Bay Street News

ISC Reports Record Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA in its Financial Results for 2023

REGINA, Saskatchewan, March 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Information Services Corporation (TSX:ISV) (“ISC” or the “Company”) today reported on the Company’s financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.

Commenting on ISC’s results, Shawn Peters, President and CEO stated, “2023 was a year of many achievements for ISC. Most notably the extension of our registry partnership with the Government of Saskatchewan ensures continuity for both customers and ISC through to 2053. We also continued to invest in our people and technology to support our growth across our segments in 2023 and beyond, including becoming ISO 27001 certified towards the end of the year. What is most pleasing to me is how well our existing business has performed and has grown organically through our Services and Technology Solutions segments.” Peters continued, “The last 10 years at ISC have set the stage for the next period of growth and with our goal to double the size of ISC on a revenue and adjusted EBITDA basis by 2028, we remain focused on delivering sustainable value to shareholders.”  

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights

Year-end 2023 Highlights

Financial Position as at December 31, 2023

Subsequent Events

Management’s Discussion of ISC’s Summary of Fourth Quarter and Year-end 2023 Financial Results

(thousands of CAD;
except earnings per share
and where noted)
Quarter Ended December 31, 2023 Quarter Ended December 31, 2022 Year Ended December 31, 2023 Year Ended December 31, 2022
Revenue        
Registry Operations $ 28,519   $22,605   $ 103,516   $91,721  
Services   25,368     22,441     101,712     92,306  
Technology Solutions   3,604
    1,047     9,268     5,849  
Corporate and other     –     11     24     19  
Total revenue $ 57,491   $46,104   $ 214,520   $189,895  
Total expenses $ 43,683   $39,396   $ 166,547   $143,700  
Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 21,317   $13,521   $ 72,866   $64,390  
Adjusted EBITDA margin1 (% of revenue)   37.1%     29.3%     34.0%     33.9%  
Net income $ 5,714   $3,949   $ 25,045   $30,769  
Adjusted net income1 $ 9,848   $5,942   $ 34,213   $33,348  
Earnings per share (basic) $ 0.32   $0.22   $ 1.41   $1.75  
Earnings per share (diluted) $ 0.32   $0.22   $ 1.39   $1.71  
Adjusted Earnings per share (basic)1 $ 0.55   $0.34   $ 1.92   $1.89  
Adjusted earnings per share (diluted)1 $ 0.54   $0.33   $ 1.90   $1.86  
Adjusted free cash flow1 $ 13,975   $8,995   $ 50,770   $44,390  
 
1Adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, basic, adjusted earnings per share, diluted, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted free cash flow are not recognized as measures under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, they may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other companies; refer to Section 8.8 “Non-IFRS financial measures” of the MD&A. Refer to Section 2 “Consolidated Financial Analysis” in the MD&A for a reconciliation of adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA to net income. Refer to Section 6.1 “Cash flow” in the MD&A for a reconciliation of adjusted free cash flow to net cash flow provided by operating activities. See also a description of these non-IFRS measures and reconciliations of adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA to net income and adjusted free cash flow to net cash flow provided by operating activities presented in the section of this news release titled “Non-IFRS Performance Measures”.
 

2023 Results of Operations

Outlook

The following section includes forward-looking information, including statements related to our strategy, future results, including revenue and adjusted EBITDA, segment performance, expenses, operating costs and capital expenditures, the industries in which we operate, economic activity, growth opportunities, investments and business development opportunities. Refer to “Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information”.

In 2024, we expect revenue to grow within a range of $240.0 million to $250.0 million and adjusted EBITDA to grow within a range of $83.0 million to $91.0 million. When compared to our actual results for 2023, our guidance for 2024 represents expected year-over-year increases of up to 17 per cent for revenue and up to 25 per cent for adjusted EBITDA.

Our expected performance year-over-year marks the beginning of the next phase of ISC’s growth plan. We intend to leverage the investments and achievements of 2023 while intensifying our focus on organic growth and continuing to execute on accretive M&A opportunities.

In Registry Operations, we expect transactions in 2024 to be largely flat with revenue growth through a realization of a full year of fee adjustments, including those amended in July 2023 because of the Extension Agreement and regular annual CPI fee adjustments. Services will continue to be a significant part of our organic growth, with a forecasted increase in transactions and number of customers. Our Technology Solutions segment is also forecasted to see double-digit growth as we deliver on existing and new solutions delivery contracts in 2024.

