NANAIMO – Atlas Engineered Products announced its financial and operating results for the year ended December 31, 2020. All amounts are presented in Canadian dollars.
“2020 presented many challenges for AEP brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapidly increasing material prices, shipping logistic difficulties, and social distancing were only some of the challenges faced in 2020 and ongoing to 2021. Throughout this, the health of our employees and customers was always our main focus,” said Hadi Abassi, CEO & President, Founder. “Despite the obstacles of 2020, the entire Company has worked hard to improve profitability and to position itself to take advantage of the strong demand for our products through organic growth and diversity.”
Financial Highlights for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2020:
Fourth quarter results for the three months ended December 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2019 resulted in the Company’s best fourth quarter to date. The following table demonstrates the improvements in revenue, operating expenses, and net income after adjustments and taxes. This also highlights the substantial drop in operating expenses of $948,912 through the Company’s cost cutting strategies. The majority of these cost cutting strategies are permanent and include contract cancellations for substantially completed projects, staffing restructuring, and bringing projects in house where staff had the skill and capacity to complete efficiently.
| Quarterly Comparison | Three Months Ended |
Three Months Ended |
| Dec 2020 | Dec 2019 | |
| Revenue from the Business | $11,057,939 | $9,027,723 |
| Cost of Sales | 8,867,583 | 6,878,726 |
| Gross Profit | 2,190,356 | 2,148,997 |
| Gross Margin per cent | 20 per cent | 24 per cent |
| Operating Expenses | 1,574,547 | 2,523,459 |
| Operating Income | 615,809 | (374,462) |
| Net Income (Loss) After Adjustments and Taxes | 351,757 | (1,010,096) |
During December 2020, the Company signed a new credit facility agreement with TD Canada Trust. The new agreement has three facilities and updated covenants offering the Company greater flexibility for future M&A activities and equipment upgrades. Excess funds were used to pay off additional debt and lease facilities during this refinancing which improved the Company’s balance sheet and reduced the interest cost to the Company.
Revenue increased 22 per cent to $11,057,939 for the three months ended December 31, 2020 from $9,027,723 for the three months ended December 31, 2019. This increase represents the Company’s best fourth quarter to date. Overall revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $35,734,415, representing a 3 per cent improvement compared to revenue of $34,763,527 for the year ended December 31, 2019 despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, AEP completed the acquisition of the assets of Trusstem Industries Inc and began operations as Novum Building Components Ltd on July 20, 2020 in Abbotsford, BC.
Operating expenses were $6,815,802 for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $7,795,540 for the year ended December 31, 2019, representing an improvement of 12.6 per cent. Operating expenses have decreased sharply as the Company implemented cost cutting strategies during the year ended December 31, 2020.
The Company recorded a net income of $351,757 for the three months ended December 31, 2020 compared to a net loss of $(1,010,096) for the three months ended December 31, 2019. This substantial increase was driven by increased revenues, significantly reduced operating expenses, and a reduction in non-cash write offs. Additionally, net income was $228,986 for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to net loss of $(755,147) for the year ended December 31, 2019, another substantial improvement partly due to the Canadian emergency wage subsidy as well. The Company has not qualified for this subsidy since the third quarter due to increased revenues compared to the prior year.
Non-IFRS measure EBITDA margin increased to 10 per cent for the year ended December 31, 2020 from 8 per cent for the year ended December 31, 2019, due to increased net income for the year resulting from reduced operating expenses and the Canadian emergency wage subsidy.
| SELECTED FINANCIAL RESULTS | Year Ended | Year Ended |
| Dec 2020 | Dec 2019 | |
| Revenue from the Business | $35,378,042 | $31,938,195 |
| Revenue from New Acquisitions | 356,374 | 2,825,332 |
| Total Revenue | 35,734,415 | 34,763,527 |
| Cost of Sales | 28,437,395 | 26,303,594 |
| Gross Profit | 7,297,020 | 8,459,933 |
| Gross Margin per cent | 20 per cent | 24 per cent |
| Operating Expenses | 6,815,802 | 7,795,540 |
| Operating Income | 481,218 | 664,393 |
| Net Income (Loss) After Adjustments and Taxes | 228,986 | (755,147) |
| EBITDA | 3,722,710 | 2,945,022 |
| EBITDA Margin per cent | 10 per cent | 8 per cent |
| Adjusted EBITDA | 3,346,671 | 3,690,198 |
| Adjusted EBITDA Margin per cent | 9 per cent | 11 per cent |
| Normalized EBITDA | 4,045,232 | 4,463,652 |
| Normalized EBITDA Margin per cent | 11 per cent | 13 per cent |
| Weighted Average Number of Shares | 56,528,593 | 45,883,784 |
| Adjusted EBITDA per Share ($ per share) | 0.06 | 0.08 |
| Income (Loss) per Share, Basic and Fully Diluted ($ per share) | 0.00 | (0.02) |
| Selected Financial Information as at: | ||
| Dec 2020 | Dec 2019 | |
| Total Assets | $27,092,639 | $26,762,977 |
| Total Non-Current Liabilities | 8,889,324 | 6,221,430 |
Expansion & Optimization for 2020:
In July 2020, with the start of the operations of Novum, the Company has entered directly in to the lower mainland market of British Columbia where there is the opportunity for significant growth and expanded reach throughout the province.
The Company also continued to focus on organic growth and product diversification. On October 6, 2020, the Company announced its expansion into pre-fabricated wall panel production for the British Columbia market. This has created an opportunity for the Company to provide a cost-effective alternative to framing onsite while making Atlas a true turn-key solution provider to our valued customers.
Outlook for 2021:
The construction industry has remained strong through the beginning of 2021. With this strong start to 2021, AEP expects to see this impact in the first Quarter as the Company has continued to focus on operational and technological improvements to take advantage of the strong construction industry. Although the COVID-19 pandemic continues to provide challenges in 2021 from ongoing health orders to material pricing and shortages. The Company continues to work through these challenges to mitigate their impacts on performance.
AEP continues to assess M&A opportunities that fit with the Company’s goals and strategies. This has been bolstered by the new financing and credit partnership with TD Canada Trust giving the Company access to more funding for acquisitive growth.