Sprott Inc. (NYSE/TSX: SII) (“Sprott” or the “Company”) today
announced its financial results for the year ended
December 31, 2022.
Management commentary
"Sprott’s positioning in precious metals and
energy transition materials served our shareholders well in 2022,
as Assets Under Management (“AUM”) grew to $23.4 billion, up $3
billion from December 31, 2021. Our asset growth during the year
was driven by $2.8 billion in net sales, largely in our physical
trusts and private strategies. We also benefited from the
acquisition of the Sprott Uranium Miners ETF (URNM) and strong
late-year performance in precious metals," said Whitney George, CEO
of Sprott.
"We continue to build on the success of our
uranium strategies by expanding our energy transition business. In
July 2022, we launched an actively managed energy transition
strategy to capitalize on our deep bench of talented portfolio
managers and analysts and in February 2023, subsequent to year-end,
we introduced four new energy-transition themed ETFs. We expect to
launch additional products this year," added Mr. George.
Financial highlights1
Key AUM highlights
- AUM was $23.4
billion as at December 31, 2022, up $2.4 billion (11%) from
September 30, 2022 and up $3 billion (15%) from December 31,
2021. Our AUM benefited on a three and twelve months ended basis
from strong inflows to our physical trusts and private strategies
funds. We also benefited from the onboarding of AUM on the closure
of the North Shore Global Uranium Mining ETF acquisition ("URNM
acquisition"), adding $1 billion to our AUM in the second quarter.
Additionally, we benefited from strong market value appreciation
during the quarter that partially offset cumulative losses
experienced earlier in the year.
Key revenue highlights
- Management fees
were $28.4 million in the quarter, up $0.6 million (2%) from the
quarter ended December 31, 2021 and $115.4 million on a full year
basis, up $11.4 million (11%) from the year ended December 31,
2021. Carried interest and performance fees were $1.2 million in
the quarter, down $3.1 million (72%) from the quarter ended
December 31, 2021 and $3.3 million on a full year basis, down $9
million (73%) from the year ended December 31, 2021. Net fees were
$26.6 million in the quarter, up $0.1 million from the quarter
ended December 31, 2021 and $106.9 million on a full year basis, up
$7.4 million (7%) from the year ended December 31, 2021. Our
revenue performance was primarily due to strong net inflows to our
exchange listed products segment (primarily our physical uranium,
gold and silver trusts) and higher average AUM from the URNM
acquisition. These increases were partially offset by lower average
AUM in our managed equities segment and lower carried interest
crystallization in our private strategies segment.
- Commission
revenues were $5 million in the quarter, down $9.1 million (64%)
from the quarter ended December 31, 2021 and $30.7 million on a
full year basis, down $14.6 million (32%) from the year ended
December 31, 2021. Net commissions were $2.9 million in the
quarter, down $4.1 million (59%) from the quarter ended December
31, 2021 and $16.2 million on a full year basis, down $7.8 million
(33%) from the year ended December 31, 2021. Lower commissions were
due to weaker mining equity origination activity in our brokerage
segment.
- Finance income
was $1.4 million in the quarter, up $0.7 million (83%) from the
quarter ended December 31, 2021 and $5 million on a full year
basis, up $1.5 million (41%) from the year ended December 31, 2021.
Our results were primarily driven by higher income generation in
co-investment positions we hold in LPs managed in our private
strategies segment.
Key expense highlights
-
Net compensation expense was $12.5 million in the quarter, up $0.1
million (1%) from the quarter ended December 31, 2021 and $56.3
million on a full year basis, up $8.4 million (18%) from the year
ended December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to higher
long-term incentive plan ("LTIP") amortization as a result of grant
date valuations required on the launch of our new 2022 LTIP
program. This higher accounting valuation on our LTIP amortization
was partially offset by lower annual incentive compensation
("AIP").
