TORONTO, Nov. 4, 2024 /CNW/ - Pizza Pizza Royalty Corp. (the "Company") (TSX: PZA), which indirectly owns the Pizza Pizza and Pizza 73 Rights and Marks, released financial results today for the three months ("Quarter") and nine months ("Period") ended September 30, 2024.

Third Quarter highlights:

• Same store sales⁽²⁾ decreased 5.3%
• Royalty Pool sales decreased 4.6%
• Adjusted earnings per share⁽⁵⁾ decreased 6.3%
• Restaurant network increased by six net locations

Year-to-Date Quarter highlights:

• Same store sales⁽²⁾ decreased 2.7%
• Royalty Pool sales decreased 1.0%
• Adjusted earnings per share⁽⁵⁾ decreased 2.3%
• Restaurant network increased by 16 net locations
• Royalty Pool of restaurants for 2024 increased by 31 restaurants on January 1, 2024

"In the third quarter we continued to experience headwinds as we navigate ongoing reduced consumer spending and its impact on foodservice, particularly delivery channels. In this environment, we have seen ongoing shifts to pick up orders across pizza QSR, which is an opportunity for us with our best in class restaurant footprint," said Paul Goddard, President and CEO of Pizza Pizza Limited. "Our sales recovery strategy continues to leverage our strong everyday value leadership position backed by ongoing enhancements to our menu, restaurants and digital customer experience."

SALES

Royalty Pool System Sales for the Quarter decreased 4.6% to $155.8 million from $163.2 million in the same quarter last year. By brand, sales from the 672 Pizza Pizza restaurants in the Royalty Pool decreased 5.0% to $134.9 million for the Quarter compared to $142.0 million in the same quarter last year. Sales from the 102 Pizza 73 restaurants decreased 1.8% to $20.8 million for the Quarter compared to $21.2 million in the same quarter last year.

Royalty Pool System Sales for the Period decreased 1.0% to $460.0 million from $464.4 million in the same period last year. By brand, sales from the 672 Pizza Pizza restaurants in the Royalty Pool decreased 1.6% to $397.0 million for the Period compared to $403.3 million in the same period last year. Sales from the 102 Pizza 73 restaurants increased 3.1% to $63.0 million for the Period compared to $61.1 million in the same period last year.

For the Quarter and Period, the change in Royalty Pool System Sales is primarily driven by the offsetting effects of new restaurants added to the Royalty Pool on January 1, 2024 and the same store sales. The Royalty Pool System Sales for the Period also benefitted from the extra day of sales in February 2024 due to the leap year. Additionally, while the number of restaurants in the Pizza 73 Royalty Pool remains less than in 2019 when there were 104 restaurants, the negative impact on Royalty Pool System Sales due to prior year restaurant closures has been mitigated by the Make-Whole Carryover Amount.

SAME STORE SALES GROWTH ("SSSG")

SSSG, the key driver of yield growth for shareholders of the Company, decreased 5.3% (2023 – increased 7.0%) for the Quarter, and decreased 2.7% for the Period (2023 – increased 9.8%). SSSG is not affected by the additional day during the leap year, as SSSG is calculated using a 13 and 39-week comparative basis.

SSSG is driven by the change in the customer check and customer traffic, both of which are affected by changes in pricing and sales mix. During the Quarter and Period, consistent with the general market trends, at both brands restaurant traffic decreased due to the current economic situation and its impact on consumer discretionary spending. The average customer check was relatively flat as the brands introduced new value-oriented offerings.

MONTHLY DIVIDENDS AND WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE

The Company declared shareholder dividends of $5.7 million for the Quarter, or $0.2325 per share, compared to $5.5 million, or $0.225 per share, for the prior year comparable quarter. The payout ratio is 109% for the Quarter and was 93% in the prior year, comparable quarter.

The Company declared shareholder dividends of $17.1 million for the Period, or $0.6975 per share, compared to $16.2 million, or $0.6575 per share, for the prior year comparable period. The payout ratio is 113% for the Period and was 97% in the prior year, comparable period.

The Company's policy is to distribute all available cash in order to maximize returns to shareholders over time, after allowing for reasonable reserves.  Despite seasonal variations inherent to the restaurant industry, the Company's policy is to make equal dividend payments to shareholders on a monthly basis in order to smooth out income to shareholders.

