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Computer Modelling Group Announces Second Quarter Results and Quarterly Dividend

CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Computer Modelling Group Ltd. (“CMG Group” or the “Company”) announces its financial results for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024, and the approval by its Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the payment of a cash dividend of $0.05 per Common Share for the second quarter ended September 30, 2024.

SECOND QUARTER 2025 CONSOLIDATED HIGHLIGHTS

Select financial highlights for the three months ended September 30, 2024

  • Closed the Company’s second major acquisition, Sharp Reflections GmbH (“SR” or “Sharp”), on November 12, 2024;
  • Generated total revenue of $29.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, compared to $22.6 million in the prior year’s quarter, reflecting a 1% increase in CMG’s revenue and a 29% contribution from BHV;
  • Operating profit increased to $8.4 million, an increase of 9% from the same period of the previous fiscal year, primarily due to a decrease in stock-based compensation in the quarter as a result of the decrease in share price. Adjusted operating profit decreased by 8% from the same period of the previous fiscal year, with CMG contributing to 6% and BHV contributing to 2% of the decrease;
  • Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 34%, compared to 47% in the same period of the previous fiscal year with CMG generating 45% and BHV generating (2%) in Adjusted EBITDA Margin;
  • Net income during the period was $3.8 million, a 42% decrease compared to the prior year’s quarter, primarily due to a change in the fair value of contingent consideration and FX loss incurred in the current year’s quarter, partially offset by increased operating profit;
  • Earnings per share was $0.05, a 38% decrease compared to the prior year’s quarter;
  • Reported Free Cash Flow of $0.07 per share, a decrease of 50%, primarily due to BHV generating negative cash flows.

Select financial highlights for the six months ended September 30, 2024

  • Closed the Company’s second major acquisition, Sharp Reflections GmbH (“SR” or “Sharp”), on November 12, 2024;
  • Generated total revenue of $60.0 million for the second quarter fiscal 2025 year-to-date period, compared to $43.4 million in the prior year-to-date period, reflecting a 6% increase in CMG’s revenue and a 32% contribution from BHV;
  • Operating profit decreased to $14.1 million, a decrease of 19% from the same year-to-date period of the previous fiscal year, primarily due to increased stock-based compensation as a result of an increase in share price, as well as increased operating expenses from having a full quarter of Bluware operating expenses as compared to 5 days in the previous fiscal year-to-date period. Adjusted operating profit decreased by 6% from the same period of the previous fiscal year, with CMG contributing to 4% and BHV contributing to 2% of the decrease;
  • Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 32%, compared to 48% in the same period of the previous fiscal year with CMG generating 43% and BHV generating (3%) in Adjusted EBITDA Margin;
  • Net income during the period was $7.7 million, a 42% decrease compared to the prior year-to-date period;
  • Earnings per share was $0.09, a 47% decrease compared to the prior year-to-date period;
  • Reported Free Cash Flow of $0.14 per share, a decrease of 39%, primarily due to BHV generating negative cash flows.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

Second Quarter

In the second quarter, total revenue grew by 30% from the prior fiscal year to $29.5 million, reflecting the acquisition of Bluware (“BHV”) which contributed 29%, and growth within the CMG operating segment of 1%. Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 34% compared to 47% in the prior year period, reflecting the acquisition of BHV which currently operates at a lower margin than CMG, and a decline in Adjusted EBITDA compared to the prior year period in the CMG operating segment, discussed below. Net income for the quarter declined to $3.8 million from $6.5 million in the prior year period, significantly impacted by a change in the fair value of contingent consideration relating to the acquisition of Bluware and foreign exchange losses. Free Cash Flow declined from $0.14 per share in the prior period to $0.07 per share, impacted by the lower Free Cash Flow generation at BHV resulting from seasonality associated with revenue recognition. Free Cash Flow per share remained constant from the first quarter of 2025. At September 30, 2024, the cash balance was $61.4 million. The effective tax rate for the quarter increased due to the non-deductibility of the change in fair value of the acquisition earnout.

In the CMG operating segment, total revenue was up 1%, however, annuity/maintenance (“A/M”) revenue declined compared to the second quarter of 2024. Delays occurred in the closing of a sizeable new contract which would have been accretive to A/M revenue in the second quarter. This was completed after quarter-end and is expected to be recorded starting in the third quarter. Given the timing of the new contract, it did not offset a combination of variability in short-term contracts and the non-renewal of one contract in the US which led to the modest decline.

By geography, total software revenue grew in the Eastern Hemisphere due to strong perpetual licenses, offset primarily by lower A/M licenses in South America and the US, as mentioned above.

