(all numbers in this release are in US dollars (US$) unless
otherwise noted) Alaris Equity Partners Income Trust (the
"
Trust") (TSX: AD.UN) is pleased to announce that
its subsidiary, Alaris Equity Partners USA Inc. (collectively, with
the Trust and its other subsidiaries, "
Alaris")
has made an investment of $21.0 million into Berg Demo Holdings,
LLC ("
Berg") (the “
Berg
Investment”) and $61.1 million into Professional Electric
Contractors of Connecticut, Inc. ("
PEC") (the
"
PEC Investment"). Alaris is also
pleased to announce the redemption of Alaris' investment in Unify
Consulting LLC ("
Unify"), which closed in
December, and resulted in gross proceeds of $12.3 million to Alaris
(the "
Unify Redemption").
“A productive start to 2025 with the closing of
two new partnerships and the successful exit of another. Berg and
PEC both signify the forming of partnerships with very strong
entrepreneurs. David Berg and Jim Bisson from Berg and PEC
respectively are exactly what we look for in partners. Long track
records of success and a strong passion to continue to grow their
businesses. Both partners have the capacity and desire to grow
through acquisitions in addition to continued organic growth.
I’d like to thank Darren Alger and his team at
Unify for a wonderful eight years as our partner. Alaris originally
funded a management buyout for Darren and we are proud of how well
he has done as majority owner. Crystallizing another investment
with an IRR of 20% is also an excellent result for our management
team,” said Steve King, Chief Executive Officer, Alaris.
Berg Investment
The Berg Investment consists of: (i) $17.15
million (the "Berg Preferred Contribution")
of preferred equity, entitling Alaris to an initial annualized
distribution of $2.40 million (the "Berg
Distribution"); and (ii) $3.85 million
(the "Berg Common Equity") for a minority
common equity ownership in Berg. The Berg Distribution will reset
annually based on the percentage change in gross profit, subject to
a collar of +/- 7%.
Berg has an earnings coverage ratio between 1.5x
and 2.0x based on Berg's trailing twelve-month financial results
and giving effect to certain other changes to Berg's capital
structure. The Berg Investment will be used for capital investment
and to provide partial liquidity to equity holders.
"We are thrilled to partner with Alaris, a
partnership that strengthens our leadership team’s ability to drive
future growth. As a third-generation demolition, scrap, and
hazardous materials company, Berg has built a legacy of excellence.
With Alaris’s strategic support and expertise, we are confident
that Berg will continue to thrive as an industry leader for
generations to come," said David Berg, Founder, Berg.
Berg is a leading demolition solutions provider
serving public, commercial and industrial end markets in the
Baltimore and DC, Maryland & Virginia (“DMV”) metropolitan area
in the United States. Founded in 1998 by David Berg and
headquartered in Baltimore, MD, Berg has become the preeminent
hazardous material abatement, selective structural and building
razing operation in the region.
PEC Investment
The PEC Investment of $61.1 million consists of
a $37.0 million investment in debt and preferred equity (the
"PEC Contribution") as well as an investment of
$24.1 million in exchange for a minority common equity ownership in
PEC (the "PEC Common Equity"). Included within the
$37.0 million PEC Contribution is $10.0 million of preferred equity
redeemable at par. The PEC Contribution will result in an
annualized cash distribution to Alaris of $5.18 million (the
"PEC Distribution"), an initial combined annual
yield of 14% and will reset annually +/- 7% based on changes in
PEC’s revenue. The proceeds from the PEC Investment were used for
partial liquidity to existing PEC shareholders.
PEC has an earnings coverage ratio between 1.5x
and 2.0x, based on PEC’s trailing twelve-month financial results
and giving effect to changes to PEC’s capital structure following
the Alaris investment.
“When we first met Alaris, we liked their people
and their unique model immediately; Alaris' combination of
financial strength and M&A acumen will allow us to focus on
growth, while their approach recognizes our desire to protect and
preserve PEC's culture, which has always been a competitive
advantage and our defining attribute,” said Jim Bisson, Jr.,
President and Chief Executive Officer, PEC.
PEC is a full-service electrical contracting
firm with a broad range of capabilities ranging from commercial
installations, historical structural retrofits and large scale
Photovoltaic (PV) projects. In addition, through its subsidiary
North American Renewables, Inc, PEC is a leading solar engineering,
procurement and construction (“EPC”) contractor. PEC serves the
Greater New England and New York area.
