The Keg Royalties Income Fund Posts Second Quarter Results
August 11th 2009
The Keg Royalties Income Fund Posts Second Quarter Results
Vancouver - August 11, 2009 -- The Keg Royalties Income Fund (the "Fund")(TSX:KEG.UN) has reported its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009. Gross sales reported by Keg Restaurants Ltd. ("KRL") for Keg restaurants in the Royalty Pool, royalty income and distributable cash all increased from the comparable periods of the prior year.
As previously announced, gross sales reported by Keg restaurants in the Royalty Pool increased by $134,000 or 0.1% to $107,824,000 during the quarter and by $9,441,000 or 4.3% to $228,681,000 year to date. The increase in gross sales reflects the net impact of the addition of net new sales to the Royalty Pool at the beginning of the year and a decrease in same store sales.
KRL's same store sales (sales of restaurants that operated during the entire period of both the current and prior years) decreased by 6.9% in Canada and by 15.7% in the United States for the 13-week period ended June 28, 2009 and decreased by 4.2% in Canada and by 10.2% in the U.S. for the 26-week period ended June 28, 2009. After translating the sales of the U.S. restaurants into their Canadian dollar equivalent, consolidated same store sales decreased by 6.5% for the 13-week period and by 2.9% for the 26-week period.
"We are pleased that the key financial areas of the Fund continue to grow," said David Aisenstat, President & CEO of The Keg. "While there is no question that the casual dining industry is feeling the negative effects of the economic downturn, the Fund is well positioned to weather the storm. Not only are sales at The Keg holding up relatively well, the Fund's strong cash and working capital positions provide additional security should it become necessary to access those reserves."
Royalty income increased by $84,000 or 1.9% to $4,418,000 for the quarter and by $490,000 or 5.6% to $9,312,000 year to date, as a result of the increase in gross sales.
Earnings before income taxes decreased by 3.8% to 30.8 cents/Fund unit from 32.0 cents/Fund unit during the quarter, but increased by 0.2% to 64.9 cents/Fund unit from 64.8 cents/Fund unit year to date. Distributable cash available to pay distributions to Fund unitholders remained the same at 31.6 cents/Fund unit for the quarter, but increased by 0.9% to 65.2 cents/Fund unit from 64.6 cents/Fund unit year to date. The Fund has paid distributions of 32.0 cents/Fund unit during the quarter and 63.9 cents/Fund unit year to date.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
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Apr. 1 to Apr. 1 to Jan. 1 to Jan. 1 to
($000's except per unit Jun. 30, Jun. 30, Jun. 30, Jun. 30,
amounts) 2009 2008 2009 2008
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Restaurants in the Royalty
Pool 102 96 102 96
Gross sales reported by Keg
restaurants in the Royalty
Pool $ 107,824 $ 107,690 $ 228,681 $ 219,240
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Royalty income $ 4,418 $ 4,334 $ 9,312 $ 8,822
Partnership expenses (108) (81) (196) (180)
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Partnership earnings 4,310 4,253 9,116 8,642
KRL's interest (2,288) (2,033) (4,713) (4,090)
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Equity income 2,022 2,220 4,403 4,552
Interest income 1,067 1,075 2,125 2,152
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Total income 3,089 3,295 6,528 6,704
Interest and financing expenses (102) (192) (226) (412)
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Earnings before income taxes $ 2,987 $ 3,103 $ 6,302 $ 6,292
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Net earnings $ 2,937 $ 2,903 $ 6,402 $ 6,442
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Distributable cash $ 3,069 $ 3,065 $ 6,328 $ 6,264
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Distributions paid $ 3,100 $ 3,100 $ 6,201 $ 6,142
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Earnings before income taxes per
Fund unit(1) $ .308 $ .320 $ .649 $ .648
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Earnings per Fund unit(1)(2) $ .303 $ .299 $ .660 $ .664
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Distributable cash per Fund
unit(1) $ .316 $ .316 $ .652 $ .646
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Distributions paid per Fund
unit(1) $ .320 $ .320 $ .639 $ .633
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Payout Ratio 101.0% 101.2% 98.0% 98.1%
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(1) All per unit amounts are calculated based on the weighted average number
of Fund units outstanding, which are those units held by public
unitholders during the respective period.
(2) Net earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2009, reflects the
non-cash future income tax expense of $50,000 (three months ended
June 30, 2008 - $200,000) and net earnings for the six months ended
June 30, 2009, reflects the non-cash future income tax recovery of
$100,000 (six months ended June 30, 2008 - $150,000).
A copy of the complete financial results will be available at www.sedar.com or on the Fund's website at www.kegincomefund.com.
The Keg Royalties Income Fund (TSX:KEG.UN) is a limited purpose, open-ended trust established under the laws of the Province of Ontario that, through The Keg Rights Limited Partnership, owns certain trademarks and other related intellectual property used by Keg Restaurants Ltd. ("KRL"). In exchange for use of those trademarks, KRL pays the Fund a royalty of 4% of gross sales of Keg restaurants included in the royalty pool. Vancouver-based Keg Restaurants Ltd. is the leading operator and franchisor of the steakhouse restaurants in Canada and has a substantial presence in select regional markets in the United States.
Vancouver-based Keg Restaurants Ltd. is the leading operator and franchisor of steakhouse restaurants in Canada and has a substantial presence in select regional markets in the United States. KRL continues to operate The Keg restaurant system and expand that system through the addition of both corporate and franchised Keg steakhouses. Keg Restaurants Ltd. has been named one of the "50 Best Employers in Canada" for the past seven years by the Globe and Mail's Report on Business Magazine. For more information on our brand, visit www.kegsteakhouse.com
This press release may contain certain "forward looking" statements reflecting The Keg Royalties Income Fund's current expectations in the casual dining segment of the restaurant food industry. Investors are cautioned that all forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the Keg's ability to continue to realize historical same store sales growth, changes in market and existing competition, new competitive developments, and potential downturns in economic conditions generally. Additional information on these and other potential factors that could affect the Fund's financial results are detailed in documents filed from time to time with the provincial securities commissions in Canada.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, which may be made only by means of the prospectus, nor shall there be any sale of the Fund units in any state, province or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any state, province or jurisdiction. The Keg Royalties Income Fund units have not been, and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an application for exemption from the registration requirement under U.S. securities laws.
The Trustees of the Fund have approved the contents of this press release.
Contact: Karyn Byrne, Manager Inverstor Relations
(416) 646-4960
karynb@kegrestaurants.com
www.kegincomefund.com