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Velan Inc. Reports Its Second Quarter 2015/16 Financial Results


/EINPresswire.com/ -- MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 10/14/15 -- Velan Inc. (TSX: VLN) (the "Company"), a world-leading manufacturer of industrial valves, announced today its financial results for its second quarter ended August 31, 2015.

Highlights


--  Sales of US$111.6 million for the quarter
--  Net earnings(1)of US$4.7 million for the quarter
--  Order backlog of US$374.2 million at the end of the quarter
--  Net order bookings of US$71.5 million for the quarter
--  Net cash(2)of US$66.5 million at the end of the quarter

                                              Three-month Six-month periods
                                            periods ended             ended
                                                August 31         August 31
                                        ------------------------------------
(millions of U.S. dollars,
 excluding per share amounts)               2015     2014     2015     2014
                                        ------------------------------------
Sales                                     $111.6   $110.9   $214.7   $214.0

Gross profit                                26.7     29.2     50.2     55.7
Gross margin %                              23.9%    26.3%    23.4%    26.0%

Net income (loss) attributable
 to Subordinate and Multiple
 Voting Shares                               4.7      5.1      7.9      9.1

Net income (loss) per share    - Basic      0.22     0.23     0.36     0.41
                               - Diluted    0.22     0.23     0.36     0.41

Second Quarter Fiscal 2016 (unless otherwise noted, all amounts are in U.S. dollars and all comparisons are to the second quarter of fiscal 2015):


--  Net earnings(1)amounted to $4.7 million or $0.22 per share compared to
    $5.1 million or $0.23 per share last year. The $0.4 million decrease in
    net earnings(1)is primarily attributable to a lower gross profit
    percentage partially offset by decreased administration costs.

--  Sales remained relatively stable in the quarter, amounting to $111.6
    million, an increase of $0.7 million or 0.6%, despite a production
    slowdown caused by a lockout at the Company's Canadian facilities at the
    beginning of the quarter.

--  Net new orders received ("bookings") amounted to $71.5 million, a
    decrease of $55.2 million or 43.6% compared to last year. The continued
    decline in the price of oil has had a negative impact on the Company's
    order intake in some of its important markets, namely in the oil and gas
    industry and the energy sector.

--  Gross margin decreased by 2.4 percentage points from 26.3% to 23.9%.
    This decrease is mainly attributable to a number of factors, including a
    greater proportion of lower margin product sales and increased pressure
    on pricing due to a more competitive bidding environment.

--  Foreign currency impacts:

    --  Based on average exchange rates, the Euro weakened 17.5% against the
        U.S. dollar when compared to the same period last year. This
        weakening resulted in the Company's net profits and bookings from
        its European subsidiaries being reported as lower U.S. dollar
        amounts in the current quarter.

    --  Based on average exchange rates, the Canadian dollar weakened 15.0%
        against the U.S. dollar when compared to the same period last year.
        This weakening resulted in the Company's Canadian dollar expenses
        being reported as lower U.S. dollar amounts in the current quarter.

    --  The unfavourable impact of the Euro decrease was generally offset by
        the favourable impact of the Canadian dollar decrease on the
        Company's net earnings(1).

First Half Year Fiscal 2016 (unless otherwise noted, all comparisons are to the first half year of fiscal 2015)


--  Net earnings(1)amounted to $7.9 million or $0.36 per share compared to
    $9.1 million or $0.41 per share last year. The $1.2 million decrease in
    net earnings(1)is primarily attributable to a lower gross profit
    percentage partially offset by decreased administration costs.

--  Despite the production slowdown caused by labour unrest and a lockout at
    the Company's Canadian facilities during the first half of the current
    fiscal year, consolidated sales remained relatively stable in the
    period, amounting to $214.7 million, an increase of $0.7 million or
    0.3%.

--  Bookings amounted to $153.3 million, a decrease of $91.0 million or
    37.2% compared to last year. Excluding the effect of an order
    cancellation of $23.6 million in the first quarter, bookings would have
    decreased by $67.4 million or 27.6% in the period. This decrease is
    mainly attributable to an economic downturn in some of the Company's
    important markets, particularly the oil and gas industry and energy
    sector.

--  As a result of lower bookings combined with the marginal increase in
    sales, the Company ended the period with a backlog of $374.2 million, a
    decrease of $63.6 million or 14.5% since the beginning of the current
    fiscal year.

