GTN Limited (GTN) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

Thank you for standing by, and welcome to the GTN Limited Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] I would now like to hand the conference over to Mr. Peter Tonagh, Chairman. Please go ahead.

Thanks, Chuck. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the GTN investor call in relation to the FY '26 financial year. I have with me today our Global CFO, Ben Brooks; and our Chief General Counsel, Sophie Jackson. Our Global CEO, Vic Lorusso, has unfortunately suffered a sports injury over the weekend and can't be with me today, but I know that he'll be listening in intently. FY '26 was undoubtedly a challenging year, a year of significant market disruption, but GTN has come through that period leaner, more focused and better positioned for the future, and we're excited about the opportunity ahead for you, our shareholders. I want to make 4 simple points about our positioning before handing over to Ben to take you through the FY '26 financials in more detail. First, GTN continues to deliver a unique proposition to both our advertisers and our affiliate networks. We offer one of the largest, highest-impact broadcast audience reach propositions in each of the 4 markets we operate in today, and those 4 markets are among the top 10 advertising markets in the world. Second, our position in this market is underpinned by long-term affiliate agreements that are now largely secure in Australia, our largest market, until at least 2030. Our proposition in Australia is anchored by our long-term agreement with SCA, Australia's largest audio provider, through a contract that runs through until 2046. We've recently added a key new affiliate and extended other major contracts until around 2030. We will not renew one large affiliate agreement at the end of the year, contributing significant dollar savings while retaining our reach proposition through our new affiliate and the extension of coverage with existing affiliate partners. The third point is that this proposition translates into significant cash flow, which is the metric that we've determined to be our primary measure of success. Last year, we generated $22 million in free cash flow while securing an annualized $15 million of cash savings per year through affiliate renegotiations, our exit from aviation and operating efficiencies from initiatives, including AI. We expect $20 million per annum of run rate operating cost savings by 2028, the vast majority of which have already been enacted. We've also been very focused on improving the way we grow revenue. Across the group, we're strengthening our direct relationships with clients, expanding access to new opportunities through agency partnerships and becoming more disciplined in the way in which we manage and monetize our premium inventory. And finally, with that free cash flow, we continue to focus on returning cash to our shareholders. With today's declared dividend of $10 million, we will have returned over $67 million in cash to shareholders over the past 2 years while maintaining a conservative balance sheet. We expect to continue to distribute 100% of NPATA each year, which, based on recent guidance, represents a 13% to 26% dividend yield for FY '27 based on today's market capitalization. Overall, we believe that we're very well positioned for the future. I'll now hand over to Ben for some more detail on FY '26.

Thank you, Peter, and good morning, everyone. Group results. For the full year, group net revenue was $156 million, down 13.4% on FY '25, and adjusted EBITDA was $13 million, down 21.8%. Both were ahead of guidance. Bridging the 2 halves, at the half year, we reported revenue of $82.5 million, down 14.7% and adjusted EBITDA of $5.8 million, down 53%, alongside a $41.5 million noncash impairment against goodwill and intangibles in Australia and the U.K. The second half recovered meaningfully as cost actions were realized and Brazil's momentum continue. Full year adjusted EBITDA of $13 million implies second half EBITDA of approximately $7.2 million, over 20% higher than the first half. FY '26 segment performance in summary. Australia grew EBITDA despite weaker revenue on the cost-out initiatives. Brazil was our standout with strong revenue growth, which converted into dynamic margin expansion. Brazil is now our fastest-growing market and is continuing to invest in new regions, which are not yet at full expected run rate. Canada underperformed in a tough ad market. Management has reset the cost base, providing a path to profitability. The U.K. faces structural headwinds from a changing media landscape and are reviewing options to restore profitability or eliminate the risk of sustained losses. Corporate benefited from disciplined cost management group-wide. Cost initiatives. We actioned $12 million of annualized savings in FY '26, of which approximately $6 million is reflected in this year's results. The balance flows through in FY '27. This included renegotiating key affiliate arrangements in Australia, the nonrenewal of one of ATN's key agreements from 31st of December 2026, offset post year-end by a major new affiliate partnership and strengthened inventory allocation with our largest radio network partners. Management believes it will continue to have sufficient inventory to satisfy its advertising customers following these changes. Combined with these affiliate changes, we've identified a further $8 million of annualized benefit, partly recognized in FY '27. Together with the full year impact of FY '26 savings that converts to nearly $20 million of cost savings in FY '28 and beyond. This shift to an asset-light model has cut annual CapEx to under $1 million going forward, down from $3 million to $5 million historically and no operational impact on client service. We expect a further $1.5 million of cash proceeds in early FY '27 from the sale of the remaining aviation fleet. Cash flow and balance sheet. Net cash from operating activities was approximately $22 million, up around 69% from $13 million in FY '25, including a $10 million benefit from working capital management. A further $5 million was realized from the asset sales tied to the aviation exit. Cash on hand rose to $33 million at 30 June 2026, up from $21 million a year earlier and $28 million at the half year. Net debt closed at approximately $2 million and down from $7 million at the half year, despite returning $46 million to shareholders during the year via the capital return in August '25 and interim dividend in March '26. At half year, we'd fully drawn our $35 million debt facility to fund that return. Second half cash generation brought net debt down to $2 million. Capital management. The Board has declared a final FY '26 dividend of $0.0524 per share, franked at approximately 16%, totaling approximately $10 million, record date 4 September '26, payment date the 21st September '26. On payment, GTN will have returned approximately $64 million to shareholders via dividends and capital return over the past 2 years, plus $3 million via on-market buybacks, a total of approximately $67 million in capital management initiatives against our current enterprise value of approximately $4 million. Consistent with our disciplined approach, the Board intends to pursue further returns subject to ongoing capital requirements and prudent balance sheet. FY '27 outlook. FY '27 will benefit from the full run rate of FY '26 cost initiatives and part year contribution from the new affiliate improvements. The Board has confirmed FY '27 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $15 million to $20 million, expected to translate to NPATA of $5 million to $10 million. Consistent with our capital management policy, the Board intends to distribute 100% of NPATA to shareholders in FY '27, indicatively, a dividend yield of 13% to 26% on that range. With that, I'll hand back to Peter.

Thanks, Ben. That concludes our briefing. Before we hand over for questions, I want to thank Vic, Ben and Sophie for their leadership of the fabulous GTN team, our country heads for navigating the challenging environment and making the most of it to reset the business and you, our shareholders, for your ongoing support. Are there any questions from shareholders?

[Operator Instructions] And the first question will come from John Burgess with RaaS Research.

I'm just interested if the working capital release, I think it's now -- in my calculations, it's about negative 6% of revenue. Is that a sustainable number going forward?

I think it will probably settle where it is now. I think -- and once again, half of the $10 million is contributed through the accounts receivable and half was with regards to the accounts payable. So I would say it would be settling where it is today.

So have your affiliates just given you better terms in terms of payables?

We definitely have worked harder with regard to our payables, yes. And also, we've just implemented a new finance ERP system that obviously has also contributed a lot to better management of our suppliers.

I'm just interested in your guidance, how much -- what's your assumptions around cycle versus cost savings? Can you give some color on that?

John, thanks for the question. I think you mean in terms of the advertising cycle?

Yes. I guess probably more of the revenue side of -- with the cycle over, that's right, in terms of what you're controlling your cost out.