The key drivers of expenses in adjusted EBITDA in 2024 are expected to be wages and salaries and cost of goods sold. Furthermore, as a result of the Extension Agreement, the Company will have additional operating costs associated with the enhancement of the Saskatchewan Registries and increased interest expense arising from additional borrowings in 2023, which are excluded from adjusted EBITDA.

Our capital expenditures will also increase because of the enhancement of the Saskatchewan Registries but will remain immaterial overall. As a result, the Company expects to see robust free cash flow in 2024, which will support the deleveraging of our balance sheet to realize a long-term net leverage target of 2.0x – 2.5x.

Growth

Having doubled the size of ISC on a revenue and adjusted EBITDA basis over the last 10 years, our goal is to again double the size of the Company, on a similar metrics basis and based on 2023 results, but in half the time (5 years), through a combination of organic growth and M&A. For more information, please refer to Section 5 of the MD&A.

Note to Readers

The Board of Directors (“Board”) of ISC is responsible for review and approval of this disclosure. The Audit Committee of the Board, which is comprised exclusively of independent directors, reviews and approves the fiscal year-end Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Financial Statements and recommends both to the Board for approval. The interim financial statements and MD&A are reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee.

This news release provides a general summary of ISC’s results for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. Readers are encouraged to download the Company’s complete financial disclosures. Links to ISC’s financial statements and related notes and MD&A for the period are available on our website in the Investor Relations section at www.isc.ca        

Copies can also be obtained at www.sedarplus.ca by searching Information Services Corporation’s profile or by contacting Information Services Corporation at investor.relations@isc.ca

All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Conference Call and Webcast

An investor conference call will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results. Those joining the call on a listen-only basis are encouraged to join the live audio webcast, which will be available on ISC’s website at www.company.isc.ca/investor-relations/events.

Participants who wish to ask a question on the live call may do so through the ISC website, or by registering at: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIf1c22b6badef4f73870ee27bd98cb819

Once registered, participants will receive the dial-in numbers and their unique PIN number. When dialing in, participants will input their PIN and be placed into the call.

While not required, it is recommended that participants join 10 minutes before the start time. A replay of the webcast will be available approximately 24 hours after the event on ISC’s website at www.isc.ca. Media are invited to attend on a listen-only basis.

About ISC®
Headquartered in Canada, ISC is a leading provider of registry and information management services for public data and records. Throughout our history, we have delivered value to our clients by providing solutions to manage, secure and administer information through our Registry Operations, Services and Technology Solutions segments. ISC is focused on sustaining its core business while pursuing new growth opportunities. The Class A Shares of ISC trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ISV.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws including, without limitation, those contained in the “Outlook” section hereof, including statements related to our strategy, future results, including revenue and adjusted EBITDA, segment performance, expenses, operating costs and capital expenditures, and statements related to the industries in which we operate, growth opportunities, economic activity, investments, business development opportunities and our future financial position and results of operations. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s plans or expectations include risks relating to changes in economic, market and business conditions, changes in technology and customers’ demands and expectations, reliance on key customers and licences, dependence on key projects and clients, securing new business and fixed-price contracts, identification of viable growth opportunities, implementation of our growth strategy, competition, termination risks and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company including those detailed in ISC’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023 and ISC’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes and Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023, copies of which are filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The forward-looking information in this release is made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, ISC assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances.

Non-IFRS Performance Measures

Included within this news release is reference to the following non-IFRS performance measures. These measures, which are reconciled below are reviewed regularly by management and the Board of Directors in assessing our performance and making decisions regarding the ongoing operations of our business and its ability to generate returns. These measures may also be used by external parties in decision making related to ISC’s performance. They are not recognized measures under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS, so may not be reliable ways to compare us to other companies.