--  Gross margin decreased by 2.6 percentage points from 26.0% to 23.4%.
    This decrease is mainly attributable to a number of factors, including a
    greater proportion of lower margin product sales and increased pressure
    on pricing due to a more competitive bidding environment.

--  Administration costs amounted to $39.1 million, a decrease of $3.7
    million or 8.6%. The decrease is primarily attributable to favourable
    currency swings resulting from a stronger U.S. dollar, a decrease in
    variable compensation-related costs and a decrease in costs recognized
    in connection with the Company's ongoing asbestos litigation. The
    fluctuation in asbestos costs for the period is due more to the timing
    of settlement payments in these two periods rather than to changes in
    long-term trends.

--  The Company ended the period with net cash(2)of $66.5 million, a
    decrease of $9.1 million or 12.0% since the beginning of the current
    fiscal year. This decrease is primarily attributable to negative non-
    cash working capital movements, particularly an increase in accounts
    receivable and a decrease in customer deposits.

--  Foreign currency impacts:

    --  Based on average exchange rates, the Euro weakened 19.2% against the
        U.S. dollar when compared to the same period last year. This
        weakening resulted in the Company's net profits and bookings from
        its European subsidiaries being reported as lower U.S. dollar
        amounts in the current period.

    --  Based on average exchange rates, the Canadian dollar weakened 13.3%
        against the U.S. dollar when compared to the same period last year.
        This weakening resulted in the Company's Canadian dollar expenses
        being reported as lower U.S. dollar amounts in the current period.

    --  The unfavourable impact of the Euro decrease was generally offset by
        the favourable impact of the Canadian dollar decrease on the
        Company's net earnings(1).

"While our year to date financial results and balance sheet have generally withstood some very challenging market conditions in 2015, we continue to carefully monitor our rate of order intake," said John Ball, CFO of Velan Inc. "The current uncertainty of our end user valve markets, as well as a drive for efficiencies, led us to implement an operational cost saving restructuring in our North American operations, which, we believe, will benefit future results. Furthermore, given our strong balance sheet, we intend, subject to Toronto Stock Exchange approval, to renew our normal course issuer bid when it expires on October 21, 2015. Under the bid, we may purchase up to 314,878 Subordinate Voting Shares (the "Shares"), representing approximately 5% of the issued Shares of such class as at October 14, 2015. All Shares purchased will be cancelled. As at October 14, 2015, we had 6,297,568 Shares outstanding. During the past 12 months, 90,300 Shares were purchased at a weighted average price of CA $18.70. We have concluded that purchases of up to 314,878 of the issued and outstanding Shares may be an appropriate and desirable use of available funds and, therefore, would be in the best interest of the Company. As a result of such purchases, the number of issued Shares will be decreased and, consequently, the proportionate share interest of all remaining shareholders will be increased on a pro rata basis."

Yves Leduc, President of Velan Inc., said, "We are going through a challenging industry environment with end- users delaying or postponing large projects and competitors aggressively adjusting their pricing. This is why we have quickly moved to reduce our cost base while mobilizing the whole organization behind an operational excellence plan aiming to improve our delivery, increase our cost competitiveness and grow sales. The Company is resilient and we are preparing to rebound once the sector recovers."

Dividend

The Board declared an eligible quarterly dividend of CDN$0.10 per share, payable on December 31, 2015, to all shareholders of record as at December 15, 2015.

Conference call

Financial analysts, shareholders, and other interested individuals are invited to attend the second quarter conference call to be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at 4:30 PM (EDT). The toll free call-in number is 1-888-273-1350, access code 21779560. A recording of this conference call will be available for seven days at 1-416-626-4100 or 1-800-558-5253, access code 21779560.

About Velan

Founded in Montreal in 1950, Velan Inc. (www.velan.com) is one of the world's leading manufacturers of industrial valves, with sales of US$455.7 million in its last reported fiscal year. The Company has manufacturing plants in 10 countries. Velan Inc. is a public company with its shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol VLN.

