Ritchie Bros. reports fourth quarter and 2020 annual results

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated RBA RBA, (the "Company", "Ritchie Bros.", "we", "us", or "our") reported the following results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.

(All figures are presented in U.S. dollars)

Fourth quarter highlights
Net income attributable to stockholders decreased 5% to $48.9 million, compared to $51.6 million in Q4 2019. Adjusted net income attributable to stockholders*(non-GAAP measures), which excludes $5.2 million of acquisition-related costs ($3.9 million net of tax) related to the acquisition of Rouse Services LLC ("Rouse"), and $1.5 million current income tax expense related to an unfavourable adjustment to reflect final regulations published regarding hybrid financing arrangements, increased 13% to $54.3 million as compared to $48.2 million in Q4 2019. Diluted earnings per share ("EPS") attributable to stockholders decreased 6% to $0.44 per share in Q4 2020 compared to $0.47 per share in Q4 2019. Diluted adjusted EPS attributable to stockholders*(non-GAAP measures) which excludes adjusting items, increased 11% to $0.49 per share at Q4 2020 compared to $0.44 per share in Q4 2019.

Consolidated results:

• Total revenue in Q4 2020 increased 15% to $383.4 million as compared to Q4 2019
• Service revenue in Q4 2020 increased 6% to $231.7 million as compared to Q4 2019
• Inventory sales revenue in Q4 2020 increased 33% to $151.8 million as compared to Q4 2019
• Total selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") in Q4 2020 increased 13% to $108.3 million as compared to Q4 2019
• Operating income in Q4 2020 increased 2% to $72.9 million as compared to Q4 2019
• Adjusted operating income*(non-GAAP measures) in Q4 2020 increased 16% to $78.1 million as compared to Q4 2019
• Net income in Q4 2020 decreased 5% to $48.9 million as compared to Q4 2019
• Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization* ("EBITDA") (non-GAAP measure) in Q4 2020 increased 12% to $98.5 million as compared to Q4 2019
• Cash provided by operating activities was $257.9 million for 2020

Auctions & Marketplaces segment results:

• GTV¹ in Q4 2020 increased 5% to $1.4 billion as compared to Q4 2019
• A&M total revenue in Q4 2020 increased 17% to $348.5 million as compared to Q4 2019
• Service revenue in Q4 2020 increased 7% to $196.7 million as compared to Q4 2019
• Inventory sales revenue in Q4 2020 increased 33% to $151.8 million as compared to Q4 2019

Other Services segment results:

• Other Services total revenue in Q4 2020 increased 2% to $35.0 million as compared to Q4 2019
• RBFS revenue in Q4 2020 increased 10% to $9.1 million as compared to Q4 2019

Other Company development

• On December 8, 2020, the Company acquired Rouse, a privately held company that provides data intelligence and performance benchmarking solutions for a fair value of approximately $275 million  

Full year highlights
Net income attributable to stockholders for 2020 increased 14% to $170.1 million compared to $149.0 million in 2019. Adjusted net income attributable to stockholders* (non-GAAP measure), which excludes $7.8 million income tax expense related to an unfavourable adjustment to reflect final regulations published regarding hybrid financing arrangements, $5.2 million of acquisition-related costs ($3.9 million net of tax) related to the acquisition of Rouse, and $4.3 million ($3.2 million net of tax) of severance costs, increased 27% to $185.0 million in 2020 as compared to $145.6 million in 2019. Diluted earnings per share ("EPS") attributable to stockholders increased 13% to $1.54 from $1.36 per share. Diluted adjusted EPS attributable to stockholders* (non-GAAP measure), which excludes adjusting items, increased 26% to $1.68 per share in 2020 as compared to $1.33 per share in 2019.

Consolidated results:

• Total revenue increased 4% to $1.4 billion as compared to 2019
• Service revenue increased 8% to $871.6 million as compared to 2019
• Inventory sales revenue decreased 2% to $505.7 million as compared to 2019
• Total SG&A increased 9% to $417.5 million in 2020 as compared to 2019
• Operating income increased 18% to $263.2 million as compared to 2019
• Net income increased 14% to $170.4 million as compared to 2019
• Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization* ("EBITDA")(non-GAAP measure) increased 20% to $353.5 million as compared to 2019
• Cash provided by operating activities was $257.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020

Auctions & Marketplaces segment results:

• GTV increased 5% to $5.4 billion compared to 2019
• A&M total revenue increased 4% to $1.2 billion as compared to 2019
• Service revenue increased 9% to $740.0 million as compared to 2019
• Inventory sales revenue decreased 2% to $505.7 million as compared to 2019

Other Services segment results:

• Other Services total revenue increased 5% to $131.6 million as compared to 2019
• RBFS revenue increased 12% to $32.2 million as compared to 2019

"We delivered a solid fourth quarter with a 5% increase in GTV contributing to an 18% growth in operating income for the full year."

