CAE reports third quarter financial results for fiscal year 2013

MONTREAL, CANADA—(Marketwire – Feb. 13, 2013) – (NYSE:CAE)(TSX:CAE) – CAE today reported financial results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2012. Net income attributable to equity holders was $37.8 million ($0.15 per share) this quarter, compared to $45.6 million ($0.18 per share) last year. All financial information is in Canadian dollars.

Excluding $8.8 million (after-tax) of restructuring, integration and acquisition costs this quarter, net income attributable to equity holders was $46.6 million ($0.18 per share).

Revenue for the quarter was $522.1 million, 15% higher than $453.1 million last year.

“Our results for the quarter were as we anticipated, given the integration and restructuring efforts underway in our Civil and Military segments,” said Marc Parent, CAE’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “In Civil Products, simulator wins in the quarter put us on track for annual sales in the mid-30s. The integration of recently acquired Oxford is progressing as planned, and we continue to expect significant synergies in Civil Training as this effort is concluded. In Military, order levels continued to reflect the delays currently inherent to the defence market, but we had a good win rate and we remain confident given our high level of bid activity.”

Civil segments
Revenue for our combined Civil segments increased 41% in the third quarter to $287.2 million compared to $203.7 million last year. Third quarter operating income was $47.1 million (16.4% of revenue) compared to $42.0 million (20.6% of revenue) last year. This quarter’s results include the acquisition of Oxford Aviation Academy (Oxford), which is still in the process of being integrated with CAE’s existing operations.

We received six full-flight simulator (FFS) orders in the third quarter, including orders from COMAC of China for the first two FFSs for its new C919 passenger aircraft, and two FFSs for the Federal Air Transportation Agency in Russia. During the quarter, we also obtained training services contracts expected to generate $149.3 million in future revenue.

We received $219.0 million in combined civil segment orders this quarter representing a book-to-sales ratio of 0.76×. The ratio for the trailing 12 months was 1.0×.

Additional financial highlights
Income taxes this quarter were $9.4 million representing an effective tax rate of 20%, compared to 25% last year. The tax rate was lower than the third quarter last year due to a change in the mix of income from various jurisdictions and the recognition of a tax asset generated from profits in one of our foreign operations.

Free cash flow(4) was positive $90.7 million this quarter. The increase from last quarter was mainly attributable to favourable changes in non-cash working capital and higher proceeds from the disposal of assets. The increase from the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was mainly attributable to favourable changes in non-cash working capital, and lower maintenance capital expenditures.

Capital expenditures totalled $32.9 million this quarter, including $24.0 million in growth capital expenditures and $8.9 million for maintenance.

Net debt(5) was $965.4 million as at December 31, 2012, compared with $994.8 million as at September 30, 2012.

In December 2012, pursuant to a private placement, CAE issued debt of $348.9 million ($125.0 million and US$225.0 million) to refinance existing debt. Of this amount, $50.0 million bears floating interest rates based on bankers’ acceptance rates plus a spread. The remaining $298.9 million ($75.0 million and US$225.0 million) bear an interest rate ranging from 3.6% to 4.2%. The notes hold maturity dates ranging from December 2019 to December 2027.

CAE will pay a dividend of $0.05 per share effective March 28, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 15, 2013.