RE/MAX Holdings Reports Third Quarter 2014 Results

Third Quarter 2014 Highlights
(As compared to the third quarter 2013 unless otherwise noted)

DENVER - Nov. 13, 2014 // PRNewswire // - RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. (the "Company" or "RE/MAX") (NYSE: RMAX), one of the world's leading franchisors of real estate brokerage services, today announced operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014.

"Our continued efforts to bring value to our agents and brokers, resulted in strong agent gain in the U.S. and across our network during the quarter," stated Margaret Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of RE/MAX. "While the housing market continues to be mixed, our business fundamentals remain solid. As a result, we expect to deliver agent count and revenue at the high end of our full year outlook and we are improving our expense and Adjusted EBITDA margin estimates for the full year. We continue to direct our resources to the opportunities that we believe will allow us to grow over the long-term."

Third Quarter 2014 Operating Results

Agent Count

Total agent count grew by 4,916 agents to 97,647 agents or 5.3% compared to the third quarter of 2013. In the United States ("U.S."), agent count increased by 2,959 agents to 57,181 agents or 5.5% compared to the prior year quarter. In Canada, agent count increased by 84 agents to 19,107 agents or 0.4% compared to the prior year quarter. Outside the U.S. and Canada, agent count increased by 1,873 agents to 21,359 agents or 9.6% compared to the prior year quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company grew total agent count by 4,419 agents or 4.7%.

Revenue

RE/MAX generated revenue of $44.2 million during the third quarter of 2014, a 9.7% increase compared to $40.3 million for the same period in 2013, driven by an increase in agent count and incremental revenue from the Southwest and Central Atlantic regions acquired in October 2013. Recurring revenue streams, which include continuing franchise fees and annual dues, accounted for 59.3% of revenues in the third quarter of 2014 compared to 58.4% in the prior year quarter.

Revenue from continuing franchise fees was $18.5 million, up $2.4 million or 15.1% over the prior year quarter primarily due to growth in agent count and incremental revenue as a result of the acquisition of the Southwest and Central Atlantic regions.

Revenue from annual dues was $7.7 million, up $0.2 million or 3.2% due to an increase in total agent count of 4,916 from the prior year quarter, of which 3,043 agents were located in the U.S. and Canada, and the January 1, 2014 increase in annual dues membership fees for the Company's U.S. and Canadian agents.

Revenue from broker fees was $8.3 million, up $1.1 million or 14.9% compared to the prior year quarter. The increase was driven by growth in agent count and incremental revenue that resulted from the acquisition of the Southwest and Central Atlantic regions.

Franchise sales and other franchise revenue was $5.5 million, up $0.4 million or 7.8% compared to the prior year quarter primarily due to increased revenue associated with regional and national network related events and increased franchise revenue from office sales in the U.S. and Canada.

Brokerage revenue, which principally represents fees assessed by the Company's owned brokerages for services provided to their affiliated real estate agents, was $4.3 million, a decrease of $0.2 million or 4.8% from the prior year quarter. The decrease was due to a reduction in the number of closed transaction sides and home sales volume at the Company's owned brokerage offices.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses were $24.3 million in the third quarter of 2014, a decrease of $1.4 million or 5.6% compared to the prior year quarter. Selling, operating and administrative expenses were $20.6 million, down $1.5 million or 7.0% from the prior year quarter. Selling, operating and administrative expenses were 46.5% of revenue in the third quarter of 2014 compared to 54.8% in the prior year quarter. The reduction in operating expenses is primarily due to lower professional fees compared to the prior year quarter due to costs incurred in connection with the Company's initial public offering ("IPO").

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA margin was 52.8% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to 54.8% in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $23.4 million in the third quarter of 2014, up 5.9% or $1.3 million from the prior year quarter. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was largely driven by revenue growth attributable to an increase in agent count and incremental contributions from the acquired Southwest and Central Atlantic regions. The continued weakening of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar and the effect of foreign currency transaction losses primarily related to cash held in Canadian dollars decreased Adjusted EBITDA margin by approximately 240 basis points. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income is included in Table 5.

