Record Revenue of $91.2 Million

Gross Profit¹ Increased 14% Year-Over-Year to $11.4 Million

TORONTO, Nov. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Points (TSX:PTS) (Nasdaq:PCOM), the global leader in powering loyalty commerce, today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

“Our strong third quarter performance demonstrates continued progress toward our strategic goals and financial targets for 2017,” stated Rob MacLean, CEO. “During the third quarter we built on the success of our Loyalty Currency Retailing segment and also saw meaningful strategic and financial gains in our Platform Partners and Points Travel segments.  Momentum coming out of this quarter offers increased confidence in our ongoing diversification efforts and positions us for continued success in 2018.” 

Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results
(Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons are on a year-over-year basis and all amounts are in USD. The complete third quarter Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and Management Discussion & Analysis, including segmented results, are available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov.)

• Revenue increased to a record $91.2 million from $82.4 million.  Principal Revenues totaled $87.2 million and Other Partner Revenue was $3.9 million. 
• Gross Profit grew 14% to $11.4 million, compared to $10.1 million.
• Total Adjusted Operating Expenses² were $8.2 million, compared to $7.8 million.
• Net Income totaled $0.6 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to Net Income of $0.3 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. 
• Adjusted EBITDA³ was $3.1 million, compared to $2.3 million.

Recent Business Highlights

• Recently expanded relationship with Shangri-La Hotels in China, for Loyalty Currency Retailing services.
• Announced a partnership with Groupon, the leading daily deals service, to incent customers through our Platform Partnerships services with up to 10 points per dollar spent with popular hotel and airline loyalty programs, including Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Choice Privileges, IHG Rewards Club, JetBlue TrueBlue, La Quinta Returns and United MileagePlus.
• During the third quarter, Points repurchased for cancellation 153,047 shares of common stock at an average price of $9.41 per share through its Automatic Share Purchase Plan in conjunction with its Normal Course Issuer Bid.

Outlook

The Company is reiterating financial guidance for the year ending December 31, 2017, as follows:

• Gross profit is expected to increase up to 10% from 2016
• Adjusted EBITDA is expected to increase up to 10% from 2016
• Current expectation is to be near the upper end of the range for both metrics

Investor Conference Call

Points' conference call with investors will be held today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.  To participate, investors from the US and Canada should dial (877) 407-0784 ten minutes prior to the start time. International callers should dial (201) 689-8560.

In addition, the call is being webcast and can be accessed at the Company's web site: investor.points.com and will be archived online upon completion of the call. A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 15, 2017, by dialing (844) 512-2921 in the U.S. and Canada and (412) 317-6671 internationally and entering the passcode 13672810.

About Points

Points, publicly traded as Points International Ltd. (TSX:PTS) (Nasdaq:PCOM), provides loyalty e-commerce and technology solutions to the world's top brands to power innovative services that drive increased loyalty program revenue and member engagement. With a growing network of over 50 global loyalty programs integrated into its unique Loyalty Commerce Platform, Points offers three core private or co-branded services: its Buy Gift and Transfer service retails loyalty points and miles directly to consumers; its Points Loyalty Wallet service offers any developer transactional access to dozens of loyalty programs and their hundreds of millions of members via a package of APIs; and its Points Travel service helps loyalty programs increase program revenue from hotel bookings, and provides more opportunities for members to earn and redeem loyalty rewards more quickly. Points is headquartered in Toronto with offices in San Francisco and London.

For more information, visit company.points.com, follow Points on Twitter (@PointsLoyalty) or read the Points blog. For Points’ financial information, visit investor.points.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains or incorporates forward-looking statements within the meaning of United States securities legislation, and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements include, among other things, opportunities for new products and partners and incremental revenue, potential for growth in revenue and gross margin and our guidance for 2017 with respect to gross profit and adjusted EBITDA expectations. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only Points' expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.