-
SG&A was $4.1 million in the quarter, down $0.1 million (2%)
from the quarter ended December 31, 2021 and $16 million on a full
year basis, up $1.3 million (9%) from the year ended December 31,
2021. The increase on a full year basis was mainly due to higher
marketing 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 $7.3 million ($0.29 per share) in the quarter, down
28% or $2.8 million ($0.12 per share) from the quarter ended
December 31, 2021 and $17.6 million on a full year basis ($0.70 per
share), down 47%, or $15.6 million ($0.63 per share) from the year
ended December 31, 2021. Net income was negatively impacted by a
combination of weaker equity origination activity in our brokerage
segment, unrealized losses on co-investments and legacy digital
gold investments, FX losses and non-recurring severance costs.
-
Adjusted base EBITDA was $18.1 million ($0.72 per share) in the
quarter, up 2%, or $0.4 million ($0.01 per share) from the quarter
ended December 31, 2021 and $71 million ($2.83 per share) on a full
year basis, up 11%, or $6.9 million ($0.25 per share) from the year
ended December 31, 2021. Our results benefited from strong net
inflows to our physical trusts (primarily our physical uranium,
gold and silver trusts) and the URNM acquisition. These increases
were only partially offset by weaker mining equity origination
activity in our brokerage segment and lower AUM in our managed
equities segment.
Subsequent events
-
On February 23, 2023, the Sprott Board of Directors announced a
quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share.
-
Consistent with the successful transition of our U.S. broker-dealer
from a transaction-based business into a fee-based discretionary
account management business, subsequent to year end, we plan on
selling our Canadian broker-dealer operations to the current
management team as we continue to focus on our core asset
management businesses (however, we will migrate our charity
flow-through operations into our managed equities segment). We
expect the transaction to close by June 30, 2023. The impact of
this change will be immaterial to our future earnings and cash
flows but moderately positive to our consolidated operating margins
as a greater proportion of our consolidated earnings will now arise
from our core precious metals and energy transition materials
product and service offerings. These core offerings have materially
larger and more predictable revenue streams and also yield higher
operating margins than our Canadian broker-dealer. In 2022, the
Canadian broker-dealer contributed less than 5% and 4% to our
consolidated net income and adjusted base EBITDA, respectively, and
yielded operating margins of less than 39% compared to our
consolidated total operating margins of 57%. The transition away
from transaction-based businesses will also free up more capital to
reinvest into our core precious metals and energy transition
materials product and service offerings.
Supplemental financial
information
Please refer to the December 31, 2022
annual 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
December 31, 2022 and the Company's financial performance for
the year ended December 31, 2022.
Schedule 1 - AUM continuity
3 months results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In millions $) |
AUM Sep. 30, 2022 |
Net inflows (1) |
Market value changes |
Other (2) |
AUM Dec. 31, 2022 |
|
Blended management fee rate (3) |
Exchange listed products |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Physical trusts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Physical Gold Trust |
5,235 |
2 |
|
509 |
|
- |
|
5,746 |
|
0.35 |
% |
- Physical Silver Trust |
3,135 |
133 |
|
823 |
|
- |
|
4,091 |
|
0.45 |
% |
- Physical Gold and Silver Trust |
3,523 |
(39 |
) |
514 |
|
- |
|
3,998 |
|
0.40 |
% |
- Physical Uranium Trust |
2,843 |
37 |
|
(4 |
) |
- |
|
2,876 |
|
0.30 |
% |
- Physical Platinum & Palladium Trust |
147 |
(5 |
) |
(4 |
) |
- |
|
138 |
|
0.50 |
% |
- Exchange Traded Funds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Uranium ETFs |