Non-IFRS performance measure  Why we use it  How we calculate it  Most comparable IFRS financial measure 
Adjusted net income

Adjusted earnings per share, basic

Adjusted earnings per share, diluted

  • To evaluate performance and profitability while excluding non-operational and share-based volatility.
  • We believe that certain investors and analysts will use adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share to evaluate performance while excluding items that management believes do not contribute to our ongoing operations.
Adjusted net income:
Net income
Add
Share-based compensation expense, acquisitions, integration and other costs, effective interest component of interest expense, debt finance costs expensed to professional and consulting, amortization of the intangible asset associated with the right to manage and operate the Saskatchewan Registries, amortization of registry enhancements, interest on the vendor concession liability and the tax effect of these adjustments at ISC’s statutory tax rate.

Adjusted earnings per share, basic:
Adjusted net income divided by weighted average number of common shares outstanding

Adjusted earnings per share, diluted:
Adjusted net income divided by diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding

Net income

Earnings per share, basic

Earnings per share, diluted

EBITDA

EBITDA margin

  • To evaluate performance and profitability of segments and subsidiaries as well as the conversion of revenue.
  • We believe that certain investors and analysts use EBITDA to measure our ability to service debt and meet other performance obligations.
EBITDA:
Net income
add (remove)
Depreciation and amortization, net finance expense, income tax expense
EBITDA margin:
EBITDA
divided by
Total revenue
Net income
Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA margin

  • To evaluate performance and profitability of segments and subsidiaries as well as the conversion of revenue while excluding non-operational and share-based volatility. 
  • We believe that certain investors and analysts use adjusted EBITDA to measure our ability to service debt and meet other performance obligations. 
  • Adjusted EBITDA is also used as a component of determining short-term incentive compensation for employees.
Adjusted EBITDA:
EBITDA
add (remove)
share-based compensation expense, acquisition, integration and other costs, gain/loss on disposal of assets and asset impairment charges if significant
Adjusted EBITDA margin:
Adjusted EBITDA
divided by
Total revenue
Net income
Free cash flow
  • To show cash available for debt repayment and reinvestment into the Company on a levered basis.
  • We believe that certain investors and analysts use this measure to value a business and its underlying assets.
  • Free cash flow is also used as a component of determining short-term incentive compensation for employees.
Free cash flow:
Net cash flow provided by operating activities
deduct (add)
Net change in non-cash working capital, cash additions to property, plant and equipment, cash additions to intangible assets, interest received and paid as well as interest paid on lease obligations and principal repayments on lease obligations
Net cash flow provided by operating activities
Adjusted free cash flow
  • To show cash available for debt repayment and reinvestment into the Company on a levered basis from continuing operations while excluding non-operational and share-based volatility.
  • We believe that certain investors and analysts use this measure to value a business and its underlying assets based on continuing operations while excluding short term non-operational items.
Adjusted free cash flow:
Free cash flow
deduct (add)
Share-based compensation expense, acquisition, integration and other costs and registry enhancement capital expenditures
Net cash flow provided by operating activities

 

The following presents a reconciliation of adjusted net income to net income, a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to EBITDA to net income and a reconciliation of adjusted free cash flow to free cash flow to net cash flow provided by operating activities:

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income to Net Income

  Three Months Ended December 31,
  Pre-tax Tax1 After-tax
(thousands of CAD)   2023     2022     2023     2022     2023     2022  
Adjusted net income $ 13,253   $ 8,401   $ (3,405 ) $ (2,459 ) $ 9,848   $ 5,942  
Add (subtract):            
  Share-based compensation (expense)   (307 )   (2,180 )   83     589     (224 )   (1,591 )
  Acquisition, integration and other costs   (559 )   (533 )   151     144     (408 )   (389 )
  Effective interest component of interest expense   (64 )   (18 )   17     5     (47 )   (13 )
  Vendor concession liability accretion   (2,599 )       702         (1,897 )    
  Amortization of right to manage and operate the Saskatchewan Registries   (2,134 )       576         (1,558 )    
Net income $ 7,590   $ 5,670   $ (1,876 ) $ (1,721 ) $ 5,714   $ 3,949  
 
1Calculated at ISC’s statutory tax rate of 27.0 per cent.
 
