CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Badger Infrastructure Solutions Ltd. (“Badger”, the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “us”) (TSX:BDGI) reported third quarter 2023 results today. All results are presented in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

2023 Third Quarter Financial and Operational Highlights

• The Company achieved revenue of $195.6 million, up 20% from 2022.
• Gross profit of $62.8 million, up 40% from 2022.
• Gross profit margin improved to 32.1%, up from 27.4% in 2022.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $52.7 million, up 49% from 2022.
• Adjusted EBITDA margin also improved in the quarter to 26.9%, up from 21.6% in 2022.
• Earnings per share was $0.68, up 62% from $0.42 per share in 2022.
• Consolidated revenue per truck per month (“RPT”)⁽¹⁾ for the quarter was $49,079, up 5% from 2022.
• The board of directors has approved the quarterly cash dividend of CAD$0.1725 per share for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023, with payment to be made on or about January 15, 2024, to all shareholders of record at the close of business on December 31, 2023.

"We are pleased to report the continued growth in our business as we report another record revenue quarter of $195.6 million, up 20% from last year. These results continue to show that our commercial strategy launched last year, and the renewed focus on our pricing strategies for 2023 are working. Importantly, our Adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 26.9%, up from 21.6% last year. The team has performed exceptionally well through the busy construction season which positions Badger for the balance of the year," said Robert Blackadar, President and Chief Executive Officer.

“We remain focused on capital discipline. In that regard, we are planning to produce at the midpoint of our range between 200 to 230 units and retire between 75 to 85 units, at the lower end of our previously provided range. As of September 30, 2023, we have produced 169 units, retired 66 units and completed the refurbishment of 2 units. We are now expecting to complete the refurbishment of between 15 to 20 units for 2023. We are very pleased with the results of the 2 units finished to date and expect to continue this program to smooth the upcoming retirement needs of our fleet,” concluded Mr. Blackadar.

 

Financial Highlights			Three months ended September 30,								Nine months ended  September 30,
($ U.S. thousands except RPT, per share and share information)			2023				2022				2023				2022
Revenue:
Non-destructive excavation service revenue			186,834				157,222				487,340				404,842
Other revenue			8,717				6,255				23,313				16,940
Total revenue			195,551				163,477				510,653				421,782
RPT - Consolidated (mixed currency)(1)			49,079				46,781				43,699				39,124
RPT - U.S. (USD)(1)			49,611				45,483				44,290				38,807
RPT - Canada (CAD)(1)			47,534				50,125				42,027				39,937
Adjusted EBITDA(1)			52,700				35,288				115,837				71,880
Adjusted EBITDA per share, basic and diluted(1)		$1.53				$1.02				$3.36				$2.09
Adjusted EBITDA margin(1)			26.9		%		21.6		%		22.7		%		17.0		%
Net earnings before income tax			30,831				16,882				49,464				16,291
Net earnings			23,284				14,512				37,061				14,052
Net earnings per share, basic and diluted(1)		$0.68				$0.42				$1.08				$0.41
Cash flow from operations before working capital and
other adjustments			52,630				35,495				115,480				72,184
Cash flow from operations before working capital and
other adjustments per share, basic and diluted(1)		$1.53				$1.03				$3.35				$2.09
Total debt to Compliance EBITDA(1)		1.4x				2.0x				1.4x				2.0x
Capital expenditures			27,752				15,102				83,494				39,869
Dividends paid(2)			4,433				4,382				13,066				10,279
Weighted average common shares outstanding(3)			34,473,438				34,473,438				34,473,438				34,473,438

⁽¹⁾ See “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” and “Key Financial Metrics and Other Operational Metrics” in the Company's second quarter 2023 management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") and 2022 Annual MD&A for additional detail on the definition and calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, total debt, Compliance EBITDA and RPT. Per share, basic and diluted measures calculated by dividing the respective financial measure with the weighted average common shares outstanding for the respective period.
⁽²⁾   The frequency of dividend payments was changed from monthly to quarterly effective with the March 2022 dividend payment.
⁽³⁾   See “Share Capital” in the Company’s third quarter 2023 MD&A for additional details.

2023 Business Outlook

The Company continues to focus on increasing revenues through its sales and national accounts commercial strategy to capture pricing opportunities and asset utilization throughout its branch network, particularly in the major urban centers in North America that are seeing strong end market demand growth. Accordingly, Badger's sales resources are aligned with market and customer opportunities to continue to drive market penetration in key markets. The Company continues to see strong and growing demand in its end markets, which include infrastructure, energy and non-residential construction. Badger continues to grow its customer base and national accounts program which is expected to contribute to continued year over year growth. We remain focused on both operational and functional scalability to drive operating leverage and continue growing adjusted EBITDA margins.