The Company's working capital reserve, excluding the credit facility, is $6.3 million at September 30, 2024, which is a decrease of $1.9 million in the Period due to the decrease in royalty income and the 113% payout ratio. The reserve is available to stabilize dividends and fund other expenditures in the event of short- to medium-term variability in System Sales and, thus, the Company's royalty income. The Company has historically targeted a payout ratio at or near 100% on an annualized basis.

EARNINGS PER SHARE ("EPS")

Fully-diluted basic EPS decreased 6.4% to $0.233 for the Quarter compared to the prior year comparable quarter.

As compared to basic EPS, the Company considers adjusted EPS⁽⁵⁾ to be a more meaningful indicator of the Company's operating performance and, therefore, presents fully diluted, adjusted EPS. Adjusted EPS for the Quarter decreased 6.3% to $0.239 when compared to the same period in 2023, and decreased 2.3% to $0.707 for the Period.

RESTAURANT DEVELOPMENT 

As announced earlier this year, the number of restaurants in the Company's Royalty Pool increased by 31 locations to 774 on the January 1, 2024 Adjustment Date, and consists of 672 Pizza Pizza restaurants and 102 Pizza 73 restaurants. The number of restaurants in the Royalty Pool will remain unchanged through 2024.

During the Quarter, PPL opened five traditional and three non-traditional Pizza Pizza restaurants, and closed three non-traditional Pizza Pizza restaurants. PPL also opened one traditional Pizza 73 restaurant.

During the Period, PPL opened 13 traditional and 20 non-traditional Pizza Pizza restaurants, and closed three traditional and 16 non-traditional Pizza Pizza restaurants. PPL also opened one traditional and one non-traditional Pizza 73 restaurant.

PPL management expects to grow its traditional restaurant network by 3-4% and continue its renovation program through 2024.

Readers should note that the number of restaurants added to the Royalty Pool each year may differ from the number of restaurant openings and closings reported by PPL on an annual basis as the periods for which they are reported differ slightly.

CREDIT FACILITY

On June 19, 2024, in response to the cessation of the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate ("CDOR"), the benchmark interest rate on bankers' acceptances, the credit facility was amended. The amendment transitioned the $47.0 million term loan from bankers' acceptances to CORRA loans. The remaining terms and conditions are consistent with those of the previous credit facility. The fixed interest rate on the swaps remained unchanged with this amendment, and the effective interest rate remained at 2.685% for the Quarter and Period.

The Company is currently in the process of renegotiating the terms of its credit facility that matures in 2025. The Company expects the new facility to be similar in size, however at higher interest rates as compared to its existing facility.

SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following tables set out selected financial information and other data of Pizza Pizza Royalty Corp. ("PPRC" or the "Company") and should be read in conjunction with the September 30, 2024 unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company ("Financial Statements"). Readers should note that the 2024 results are not directly comparable to the 2023 results due to there being 774 restaurants in the 2024 Royalty Pool compared to 743 restaurants in the 2023 Royalty Pool.

A copy of the Company's unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") will be available at www.sedarplus.ca and www.pizzapizza.ca after the market closes on November 4, 2024.

As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call to discuss the results. The details of the conference call are as follows:

A recording of the call will also be available on the Company's website at www.pizzapizza.ca.  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this report, including information regarding the Company's dividend policy, its ability to meet covenants and other financial obligations, and the potential business and financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company, PPL and its franchisees and restaurant operators and their ability to achieve their business objectives, constitute "forward-looking" statements, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this report, such statements include such words as "may", "will", "expect", "believe", "plan", and other similar terminology in conjunction with a discussion of future events or operating or financial performance. These statements reflect management's current expectations regarding future events and operating and financial performance and speak only as of the date of this MD&A. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any such forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.  These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The following are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or underlying such forward-looking statements: changes in national and local business and economic conditions including those resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic (such as customers' ability and willingness to visit restaurants and their perception of health and food safety issues, discretionary spending patterns and supply chain limitations, and the related financial impact on PPL and its franchisees and restaurant operators), impacts of legislation and governmental regulation, accounting policies and practices, competition, changes in demographic trends and changing consumer preferences, and the results of operations and financial condition of PPL. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other information included in the foregoing MD&A, the PPL financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2023 and the related MD&A and the Company's Annual Information Form.

www.pizzapizza.ca and www.pizza73.com or www.sedarplus.ca.