Although Points believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to important risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Certain material assumptions or estimates are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. In particular, the financial outlooks herein assume Points will be able to maintain its existing contractual relationships and products, that such products continue to perform in a manner consistent with Points' past experience, that Points will be able to generate new business from our pipeline at expected margins, our in-market and newly launched products and services will perform in a manner consistent with the Company's past experience and we will be able to contain costs. Our ability to convert our pipeline of prospective partners and product launches is subject to significant risk and there can be no assurance that we will launch new partners or new products with existing partners as expected or planned nor can there be any assurance that Points will be successful in maintaining its existing contractual relationships or maintaining existing products with existing partners.  Other important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the risk factors discussed in Points' annual information form, Form-40-F, annual and interim management's discussion and analysis, and annual and interim financial statements and the notes thereto. These documents are available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date of this release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as required by law, Points does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made or incorporated in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

The Corporation’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). Management uses certain non-GAAP measures, which are defined in the appropriate sections of this press release, to better assess the Corporation’s underlying performance. These measures are reviewed regularly by management and the Corporation’s Board of Director’s in assessing the Corporation’s performance and in making decisions about ongoing operations. These measures are also used by investors as an indicator of the Corporation’s operating performance. Readers are cautioned that these terms are not recognized GAAP measures and do not have a standardized GAAP meaning under IFRS and should not be construed as alternatives to IFRS terms, such as net income.

Contact:
Points Investor Relations
ICR, Inc.
Garo Toomajanian
ir@points.com


Points International Ltd.
Key Financial Measures and Schedule of Non-GAAP Reconciliations

Gross Profit⁴ Information

Expressed in thousands of United States dollars
		For the three months ended
		September 30, 2017			September 30, 2016
Total Revenue Direct cost of revenue		$	91,198 79,772		$	82,442 72,380
Gross Profit4		$	11,426		$	10,062
Gross Margin			13	%		12	%

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA⁵

Expressed in thousands of United States dollars
		For the three months ended
		September 30, 2017		September 30, 2016
Net Income		$	605	$	335
Income tax expense		310		301
Depreciation and amortization		1,029		1,224
Foreign exchange loss (gain)		(75)		1
Stock-based compensation		1,321		389
Adjusted EBITDA5		$	3,190	$	2,250

Reconciliation of Total Expenses to Adjusted Operating Expenses⁶

Expressed in thousands of United States dollars
		For the three months ended
		September 30, 2017		September 30, 2016
Total Expenses		$	90,283	$	81,806
Subtract (add):
Direct cost of revenue		79,772		72,380
Depreciation and amortization		1,029		1,224
Foreign exchange loss (gain)		(75)		1
Stock-based compensation		1,321		389
Adjusted Operating Expenses6		$	8,236	$	7,812

Points International Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position       

Expressed in thousands of United States dollars
(Unaudited)

As at		September 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	54,949	$	46,492
Short-term investments			-		10,033
Restricted cash			500		500
Funds receivable from payment processors			11,561		10,461
Accounts receivable			6,983		4,057
Prepaid expenses and other assets			3,055		1,475
Total current assets		$	77,048	$	73,018
Non-current assets
Property and equipment			2,126		1,750
Intangible assets			15,557		16,896
Goodwill			7,130		7,130
Deferred tax assets			1,999		1,725
Other assets			2,713		2,715
Total non-current assets		$	29,525	$	30,216
Total assets		$	106,573	$	103,234

                                                                                                                    

LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		$	6,819		$	6,335
Income taxes payable			226			1,638
Payable to loyalty program partners			54,055			53,242
Current portion of other liabilities			784			771
Total current liabilities		$	61,884		$	61,986
Non-current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities			298			211
Other liabilities			617			719
Total non-current liabilities		$	915		$	930
Total liabilities		$	62,799		$	62,916
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Share capital			58,365			58,412
Contributed surplus			10,483			9,881
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			585			(127	)
Accumulated deficit			(25,659	)		(27,848	)
Total shareholders’ equity		$	43,774		$	40,318
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	106,573		$	103,234