Net Income

Reported net income was $14.1 million for the third quarter of 2014, an increase of $6.4 million or 82.6% compared to the prior year quarter. The increase was primarily due to higher operating income and lower interest expense as a result of the Company's 2013 debt refinancing, partially offset by losses associated with foreign currency transactions and a higher provision for income taxes.

Adjusted net income2 was $12.9 million for the third quarter 2014, an increase of $2.8 million or 27.3% compared to the prior year quarter. Adjusted basic and diluted EPS were $0.44 and $0.43 for the third quarter of 2014, respectively, compared to $0.35 and $0.34 for the third quarter of 2013, respectively.

Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. was $4.3 million for the third quarter of 2014. This amount excludes net income attributable to non-controlling interest. Reported basic and diluted EPS attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. were $0.37 and $0.35, respectively. Refer to Table 1 for the share counts used in the calculation of basic and diluted EPS attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The ownership structure used to calculate Adjusted basic and diluted EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 reflects RE/MAX owning 100% of RMCO, LLC ("RMCO"). The weighted average ownership RE/MAX had of RMCO was 39.50% for the three months ended September 30, 2014. Refer to Table 6 in this press release for a reconciliation of Adjusted net income to net income and the share counts used in the Adjusted basic and diluted EPS calculations.

Balance Sheet

As of September 30, 2014, the Company had a cash balance of $98.1 million, an increase of $9.8 million from December 31, 2013. The Company had $212.2 million of term loans outstanding, net of unamortized discount as of September 30, 2014, down from $228.4 million as of December 31, 2013.

Dividend

The Company's Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.0625 per share of Class A common stock. The dividend is payable on December 4, 2014 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 20, 2014.

Outlook

Based on the Company's performance through the first nine months of this year, the Company is providing the following outlook for its fourth quarter and its full-year 2014:

Fourth Quarter 2014 Outlook:

Full-Year 2014 Outlook:

The increased capital expenditure is due to two technology related projects that will start in the fourth quarter of 2014 and will help streamline our internal operations.

Revenue, Selling, operating and administrative expenses and Adjusted EBITDA margin are subject to currency exchange rate fluctuations principally related to changes in the Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar exchange rate.

Basis of Presentation

Subsequent to the IPO, RE/MAX began to operate and control all of the business affairs of RMCO. As a result, RE/MAX began to consolidate RMCO on October 7, 2013, and because RE/MAX and RMCO are entities under common control, such consolidation has been reflected for all periods presented. Unless otherwise noted, the results presented in this press release are consolidated and exclude adjustments attributable to the non-controlling interest.

These historical results do not purport to reflect what the results of operations of RE/MAX would have been had the IPO and related reorganization and other transactions occurred prior to such periods.

Webcast and Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call for interested parties today, November 13, 2014, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Interested parties are able to access the conference call using the following dial-in numbers:

U.S.  1-877-512-8755

Canada  1-855-669-9657

International  1-412-902-4144

Interested parties can access the live webcast through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.remax.com. Please dial-in or join the webcast 10 minutes before the start of the conference call.

A replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after the end of the call on November 13, 2014 through November 28, 2014, by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (U.S.), 1-855-669-9658 (Canada) or 1-412-317-0088 (International) and entering the pass code 10054082. An archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for a limited time as well.

About the RE/MAX Network

RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by David and Gail Liniger, with an innovative, entrepreneurial culture affording its agents and franchisees the flexibility to operate their businesses with great independence. Over 97,000 agents provide RE/MAX a global reach of more than 95 countries. Nobody sells more real estate than RE/MAX.