Safe harbour statement

This news release may include forward-looking statements, which generally contain words like "should", "believe", "anticipate", "plan", "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "continue" or "estimate" or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions, all of which are subject to risks and uncertainties, which are disclosed in the Company's filings with the appropriate securities commissions. While these statements are based on management's assumptions regarding historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that it believes are reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may differ materially from those expressed herein. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by the applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Non-IFRS measures

In this press release, the Company presented measures of performance and financial condition that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("non-IFRS measures") and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. These measures are used by management in assessing the operating results and financial condition of the Company. In addition, they provide readers of the Company's consolidated financial statements with enhanced understanding of its results and financial condition, and increase transparency and clarity into the operating results of its core business.

The term "net cash" is defined as cash and cash equivalents plus short-term investments less bank indebtedness, short-term bank loans, and current portion of long-term bank borrowings. Refer to the "Reconciliations of Non-IFRS Measures" section in the Company's MD&A for a detailed calculation of this measure.

(1)Net earnings or loss refer to net income or loss attributable to Subordinate and Multiple Voting Shares.

(2)Non-IFRS measures - see explanation above.


Velan Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
As At                                           August 31,     February 28,
                                                      2015             2015
                                                         $                $
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents                           87,541           99,578
Short-term investments                               1,664              847
Accounts receivable                                113,604          105,335
Income taxes recoverable                             8,716            5,472
Inventories                                        190,291          203,557
Deposits and prepaid expenses                        5,892            5,326
Derivative assets                                      111              144
                                          ----------------------------------
                                                   407,819          420,259
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment                       87,922           91,285
Intangible assets and goodwill                      32,653           33,576
Deferred income taxes                               12,079           12,392
Other assets                                         1,611            1,116
                                          ----------------------------------

                                                   134,265          138,369
                                          ----------------------------------
Total assets                                       542,084          558,628
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          ----------------------------------

Liabilities

Current liabilities
Bank indebtedness                                   15,297           15,616
Short-term bank loans                                1,506            2,134
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities            59,855           70,997
Income taxes payable                                 4,259            3,961
Dividend payable                                     1,662            1,755
Customer deposits                                   36,864           44,111
Provisions                                           8,800            7,874
Accrual for performance guarantees                  30,814           30,012
Derivative liabilities                               3,358            5,362
Current portion of long-term debt                    9,601           10,644
                                          ----------------------------------
                                                   172,016          192,466
Non-current liabilities
Long-term debt                                       7,198            4,183
Deferred income taxes                                8,117            8,349
Other liabilities                                    8,450            8,537
                                          ----------------------------------

                                                    23,765           21,069
                                          ----------------------------------
Total liabilities                                  195,781          213,535
                                          ----------------------------------

Equity

Equity attributable to the Subordinate and
 Multiple Voting shareholders
Share capital                                       75,729           76,475
Contributed surplus                                  5,889            6,064
Retained earnings                                  287,900          283,724
Accumulated other comprehensive income
 (loss)                                            (28,980)         (27,652)
                                          ----------------------------------
                                                   340,538          338,611

Non-controlling interest                             5,765            6,482
                                          ----------------------------------
Total equity                                       346,303          345,093
                                          ----------------------------------

Total liabilities and equity                       542,084          558,628
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          ----------------------------------


Velan Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, excluding number of shares and per share
amounts)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Three-month periods
                                              ended Six-month periods ended
                                          August 31               August 31
                                   2015        2014        2015        2014
                                      $           $           $           $

Sales                           111,558     110,888     214,737     213,953

Cost of sales                    84,877      81,635     164,539     158,215
                            ------------------------------------------------

Gross profit                     26,681      29,253      50,198      55,738

Administration costs             19,889      21,480      39,070      42,777
Other expense (income)               (6)        (86)          9        (216)
                            ------------------------------------------------

Operating profit (loss)           6,798       7,859      11,119      13,177

Finance income                      244         251         500         516
Finance costs                       265         253         567         632
                            ------------------------------------------------

Finance income (costs) - net        (21)         (2)        (67)       (116)
                            ------------------------------------------------
Income (Loss) before income
 taxes                            6,777       7,857      11,052      13,061
Provision for (Recovery of)
 income taxes                     1,680       2,438       2,524       3,580
                            ------------------------------------------------

Net income (loss) for the
 period                           5,097       5,419       8,528       9,481
                            ------------------------------------------------
                            ------------------------------------------------

Net income (loss)
 attributable to:
Subordinate Voting Shares
 and Multiple Voting Shares       4,749       5,098       7,856       9,103
Non-controlling interest            348         321         672         378
                            ------------------------------------------------
                                  5,097       5,419       8,528       9,481
                            ------------------------------------------------
                            ------------------------------------------------