Badger is focused on asset management and utilization to support near-term growth needs and will continue to leverage its vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities to support its medium and long-term growth requirements. The Company plans to produce at the midpoint of its previously provided range between 200 and 230 non-destructive excavation units. We are targeting retirements between 75 and 85 units, at the lower end of the previously provided range of between 80 and 100 units in 2023. In the second quarter of 2023, Badger initiated a refurbishment program to extend the useful life of a select number of non-destructive excavation units. These costs will be capitalized and are expected to extend the useful life of these select units by 5 years and increase the return on invested capital. In 2023, we expect to complete the refurbishment of between 15 to 20 units, down from the range previously provided of between 40 and 50 units due to vendor delays. The Company continues to expect an average refurbishment cost per unit at $150,000. During the third quarter, two refurbished units were completed and placed back into operations.

The need for near and long-term reinvestment in North America’s critical infrastructure, including the addition of new infrastructure to support sustainable energy technologies remains a growing trend across Badger's operating footprint. Growth in end market demand remains strong across all of our U.S. regions. Badger remains well positioned to capture this growing market demand. We have seen a slow down in Canada in the third quarter, as a result of the pause in some large ongoing projects. Growth in the Canadian market is expected to remain soft through the balance of 2023.

About Badger Infrastructure Solutions Ltd.

Badger is North America’s largest provider of non-destructive excavating services. Badger works for contractors and facility owners in a broad range of infrastructure industries and in general commercial construction. Badger’s customers typically operate near high concentrations of underground power, communication, water, gas and sewer lines, where safety and economic risks are high and where non-destructive excavation provides a safe alternative for certain customer excavation requirements.

The Company’s key technology is the Badger Hydrovac^TM, which is used primarily for safe excavation around critical infrastructure and in congested underground conditions. The Badger Hydrovac uses a pressurized water stream to liquify the soil cover, which is then removed with a powerful vacuum system and deposited into a storage tank. To complement the Badger Hydrovac, the Company introduced the Badger Airvac^TM(1), in late 2021. The Badger Airvac is also used for safe excavation but utilizes compressed air instead of water to loosen the cover soil before vacuuming and depositing excavation materials into a storage tank. Badger is unique in the non- destructive excavation industry because it designs and manufactures all of its hydrovac and airvac units at its plant in Red Deer Alberta, which has an annual production capacity of more than 350 hydrovac and airvac units.

2023 Third Quarter Results Conference Call

A conference call and webcast for investors, analysts, brokers and media representatives to discuss the 2023 third quarter results is scheduled for 7:00 a.m. MT on Friday, November 3, 2023. Participants can join the webcast with audio only here: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/hu283sbs or join the call to ask a question here: https:// register.vevent.com/register/BI09ef64a47bd64960bc0568a7655ae754

^{_____________________________
(1)}Badger Airvac is a registered trademark in Canada. The trademark is currently “pending” in the United States.

2023 Third Quarter Disclosure Documents

Badger’s 2023 third quarter MD&A and Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, along with all previous public filings of Badger Infrastructure Solutions Ltd. may be found on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

This press release contains references to certain financial measures, including some that do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and that may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies or entities. These financial measures are identified and defined below. See “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” in the Company’s 2023 third quarter MD&A for detailed reconciliations of non-IFRS financial measures.

“Adjusted EBITDA” is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, gains and losses on derivative instruments, gains and losses on sale of property, plant and equipment and gains and losses on foreign exchange. Adjusted EBITDA is a measure of the Company’s operating profitability and is therefore useful to management and investors as it provides improved continuity with respect to the comparison of operating results over time. Adjusted EBITDA provides an indication of the results generated by the Company’s principal business activities prior to how these activities are financed, the results are taxed in various jurisdictions and assets are amortized. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA excludes gains and losses on sale of property, plant and equipment as these gains and losses are considered incidental and secondary to the principal business activities, gains and losses on foreign exchange as such gains and losses can vary significantly based on factors beyond the Company’s control; and share-based compensation and gains and losses on derivative instruments as these expenses can vary significantly with changes in the price of the Company’s common shares.

“Adjusted EBITDA margin” is Adjusted EBITDA as defined above, expressed as a percentage of revenues.

“Compliance EBITDA” is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and certain other items, calculated on a 12-month trailing basis, and is used by the Company to calculate compliance with its debt covenants.

"Total Debt" consists of long-term debt and issued letters of credit, less cash on hand. Total Debt is used by the Company to calculate compliance with its debt covenants.

Key Financial Metrics and Other Operational Metrics

“Revenue per truck per month” (“RPT”) is a measure of non-destructive excavation fleet utilization. It is calculated using non-destructive excavation revenue only. RPT is calculated on both a consolidated basis and for each geographic segment by dividing non-destructive excavation revenue for each segment, in the respective local currency, by the average number of non-destructive excavation units in the segment during the period.

