Sprott Inc. (NYSE/TSX: SII) (“Sprott” or the “Company”) today
announced its financial results for the quarter ended
March 31, 2022.
Management commentary
"Sprott continued to deliver outstanding
financial results in the first quarter of 2022, as Assets Under
Management (“AUM”) increased to $23.7 billion, up $3.2 billion
(16%) from December 31, 2021. Net income was $6.5 million ($0.26
per share), up $3.3 million ($0.13 per share) from the quarter
ended March 31, 2021. Adjusted base EBITDA was $18.2 million ($0.73
per share), up 24%, or $3.6 million ($0.14 per share) from the
quarter ended March 31, 2021. Our strong operating performance
during the quarter was driven by market value appreciation in our
uranium, gold and silver strategies and more than $1.3 billion of
inflows to our exchange listed product offerings," said Peter
Grosskopf, CEO of Sprott.
"As a leading provider of both precious metals
and real assets investment solutions to our global client base, we
view the energy-transition space as a strategic fit with our
existing suite of products. The Sprott Physical Uranium Trust,
which was launched in July 2021, recently surpassed $3 billion in
AUM. On April 22, 2022, subsequent to quarter end, we further
expanded our energy-transition platform, closing the previously
announced acquisition of the North Shore Global Uranium Miners ETF
(“URNM”) which is now trading on the New York Stock Exchange as the
Sprott Uranium Miners ETF. This transaction added another $1.1
billion of AUM and established Sprott as the largest manager of
uranium investments in the world with approximately $4 billion in
uranium related, energy-transition AUM. While we are pleased with
our early success, we continue to see opportunities to further grow
this area of our business."
Financial highlights1
Key AUM highlights
- AUM was $23.7
billion as at March 31, 2022, up $3.2 billion (16%) from
December 31, 2021. On a three months ended basis, we benefited
from strong market value appreciation across our fund products and
strong inflows to our physical uranium, physical gold and physical
silver trusts in particular.
Key revenue highlights
- Management fees
were $27.2 million in the quarter, up $4.7 million (21%) from the
quarter ended March 31, 2021. Carried interest and performance fees
were $2 million in the quarter, down $5.9 million (74%) from the
quarter ended March 31, 2021. Net fees were $25.5 million in the
quarter, up $1.8 million (7%) from the quarter ended March 31,
2021. Our revenue performance was primarily due to higher average
AUM given strong market value appreciation and inflows in our
exchange listed products segment (primarily our physical uranium,
physical gold and physical silver trusts). These increases were
partially offset by lower carried interest crystallization in our
private strategies segment.
- Commission
revenues were $13.1 million in the quarter, up $0.6 million (5%)
from the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Net commissions were $6.6
million in the quarter, down $0.3 million (4%) from the quarter
ended March 31, 2021. Commissions earned on the purchase of uranium
in our exchange listed products segment were more than offset by
weaker mining equity origination activity in our brokerage
segment.
- Finance income
was $1.4 million in the quarter, up $0.2 million (15%) from the
quarter ended March 31, 2021. Our quarterly results were primarily
driven by income generation in co-investment positions we hold in
LPs managed in our private strategies segment.
Key expense highlights
-
Net compensation expense was $15.7 million in the quarter, up $3.9
million (33%) from the quarter ended March 31, 2021. The increase
was primarily due to higher long-term incentive plan ("LTIP")
amortization and higher salaries on new hires that were partially
offset by lower annual incentive compensation ("AIP").
-
SG&A was $3.4 million in the quarter, up $0.1 million (3%) from
the quarter ended March 31, 2021. The increase was mainly due to
higher marketing, regulatory and technology costs.
1 See “non-IFRS financial measures” section on
this press release and schedule 2 and 3 of "Supplemental financial
information"
Earnings summary
-
Net income was $6.5 million ($0.26 per share) in the quarter, up
$3.3 million ($0.13 per share) from the quarter ended March 31,
2021. Adjusted base EBITDA was $18.2 million ($0.73 per share) in
the quarter, up 24%, or $3.6 million ($0.14 per share) from the
quarter ended March 31, 2021.During the quarter, we benefited from
strong market value appreciation and strong inflows to our physical
uranium, physical gold and physical silver trusts. These increases
were only partially offset by weaker mining equity origination
activity in our brokerage segment.
Subsequent events
-
Subsequent to the quarter end, on April 22, 2022, the Company
closed on the previously announced transaction to acquire the North
Shore Global Uranium ETF (“URNM”).
- On May 5, 2022,
the Sprott Board of Directors announced a quarterly dividend of
$0.25 per share.