Net income (loss) per
 Subordinate and Multiple
 Voting Share
Basic                              0.22        0.23        0.36        0.41
Diluted                            0.22        0.23        0.36        0.41
                            ------------------------------------------------
                            ------------------------------------------------

Dividends declared per
 Subordinate and Multiple          0.08        0.09        0.16        0.18
Voting Share                   (CA$0.10)   (CA$0.10)   (CA$0.20)   (CA$0.20)
                            ------------------------------------------------
                            ------------------------------------------------

Total weighted average
 number of Subordinate and
 Multiple Voting Shares
Basic                        21,875,203  21,948,133  21,886,645  21,948,133
Diluted                      21,875,203  21,958,384  21,886,645  21,956,900
                            ------------------------------------------------
                            ------------------------------------------------


Velan Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Three-month   Six-month periods
                                          periods ended               ended
                                              August 31           August 31
                                          2015     2014      2015      2014
                                             $        $         $         $

Comprehensive income (loss)

Net income (loss) for the period         5,097    5,419     8,528     9,481

Other comprehensive income (loss)
Foreign currency translation
 adjustment on foreign operations
 whose functional currency is other
 than the reporting currency (U.S.
 dollar)                                 1,354   (3,771)   (1,688)   (4,737)
                                     ---------------------------------------

Comprehensive income (loss)              6,451    1,648     6,840     4,744
                                     ---------------------------------------

Comprehensive income (loss)
 attributable to:
Subordinate Voting Shares and
 Multiple Voting Shares                  6,416    1,290     6,528     4,095
Non-controlling interest                    35      358       312       649
                                     ---------------------------------------

                                         6,451    1,648     6,840     4,744
                                     ---------------------------------------


Velan Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, excluding number of shares)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Equity attributable to the
                                             Subordinate and Multiple Voting
                                                                shareholders
                             -----------------------------------------------
                                                                Accumulated
                                                                      other
                              Number of     Share Contributed comprehensive
                                 shares   capital     surplus income (loss)
                             -----------------------------------------------

Balance - February 28, 2015  21,939,168    76,475       6,064       (27,652)

Net income (loss) for the
 period                               -         -           -             -
Other comprehensive income
 (loss)                               -         -           -        (1,328)
                             -----------------------------------------------

                             21,939,168    76,475       6,064       (28,980)

Effect of share-based
 compensation                         -         -          52             -
Shares issued under Share
 Option Plan                     14,267       227        (227)            -
Dividends
 Multiple Voting Shares               -         -           -             -
 Subordinate Voting Shares            -         -           -             -
 Non-controlling interest             -         -           -             -
Share repurchase                (89,300)     (973)          -             -
Acquisition of non-
 controlling interest                 -         -           -             -
                             -----------------------------------------------

Balance - August 31, 2015    21,864,135    75,729       5,889       (28,980)
                             -----------------------------------------------
                             -----------------------------------------------


Balance - February 28, 2014  21,958,768    76,688       6,099        (3,589)

Net income (loss) for the
 period                               -         -           -             -
Other comprehensive income
 (loss)                               -         -           -        (5,008)
                             -----------------------------------------------

                             21,958,768    76,688       6,099        (8,597)

Effect of share-based
 compensation                         -         -           6             -
Dividends
 Multiple Voting Shares               -         -           -             -
 Subordinate Voting Shares            -         -           -             -
Share repurchase                (17,600)     (191)        (51)            -
                             -----------------------------------------------

Balance - August 31, 2014    21,941,168    76,497       6,054        (8,597)
                             -----------------------------------------------
                             -----------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Equity attributable to
                                the Subordinate and
                                    Multiple Voting
                                       shareholders
                             ----------------------


                                                            Non-
                               Retained              controlling      Total
                               earnings      Total      interest     equity
                             -----------------------------------------------

Balance - February 28, 2015     283,724    338,611         6,482    345,093

Net income (loss) for the
 period                           7,856      7,856           672      8,528
Other comprehensive income
 (loss)                               -     (1,328)         (360)    (1,688)
                             -----------------------------------------------