Points International Ltd.
Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Comprehensive Income

Expressed in thousands of United States dollars, except per share amounts
(Unaudited)

		For the three months ended										For the nine months ended
				September 30, 2017			September 30, 2016							September 30, 2017						September 30, 2016
REVENUE
Principal		$	87,200			$	79,671					$	248,549					$	230,941
Other partner revenue			3,927				2,725						11,116						8,786
Interest			71				46						158						139
Total Revenue		$	91,198			$	82,442					$	259,823					$	239,866
EXPENSES
Direct cost of principal revenue			79,772				72,380						225,928						208,449
Employment costs			6,660				5,457						18,731						17,574
Marketing and communications			422				460						1,587						1,247
Technology services			489				446						1,390						1,236
Depreciation and amortization			1,029				1,224						3,017						3,451
Foreign exchange (gain) loss			(75		)		1						(183				)		169
Operating expenses			1,986				1,838						6,068						4,664
Total Expenses		$	90,283			$	81,806					$	256,538					$	236,790
OPERATING INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		$	915			$	636					$	3,285					$	3,076
Income tax expense			310				301						1,096						917
NET INCOME		$	605			$	335					$	2,189					$	2,159
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Items that will subsequently be reclassified to profit or loss:    Unrealized gain on foreign exchange derivative designated    as cash flow hedges			573				(196				)		1,101						759
Income tax effect			(151		)		52						(292				)		(201					)
Reclassification to net income of loss on foreign exchange    derivatives designated as cash flow hedges			(192		)		(27				)		(132				)		310
Income tax effect			51				7						35						(82					)
Other comprehensive income for the period, net of income tax		$	281			$	(164				)	$	712					$	786
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME		$	886			$	171					$	2,901					$	2,945
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share		$	0.04			$			0.02			$			0.15			$			0.14
Diluted earnings per share		$	0.04			$			0.02			$			0.15			$			0.14

Points International Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

			Attributable to equity holders of the Company
Expressed in thousands of United States dollars except number of shares (Unaudited)			Share Capital						Contributed Surplus			Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			Accumulated deficit			Total shareholders’ equity
			Number of Shares			Amount
Balance at December 31, 2016			14,878,674		$	58,412		$	9,881		$	(127	)	$	(27,848	)	$	40,318
Net income			-			-			-			-			2,189			2,189
Other comprehensive income, net of tax			-			-			-			712			-			712
Total comprehensive income			-			-			-			712			2,189			2,901
Effect of share option compensation plan			-			-			223			-			-			223
Effect of RSU compensation plan			-			-			2,834			-			-			2,834
Share issuances – share options			16,988			395			(335	)								60
Share issuances – RSUs			-			1,255			(1,255	)		-			-			-
Share capital held in trust			-			(1,053	)		-			-			-			(1,053	)
Shares repurchased			(162,347	)		(644	)		(865	)		-			-			(1,509	)
Balance at September 30, 2017			14,733,315		$	58,365		$	10,483		$	585		$	(25,659	)	$	43,774
Balance at December 31, 2015			15,306,402		$	59,293		$	9,859		$	(624	)	$	(26,333	)	$	42,195
Net income			-			-			-			-			2,159			2,159
Other comprehensive income, net of tax			-			-			-			786			-			786
Total comprehensive income			-			-			-			786			2,159			2,945
Effect of share option compensation plan			-			-			431			-			-			431
Effect of RSU compensation plan			-			-			1,316			-			-			1,316
Share issuances – share options			500			7			(2	)		-			-			5
Share issuances – RSUs			-			620			(620	)		-			-			-
Shares repurchased			(134,258	)		(526	)		(627	)		-			-			(1,153	)
Balance at September 30, 2016			15,172,644		$	59,394		$	10,357		$	162		$	(24,174	)	$	45,739