Unify Redemption
Alaris successfully exited its partnership with
Unify after eight years resulting in total gross proceeds over the
life of the investment of CAD$51.6 million. Alaris’ total return on
the Unify investment is CAD$38.6 million, equating to an unlevered
IRR of 20% and MOIC of 1.9x.
Following the Berg and PEC Investment, and the
Unify Redemption, Alaris will have approximately CA$412.9 million
drawn on its senior credit facility (the
"Facility") and $87.1 million available for
investment purposes while the total senior debt to EBITDA on a
proforma basis is approximately 2.43x. Alaris estimates its run
rate payout ratio to be approximately 57.6% following today’s
announcement.
About Alaris:
The Trust, through its subsidiaries, invests in
a diversified group of private businesses ("Private Company
Partners") primarily through structured equity. The
primary goal of our structured equity investments is to deliver
stable and predictable returns to our unitholders through both cash
distributions and capital appreciation. This strategy is enhanced
by common equity positions, which allow us to generate returns in
alignment with the founders of our Private Company Partners.
NON-IFRS MEASURES:
Earnings Coverage Ratio refers
to the Normalized EBITDA of a Partner divided by such Partner’s sum
of debt servicing (interest and principal), unfunded capital
expenditures and distributions to Alaris. Management believes the
earnings coverage ratio is a useful metric in assessing our
partners continued ability to make their contracted
distributions.
Normalized EBITDA refers to
EBITDA excluding items that are non-recurring in nature and is
calculated by adjusting for non-recurring expenses and gains to
EBITDA. Management deems non-recurring charges to be unusual and/or
infrequent charges that our Partners incur outside of its common
day-to-day operations.
EBITDA refers to earnings
determined in accordance with IFRS, before depreciation and
amortization, net of gain or loss on disposal of capital assets,
interest expense and income tax expense. EBITDA is used by
management and many investors to determine the ability of an issuer
to generate cash from operations.
IRR is a supplementary
financial measure and refers to internal rate of return, which is a
metric used to determine the discount rate that derives a net
present value of cash flows to zero. Management uses IRR to analyze
partner returns. The Trust’s method of calculating this
supplementary financial measure may differ from the methods used by
other issuers. Therefore, it may not be comparable to similar
measures by other issuers.
MOIC is a supplementary
financial measure and refers to multiple of capital invested, which
is a financial metric used to evaluate the value of an
investment relative to the initial capital. Management uses MOIC to
analyze partner returns. The Trust’s method of calculating this
supplementary financial measure may differ from the methods used by
other issuers. Therefore, it may not be comparable to similar
measures by other issuers.
The terms Earnings Coverage Ratio, Normalized
EBITDA, EBITDA, IRR and MOIC (the "Non-IFRS
Measures") are not standard measures under IFRS. Alaris'
calculation of the Non-IFRS Measures may differ from those of other
issuers and, therefore, should only be used in conjunction with the
Trust’s annual audited and unaudited interim financial statements,
which are available under the Trust's (and its predecessor's)
profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward-looking
statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning
of "safe harbor" provisions under applicable securities laws
("forward-looking statements"). Statements other than statements of
historical fact contained in this news release may be
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation,
management's expectations, intentions and beliefs concerning the
Berg and PEC Investments and the Unify redemption. Many of these
statements can be identified by words such as "believe", "expects",
"will", "intends", "projects", "anticipates", "estimates",
"continues" or similar words or the negative thereof. Forward
looking statements in this news release include, without
limitation, statements regarding: the annualized distributions for
the Berg and PEC Investments; the earnings coverage ratios for Berg
and PEC; and Alaris’ outstanding indebtedness and use of the
balance of the Facility. Any forward-looking statements herein
which constitute a financial outlook or future-oriented financial
information (including the impact on Run Rate Payout Ratio) were
approved by management as of the date hereof and have been included
to provide an understanding of Alaris' financial performance and
are subject to the same risks and assumptions disclosed herein.
There can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or
expectations upon which these forward-looking statements are based
will occur.
