Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund (BPFUN) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

Hello. This is the Chorus Call conference operator. Thank you for standing by. Welcome to Boston Pizza's Third Quarter Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] The conference is being recorded on November 9, 2023. [Operator Instructions] Participants on the call may also post their questions via e-mail to Boston Pizza's Investor Relations department at [email protected]. [Operator Instructions] At this time, I would like to turn the conference over to Michael Harbinson, Chief Financial Officer. Please go ahead.

Thank you, and welcome to the call, everyone. Today, we'll be discussing the 2023 third quarter results for both Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund or the Fund and for Boston Pizza International or BPI. For complete details on our financial results, please see our third quarter materials filed earlier today on SEDAR or visit the Fund's website at bpincomefund.com. Should you require additional information after the call, you can reach us via the Investor Relations phone number that's listed in our press release. The Fund is a limited purpose open-ended trust established under the laws of British Columbia to acquire indirectly certain trademarks and trade names used by BPI in its Boston Pizza Restaurants in Canada. BPI pays royalty and distribution income to the Fund based on franchise revenue of Royalty Pool restaurants. For a complete description of the Fund and its business, please see the annual information form dated February 8, 2023, which was filed on sedar.com. Before I turn the call over to Jordan Holm, President of BPI, I would like to note that certain information in the following discussion may constitute forward-looking information. For a more complete definition of forward-looking information and the associated risks, please refer to the Fund's management discussion and analysis issued earlier today. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this call, and except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances. And with that, I will now turn the call over to Jordan. Jordan?

Thank you, Michael, and welcome, everyone, to Boston Pizza's Third Quarter Investor Conference Call. Today, I'll be discussing our third quarter results and also share a brief outlook. Michael will summarize our key financial highlights. And as usual, we'll leave time at the end of today's call for your questions. We are pleased that the positive sales momentum continued through the third quarter of 2023. Looking at our financial results, the Fund posted franchise sales from restaurants in the Royalty Pool of $240.1 million for the quarter and $698.0 million year-to-date, representing increases of 4.5% and 11.2%, respectively, versus the same periods 1 year ago. Same restaurant sales was 5.3% for the quarter and 11.6% year-to-date. SRS for the quarter was principally due to an increase in average guest cheque. SRS year-to-date was principally due to increases in restaurant guest traffic and increases in average guest cheque. COVID-19 restrictions existed in most of the country during the first quarter of 2022 and part of the second quarter of 2022 that negatively impacted in-restaurant guest traffic. Those restrictions were largely eliminated during the second quarter of 2022. From a marketing standpoint, we began the third quarter of 2023 with a summer patio campaign, which highlighted new food and drink innovations, and Boston Pizza invited Canadians from coast to coast to visit their local restaurant through billboards and digital media advertising, showcasing the delicious food, drinks and atmosphere of Boston Pizza and particularly on our patios. We launched our fall-themed menu, which featured a selection of new indulgent items in time for the fall season. Both promotions were well received by guests, and our Kids Card promotion returned towards the end of the third quarter. This promotion is always a favorite for families where a $5 donation to the Boston Pizza Foundation -- in exchange for $5 donations to the Boston Pizza Foundation, they receive a card for 5 free kid's meals on future visits. Over $875,000 was raised and donated to the Boston Pizza Foundation. We ended the third quarter with a kids [ eat ] free promotion for the entire month of September. This promotion resulted in an increase in guest traffic and an increase in overall sales. Turning to restaurant development. No new restaurants were opened during the period, and no new restaurants were closed. Three restaurants did complete full renovations during the third quarter. Year-to-date, no restaurants were open, 2 restaurants have been closed permanently and 11 restaurants have completed full renovations. We have some exciting initiatives planned to drive sales in the last quarter of 2023, which I'll speak about in a moment. However, first, I'll turn the call back to Michael to review the Fund's financial performance. Michael?