Supplemental financial
information
Please refer to the March 31, 2022 interim
financial statements of the Company and the related management
discussion and analysis filed earlier this morning for further
details into the Company's financial position as at March 31,
2022 and the company's financial performance for the three months
ended March 31, 2022.
Schedule 1 - AUM continuity
3 months results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In millions $) |
AUMDec. 31, 2021 |
Net inflows(1) |
Market value changes |
Other(2) |
AUMMar. 31, 2022 |
|
Blendedmanagementfee rate(3) |
Exchange listed products |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
Physical trusts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
Physical Gold Trust |
5,008 |
590 |
289 |
- |
5,887 |
|
0.35% |
-
Physical Gold and Silver Trust |
4,094 |
(34) |
242 |
- |
4,302 |
|
0.40% |
-
Physical Silver Trust |
3,600 |
123 |
219 |
- |
3,942 |
|
0.45% |
-
Physical Uranium Trust |
1,769 |
639 |
736 |
- |
3,144 |
|
0.30% |
-
Physical Platinum & Palladium Trust |
132 |
19 |
13 |
- |
164 |
|
0.50% |
- Exchange Traded Funds |
356 |
16 |
58 |
- |
430 |
|
0.35% |
|
14,959 |
1,353 |
1,557 |
- |
17,869 |
|
0.38% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Managed equities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
Precious metals strategies |
2,141 |
7 |
216 |
- |
2,364 |
|
0.83% |
- Other(4)(5) |
1,141 |
28 |
70 |
- |
1,239 |
|
1.15% |
|
3,282 |
35 |
286 |
- |
3,603 |
|
0.93% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private strategies |
1,426 |
8 |
7 |
- |
1,441 |
|
0.76% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
776 |
- |
(10) |
- |
766 |
|
0.51% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total(6) |
20,443 |
1,396 |
1,840 |
- |
23,679 |
|
0.49% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) See 'Net inflows' in the key performance indicators and
non-IFRS and other financial measures section of the MD&A. |
(2) Includes new AUM from fund acquisitions and lost AUM from fund
divestitures and capital distributions of our private strategies
LPs. |
(3) Management fee rate represents the weighted average fees for
all funds in the category. |
(4) Includes institutional managed accounts and high net worth
discretionary managed accounts in the U.S. |
(5) Prior year figures have been restated to confirm with current
year presentation. See the "Business overview" section of the
MD&A. |
(6) No performance fees are earned on exchange listed products.
Performance fees are earned on all precious metals strategies
(other than bullion funds) based on returns above relevant
benchmarks. Other managed equities strategies primarily earn
performance fees on flow-through products. Private strategies LPs
earn carried interest calculated as a pre-determined net profit
over a preferred return. |
Schedule 2 - Summary financial information
(In thousands $) |
Q12022 |
Q42021 |
Q32021 |
Q22021 |
Q12021 |
Q42020 |
Q32020 |
Q22020 |
Summary income statements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management fees |
27,172 |
|
27,783 |
|
28,612 |
|
25,062 |
|
22,452 |
|
22,032 |
|
19,934 |
|
15,825 |
|
Trailer, sub-advisor and fund expenses |
(853 |
) |
(872 |
) |
(637 |
) |
(552 |
) |
(599 |
) |
(583 |
) |
(527 |
) |
(516 |
) |
Direct payouts |
(1,384 |
) |
(1,367 |
) |
(1,892 |
) |
(1,198 |
) |
(890 |
) |
(695 |
) |
(476 |
) |
(490 |
) |
Carried
interest and performance fees |
2,046 |
|
4,298 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
7,937 |
|
10,075 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
Carried interest and performance fee payouts - internal |
(1,029 |
) |
(2,516 |
) |
- |
|
(126 |
) |
(4,580 |
) |
(5,529 |
) |
- |
|
- |
|
Carried interest and performance fee payouts - external(1) |
(476 |
) |
(790 |
) |
- |
|
- |
|
(595 |
) |
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
Net fees |
25,476 |
|
26,536 |
|
26,083 |
|
23,186 |
|
23,725 |
|
25,300 |
|
18,931 |
|
14,819 |
|
Commissions |
13,077 |
|