By their nature, forward-looking statements
require Alaris to make assumptions and are subject to inherent
risks and uncertainties. Assumptions about the performance of the
Canadian and U.S. economies over the next 24 months and how that
will affect Alaris’ business and that of its Partners are material
factors considered by Alaris management when setting the outlook
for Alaris. Key assumptions include, but are not limited to,
assumptions that: interest rates will not rise in a matter
materially different from the prevailing market expectations over
the next 12 to 24 months; no widespread global health crisis will
impact the economy or any Partners’ operations in a material way in
the next 12 months; the businesses of the majority of our Partners
will continue to grow; the businesses of new Partners and those of
existing partners will perform in line with Alaris’ expectations
and diligence; more private companies will require access to
alternative sources of capital and that Alaris will have the
ability to raise required equity and/or debt financing on
acceptable terms. Management of Alaris has also assumed that the
Canadian and U.S. dollar trading pair will remain in a range of
approximately plus or minus 15% of the current rate expectations
over the next 6 months. In determining expectations for economic
growth, management of Alaris primarily considers historical
economic data provided by the Canadian and U.S. governments and
their agencies as well as prevailing economic conditions at the
time of such determinations.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks,
uncertainties and assumptions and should not be read as guarantees
or assurances of future performance. The actual results of the
Trust and the Partners could materially differ from those
anticipated in the forward-looking statements contained herein as a
result of certain risk factors, including, but not limited to: the
ability of our Partners and, correspondingly, Alaris to meet
performance expectations for 2025 and beyond; any change in the
senior lenders’ outlook for Alaris’ business; management's ability
to assess and mitigate the impacts of any local, regional, national
or international health crises like COVID-19 or its variants; the
dependence of Alaris on the Partners; reliance on key personnel;
general economic conditions in Canada, North America and globally;
failure to complete or realize the anticipated benefit of Alaris’
financing arrangements with the Partners; a failure of the Trust or
any Partners to obtain required regulatory approvals on a timely
basis or at all; changes in legislation and regulations and the
interpretations thereof; risks relating to the Partners and their
businesses, including, without limitation, a material change in the
operations of a Partner or the industries they operate in;
inability to close additional Partner contributions in a timely
fashion, or at all; a change in the ability of the Partners to
continue to pay Alaris’ distributions; a material change in the
unaudited information provided to Alaris by the Partners; a failure
of a Partner (or Partners) to realize on their anticipated growth
strategies; a failure to achieve the expected benefits of the
third-party asset management strategy or similar new investment
structures and strategies; conflicts of interest that may arise
under the asset management strategy or otherwise; a failure to
achieve resolutions for outstanding issues with Partners on terms
materially in line with management’s expectations or at all; and a
failure to realize the benefits of any concessions or relief
measures provided by Alaris to any Partner or to successfully
execute an exit strategy for a Partner where desired. Additional
risks that may cause actual results to vary from those indicated
are discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" and "Forward Looking
Statements" in the Trust’s Management Discussion and Analysis for
the year ended December 31, 2023, which is filed under the Trust’s
profile at www.sedar.com and on its website at
www.alarisequitypartners.com.
This news release contains future-oriented
financial information and financial outlook information
(collectively, "FOFI") about increases to the Trust's net operating
cash from activities and revenues, each of which are subject to the
same assumptions, risk factors, limitations, and qualifications as
set forth above. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in
the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable
at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such,
undue reliance should not be placed on FOFI and forward-looking
statements. Alaris' actual results, performance or achievement
could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by,
these forward-looking statements and FOFI, or if any of them do so,
what benefits the Trust will derive therefrom. The Trust has
included the forward-looking statements and FOFI in order to
provide readers with a more complete perspective on Alaris’ future
operations and such information may not be appropriate for other
purposes. Alaris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
law.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on any forward-looking information contained in this news
release as a number of factors could cause actual future results,
conditions, actions or events to differ materially from the
targets, expectations, estimates or intentions expressed in the
forward-looking statements. Statements containing forward-looking
information reflect management’s current beliefs and assumptions
based on information in its possession on the date of this news
release. Although management believes that the assumptions
reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein are
reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will
prove to be correct.
The forward-looking statements contained herein
are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary
statement. The forward-looking statements included in this news
release are made as of the date of this news release and Alaris
does not undertake or assume any obligation to update or revise
such statements to reflect new events or circumstances except as
expressly required by applicable securities legislation.
Neither the TSX nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
For further information please
contact:
ir@alarisequity.comP: (403) 260-1457Alaris Equity
Partners Income TrustSuite 250, 333 24th Avenue S.W.Calgary,
Alberta T2S 3E6
www.alarisequitypartners.com
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