Colliers International Reports Better Than Expected Third Quarter Results

Continued growth from recurring services

Operating highlights:

TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada, October 27, 2020 – Colliers International Group Inc. (NASDAQ and TSX: CIGI) today announced operating and financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. All amounts are in US dollars.

For the third quarter ended September 30, 2020, revenues were $692.3 million, down 6% (7% in local currency) relative to the same quarter in the prior year, adjusted EBITDA (note 1) was $92.1 million, up 9% (8% in local currency) and adjusted EPS (note 2) was $1.08, up 4% versus the prior year period. Third quarter adjusted EPS would have been approximately $0.01 lower excluding foreign exchange impacts. GAAP operating earnings were $52.1 million, relative to $48.2 million in the prior year quarter. GAAP diluted net earnings per share were $0.52 relative to $0.74 in the prior year quarter. Third quarter GAAP EPS would have been approximately $0.01 lower excluding changes in foreign exchange rates.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, revenues were $1.87 billion, down 12% (11% in local currency) relative to the same period in the prior year, adjusted EBITDA (note 1) was $206.5 million, down 4% (3% in local currency) and adjusted EPS (note 2) was $2.35, down 11% versus the prior year period. Year-to-date adjusted EPS would have been approximately $0.03 higher excluding foreign exchange impacts. GAAP operating earnings were $85.1 million, relative to $118.8 million in the prior year period. GAAP diluted earnings per shares for the nine month period were $0.38 per share, relative to $1.37 in the prior year period. Year-to-date GAAP EPS would have been approximately $0.03 higher excluding changes in foreign exchange rates.

“Despite the far-reaching impact of the pandemic, Colliers delivered better than expected financial results for the third quarter with continued growth from recurring services. The results are a testament to the resilience of our global platform and differentiated business model that is diversified by geography, service and asset class,” said Jay S. Hennick, Global Chairman and CEO of Colliers International. “While pandemic and geo-political uncertainties persist, we expect our full year results to be stronger than previously anticipated. During the quarter, we continued investing in our future through the integration of recently acquired Colliers Mortgage and Maser Consulting and completing the acquisition of Colliers Nashville, a leader in one of the fastest growing markets in the United States. Looking forward, we see a great opportunity to accelerate our growth by aggressively adding quality talent, expanding our service capabilities and streamlining business processes. With a proven track record, highly diversified and balanced business, strong balance sheet, unique corporate culture and significant inside ownership, we are confident Colliers will emerge from this crisis stronger, and more resilient, than ever,” he concluded.

About Colliers International Group Inc.
Colliers International (NASDAQ, TSX: CIGI) is a leading diversified professional services and investment management company. With operations in 68 countries, our more than 15,000 enterprising professionals work collaboratively to provide expert advice to maximize the value of property for real estate occupiers, owners and investors. For more than 25 years, our experienced leadership, owning approximately 40% of our equity, has delivered compound annual investment returns of almost 20% for shareholders. In 2019, corporate revenues were more than $3.0 billion ($3.5 billion including affiliates), with $33 billion of assets under management in our investment management segment.

Learn more about how we accelerate success at corporate.colliers.com, Twitter @Colliers or LinkedIn.

Consolidated Revenues by Line of Service
With the closing of the acquisition of Maser Consulting in July 2020, Colliers has added engineering and design services to its Outsourcing & Advisory service line.

Consolidated revenues for the third quarter declined 7% on a local currency basis, driven primarily by expected declines in Leasing and Capital Markets activity due to uncertainty caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Consolidated internal revenues measured in local currencies were down 19% (note 3).

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, consolidated revenues declined 11% on a local currency basis, with the impact of the pandemic beginning in March 2020. Year-to-date consolidated internal revenues measured in local currencies were down 16% (note 3).

Segmented Quarterly Results

Revenues in the Americas region totalled $422.6 million for the third quarter, approximately the same when compared to $424.3 million in the prior year quarter as lower Leasing and Capital Markets revenues across the region were offset by strong Outsourcing & Advisory activity. Outsourcing & Advisory and Capital Markets included incremental revenues from the Colliers Mortgage and Maser Consulting acquisitions. Adjusted EBITDA was $54.6 million, up 41% from $38.8 million in the prior year quarter, including the acquisitions and cost savings implemented in the early stages of the pandemic. GAAP operating earnings were $40.4 million, relative to $26.5 million in the prior year quarter.

Revenues in the EMEA region totalled $117.4 million for the third quarter compared to $138.8 million in the prior year quarter, down 15% (19% in local currency) with Capital Markets and Leasing most impacted. Adjusted EBITDA was $7.7 million, versus $12.6 million in the prior year. GAAP operating earnings were a loss of $1.4 million as compared to earnings of $5.1 million in the third quarter of 2019.