14,153 |
|
11,273 |
|
7,377 |
|
12,463 |
|
6,761 |
|
9,386 |
|
6,133 |
|
Commission expense - internal |
(3,134 |
) |
(4,128 |
) |
(3,089 |
) |
(3,036 |
) |
(5,289 |
) |
(2,093 |
) |
(3,313 |
) |
(1,887 |
) |
Commission expense - external(1) |
(3,310 |
) |
(3,016 |
) |
(2,382 |
) |
(49 |
) |
(253 |
) |
(98 |
) |
(344 |
) |
(161 |
) |
Net Commissions |
6,633 |
|
7,009 |
|
5,802 |
|
4,292 |
|
6,921 |
|
4,570 |
|
5,729 |
|
4,085 |
|
Finance
income |
1,433 |
|
788 |
|
567 |
|
932 |
|
1,248 |
|
1,629 |
|
757 |
|
656 |
|
Gain (loss)
on investments |
(1,473 |
) |
(43 |
) |
310 |
|
2,502 |
|
(4,652 |
) |
(3,089 |
) |
4,408 |
|
8,142 |
|
Other
income |
208 |
|
313 |
|
529 |
|
438 |
|
303 |
|
949 |
|
914 |
|
285 |
|
Total net revenues |
32,277 |
|
34,603 |
|
33,291 |
|
31,350 |
|
27,545 |
|
29,359 |
|
30,739 |
|
27,987 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation |
21,789 |
|
20,632 |
|
18,001 |
|
15,452 |
|
22,636 |
|
20,193 |
|
16,280 |
|
10,991 |
|
Direct payouts |
(1,384 |
) |
(1,367 |
) |
(1,892 |
) |
(1,198 |
) |
(890 |
) |
(695 |
) |
(476 |
) |
(490 |
) |
Carried interest and performance fee payouts - internal |
(1,029 |
) |
(2,516 |
) |
- |
|
(126 |
) |
(4,580 |
) |
(5,529 |
) |
- |
|
- |
|
Commission expense - internal |
(3,134 |
) |
(4,128 |
) |
(3,089 |
) |
(3,036 |
) |
(5,289 |
) |
(2,093 |
) |
(3,313 |
) |
(1,887 |
) |
Severance, new hire accruals and other |
(514 |
) |
(187 |
) |
(207 |
) |
(293 |
) |
(44 |
) |
(65 |
) |
(210 |
) |
(358 |
) |
Net compensation |
15,728 |
|
12,434 |
|
12,813 |
|
10,799 |
|
11,833 |
|
11,811 |
|
12,281 |
|
8,256 |
|
Severance,
new hire accruals and other |
514 |
|
187 |
|
207 |
|
293 |
|
44 |
|
65 |
|
210 |
|
358 |
|
Selling,
general and administrative |
3,438 |
|
4,172 |
|
3,682 |
|
3,492 |
|
3,351 |
|
2,320 |
|
2,465 |
|
2,944 |
|
Interest
expense |
480 |
|
239 |
|
312 |
|
260 |
|
350 |
|
331 |
|
320 |
|
350 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization |
976 |
|
1,136 |
|
1,134 |
|
1,165 |
|
1,117 |
|
1,023 |
|
992 |
|
1,049 |
|
Other
expenses |
1,976 |
|
2,910 |
|
3,875 |
|
876 |
|
4,918 |
|
4,528 |
|
4,154 |
|
2,893 |
|
Total expenses |
23,112 |
|
21,078 |
|
22,023 |
|
16,885 |
|
21,613 |
|
20,078 |
|
20,422 |
|
15,850 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
6,473 |
|
10,171 |
|
8,718 |
|
11,075 |
|
3,221 |
|
6,720 |
|
8,704 |
|
10,492 |
|
Net Income per share |
0.26 |
|
0.41 |
|
0.35 |
|
0.44 |
|
0.13 |
|
0.27 |
|
0.36 |
|
0.43 |
|
Adjusted base EBITDA |
18,173 |
|
17,705 |
|
16,713 |
|
15,050 |
|
14,605 |
|
14,751 |
|
12,024 |
|
9,204 |
|
Adjusted base EBITDA per share |
0.73 |
|
0.71 |
|
0.67 |
|
0.60 |
|
0.59 |
|
0.60 |
|
0.49 |
|
0.38 |
|
Operating margin |
57% |
|
55% |
|
52% |
|
52% |
|
51% |
|
51% |
|
47% |
|
49% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summary balance sheet |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
380,843 |
|
365,873 |
|
375,819 |
|
361,121 |
|
356,986 |
|
377,348 |
|
358,300 |
|
338,931 |
|
Total liabilities |
83,584 |
|
74,654 |
|
84,231 |
|
64,081 |
|
67,015 |
|
86,365 |
|
81,069 |
|
70,818 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total AUM |
23,679,354 |
|
20,443,088 |
|
19,016,313 |
|
18,550,106 |
|
17,073,078 |
|
17,390,389 |
|
16,259,184 |
|
13,893,039 |
|
Average AUM |
21,646,082 |
|
20,229,119 |
|
19,090,702 |
|
18,343,846 |
|
17,188,205 |
|
16,719,815 |
|
16,705,046 |
|
13,216,415 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) These amounts are
included in the "Trailer, sub-advisor and fund expenses" line on
the consolidated statements of operations. |
|
Schedule 3 - EBITDA reconciliation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 months ended |
(in thousands $) |
Mar. 31, 2022 |
Mar. 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
Net income for the periods |
6,473 |
|
3,221 |
|
Adjustments: |
|
|
Interest expense |
480 |
|
350 |
|
Provision for income taxes |
2,692 |
|
2,711 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
976 |
|
1,117 |
|
EBITDA |
10,621 |
|