  Year Ended December 31,
  Pre-tax Tax1 After-tax
(thousands of CAD)   2023     2022     2023     2022     2023     2022  
Adjusted net income $ 47,350   $ 46,550   $ (13,137 ) $ (13,202 ) $ 34,213   $ 33,348  
Add (subtract):            
  Share-based compensation (expense)   (283 )   (1,483 )   76     400     (207 )   (1,083 )
  Acquisition, integration and other costs   (4,104 )   (1,977 )   1,108     534     (2,996 )   (1,443 )
  Effective interest component of interest expense   (165 )   (72 )   45     19     (120 )   (53 )
  Vendor concession liability accretion   (4,332 )       1,170         (3,162 )    
  Amortization of right to manage and operate the Saskatchewan Registries   (3,676 )       993         (2,683 )    
Net income $ 34,790   $ 43,018   $ (9,745 )

$

(12,249

)

$ 25,045   $ 30,769  
 
1Calculated at ISC’s statutory tax rate of 27.0 per cent.
 

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to EBITDA to Net Income

    Three Months Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
(thousands of CAD)   2023     2022     2023     2022  
Adjusted EBITDA $ 21,317   $ 13,521   $ 72,866   $ 64,390  
Add (subtract):        
Share-based compensation (expense)   (307 )   (2,180 )   (283 )   (1,483 )
Acquisition, integration and other costs   (559 )   (533 )   (4,104 )   (1,977 )
EBITDA $ 20,451   $ 10,808   $ 68,479   $ 60,930  
Add (subtract):        
Depreciation and amortization   (6,643 )   (4,100 )   (20,506 )   (14,735 )
Net finance expense   (6,218 )   (1,038 )   (13,183 )   (3,177 )
Income tax expense   (1,876 )   (1,721 )   (9,745 )   (12,249 )
Net income $ 5,714   $ 3,949   $ 25,045   $ 30,769  
EBITDA margin (% of revenue)   35.6 %   23.4 %   31.9 %   32.1 %
Adjusted EBITDA margin (% of revenue)   37.1 %   29.3 %   34.0 %   33.9 %
                         

Reconciliation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow to Free Cash Flow to Net Cash Flow Provided by Operating Activities

         
  Three Months Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,  
(thousands of CAD)   2023     2022     2023     2022  
Adjusted free cash flow $ 13,975   $ 8,995   $ 50,770   $ 44,390  
Add (subtract):        
Share-based compensation (expense)   (307 )   (2,180 )   (283 )   (1,483 )
Acquisition, integration, and other costs   (559 )   (533 )   (4,104 )   (1,977 )
Registry enhancement capital expenditures   (414 )       (943 )    
Free cash flow1 $ 12,695   $ 6,282   $ 45,440   $ 40,930  
Add (subtract):        
Cash additions to property, plant and equipment   144     163     394     574  
Cash additions to intangible assets2   714     157     2,000     890  
Interest received   (263 )   (269 )   (1,163 )   (463 )
Interest paid   3,840     1,162     8,533     2,902  
Interest paid on lease obligations   123     101     400     403  
Principal repayment on lease obligations   637     600     2,383     2,137  
Net change in non-cash working capital3   4,263     10,224     (1,216 )   (3,837 )
Net cash flow provided by operating activities $ 22,153   $ 18,420   $ 56,771   $ 43,536  
 
1Commencing on January 1, 2023, ISC revised the definition of free cash flow which is a non-IFRS measure to include interest received and paid as well as principal repayments on lease obligations. This is further defined in Section 8.8 “Non-IFRS financial measures”, reconciled above and has been reflected in the comparative period. The impact of the change to free cash flow to include interest received and paid, interest paid on lease obligations and principal repayments on lease obligations on the previously stated prior year results was a $1.6 million decrease for the three months ended December 31, 2022 and a decrease of $5.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
2During the year, ISC entered into the Extension Agreement which resulted in the acquisition of an intangible asset related to the right to manage and operate the Saskatchewan Registries until 2053. Cash paid during the year of $153.4 million has been excluded from the above calculation due to its long-term and transformational nature.
3Refer to Note 26 of the Financial Statements for reconciliation.
 

Investor Contact
Jonathan Hackshaw
Senior Director, Investor Relations & Capital Markets
Toll Free: 1-855-341-8363 in North America or 1-306-798-1137
investor.relations@isc.ca

Media Contact
Jodi Bosnjak
External Communications Specialist
Toll Free: 1-855-341-8363 in North America or 1-306-798-1137
corp.communications@isc.ca


Bay Street News