Grey Horse Reports Third Quarter 2009 Results
19th consecutive profitable quarter
Most profitable in Corporation's history
Toronto, Ontario, November 11, 2009
- Grey Horse Corporation (TSX: GHC)
("Grey Horse" or "the Corporation"), a Canadian financial services company serving the corporate
and institutional market, reported today its financial results for the three months ended
September 30, 2009.
Financial Highlights (all amounts, except per-share, are in $000s unless otherwise stated)1
| |
3 months ended Sep 30
|
9 months ended Sep 30
|
|
2009 |
2008 |
2009 |
2008 |
|
Unaudited |
Unaudited |
Unaudited |
Unaudited |
| Revenue |
$ 6,427 |
$ 5,687 |
$ 15,492 |
$ 14,567 |
| Revenue growth |
13% |
59% |
6% |
7% |
| EBITDA |
$ 2,648 |
$ 2,155 |
$ 3,771 |
$ 3,943 |
| Net income and comprehensive income |
$ 1,636 |
$ 1,289 |
$ 2,089 |
$ 2,215 |
| Net income & comprehensive income (decline) growth |
27% |
162% |
(6%) |
(14%) |
| Earnings per share, basic |
$ 0.25 |
$ 0.19 |
$ 0.32 |
$ 0.34 |
| Earnings per share, diluted |
$ 0.25 |
$ 0.19 |
$ 0.32 |
$ 0.33 |
| Diluted earnings per share (decline) growth |
32% |
171% |
(3%) |
(13%) |
| Return on equity (annualized) |
32% |
29% |
14% |
16% |
| Cash and cash equivalents at period end |
$ 10,859 |
$ 9,929 |
$ 10,859 |
$ 9,929 |
Grey Horse has recorded the most profitable quarter in its history in terms of net income and earnings per share on
the strength of its foreign exchange operations, trust related transactions and modest growth in transfer agency
revenues, despite continuing difficult economic and market conditions.
Revenues for the quarter were higher than last year, increasing 13% to $6,427 (and 6% to $15,492 for the year to
date). The increase in overall revenues was led by foreign exchange revenues, which increased 32% during the quarter
(110% increase year to date). Grey Horse’s core transfer agency business increased 3% in the third quarter (decrease of
9% for the year to date).
EBITDA increased by $493 or 23% for the quarter, and decreased by $172 or 4% year to date. Net income for
the quarter also increased 27% or $347 compared with last year (decreased 6% or $126 year to date). Basic and diluted
earnings per share increased 32% to 25 cents per share for the quarter and dropped slightly to 32 cents per share year
to date. Annualized Return on Equity increased from 29% to 32% during the quarter and decreased from 16% to 14% year
to date; over the last twelve month period, ROE was 14%.
In the third quarter of 2009, the trust-related transactions of its subsidiary, Equity Transfer & Trust Company
("ETT"), increased significantly compared with recent previous quarters. ETT was entrusted with $9.6 billion related to
financings and merger and acquisition activity, compared with $0.4 billion for the first and second quarters combined.
ETT was named as depositary for a major transaction - the largest, by a factor of four, for which the Corporation has ever
been engaged. As previously communicated, the amount of trust and foreign exchange revenues earned by the Corporation from
year to year on such large volume transactions does not, in any way, vary proportionally with the amount deposited, and the
current environment of low interest rates severely limits the returns on such balances held in trust compared with previous
periods. Nevertheless, the Corporation considers the volume of underlying activity as increasing market acceptance of the
Corporation's ability to undertake such large-scale trust related transactions and as demonstrating the success of
efforts aimed at increasing the visibility and breadth of Grey Horse’s services so as to win a steadily increasing
share of these business opportunities.
Grey Horse President & CEO Paul G. Smith said, "We are very proud of our operating results for this recently ended 3rd
quarter -- the most profitable in our 5-year history. Although our future successes will continue to depend on
capital markets, interest rates and mergers and acquisitions, our strong management team, competitive service offering
and solid balance sheet ensure that Grey Horse is well-positioned to weather ongoing volatile markets and capitalize on
potential opportunities. We are also confident that continuing to focus on controlling costs, adding clients and
increasing market share will yield higher earnings per share when market conditions improve."
Grey Horse's Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended
September 30, 2009 can be found in the Corporation’s filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com
and on the Corporation’s website at www.greyhorsecorp.com.
Quarterly Conference Call
Grey Horse will hold a conference call on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 9AM Eastern Daylight Time to discuss its first
quarter operating results and answer questions. Participants can dial 416-340-8410 or Toll Free: 866-225-6564.
About Grey Horse
Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Grey Horse provides transfer agent, corporate trust, corporate secretary,
foreign exchange and limited market dealer services to corporations in North American capital markets.
Learn more at www.greyhorsecorp.com.
For more information, contact Kevin Reed, Vice-Chairman, or Paul G. Smith, President & CEO, of Grey Horse Corporation
at (416) 361-0930.
The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
Certain information included in press releases may be forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. The results
or events predicted in such statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Factors that might cause a
difference include, but are not limited to, competitive developments, risks associated with Grey Horse’s growth, the state
of the financial markets, frequency of large volume transactions, regulatory risks and other factors. If and when
forward-looking information is set out in this press release, Grey Horse will also set out the material risk factors or
assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information will be updated as required pursuant
to the requirements of National Instrument 51-102. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect
Grey Horse’s financial and business results is included in public documents Grey Horse files from time to time with Canadian
securities regulatory authorities.