7,399 |
|
|
|
|
Other
adjustments: |
|
|
(Gain) loss on investments(1) |
1,473 |
|
4,652 |
|
Amortization of stock based compensation |
4,177 |
|
373 |
|
Other expenses(2) |
2,443 |
|
4,943 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
18,714 |
|
17,367 |
|
|
|
|
Other
adjustments: |
|
|
Carried interest and performance fees |
(2,046) |
|
(7,937) |
|
Carried interest and performance fee payouts - internal |
1,029 |
|
4,580 |
|
Carried interest and performance fee payouts - external |
476 |
|
595 |
|
Adjusted base EBITDA |
18,173 |
|
14,605 |
|
Operating margin(3) |
57% |
|
51% |
|
(1) |
This adjustment removes the income effects of certain gains or
losses on short-term investments, co-investments, and digital gold
strategies to ensure the reporting objectives of our EBITDA metric
as described below are met. |
(2) |
In addition to the items outlined in Note 5 of the interim
financial statements, this reconciliation line also includes $0.5
million severance, new hire accruals and other for the three months
ended March 31, 2022 (nominal for the three months ended March
31, 2021). This reconciliation line excludes nominal income (loss)
attributable to non-controlling interests for the three months
ended March 31, 2022 (nominal for the three months ended March
31, 2021). |
(3) |
Calculated as adjusted base EBITDA inclusive of depreciation and
amortization. This figure is then divided by revenues before gains
(losses) on investments, net of direct costs as applicable. |
|
|
Conference Call and Webcast
A conference call and webcast will be held
today, May 6, 2022 at 10:00 am ET to discuss the Company's
financial results. To participate in the call, please dial (855)
458-4215 ten minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call and
provide conference ID 54907466. A taped replay of the conference
call will be available until Friday, May 13, 2022 by calling (855)
859-2056, reference number 54907466. The conference call will be
webcast live at www.sprott.com and
https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/g8fqgbqt.
Non-IFRS Financial Measures
This press release includes financial terms
(including AUM, net revenues, net commissions, net fees, expenses,
adjusted base EBITDA, net compensation) that the Company utilizes
to assess the financial performance of its business that are not
measures recognized under International Financial Reporting
Standards (“IFRS”). These non-IFRS measures should not be
considered alternatives to performance measures determined in
accordance with IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures
presented by other issuers. Non-IFRS financial measures do not have
a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore
unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other
issuers. Our key performance indicators and non-IFRS and other
financial measures are discussed below. For quantitative
reconciliations of non-IFRS financial measures to their most
directly comparable IFRS financial measures please see schedule 2
and schedule 3 of the "Supplemental financial information" section
of this press release.
Net fees
Management fees, net of trailer, sub-advisor,
fund expenses and direct payouts, and carried interest and
performance fees, net of carried interest and performance fee
payouts (internal and external), are key revenue indicators as they
represent the net revenue contribution after directly associated
costs that we generate from our AUM.
Net commissions
Commissions, net of commission expenses
(internal and external), arise primarily from transaction-based
service offerings of our brokerage segment and purchases and sales
of uranium in our exchange listed products segment.
Net compensation
Net compensation excludes commission expenses
paid to employees, other direct payouts to employees, carried
interest and performance fee payouts to employees, which are all
presented net of their related revenues in the MD&A, and
severance, new hire accruals and other which are non-recurring.
EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted base
EBITDA
EBITDA in its most basic form is defined as
earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and
amortization. EBITDA is a measure commonly used in the investment
industry by management, investors and investment analysts in
understanding and comparing results by factoring out the impact of
different financing methods, capital structures, amortization
techniques and income tax rates between companies in the same
industry. While other companies, investors or investment analysts
may not utilize the same method of calculating EBITDA (or
adjustments thereto), the Company believes its adjusted base EBITDA
metric, in particular, results in a better comparison of the
Company's underlying operations against its peers and a better
indicator of recurring results from operations as compared to other
non-IFRS financial measures.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release contain
forward-looking information and forward-looking statements
(collectively referred to herein as the "Forward-Looking
Statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S.
securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect",
"anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "may", "will", "project",
"should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are
intended to identify Forward-Looking Statements. In particular, but
without limiting the forgoing, this press release contains
Forward-Looking Statements pertaining to: (i) our belief that we
will continue to grow in the energy transition space; and (ii) the
declaration, payment and designation of dividends and confidence
that our business will support the dividend level without impacting
our ability to fund future growth initiatives.
Although the Company believes that the
Forward-Looking Statements are reasonable, they are not guarantees
of future results, performance or achievements. A number of factors
or assumptions have been used to develop the Forward-Looking
Statements, including: (i) the impact of increasing competition in
each business in which the Company operates will not be material;
(ii) quality management will be available; (iii) the effects of
regulation and tax laws of governmental agencies will be consistent
with the current environment; (iv) the impact of COVID-19; and (v)
those assumptions disclosed under the heading "Critical Accounting
Estimates, Judgments and Changes in Accounting Policies" in the
Company’s MD&A for the period ended March 31, 2022. Actual
results, performance or achievements could vary materially from
those expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Statements should
assumptions underlying the Forward-Looking Statements prove
incorrect or should one or more risks or other factors materialize,
including: (i) difficult market conditions; (ii) poor investment
performance; (iii) failure to continue to retain and attract
quality staff; (iv) employee errors or misconduct resulting in
regulatory sanctions or reputational harm; (v) performance fee
fluctuations; (vi) a business segment or another counterparty
failing to pay its financial obligation; (vii) failure of the
Company to meet its demand for cash or fund obligations as they
come due; (viii) changes in the investment management industry;
(ix) failure to implement effective information security policies,
procedures and capabilities; (x) lack of investment opportunities;
(xi) risks related to regulatory compliance; (xii) failure to
manage risks appropriately; (xiii) failure to deal appropriately
with conflicts of interest; (xiv) competitive pressures; (xv)
corporate growth which may be difficult to sustain and may place
significant demands on existing administrative, operational and
financial resources; (xvi) failure to comply with privacy laws;
(xvii) failure to successfully implement succession planning;
(xviii) foreign exchange risk relating to the relative value of the
U.S. dollar; (xix) litigation risk; (xx) failure to develop
effective business resiliency plans; (xxi) failure to obtain or
maintain sufficient insurance coverage on favourable economic
terms; (xxii) historical financial information being not
necessarily indicative of future performance; (xxiii) the market
price of common shares of the Company may fluctuate widely and
rapidly; (xxiv) risks relating to the Company’s investment
products; (xxv) risks relating to the Company's proprietary
investments; (xxvi) risks relating to the Company's lending
business; (xxvii) risks relating to the Company’s brokerage
business; (xxviii) those risks described under the heading "Risk
Factors" in the Company’s annual information form dated February
24, 2022; and (xxix) those risks described under the headings
"Managing Financial Risks" and "Managing Non-Financial Risks" in
the Company’s MD&A for the period ended March 31, 2022. In
addition, the payment of dividends is not guaranteed and the amount
and timing of any dividends payable by the Company will be at the
discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company and will be
established on the basis of the Company’s earnings, the
satisfaction of solvency tests imposed by applicable corporate law
for the declaration and payment of dividends, and other relevant
factors. The Forward-Looking Statements speak only as of the date
hereof, unless otherwise specifically noted, and the Company does
not assume any obligation to publicly update any Forward-Looking
Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable
securities laws.
About Sprott
Sprott is a global leader in precious metal and
real asset investments. We are specialists. Our in-depth knowledge,
experience and relationships separate us from the generalists. Our
investment strategies include Exchange Listed Products, Managed
Equities, Private Strategies and Brokerage. Sprott has offices in
Toronto, New York and London and the company’s common shares are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock
Exchange under the symbol (SII). For more information, please visit
www.sprott.com.
Investor contact
information:
Glen WilliamsManaging DirectorInvestor and
Institutional Client Relations;Head of Corporate
Communications(416) 943-4394gwilliams@sprott.com
Sprott (NYSE:SII)
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