Revenues in the Asia Pacific region totalled $110.5 million for the third quarter compared to $133.5 million in the prior year quarter, down 17% (23% in local currency) on lower Leasing and Capital Markets activity. Outsourcing & Advisory revenues were up slightly in the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $12.8 million, down from $18.6 million. GAAP operating earnings were $8.5 million, down from $17.2 million in the prior year quarter.

Investment Management revenues for the third quarter were $41.7 million compared to $39.9 million in the prior year quarter, up 5% (4% in local currency). Pass-through revenue from historical carried interest represented $1.9 million for the third quarter versus $0.5 million in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $15.3 million relative to $15.9 million in the prior year quarter. GAAP operating earnings were $7.9 million in the quarter, versus $9.3 million in the prior year quarter. Assets under management were $36.2 billion at September 30, 2020, up 1% from $35.7 billion at June 30, 2020 and up 18% from $30.6 billion at September 30, 2019.

Unallocated global corporate earnings as reported in Adjusted EBITDA was $1.8 million in the third quarter, relative to a loss of $1.7 million in the prior year quarter, with the change attributable to lower compensation and variable expenses. The corporate GAAP operating loss for the quarter was $3.5 million, relative to $10.0 million in the third quarter of 2019.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

The full impact of the pandemic remains uncertain. Given stronger than expected operating results for the third quarter, the Company is updating previously provided working assumptions and narrowing the range for the balance of the year. The updated working assumption for the full year 2020 (relative to 2019) is as follows:

This working assumption is based on the best available information as of the date of this press release and remains subject to change based on numerous macroeconomic, health, social, geo-political and related factors.

Year to date, the Company has taken significant steps to adjust costs to expected revenues across all service lines, including reductions to support, administrative and leadership and related costs. Expenses incurred in connection with these reductions are recorded as restructuring costs (note 1) and were substantially all severance related. The Company may take further cost reduction measures in future quarters.

The Company also received wage subsidies totalling $13.6 million during the third quarter ($23.9 million year to date) from governments in several countries. These subsidies were recorded in earnings as an offset to employment costs. The Company may receive further government wage subsidies in future quarters.

Conference Call

Colliers will be holding a conference call on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the quarter’s results. The call, as well as a supplemental slide presentation, will be simultaneously web cast and can be accessed live or after the call at corporate.colliers.com in the Events section.

Forward-looking Statements
This press release includes or may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include the Company’s financial performance outlook and statements regarding goals, beliefs, strategies, objectives, plans or current expectations. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements contemplated in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include: economic conditions, especially as they relate to commercial and consumer credit conditions and consumer spending, particularly in regions where our business may be concentrated; commercial real estate property values, vacancy rates and general conditions of financial liquidity for real estate transactions; trends in pricing and risk assumption for commercial real estate services; the effect of significant movements in average capitalization rates across different property types; a reduction by companies in their reliance on outsourcing for their commercial real estate needs, which would affect revenues and operating performance; competition in the markets served by the Company; the ability to attract new clients and to retain major clients and renew related contracts; the ability to retain and incentivize producers; increases in wage and benefit costs; the effects of changes in interest rates on the cost of borrowing; unexpected increases in operating costs, such as insurance, workers’ compensation and health care; changes in the frequency or severity of insurance incidents relative to historical experience; the effects of changes in foreign exchange rates in relation to the US dollar on the Company’s Canadian dollar, Euro, Australian dollar and UK pound sterling denominated revenues and expenses; the impact of pandemics on client demand for the Company’s services, the ability of the Company to deliver its services and the health and productivity of its employees; the impact of political events including elections, referenda, trade policy changes, immigration policy changes, hostilities and terrorism on the Company’s operations; the ability to identify and make acquisitions at reasonable prices and successfully integrate acquired operations; the ability to execute on, and adapt to, information technology strategies and trends; the ability to comply with laws and regulations related to our global operations, including real estate and mortgage banking licensure, labour and employment laws and regulations, as well as the anti-corruption laws and trade sanctions; and changes in government laws and policies at the federal, state/provincial or local level that may adversely impact the business.

Additional information and risk factors are identified in the Company’s other periodic filings with Canadian and US securities regulators (which factors are adopted herein and a copy of which can be obtained at www.sedar.com). Forward looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Except as required by applicable law, Colliers undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Summary financial information is provided in this press release. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and MD&A to be made available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Notes
1. Reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted EBITDA:

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net earnings, adjusted to exclude: (i) income tax; (ii) other expense (income) other than equity earnings from non-consolidated investments; (iii) interest expense; (iv) depreciation and amortization, including amortization of mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”); (v) gains attributable to MSRs; (vi) acquisition-related items (including transaction costs, contingent acquisition consideration fair value adjustments and contingent acquisition consideration-related compensation expense); (vii) restructuring costs and (viii) stock-based compensation expense. We use adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our own operating performance and our ability to service debt, as well as an integral part of our planning and reporting systems. Additionally, we use this measure in conjunction with discounted cash flow models to determine the Company’s overall enterprise valuation and to evaluate acquisition targets. We present adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure because we believe such measure is useful to investors as a reasonable indicator of operating performance because of the low capital intensity of the Company’s service operations. We believe this measure is a financial metric used by many investors to compare companies, especially in the services industry. This measure is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP in the United States, and should not be considered as a substitute for operating earnings, net earnings or cash flow from operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our method of calculating adjusted EBITDA may differ from other issuers and accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to measures used by other issuers. A reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted EBITDA appears below.

