fluctuations in energy prices and other production costs; changes in transportation costs; foreign currency exchange and interest rate fluctuations; legislative and regulatory developments; as well as those assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors identified and discussed above under "Risks and Uncertainties" and those identified and reported in the Company's other public filings (including the Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2013), which may be accessed at www.sedar.com.

The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof. Other than as specifically required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward- looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Brampton Brick is Canada's second largest manufacturer of clay brick, serving markets in Ontario, Quebec and the Northeast and Midwestern United States from its brick manufacturing plants located in Brampton, Ontario and near Terre Haute, Indiana. To complement the clay brick product line, the Company also manufactures a range of concrete masonry products, including concrete brick and block as well as stone veneer products. Concrete interlocking paving stones, retaining walls, garden walls and enviro products are manufactured in Markham, Milton and Brampton, Ontario and Wixom, Michigan. These products are sold to markets in Ontario, Quebec, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana under the Oaks^™ trade name. Products are used for residential construction and for industrial, commercial, and institutional building projects.

Selected Financial Information
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS		December 31, 2013		December 31, 2012
ASSETS
Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,200	$	1,412
	Trade and other receivables		9,891		10,832
	Inventories		25,032		22,287
	Taxes recoverable		282		-
	Loan receivable		-		1,392
	Other assets		2,565		575
			38,970		36,498
Non-current assets
	Loan receivable		5,200		-
	Property, plant and equipment		168,095		168,848
Total assets		$	212,265	$	205,346
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
	Bank operating advances	$	11,641	$	10,435
	Trade payables		11,514		11,675
	Income taxes payable		1		2,110
	Current portion of debt		5,704		2,928
	Decommissioning provisions		50		50
	Other liabilities		2,294		1,975
			31,204		29,173
Non-current liabilities
	Non-current portion of debt		20,980		23,554
	Decommissioning provisions		2,315		2,219
	Deferred tax liabilities		15,016		13,427
Total liabilities		$	69,515	$	68,373
EQUITY
Equity attributable to shareholders of Brampton Brick Limited
	Share capital	$	33,711	$	33,711
	Contributed surplus		2,078		1,895
	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		373		(2,655)
	Retained earnings		106,559		104,010
		$	142,721	$	136,961
Non-controlling interests			29		12
Total equity		$	142,750	$	136,973
Total liabilities and equity		$	212,265	$	205,346

Selected Financial Information
(in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)			Three months ended December 31				Year ended December 31
			2013		2012		2013		2012
Revenues		$	21,489	$	22,742	$	95,286	$	97,061
Cost of sales			17,732		19,217		73,051		75,160
Selling expenses			2,246		2,028		8,219		7,216
General and administrative expenses			2,085		1,929		6,742		6,679
(Gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment			(13)		40		334		96
Other income			(86)		(50)		(140)		(93)
Impairment loss on loan receivable			707		656		865		1,278
			22,671		23,820		89,071		90,336
Operating income (loss)			(1,182)		(1,078)		6,215		6,725
Finance expense			(632)		(900)		(2,736)		(3,674)
Income (loss) before income taxes			(1,814)		(1,978)		3,479		3,051
Recovery of (provision for) income taxes
	Current		510		274		739		(1,301)
	Deferred		196		(4)		(1,589)		(265)
			706		270		(850)		(1,566)
Net income (loss) for the period		$	(1,108)	$	(1,708)	$	2,629	$	1,485
Net income (loss) attributable to:
	Shareholders of Brampton Brick Limited	$	(1,129)	$	(1,709)	$	2,549	$	1,483
	Non-controlling interests		21		1		80		2
Net income (loss) for the period		$	(1,108)	$	(1,708)	$	2,629	$	1,485
Other comprehensive income (loss)
	Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
	Foreign currency translation income (loss)	$	1,453	$	520	$	3,028	$	(1,115)
Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period		$	345	$	(1,188)	$	5,657	$	370
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to:
	Shareholders of Brampton Brick Limited	$	324	$	(1,189)	$	5,577	$	368
	Non-controlling interests		21		1		80		2
Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period		$	345	$	(1,188)	$	5,657	$	370
Net income (loss) per Class A Subordinate Voting share and Class B Multiple Voting share attributable to shareholders of Brampton Brick Limited			(0.10)	$	(0.16)	$	0.23	$	0.14
		$
Weighted average Class A Subordinate Voting shares and Class B Multiple Voting shares outstanding (000's)			10,940		10,940		10,940		10,938