See “Key Financial Metrics and Other Operational Metrics” in the Company’s 2023 third quarter MD&A for additional details on RPT.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements
Certain statements and information contained in this press release and other continuous disclosure documents of the Company referenced herein, including statements and information that contain words such as “could”, “should”, “can”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “believe”, “will”, “may”, “continues to”, “focus on”, , “grow”, “target”, “trend”, “commitment” and similar expressions relating to matters that are not historical facts, constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements and information. The Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements and information included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These forward-looking statements and information speak only as of the date of this press release.

In particular, forward-looking information and statements in this press release include, but are not limited to the following:

• Badger’s focus on cost management, sales activities, pricing strategies, operational efficiencies and functional cost scalability and its impact on growth and on maximizing shareholder value;
• Badger’s expectations with respect to the production, retirement, refurbishment of non-destructive excavation units in 2023;
• The expectation of reinvestment in North America’s critical infrastructure and Badger’s ability to position operations to capture resulting market demand for non-destructive excavation;
• Badger’s ability to support its growth needs by managing and utilizing its fleet, and leveraging its manufacturing capabilities;
• Disclosure under the heading “2023 Business Outlook”;
• The market conditions and demand trends anticipated by Badger throughout 2023;
• Badger’s ability to continue to grow its business, including revenue, as a result of capitalizing on the long-term growth opportunity in the North American non-destructive excavation market;
• The expected impact of Badger’s commercial strategy, pricing improvements and asset utilization on revenue;
• The anticipated impact of Badger’s refurbishment program;
• Badger’s ability to continue to manage the recent inflationary environment, including the expectation that the program will extend the useful life of refurbished units and increase the return on invested capital;
• Badger’s ability to respond to global recessionary risk;
• The expectation that the slowdown in Canada will continue through the remainder of 2023;
• The growth in end market demand across all of Badger's U.S. regions;
• Badger’s ability to continue to grow its business, including revenue, as a result of capitalizing on the long-term growth opportunity in the North American non-destructive excavation market;
• Badger's focus on asset optimization and increased utilization;
• Badger’s management of its receivables portfolio and other improvements in its cash collection cycle; and
• Badger’s anticipated use of its cash, cash equivalents and financial capacity available under its credit facility.
  

The forward-looking information and statements made in this press release rely on certain expected economic conditions and overall demand for Badger’s services and are based on certain assumptions. The assumptions used to generate this forward-looking information and statements are, among other things, that:

• Badger will maintain its financial position and financial resources will continue to be available to Badger;
• Business activity levels will continue to increase as there is continued economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic;
• The actions taken by Badger to protect the health and safety of its employees, customers and communities, and to mitigate the operational and financial effects of COVID-19 will continue to have the intended effects;
• The overall market for Badger’s services or its ability to provide service will not be adversely affected in the long-term by economic disruption, or other factors beyond Badger’s control such as weather, natural disasters, global events, legislation or regulatory changes and technological advances;
• There will be long-term sustained customer demand for non-destructive excavation and related services from a broad range of end use markets in North America;
• Badger will maintain relationships with current customers and develop successful relationships with new customers;
• Badger will collect customer payments in a timely manner;
• Badger will be able to compete effectively for the demand for its services;
• There will not be significant changes in profit margins due to pricing changes driven by market conditions, competition, regulatory factors or other unforeseen factors;
• Badger will realize and continue to realize the efficiencies and benefits of the executed business restructuring activities and other business improvement initiatives;
• Badger will be able to successfully implement its plans, programs, and procedures as expected; and
• Badger will obtain all labour, parts and supplies necessary to complete planned Badger non-destructive excavation unit builds at the costs and on the timeline expected.

Risks and other uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: political and economic conditions; industry competition; price fluctuations for oil and natural gas and related products and services; Badger’s ability to attract and retain key personnel; the availability of future debt and equity financing; changes in laws or regulations, including taxation and environmental regulations, which may adversely impact the labour supply and operating costs of Badger; extreme or unsettled weather patterns; and fluctuations in foreign exchange or interest rates.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing factors are not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company’s operations and financial results is included in reports on file with securities regulatory authorities in Canada and may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca) or at the Company’s website. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

For further information:
Robert Blackadar, President & Chief Executive Officer
Robert Dawson, Chief Financial Officer

Badger Infrastructure Solutions Ltd.
ATCO Building II
4^th Floor, 919 11^th Avenue, SW Calgary, Alberta T2R 1P3 Telephone (403) 264-8500
Fax (403) 228-9773

Source: Badger Infrastructure Solutions Ltd.

 

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