Software revenue attributable to energy transition was 19% in the quarter, compared to 22% in the comparable prior year period and 28% in the first quarter of this year. From a trend perspective, on a year-to-date basis, software revenue attributable to energy transition was 24% compared to 22% in the same period of the previous year, evidence of ongoing demand. CMG operating segment operating profit in the second quarter increased to $8.8 million, from $7.6 million in the prior year period, driven by a reduction in stock-based compensation expense due to lower share price, partially offset by increased expenses including headcount and headcount related costs, increased amortization of acquired IP, and other corporate costs. Sequentially from Q1 2025, CMG operating segment Adjusted Operating Profit increased by 3%. CMG operating segment Adjusted EBITDA Margin in the quarter decreased to 45% from 48% in the prior fiscal year, due primarily to higher expenses described above, but represented a small sequential increase from 42% in the first quarter of 2025. Maintaining our customary high renewal rates in the fourth quarter will be critical to achieving our revenue and profitability objectives.

In the BHV operating segment, total software revenue and professional services revenue were materially unchanged from the first quarter of 2025. A small decrease in operating expenses resulted in an Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin of ($0.1 million), or (2%), a slight improvement from ($0.3 million) and (4%) respectively compared to the first quarter of this year. We do not expect material growth in professional services revenue throughout the balance of the year, however software revenue is expected to increase in the second half of 2025, compared to the first half of 2025, as we begin contract renewals in these quarters. The impact of this revenue recognition is expected to drive a commensurate increase in profitability. This pattern of revenue recognition and profitability aligns with our reporting since acquiring BHV. We would continue to encourage shareholders to evaluate BHV operating segment profitability on a full-year basis.

SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

  CMG BHV Consolidated
Three months ended September 30,
($ thousands, except per share data)
2024   2023   2024   2023   2024   2023  

Annuity/maintenance licenses

16,794

 

17,441

 

1,508

 

169

 

18,302

 

17,610

 
Annuity license fee     71     71    
Perpetual licenses 2,149   1,176       2,149   1,176  
Total software license revenue 18,943   18,617   1,579   169   20,522   18,786  
Professional services 3,382   3,452   5,563   395   8,945   3,847  
Total revenue 22,325   22,069   7,142   564   29,467   22,633  
Total revenue growth 1 % 22 % 1166 %     30 % 25 %
Annuity/maintenance licenses growth (4 %) 18 % 792 %     4 % 19 %
Cost of revenue 2,332   2,271   3,360   222   5,692   2,493  
Operating expenses                        
Sales & marketing 3,363   3,362   866   22   4,229   3,384  
Research and development 4,463   4,651   1,965   116   6,428   4,767  
General & administrative 3,389   4,214   1,299   49   4,688   4,263  
Operating expenses 11,215   12,227   4,130   187   15,345   12,414  
Operating profit 8,778   7,571   (348 ) 155   8,430   7,726  
Operating Margin 39 % 34 % (5 %) 27 % 29 % 34 %
Acquisition related expenses 395   573   181     576   573  
Amortization of acquired intangible assets 575   124   89   5   664   129  
Stock-based compensation 232   2,291       232   2,291  
Adjusted operating profit (1) 9,980   10,559   (78 ) 160   9,902   10,719  
Adjusted Operating Margin (1) 45 % 48 % (1 %) 28 % 34 % 47 %
Net income (loss) 4,630   6,423   (867 ) 93   3,763   6,516  
Adjusted EBITDA (1) 10,069   10,584   (132 ) 134   9,937   10,718  
Adjusted EBITDA Margin (1) 45 % 48 % (2 %) 24 % 34 % 47 %
                         
Earnings per share – basic                 0.05   0.08  
Free Cash Flow per share – basic (1)                 0.07   0.14  
                         
  CMG BHV Consolidated
Six months ended September 30,
($ thousands, except per share data)
2024   2023   2024   2023   2024   2023  

Annuity/maintenance licenses

34,551

 

33,048

 

3,086

 

169

 

37,637

 