Thank you, Jordan. The Fund posted royalty income of $9.6 million for the quarter and $27.9 million year-to-date compared to $9.2 million and $25.1 million, respectively, for the same periods 1 year ago. The Fund posted distribution income of $3.2 million for the quarter and $9.2 million year-to-date compared to $3 million and $8.3 million for the same periods 1 year ago. Royalty and distribution income for the quarter and year-to-date was based on 377 Boston Pizza Restaurants in the Royalty Pool that reported franchise sales of $240 million for the quarter and $698 million year-to-date. For the same periods in 2022, royalty and distribution income were based on the Royalty Pool of 383 Boston Pizza Restaurants, reporting franchise sales of $229.8 million for the third quarter and $627.8 million year-to-date. The Fund's net and comprehensive income was $4.9 million for the quarter and $24.3 million year-to-date compared to $9.5 million and $24.2 million for the same periods in 2022. The $4.6 million decrease in the Fund's net and comprehensive income for the quarter compared to the third quarter of 2022 was primarily due to a $5.8 million increase in the fair value loss and a $0.1 million increase in net interest expense, all partially offset by a $0.8 million decrease in income tax expense and a $0.6 million increase in royalty and distribution income. The $0.1 million increase in the Fund's net and comprehensive income year-to-date compared to the same period in 2022 was primarily due to a $3.7 million increase in the royalty and distribution income, partially offset by a $2.2 million decrease in fair value gain, a $1.1 million increase in income tax expense and a $0.1 million increase in net interest expense. The Fund's cash flows generated from operating activities was $9.7 million for the quarter and $28.6 million year-to-date compared to $9.7 million and $25.4 million for the same period in 2022. In the quarter, an increase in income taxes paid of $0.5 million and a decrease in changes in working capital of $0.1 million were offset by an increase in royalty and distribution income of $0.6 million. The increase of $3.2 million year-to-date was primarily due to an increase of royalty and distribution income of $3.7 million and an increase in changes in working capital of $0.7 million, partially offset by an increase in income taxes paid of $1.2 million. While net and comprehensive income and cash flows from operating activities are both measures under IFRS accounting standards or IFRS, the Fund is of the view that net income or loss and cash flow from operating activities do not provide the most meaningful measurement of the Fund's ability to pay distributions. Net income contains noncash items that do not affect the Fund's cash flow, whereas cash flow from operating activities is not inclusive of all of the funds required cash outflows, and therefore, is not indicative of the cash available for distributions to unitholders. Noncash items include fair value adjustments on the investment in Boston Pizza Canada Limited Partnership, the Class B unit liability, interest rate swaps and changes in deferred income taxes. Consequently, the Fund reports the non-IFRS metrics of distributable cash and payout ratio to provide investors with, in the Fund's opinion, more meaningful information regarding the Fund's ability to pay distributions to unitholders. The Fund generated distributable cash of $8.3 million for the quarter and $23.3 million year-to-date compared to $7.5 million and $18.4 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2022. The increase in distributable cash of $0.8 million or 10.5% in the quarter was primarily due to decreased BPI Class B unit entitlement of $0.3 million, SIFT tax on units adjustment of $0.3 million and lower interest paid on long-term debt of $0.1 million. The increase in distributable cash of $4.9 million or 27% year-to-date was primarily due to increased cash flows generated from operating activities of $3.2 million, lower repayments of long-term debt of $1.5 million, SIFT tax on units adjustment of $0.2 million and lower interest paid on long-term debt of $0.2 million, partially offset by increased BPI Class B unit entitlement of $0.2 million. The Fund generated distributable cash per unit of $0.387 for the quarter and $1.086 year-to-date compared to $0.347 per unit and $0.853 per unit, respectively, for the same periods in 2022. The increase in distributable cash per unit of $0.04 or 11.5% in the quarter was primarily attributable to the increase in distributable cash outlined above and fewer units outstanding compared to the same periods in 2022 due to the Fund's normal course issuer bid that is active from June 20, 2023, to no later than June 19, 2024. The increase in distributable cash per unit of $0.233 or 27.3% year-to-date was primarily due to the increase in distributable cash outlined above and fewer units outstanding compared to the same period in 2022 due to the Fund's normal course issuer bid. The Fund's payout ratio for the quarter was 82.9% and 87.3% year-to-date compared to 82% and 93.2%, respectively, for the same period in 2022. The increase in the Fund's payout ratio for the quarter was due to distributions paid increasing by $0.7 million or 11.7%, partially offset by distributable cash increasing by $0.8 million or 10.5%. The decrease in the Fund's payout ratio year-to-date was due to distributable cash increasing by $4.9 million or 27%, partially offset by distributions paid increasing by $3.2 million or 18.9%. The Fund's payout ratio is typically higher in the first and fourth quarters compared to the second and third quarters since Boston Pizza Restaurants generally experience higher franchise sales levels during the summer months when restaurants open their patios and benefit from increased tourist traffic. On a trailing 12-month basis, the Fund's payout ratio was 93.9% as at September 30, 2023. During the quarter, the Fund acquired 188,700 units under the NCIB at an average price of $16.55 per unit. As at September 30, 2023, the Fund had acquired a total of 242,900 units at an average price of $16.49 per unit for a total of $4 million spent. The Fund did not acquire any additional units under the NCIB after September 30, 2023. The Fund financed units purchased under the NCIB from cash on hand. On November 8, 2023, the trustees of the Fund approved a cash distribution for the period of October 1, 2023, to October 31, 2023, of $0.107 per unit, which will be paid on November 30, 2023, to unitholders of record at the close of business on November 21, 2023. The trustees' objective in setting a monthly distribution amount is that it be sustainable. The trustees will continue to closely monitor the Fund's available cash balances given a fluctuating economic outlook. And with that, I will turn the call back over to Jordan for more on the outlook. Jordan?