"2020 was an unprecedented year as the COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on public health while creating global economic uncertainty. I am proud of the technology driven innovations our teams implemented to help customers leverage our Omni-channel platform while keeping our health protocols a top priority," said Ann Fandozzi, CEO of Ritchie Bros.

Fandozzi concluded "Uncertainty in the fourth quarter, driven by new COVID shut-downs and turbulent US election, resulted in consigners taking a wait and see approach. We continue to focus on things that drive long term value: innovating and leveraging technology to enhance customer experience, optimizing operating cost and driving execution against our strategic pillars."

Financial Overview
(Unaudited)

Segment Overview

Q4 2020 Consolidated Performance Overview

In response to COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in March 2020, we transitioned all our traditional live on site auctions to online bidding utilizing our existing online bidding technology and simultaneously ceased all public attendance at our live auction theaters. Our core online auction channels (IronPlanet.com, GovPlanet.com, Marketplace-E) continued to operate as usual.

GTV increased 5% to $1.4 billion in Q4 2020. The increase was primarily in Canada due to a large dispersal of pipeline equipment at our Q4 2020 Grand Prairie auction, as well as holding three net new auctions compared to Q4 2019. The International sales team also delivered positive year-over-year results at our St. Aubin, France, and Caorso, Italy on site auctions, offset by lower online performance in Europe as well as the non-repeat of our Narita auction, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We had lower year-over-year performance in our US live auctions, primarily due softer equipment supply, election uncertainty, and COVID fatigue, partially offset by positive growth on our online channel due to strong sales execution by our US strategic accounts team.

Total revenue increased 15% to $383.4 million in Q4 2020.

Service revenue increased 6% with both commissions revenue and fees revenue increasing 6%. Fees revenue was up 6% driven by higher fees from total GTV growth of 5% and improved buyer fee rate performance driven by our online fee structure in Australia,  incremental revenue of Rouse, higher online listing inspection fees in line with increased online GTV, and the continued growth in RBFS fee revenue. This increase was partially offset by lower ancillary fees from refurbishing and transporting sellers' equipment driven by lower volume in the US. Commission revenue increased 6% driven by higher volume of guarantee contracts and rate improvement in both US and Canada.

Inventory sales revenue increased 33% representing higher inventory sales volume primarily driven by strong performance in our Canada region due to a large dispersal of pipeline equipment in our Q4 2020 Grand Prairie auction. In addition, our International region also experienced strong growth in Australia and Europe. This was partially offset by the non-repeat of larger inventory contracts in the US.

Costs of services decreased 7% to $39.3 million. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we transitioned our live on site auctions to online bidding, utilizing TAL solutions for selected International and on-the-farm agricultural events and implementing travel restrictions. These operational changes resulted in temporary cost reductions in travel, advertising, and promotion expenses, and employee compensation. In addition, we incurred lower ancillary and logistical service expenses, in line with the decrease in ancillary fees earned from refurbishing and transporting sellers' equipment driven by lower volume in the US. This was partially offset by higher cost of services incurred to support new government contracts. 

Cost of inventory increased 27% to $137.3 million, in line with the overall increase in inventory GTV. Cost of inventory sold increased at a lower rate than the increase of inventory sales revenue, indicating an increase in the inventory revenue rate of return. The inventory rate of return improved mainly due to the achievement of strong rate performance across all regions.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses increased 13% to $108.3 million primarily due to higher headcount to support our growth initiatives and higher short-term incentive expense driven by strong performance. In addition, in Q4 2019, we recognized a recovery of $4.1 million of share-based payment expense related to the departure of our former CEO, which is non-recurring. These increases were partially offset by lower SG&A expenses related to lower travel, advertising, and promotion costs as we implemented travel restrictions.

Foreign exchange had a favourable impact on total revenue and an unfavourable impact on expenses. These impacts were primarily due to the fluctuations in the Euro and Australian dollar exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar.