33,217

 
Annuity license fee     249     249    
Perpetual licenses 4,259   3,025       4,259   3,025  
Total software license revenue 38,810   36,073   3,335   169   42,145   36,242  
Professional services 6,662   6,744   11,183   395   17,845   7,139  
Total revenue 45,472   42,817   14,518   564   59,990   43,381  
Total revenue growth 6 % 25 % 2474 %     38 % 27 %
Annuity/maintenance licenses growth 5 % 17 % 1726 %     13 % 17 %
Cost of revenue 4,952   4,176   6,932   222   11,884   4,398  
Operating expenses                        
Sales & marketing 7,504   5,717   1,656   22   9,160   5,739  
Research and development 10,514   8,703   4,159   116   14,673   8,819  
General & administrative 7,533   6,886   2,644   49   10,177   6,935  
Operating expenses 25,551   21,306   8,459   187   34,010   21,493  
Operating profit 14,969   17,335   (873 ) 155   14,096   17,490  
Operating Margin 33 % 40 % (6 %) 27 % 23 % 40 %
Acquisition related expenses 395   573   369     764   573  
Amortization of acquired intangible assets 1,151   181   178   5   1,329   186  
Stock-based compensation 3,138   2,395       3,138   2,395  
Adjusted operating profit (1) 19,653   20,484   (325 ) 160   19,327   20,644  
Adjusted Operating Margin (1) 43 % 48 % (2 %) 28 % 32 % 48 %
Net income (loss) 9,995   13,327   (2,268 ) 93   7,727   13,420  
Adjusted EBITDA (1) 19,771   20,532   (397 ) 134   19,374   20,666  
Adjusted EBITDA Margin (1) 43 % 48 % (3 %) 24 % 32 % 48 %
                         
Earnings per share – basic                 0.09   0.17  
Free Cash Flow per share – basic (1)                 0.14   0.23  
(1) Non-IFRS financial measures are defined in the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section of the MD&A.


Q2 2025 Dividend

Computer Modelling Group’s Board approved a cash dividend of $0.05 per Common Share. The dividend will be paid on December 13, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 5, 2024.

All dividends paid by Computer Modelling Group Ltd. to holders of Common Shares in the capital of the Company will be treated as eligible dividends within the meaning of such term in section 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), unless otherwise indicated.

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RECONCILIATION OF NON-IFRS MEASURES

Free Cash Flow Reconciliation to Funds Flow from Operations

Free cash flow is a non-IFRS financial measure that is calculated as funds flow from operations less capital expenditures and repayment of lease liabilities. Free Cash Flow per share is calculated by dividing free cash flow by the number of weighted average outstanding shares during the period. Management believes that this measure provides useful supplemental information about operating performance and liquidity, as it represents cash generated during the period, regardless of the timing of collection of receivables and payment of payables, which may reduce comparability between periods. Management uses free cash flow and free cash flow per share to help measure the capacity of the Company to pay dividends and invest in business growth opportunities.                                                          

  Fiscal 2023 Fiscal 2024 Fiscal 2025
($ thousands, unless otherwise stated) Q3   Q4   Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   Q1   Q2  
Funds flow from operations 8,169   7,656   7,920   11,491   8,477   10,367   6,515   7,101  
Capital expenditures(1) (211 ) (1,707 ) (45 ) (51 ) (459 ) (95 ) (93 ) (236 )
Repayment of lease liabilities (413 ) (553 ) (412 ) (412 ) (728 ) (803 ) (743 ) (769 )
Free Cash Flow 7,545   5,396   7,463   11,028   7,290   9,469   5,679   6,096  
Weighted average shares – basic (thousands) 80,511   80,603   80,685   80,834   81,067   81,314   81,476   81,887  
Free Cash Flow per share – basic 0.09   0.07   0.09   0.14   0.09   0.12   0.07   0.07  

(1)   Capital expenditures include cash consideration for USI acquisition in Q4 2023.

Free Cash Flow per share has decreased by 50% and 39%, respectively, for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same periods of the previous fiscal year. The decrease in Free Cash Flow is primarily a result of negative cash flow generated in the BHV segment, which primarily relates to reduced net income in the period due to revenue recognition being skewed towards the third and fourth quarters of the fiscal year. Additionally, the repayment of lease liabilities has increased compared to the prior year comparative quarter as a result of the acquisition of BHV, resulting in a further decrease in free cash flow for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same periods of the previous fiscal year.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

  CMG BHV Consolidated
Three months ended September 30,
($ thousands)
2024   2023   2024   2023   2024   2023  
                         
Net income (loss) 4,630   6,423   (867 ) 93   3,763   6,516  
Add (deduct):                        
Depreciation and amortization 1,539   1,014   408   7   1,947   1,021  
Stock-based compensation 232   2,291       232   2,291  
Acquisition related expenses 395   573   181     576   573  
Loss on contingent consideration 2,112         2,112    
Income and other tax expense 1,802   2,239   442   38   2,244   2,277  
Interest income (680 ) (692 ) (81 )   (761 ) (692 )
Foreign exchange loss (gain) 453   (856 ) 140     593   (856 )
Repayment of lease liabilities (414 ) (408 ) (355 ) (4 ) (769 ) (412 )
Adjusted EBITDA (1) 10,069   10,584   (132 ) 134   9,937   10,718  
Adjusted EBITDA Margin (1) 45 % 48 % (2 %) 24 % 34 % 47 %

(1)   This is a non-IFRS financial measure. Refer to definition of the measures above.