Thank you, Michael. As we close out 2023, we have several exciting initiatives underway that we believe will continue to drive sales and guest traffic. With the NHL hockey season in full swing, we kicked off the fourth quarter of 2023 with our Hockey Night in Canada partnership. Our partnership is supported by significant TV, digital and social media channels, along with in-restaurant promotions at Boston Pizza locations across the country. Our partnership with Hockey Night in Canada will continue throughout the fall -- rather, the full regular NHL season. Guests will be offered access to a predictive hockey trivia game with every Molson beer purchased and with many great prizes up for grabs throughout the hockey season. This program will also provide guests at Boston Pizza Restaurants across the country with an enhanced and unique hockey-viewing experience. In addition to this, our 2023 holiday campaign began just last week, featuring a selection of innovative new menu items, along with a promotional card bonus offer. The holiday menu includes Boston Pizza's new square-footer square pizzas, bruschetta ravioli, Italian Charcuterie salad and festive holiday drinks such as wineberry sangria and cranberry cringle. This year, our guests will also receive a free Ferrero Rocher 3-pack with the purchase of any qualifying holiday menu item in December. Sharing the spotlight with our holiday menu and Hockey Night in Canada partnership is our annual gift card incentive program. When a guest purchases at least $50 worth of Boston Pizza Gift Cards, they will receive a promotional card for $10 off their purchases from January 2 to March 31, 2024. We continue to be extremely pleased with the efforts of our teams and our franchisees. However, with supply chain challenges, rising interest rates and increasing input costs impacting most of the restaurant industry, BPI's management remains cautious. BPI's management continues to adapt to the business to mitigate these -- the challenges and work diligently to support our franchisees and to maintain the positive sales momentum that was achieved in 2022 and the first three quarters of 2023. With that, I'd like to turn it back to the operator to begin the question-and-answer session. Operator?

[Operator Instructions] As there are no questions from the phones, I would like to hand it back over to Jordan Holm for any closing remarks.

All right. Thank you, operator. As there are no questions, I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to listen in, and we look forward to speaking with you all again at our fourth quarter investor conference call in February of 2024. Thanks again, everyone. Take care.

Thank you, everyone.

This concludes today's conference call. You may disconnect your lines. Thank you for participating, and have a pleasant day.