RE/MAX, LLC, one of the world's leading franchisors of real estate brokerage services, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RMCO, which is controlled and managed by RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: RMAX).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "outlook," "project" and other similar words and expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's outlook for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year, expectations regarding agent count and Adjusted EBITDA margins for its full fiscal year, the Company's belief that business fundamentals remain strong, as well as other statements regarding the Company's strategic and operational plans. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, (1) changes in business and economic activity in general, (2) changes in the real estate market, including changes due to interest rates and availability of financing, (3) the Company's ability to attract and retain quality franchisees, (4) the Company's franchisees' ability to recruit and retain agents, (5) changes in laws and regulations that may affect the Company's business or the real estate market, (6) failure to maintain, protect and enhance the RE/MAX brand, as well as those risks and uncertainties described in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" in the most recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and similar disclosures in subsequent reports filed with the SEC, which are available on the investor relations page of the Company's website at www.remax.com and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend, and undertakes no duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances.

1Non-GAAP measures. See Table 5 for a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA. See the end of this press release for a definition of Non-GAAP measures.

2Non-GAAP measure. Adjusted net income measure assumes RE/MAX owns 100% of RMCO. As of September 30, 2014 RE/MAX actually owned 39.53% of RMCO. See Table 6 for a reconciliation of Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS to net income. See the end of this press release for a definition of Non-GAAP measures.

 

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has adopted rules to regulate the use in filings with the SEC and in public disclosures of financial measures that are not in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"), such as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income and the ratios related thereto. These measures are derived on the basis of methodologies other than in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

RE/MAX defines Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA (consolidated net income before depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net and the provision for income taxes, each of which is presented in the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this press release), adjusted for the impact of the following items that the Company does not consider representative of the Company's ongoing operating performance: losses (gains) on sale or disposition of assets and sublease, losses on early extinguishment of debt, non-cash straight-line rent expense, salaries paid to David and Gail Liniger that the Company discontinued subsequent to the completion of the IPO, professional fees and non-recurring expenses incurred in connection with the IPO and acquisition integration costs. During the third quarter of 2014, the Company revised its definition of Adjusted EBITDA to no longer adjust for recurring equity-based compensation expense. Adjusted EBITDA in prior periods has been revised to reflect this change for consistency of presentation.

RE/MAX defines Adjusted net income as net income, excluding the impact of amortization expense related to the Company's franchise agreements, non-controlling interest income tax expense and RE/MAX Holdings tax provision, charges incurred related to the early extinguishment of debt, gain on sale or disposition of assets and sublease, non-cash straight-line rent expense, salaries paid to David and Gail Liniger that the Company discontinued subsequent to the completion of the IPO, expenses incurred in connection with the IPO, and acquisition integration costs, but reflects income taxes and is presented as if all outstanding common units of RMCO were exchanged for or converted into shares of the Company's Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. Assuming the full exchange and conversion, all income of RMCO is treated as if it were allocated to RE/MAX, and the adjusted provision for income taxes represents an estimate of income tax expense at an effective rate reflecting assumed federal, state, and local income tax rates. The estimated effective tax rate was 38%.

Because Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income omit certain non-cash items and other non-recurring cash charges, the Company feels that these metrics are less susceptible to variances that affect the Company's operating performance resulting from depreciation, amortization and other non-cash and non-recurring cash charges or other items and is more reflective of other factors that affect the Company's operating performance. The Company presents Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income because it believes the metrics are useful as supplemental measures in evaluating the performance of the Company's operating businesses and provide greater transparency into the Company's results of operations. The Company's management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a factor in evaluating the performance of their business.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analyzing results RE/MAX reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

With respect to the Company's outlook with respect to Adjusted EBITDA margin for the fourth quarter and the full fiscal year 2014, the Company is not able to provide a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to U.S. GAAP because it does not provide specific guidance for the various reconciling non-cash items and other non-recurring cash and non-cash charges, such as gain on sale or disposition of assets and sublease and loss on early extinguishment of debt, among others. Certain items that impact these measures have not yet occurred, are out of the Company's control or cannot be reasonably predicted, and as a result, reconciliation of these non-GAAP guidance measures to U.S. GAAP is not available without unreasonable effort.

SOURCE RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.

About RE/MAX

RE/MAX has been in the real estate market since 1989.

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