  CMG BHV Consolidated
Six months ended September 30,
($ thousands)
2024   2023   2024   2023   2024   2023  
                         
Net income (loss) 9,995   13,327   (2,268 ) 93   7,727   13,420  
Add (deduct):                        
Depreciation and amortization 3,037   1,975   793   7   3,830   1,982  
Stock-based compensation 3,138   2,395       3,138   2,395  
Acquisition related expenses 395   573   369     764   573  
Loss on contingent consideration 1,913         1,913    
Income and other tax expense 3,416   4,483   1,316   38   4,732   4,521  
Interest income (1,460 ) (1,452 ) (179 )   (1,639 ) (1,452 )
Foreign exchange loss (gain) 198   51   223     421   51  
Repayment of lease liabilities (861 ) (820 ) (651 ) (4 ) (1,512 ) (824 )
Adjusted EBITDA (1) 19,771   20,532   (397 ) 134   19,374   20,666  
Adjusted EBITDA Margin (1) 43 % 48 % (3 %) 24 % 32 % 48 %

(1)   This is a non-IFRS financial measure. Refer to definition of the measures above.

Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 34% and 32% for both the three and six months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, a decrease from 47% and 48%, respectively for the three and six months ended September 30, 2023.

CMG’s Adjusted EBITDA Margin is 45% and 43% for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, compared to 48% for both the three and six months ended September 30, 2023, primarily due to an increase in operating expenses as a result of an increase in headcount and headcount related costs and other corporate costs. Refer to the “Operating Expenses” section of the MD&A for further detail on the increase in operating expenses by category.

BHV’s Adjusted EBITDA Margin for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024, is (2%) and (3%), respectively, compared to 24% for the three and six months ended September 30, 2023. Contract renewals at BHV typically occur in the third and fourth quarters, resulting in Adjusted EBITDA fluctuation on a quarterly basis. As a result of annuity license fee revenue recognition being skewed towards the last two quarters of the fiscal year, Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be lower in the first and second quarters of the fiscal year.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

UNAUDITED (thousands of Canadian $) September 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   April 1, 2023  

Assets

           
Current assets:            
Cash 61,373   63,083   66,850  
Restricted cash 96   142    
Trade and other receivables 34,704   36,550   23,910  
Prepaid expenses 2,213   2,321   1,060  
Prepaid income taxes 986   3,841   444  
  99,372   105,937   92,264  
Intangible assets 22,354   23,683   1,321  
Right-of-use assets 29,628   29,072   30,733  
Property and equipment 9,496   9,877   10,366  
Goodwill 4,426   4,399    
Deferred tax asset 136     2,444  
Total assets 165,412   172,968   137,128  

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

           
Current liabilities:            
Trade payables and accrued liabilities 13,920   18,551   11,126  
Income taxes payable 1,422   2,136   33  
Acquisition holdback payable 2,288   2,292    
Acquisition earnout 3,416      
Deferred revenue 32,274   41,120   34,797  
Lease liabilities 2,263   2,566   1,829  
  55,583   66,665   47,785  
Lease liabilities 35,521   34,395   36,151  
Stock-based compensation liabilities 253   624   742  
Acquisition earnout   1,503    
Other long-term liabilities 200   305    
Deferred tax liabilities 1,776   1,661    
Total liabilities 93,333   105,153   84,678  

Shareholders’ equity:

           
Share capital 91,083   87,304   81,820  
Contributed surplus 15,892   15,667   15,471  
Cumulative translation adjustment 343   (367 )  
Deficit (35,239 ) (34,789 ) (44,841 )
Total shareholders’ equity 72,079   67,815   52,450  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity 165,412   172,968   137,128  


Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

  Three months ended
September 30
  Six months ended
September 30
 
UNAUDITED (thousands of Canadian $ except per share amounts) 2024   2023   2024   2023  
                 
Revenue
Cost of revenue
29,467
5,692
  22,633
2,493
  59,990
11,884
  43,381
4,398
 