Selected Financial Information
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)
			Year ended December 31
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS				2013		2012
Cash provided by (used for)
Operating activities
	Net income for the year		$	2,629	$	1,485
	Items not affecting cash and cash equivalents
		Depreciation		7,300		7,070
		Current taxes		(739)		1,301
		Deferred taxes		1,589		265
		Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment		334		96
		Unrealized foreign currency exchange gain		(272)		(36)
		Impairment loss on loan receivable		865		1,278
		Net interest expense		2,737		3,674
		Other		183		97
				14,626		15,230
	Changes in non-cash items
		Trade and other receivables		1,020		(884)
		Inventories		(2,336)		(1,614)
		Other assets		(1,976)		18
		Trade payables		(204)		2,582
		Income tax credits applied		-		731
		Other liabilities		218		141
				(3,278)		974
	Income tax payments			(1,653)		(7)
	Payments for decommissioning of assets			-		(44)
Cash provided by operating activities				9,695		16,153
Investing activities
	Purchase of property, plant and equipment			(3,422)		(3,101)
	Loan advances paid to Universal Resource Recovery Inc.			(4,673)		(2,670)
	Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment			62		520
Cash used for investment activities				(8,033)		(5,251)
Financing activities
	Increase in bank operating advances			1,206		5,288
	Proceeds from issuance of demand non-revolving loan			2,598		-
	Payment of term loans			(2,571)		(2,730)
	Payment of subordinated secured debentures			-		(9,000)
	Interest paid			(2,557)		(3,534)
	Payments on obligations under finance leases			(540)		(638)
	Payment of dividends by subsidiary to non-controlling interests			(63)		(75)
	Proceeds from exercise of stock options			-		19
Cash used for financing activities				(1,927)		(10,670)
Foreign exchange on cash held in foreign currency				53		-
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents				(212)		232
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year				1,412		1,180
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year			$	1,200	$	1,412

Selected Financial Information
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
		Attributable to shareholders of Brampton Brick Limited
			Share Capital	Contributed Surplus		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Retained Earnings	Total	Non-controlling interests		Total Equity
Balance - January 1, 2012		$	33,689	$	1,801	$	(1,540)	$ 102,527	$ 136,477	$	10	$ 136,487
	Net income for the year		-		-		-	1,483	1,483		2	1,485
	Other comprehensive loss (net of taxes, $nil)		-		-		(1,115)	-	(1,115)		-	(1,115)
Comprehensive (loss) income for the year			-		-		(1,115)	1,483	368		2	370
	Stock options exercised		22		(3)		-	-	19		-	19
	Share-based compensation		-		97		-	-	97		-	97
Balance - December 31, 2012		$	33,711	$	1,895	$	(2,655)	$ 104,010	$ 136,961	$	12	$ 136,973
Balance - January 1, 2013		$	33,711	$	1,895	$	(2,655)	$ 104,010	$ 136,961	$	12	$ 136,973
	Net income for the year		-		-		-	2,549	2,549		80	2,629
	Other comprehensive income (net of taxes, $nil)		-		-		3,028	-	3,028		-	3,028
Comprehensive income for the year			-		-		3,028	2,549	5,577		80	5,657
	Dividends paid to non-controlling interest		-		-		-	-	-		(63)	(63)
	Share-based compensation		-		183		-	-	183		-	183
Balance - December 31, 2013		$	33,711	$	2,078	$	373	$ 106,559	$ 142,721	$	29	$ 142,750