                                291,580    345,139         6,794    351,933

Effect of share-based
 compensation                         -         52             -         52
Shares issued under Share
 Option Plan                          -          -             -          -
Dividends
 Multiple Voting Shares          (2,495)    (2,495)            -     (2,495)
 Subordinate Voting Shares         (932)      (932)            -       (932)
 Non-controlling interest             -          -          (139)      (139)
Share repurchase                   (253)    (1,226)            -     (1,226)
Acquisition of non-
 controlling interest                 -          -          (890)      (890)
                             -----------------------------------------------

Balance - August 31, 2015       287,900    340,538         5,765    346,303
                             -----------------------------------------------
                             -----------------------------------------------


Balance - February 28, 2014     272,867    352,065         7,054    359,119

Net income (loss) for the
 period                           9,103      9,103           378      9,481
Other comprehensive income
 (loss)                               -     (5,008)          271     (4,737)
                             -----------------------------------------------

                                281,970    356,160         7,703    363,863

Effect of share-based
 compensation                         -          6             -          6
Dividends
 Multiple Voting Shares          (2,852)    (2,852)            -     (2,852)
 Subordinate Voting Shares       (1,200)    (1,200)            -     (1,200)
Share repurchase                    (34)      (276)            -       (276)
                             -----------------------------------------------

Balance - August 31, 2014       277,884    351,838         7,703    359,541
                             -----------------------------------------------
                             -----------------------------------------------


Velan Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
(Unaudited)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Three-month periods
                                              ended Six-month periods ended
                                          August 31               August 31
                                   2015        2014        2015        2014
                                      $           $           $           $

Cash flows from

Operating activities
Net income for the period         5,097       5,419       8,528       9,481
Adjustments to reconcile net
 income to cash provided by
 operating activities             4,331       4,985       5,407       7,386
Changes in non-cash working
 capital items                   (3,566)     (5,151)    (16,409)       (216)
                            ------------------------------------------------
Cash provided (used) by
 operating activities             5,862       5,253      (2,474)     16,651
                            ------------------------------------------------

Investing activities
Short-term investments              (43)       (477)       (817)       (569)
Additions to property, plant
 and equipment                   (2,549)     (1,661)     (4,126)     (5,720)
Additions to intangible
 assets                             (22)        (63)       (127)       (293)
Proceeds on disposal of
 property, plant and
 equipment, and intangible
 assets                              73          77          90         128
Acquisition of non-
 controlling interest              (890)          -        (890)          -
Net change in other assets         (845)        (63)       (508)        167
                            ------------------------------------------------
Cash provided (used) by
 investing activities            (4,276)     (2,187)     (6,378)     (6,287)
                            ------------------------------------------------

Financing activities
Dividends paid to
 Subordinate and Multiple
 Voting shareholders             (1,777)     (2,042)     (3,520)     (3,620)
Dividends paid to non-
 controlling interest              (139)          -        (139)          -
Repurchase of shares             (1,171)       (260)     (1,226)       (276)
Short-term bank loans               (63)        950        (628)        571
Increase in long-term debt        6,009           -       6,009           -
Repayment of long-term debt      (2,800)     (1,720)     (4,224)     (3,399)
                            ------------------------------------------------
Cash provided (used) by
 financing activities                59      (3,072)     (3,728)     (6,724)
                            ------------------------------------------------

Effect of exchange rate
 differences on cash              2,374      (1,653)        862      (3,101)
                            ------------------------------------------------

Net change in cash during
 the period                       4,019      (1,659)    (11,718)        539

Net cash - Beginning of the
 period                          68,225      77,038      83,962      74,840
                            ------------------------------------------------

Net cash - End of the period     72,244      75,379      72,244      75,379
                            ------------------------------------------------
                            ------------------------------------------------

Net cash is composed of:
  Cash and cash equivalents      87,541      98,190      87,541      98,190
  Bank indebtedness             (15,297)    (22,811)    (15,297)    (22,811)
                            ------------------------------------------------

                                 72,244      75,379      72,244      75,379
                            ------------------------------------------------
                            ------------------------------------------------

Supplementary information
Interest received (paid)             (4)         27           1         (66)
Income taxes reimbursed
 (paid)                          (1,981)     (1,198)     (3,849)     (2,686)

Contacts:
VELAN Inc.
Tom Velan
Chief Executive Officer
(514) 748-7743
(514) 748-8635 (FAX)

VELAN Inc.
John D. Ball
Chief Financial Officer
(514) 748-7743
(514) 748-8635 (FAX)
http://www.velan.com/


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