Gross profit 23,775   20,140   48,106   38,983  
                 
Operating expenses                
Sales and marketing 4,229   3,384   9,160   5,739  
Research and development 6,428   4,767   14,673   8,819  
General and administrative 4,688   4,263   10,177   6,935  
  15,345   12,414   34,010   21,493  
Operating profit 8,430   7,726   14,096   17,490  
                 
Finance income 761   1,548   1,639   1,452  
Finance costs (1,072 ) (481 ) (1,363 ) (1,001 )
Change in fair value of contingent consideration (2,112 )   (1,913 )  
Profit before income and other taxes 6,007   8,793   12,459   17,941  
Income and other taxes 2,244   2,277   4,732   4,521  
                 
Net income for the period 3,763   6,516   7,727   13,420  
                 
Other comprehensive income:                
Foreign currency translation adjustment (189 ) 4   710   4  
Other comprehensive income (189 ) 4   710   4  
Total comprehensive income 3,574   6,520   8,437   13,424  
                 
Net income per share – basic 0.05   0.08   0.09   0.17  
Net income per share – diluted 0.05   0.08   0.09   0.16  
Dividend per share 0.05   0.05   0.10   0.10  


Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows

  Three months ended
September 30
  Six months ended
September 30
 
UNAUDITED (thousands of Canadian $) 2024   2023   2024   2023  
                 
Operating activities                
Net income 3,763   6,516   7,727   13,420  
Adjustments for:                
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment, right-
of use assets
1,283   892   2,501   1,796  
Amortization of intangible assets 664   129   1,329   186  
Deferred income tax expense (recovery) 575   2,028   (78 ) 1,978  
Stock-based compensation (2,106 ) 1,604   (214 ) 1,709  
Foreign exchange and other non-cash items 810   322   438   322  
Change in fair value of contingent consideration 2,112     1,913    
Funds flow from operations 7,101   11,491   13,616   19,411  
Movement in non-cash working capital:                
Trade and other receivables (11,965 ) (581 ) 1,846   3,301  
Trade payables and accrued liabilities 264   405   (3,067 ) (2,389 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets 74   291   108   290  
Income taxes receivable (payable) 687   (1,612 ) 2,111   (1,251 )
Deferred revenue 1,384   3,044   (8,846 ) (5,137 )
Change in non-cash working capital (9,556 ) 1,547   (7,848 ) (5,186 )
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (2,455 ) 13,038   5,768   14,225  
                 
Financing activities                
Repayment of acquired line of credit   (2,012 )   (2,012 )
Proceeds from issuance of common shares 480   512   2,729   1,213  
Repayment of lease liabilities (769 ) (412 ) (1,512 ) (824 )
Dividends paid (4,101 ) (4,042 ) (8,177 ) (8,081 )
Net cash used in financing activities (4,390 ) (5,954 ) (6,960 ) (9,704 )
                 
Investing activities                
Corporate acquisition, net of cash acquired   (23,050 )   (23,050 )
Property and equipment additions (236 ) (51 ) (329 ) (96 )
Net cash used in investing activities (236 ) (23,101 ) (329 ) (23,146 )
                 
Increase (decrease) in cash (7,081 ) (16,017 ) (1,521 ) (18,625 )
Effect of foreign exchange on cash (638 )   (189 )  
Cash, beginning of period 69,092   64,242   63,083   66,850  
Cash, end of period 61,373   48,225   61,373   48,225  
                 
Supplementary cash flow information                
Interest received 761   692   1,639   1,452  
Interest paid 479   481   942   950  
Income taxes paid 4,229   2,580   5,725   4,358  


CORPORATE PROFILE

CMG Group (TSX:CMG) is a global software and consulting company that combines science and technology with deep industry expertise to solve complex subsurface and surface challenges for the new energy industry around the world. The Company is headquartered in Calgary, AB, with offices in Houston, Oslo, Stavanger, Kaiserslautern, Oxford, Dubai, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Bengaluru, and Kuala Lumpur. For more information, please visit www.cmgl.ca.

QUARTERLY FILINGS AND RELATED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) and condensed consolidated interim financial statements and the notes thereto for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024, can be obtained from our website www.cmgl.ca. The documents will also be available under CMG Group’s SEDAR profile www.sedarplus.ca.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “goal”, “seek”, “believe”, “project”, “estimate”, “expect”, “strategy”, “future”, “likely”, “may”, “should”, “will”, and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding the benefits of the acquired technology, the ongoing development thereof; and the ability of data analytics to improve efficiency, cut costs and reduce risks.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are detailed in the companies’ public filings.

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.


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