Points International Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows 
Expressed in thousands of United States dollars

(Unaudited)			For the three months ended									For the nine months ended
				September 30, 2017						September 30,  2016			September 30, 2017			September 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income for the period			$	605					$	335		$	2,189		$	2,159
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of property and equipment				238						344			649			936
Amortization of intangible assets				791						880			2,368			2,515
Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)				716						85			1,425			(450	)
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions				1,321						389			3,057			1,747
Deferred income tax expense (recovery)				(46				)		(162	)		(444	)		(164	)
Net gain (loss) on derivative contracts designated as   cash flow hedges				381						(223	)		969			1,069
Changes in non-cash balances related to operations				3,975						(7,586	)		(5,808	)		(8,680	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			$	7,981					$	(5,938	)	$	4,405		$	(868	)
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of property and equipment				(267				)		(762	)		(1,025	)		(1,117	)
Additions to intangible assets				(358				)		(275	)		(1,029	)		(1,350	)
Settlement of short-term investments, net of interest   received				10,033						-			10,033			-
Changes in restricted cash				-						-			-			500
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			$	9,408					$	(1,037	)	$	7,979		$	(1,967	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from exercise of share options				60						-			60			5
Purchase of share capital held in trust				(857				)		-			(1,053	)		-
Shares repurchased				(1,439				)		(478	)		(1,509	)		(1,153	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			$	(2,236				)	$	(478	)	$	(2,502	)	$	(1,148	)
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held				(716				)		(86	)		(1,425	)		451
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			$	14,437					$	(7,539	)	$	8,457		$	(3,532	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period			$	40,512					$	55,371		$	46,492		$	51,364
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period			$	54,949					$	47,832		$	54,949		$	47,832
Interest received			$	156					$	41		$	204		$	115
Taxes paid			$	(506				)	$	(242	)	$	(3,011	)	$	(542	)
Taxes received			$	114					$	-		$	114		$	-

Amounts received for interest were reflected as operating cash flows in the condensed consolidated interim statements of cash flows.

¹ Gross profit is defined as total revenues less the direct cost of revenues. Gross profit is considered by Management to be an integral measure of financial performance and represents the amount of revenues retained by the Corporation after incurring direct costs. However, gross profit is not a recognized measure of profitability under IFRS.

² Adjusted Operating Expenses consists of employment expenses excluding stock based compensation, marketing and communications, technology services, and other operating expenses. Adjusted Operating Expenses is not a measure of financial performance under IFRS and should not be considered a substitute for total expenses, which we believe to be the most directly comparable IFRS measure.

³ Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings before income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, foreign exchange, share-based compensation and impairment of long-term investments) is considered by Management to be a useful supplemental measure when assessing financial performance. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is an important indicator of the Corporation's ability to generate liquidity through operating cash flow to fund future capital expenditures and working capital needs. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under IFRS and should not be considered a substitute for Net Income, which we believe to be the most directly comparable IFRS measure.

⁴ Gross Profit is defined as total revenues less the direct cost of principal revenues. Gross profit is considered by Management to be an integral measure of financial performance and represents the amount of revenues retained by the Corporation after incurring direct costs. However, gross profit is not a recognized measure of profitability under IFRS.

⁵ Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings before income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, foreign exchange, share-based compensation and impairment of long-term investments) is considered by Management to be a useful supplemental measure when assessing financial performance. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is an important indicator of the Corporation's ability to generate liquidity through operating cash flow to fund future capital expenditures and working capital needs. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under IFRS and should not be considered a substitute for Net Income, which we believe to be the most directly comparable IFRS measure.

⁶ Adjusted Operating Expenses consists of employment expenses excluding stock based compensation, marketing, technology, and other operating expenses. Adjusted Operating Expenses is not a measure of financial performance under IFRS and should not be considered a substitute for total expenses, which we believe to be the most directly comparable IFRS measure.