2. Reconciliation of net earnings and diluted net earnings per common share to adjusted net earnings and adjusted EPS:

Adjusted EPS is defined as diluted net earnings per share as calculated under the If-Converted method, adjusted for the effect, after income tax, of: (i) the non-controlling interest redemption increment; (ii) amortization expense related to intangible assets recognized in connection with acquisitions and MSRs; (iii) gains attributable to MSRs; (iv) acquisition-related items; (v) restructuring costs and (vi) stock-based compensation expense. We believe this measure is useful to investors because it provides a supplemental way to understand the underlying operating performance of the Company and enhances the comparability of operating results from period to period. Adjusted EPS is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered as a substitute for diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our method of calculating this non-GAAP measure may differ from other issuers and, accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to measures used by other issuers. A reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted net earnings and of diluted net earnings per share to adjusted EPS appears below.

Adjusted EPS is calculated using the “if-converted” method of calculating earnings per share in relation to the Convertible Notes, which were issued on May 19, 2020. As such, the interest (net of tax) on the Convertible Notes is added to the numerator and the additional shares issuable on conversion of the Convertible Notes are added to the denominator of the earnings per share calculation to determine if an assumed conversion is more dilutive than no assumption of conversion. The “if-converted” method is used if the impact of the assumed conversion is dilutive. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2020, the “if-converted” method is anti-dilutive for the GAAP diluted EPS calculation but dilutive for the adjusted EPS calculation.

3. Local currency revenue growth rate and internal revenue growth rate measures

Percentage revenue variances presented on a local currency basis are calculated by translating the current period results of our non-US dollar denominated operations to US dollars using the foreign currency exchange rates from the periods against which the current period results are being compared. Percentage revenue variances presented on an internal growth basis are calculated assuming no impact from acquired entities in the current and prior periods. Revenue from acquired entities, including any foreign exchange impacts, are treated as acquisition growth until the respective anniversaries of the acquisitions. We believe that these revenue growth rate methodologies provide a framework for assessing the Company’s performance and operations excluding the effects of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and acquisitions. Since these revenue growth rate measures are not calculated under GAAP, they may not be comparable to similar measures used by other issuers.

4. Assets under management

We use the term assets under management (“AUM”) as a measure of the scale of our Investment Management operations. AUM is defined as the gross market value of operating assets and the projected gross cost of development properties of the funds, partnerships and accounts to which we provide management and advisory services, including capital that such funds, partnerships and accounts have the right to call from investors pursuant to capital commitments. Our definition of AUM may differ from those used by other issuers and as such may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other issuers.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(1)   Acquisition-related items include transaction costs, contingent acquisition consideration fair value adjustments and contingent acquisition consideration-related compensation expense.
(2)   Diluted EPS is calculated using the “if-converted” method of calculating earnings per share in relation to the Convertible Notes, which were issued on May 19, 2020. As such, the interest (net of tax) on the Convertible Notes is added to the numerator and the additional shares issuable on conversion of the Convertible Notes are added to the denominator of the earnings per share calculation to determine if an assumed conversion is more dilutive than no assumption of conversion. The “if-converted” method is used if the impact of the assumed conversion is dilutive. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, the interest (net of tax) on the Convertible Notes was $1,701 and $2,479, respectively. The “if-converted” method is dilutive for the three-month period ended September 30, 2020 and anti-dilutive for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020.
(3)   See definition and reconciliation above.

Note to Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(1)   Restricted cash consists primarily of cash amounts set aside to satisfy legal or contractual requirements arising in the normal course of business, primarily Colliers Mortgage.

(2)   Warehouse receivables represent mortgage loans receivable, the majority of which are offset by borrowings under warehouse lines of credit which fund loans that financial institutions have committed to purchase.

(3)   Excluding warehouse lines of credit and convertible notes.

(4)   Net debt for financial leverage ratio excludes restricted cash, warehouse lines of credit and convertible notes, in accordance with debt agreements.

COMPANY CONTACTS:

Jay S. Hennick
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

John B. Friedrichsen
Chief Operating Officer

Christian Mayer
Chief Financial Officer

(416) 960-9500