Exhibit One: Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures

The Company's earnings, as presented under IFRS includes non-cash items, such as deferred tax, that do not affect the Company's business operations or its ability to pay dividends to shareholders. The Company believes its earnings are not the only, or most meaningful, measurement of the Company's ability to pay dividends or measure the rate at which the Company is paying out its earnings. Therefore, the Company reports the following non-IFRS measures:

• Adjusted earnings available for distribution to the Company and PPL;
• Adjusted earnings from operations;
• Adjusted earnings available for shareholder dividends;
• Adjusted earnings per share ("EPS");
• Payout Ratio; and
• Working Capital.

The Company believes that the above noted measures provide investors with more meaningful information regarding the amount of cash that the Company has generated to pay dividends, and, together with Interest Paid on Borrowings and SSSG, help illustrate the Company's operating performance and highlight trends in the Company's business. These measures are also frequently used by analysts, investors, and other interested parties in the evaluation of issuers in the Company's sector, particularly those with a royalty-based model. The adjustments to net earnings as recorded under IFRS relate to non-cash items included in earnings and cash payments accounted for on the statement of financial position. Investors are cautioned, however, that this should not be construed as an alternative to net earnings as a measure of profitability. The method of calculating the Company's NI 52-112 non-IFRS financial measures: Adjusted earnings available for distribution to the Company and Pizza Pizza Limited, Adjusted earnings from operations, Adjusted earnings available for shareholder dividends, Adjusted EPS, Payout Ratio, Working Capital, Interest Paid on Borrowings and SSSG for the purposes of this MD&A may differ from that used by other issuers and, accordingly, these measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other issuers.

The table below reconciles the following to "Earnings for the period before income taxes" which is the most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with IFRS:

• Adjusted earnings available for distribution to the Company and Pizza Pizza Limited;
• Adjusted earnings from operations; and
• Adjusted earnings available for shareholder dividends.

The Basic EPS and the Adjusted EPS calculations are based on fully diluted weighted average shares, and both include PPL's Class B and Class D Exchangeable Shares since they are exchangeable into and economically equivalent to the Shares.  See "Adjusted EPS".

Adjusted EPS is calculated by dividing Adjusted earnings from operations, as explained above, by the fully diluted weighted average shares.

Payout Ratio is a non-IFRS financial measure that does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company presents the Payout Ratio to illustrate the earnings being returned to shareholders. The Company's Payout Ratio is calculated by dividing the dividends declared to shareholders by the adjusted earnings from operations, after paying the distribution on Class B and Class D Exchangeable Shares, in that same period.

Working Capital is defined as total current assets less total current liabilities. The Company views working capital as a measure for assessing overall liquidity and its ability to stabilize dividends and fund unusual expenditures in the event of short- to medium-term variability in Royalty Pool System Sales. During the Period, the borrowings of $47 million have been reclassified to current liabilities as the facility is scheduled to come due in April 2025. Excluding the impact of the borrowings, the working capital reserve would be $6.3 million as compared to $8.2 million at December 31, 2023. The use of the working capital during the Period relates to the payout ratio of 113%.

SSSG is a key indicator used by the Company to measure performance against internal targets and prior period results. SSSG is commonly used by financial analysts and investors to compare PPL to other QSR brands. SSSG is defined as the change in period gross revenue of Pizza Pizza and Pizza 73 restaurants as compared to sales in the previous comparative period, where the restaurant has been open at least 13 months.  Additionally, for a Pizza 73 restaurant whose restaurant territory was adjusted due to an additional restaurant, the sales used to derive the Step-Out Payment may be added to sales to arrive at SSSG. It is a key performance indicator for the Company as this measure excludes sales fluctuations due to store closings, permanent relocations and chain expansion.

The following table calculates SSSG by reconciling Royalty Pool System Sales, based on calendar periods, to PPL's 13-week sales reporting period used in calculating same store sales.

SOURCE Pizza Pizza Royalty Corp.