Net income attributable to stockholders decreased 5% to $48.9 million. The decrease is partially due to $5.2 million of acquisition-related costs incurred in 2020 related to the acquisition of Rouse, $1.5 million current income tax expense related to an unfavourable adjustment to reflect final regulations published regarding hybrid financing arrangements, and recovery of $4.1 million of share-based payment expense recognized in 2019 related to the departure of our former CEO, which are all non-recurring. An increase in the effective tax rate, partially offset by lower interest expense and higher operating income, also contributed to the decrease in net income attributable to stockholders.

Primarily for the same reasons noted above, diluted EPS attributable to stockholders decreased 6% to $0.44 per share for Q4 2020 from $0.47 per share in Q4 2019. Diluted adjusted EPS attributable to stockholders* increased 11% to $0.49 per share in Q4 2020, after excluding $5.2 million of acquisition-related costs ($3.9 million net of tax) and $1.5 million income tax expense in Q4 2020.

Dividend Information

Quarterly dividend
On January 22, 2021, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.22 per common share payable on March 5, 2021 to shareholders of record on February 12, 2021.

Q4 2020 Earnings Conference Call
Ritchie Bros. is hosting a conference call to discuss its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 at 8am Pacific time / 11 am Eastern time / 4pm GMT on February 19, 2021. The replay of the webcast will be available through March 6, 2021.

Conference call and webcast details are available at the following link:
https://investor.ritchiebros.com

About Ritchie Bros.
Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. RBA is a world leader in asset management technologies and disposition of commercial assets. We offer customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks, and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offers live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with featured weekly auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance® equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; Rouse, a leader in market intelligence on sales and rental equipment data; and Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales. Our suite of multichannel sales solutions also includes RB Asset Solutions, a complete end-to-end asset management and disposition system. We also offer sector-specific solutions including GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy Auctioneers, plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com.

Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable U.S. and Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including, in particular, statements regarding future financial and operational results, including future auctions and estimated GTV thereof, growth and value prospects and payment of dividends, and the expected benefits of the Rouse acquisition. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend", or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or statements that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should", or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control, including the duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations, the operations of customers, and general economic conditions; the numerous factors that influence the supply of and demand for used equipment; economic and other conditions in local, regional and global sectors; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired companies, and to receive the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions; and the risks and uncertainties set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which are available on the SEC, SEDAR, and Company websites. The foregoing list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein unless required by applicable securities legislation. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements.

GTV and Selected Condensed Consolidated Financial Information

GTV and Condensed Consolidated Income Statements – Fourth Quarter
(Expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except share, per share amounts and percentages)
(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except share data)
(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Expressed in thousands of United States dollars)
(Unaudited)

Selected Data
(Unaudited)

Industrial live on site auction metrics

Non-GAAP Measures
This news release references to non-GAAP measures. Non-GAAP measures do not have a standardized meaning and are, therefore, unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The presentation of this financial information, which is not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, is not intended to be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Non-GAAP financial measures referred to in this report are labeled as "non-GAAP measure" or designated as such with an asterisk (*).

Adjusted Operating Income* Reconciliation
The Company believes that adjusting operating income* eliminates the financial impact of adjusting items which are significant non-recurring items that we do not consider to be part of our normal operating results, such as acquisition-related costs, management reorganization costs, and certain other items, which we refer to as 'adjusting items'. The Company believes that comparing adjusted operating income* for different financial periods provides useful information about the growth or decline of our operating income for the relevant financial period.

The following table reconciles adjusted operating income to operating income, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure in our consolidated income statements.

Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Stockholders* and Diluted Adjusted EPS Attributable to Stockholders* Reconciliation
The Company believes that adjusted net income attributable to stockholders* provides useful information about the growth or decline of the net income attributable to stockholders for the relevant financial period and eliminates the financial impact of adjusting items the Company does not consider to be part of the normal operating results. Diluted Adjusted EPS attributable to stockholders* eliminates the financial impact of adjusting items which are after-tax effects of significant non-recurring items that the Company does not consider to be part of the normal operating results, such as acquisition-related costs, management reorganization costs, and certain other items, which the Company refers to as 'adjusting items'.

The following table reconciles adjusted net income attributable to stockholders* and diluted adjusted EPS attributable to stockholders* to net income attributable to stockholders and diluted EPS attributable to stockholders, which are the most directly comparable GAAP measures in the consolidated income statements.