884 |
1 |
|
(28 |
) |
- |
|
857 |
|
0.67 |
% |
- Gold ETFs |
286 |
13 |
|
50 |
|
- |
|
349 |
|
0.34 |
% |
|
16,053 |
142 |
|
1,860 |
|
- |
|
18,055 |
|
0.39 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Managed equities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Precious metals strategies |
1,504 |
(14 |
) |
231 |
|
- |
|
1,721 |
|
0.92 |
% |
- Other (4)(5) |
903 |
8 |
|
121 |
|
- |
|
1,032 |
|
1.20 |
% |
|
2,407 |
(6 |
) |
352 |
|
- |
|
2,753 |
|
1.02 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private strategies |
1,896 |
8 |
|
(12 |
) |
(12 |
) |
1,880 |
|
0.79 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core AUM |
20,356 |
144 |
|
2,200 |
|
(12 |
) |
22,688 |
|
0.50 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-core AUM (6) |
688 |
- |
|
57 |
|
- |
|
745 |
|
0.51 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total AUM (7) |
21,044 |
144 |
|
2,257 |
|
(12 |
) |
23,433 |
|
0.50 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 months results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In millions $) |
AUM Dec. 31, 2021 |
Net inflows (1) |
Market value changes |
Other (2) |
AUM Dec. 31, 2022 |
|
Blendedmanagementfee rate (3) |
Exchange listed products |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Physical trusts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Physical Gold Trust |
5,008 |
823 |
|
(85 |
) |
- |
|
5,746 |
|
0.35 |
% |
- Physical Silver Trust |
3,600 |
390 |
|
101 |
|
- |
|
4,091 |
|
0.45 |
% |
- Physical Gold and Silver Trust |
4,094 |
(99 |
) |
3 |
|
- |
|
3,998 |
|
0.40 |
% |
- Physical Uranium Trust |
1,769 |
931 |
|
176 |
|
- |
|
2,876 |
|
0.30 |
% |
- Physical Platinum & Palladium Trust |
132 |
12 |
|
(6 |
) |
- |
|
138 |
|
0.50 |
% |
- Exchange Traded Funds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Uranium ETFs |
- |
37 |
|
(222 |
) |
1,042 |
|
857 |
|
0.67 |
% |
- Gold ETFs |
356 |
52 |
|
(59 |
) |
- |
|
349 |
|
0.34 |
% |
|
14,959 |
2,146 |
|
(92 |
) |
1,042 |
|
18,055 |
|
0.39 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Managed equities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Precious metals strategies |
2,141 |
(69 |
) |
(351 |
) |
- |
|
1,721 |
|
0.92 |
% |
- Other (4)(5) |
1,141 |
57 |
|
(166 |
) |
- |
|
1,032 |
|
1.20 |
% |
|
3,282 |
(12 |
) |
(517 |
) |
- |
|
2,753 |
|
1.02 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Private strategies |
1,426 |
700 |
|
(25 |
) |
(221 |
) |
1,880 |
|
0.79 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core AUM |
19,667 |
2,834 |
|
(634 |
) |
821 |
|
22,688 |
|
0.50 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-core AUM (6) |
776 |
- |
|
(31 |
) |
- |
|
745 |
|
0.51 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total AUM (7) |
20,443 |
2,834 |
|
(665 |
) |
821 |
|
23,433 |
|
0.50 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(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) Previously called Other, this AUM is related to our legacy
asset management business in Korea, which accounts for 3.2% of our
AUM and 1% of consolidated net income and EBITDA. |
(7) No performance fees are earned on exchange listed products.
Performance fees are earned on all precious metals strategies and
are 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 $) |
Q4 2022 |
Q3 2022 |
Q2 2022 |
Q1 2022 |
Q4 2021 |
Q3 2021 |
Q2 2021 |
Q1 2021 |
Summary income statements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management fees |
28,405 |
|
29,158 |
|
30,620 |
|
27,172 |
|
27,783 |
|
28,612 |
|
25,062 |
|
22,452 |
|
Trailer, sub-advisor and fund expense |
(1,204 |
) |
(1,278 |
) |
(1,258 |
) |
(853 |
) |
(872 |
) |
(637 |
) |
(552 |
) |
(599 |
) |
Direct payouts |
(1,114 |
) |
(1,121 |
) |
(1,272 |
) |
(1,384 |
) |
(1,367 |
) |
(1,892 |
) |
(1,198 |
) |
(890 |
) |
Carried interest and performance fees |
1,219 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
2,046 |
|
4,298 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
7,937 |
|
Carried interest and performance fee payouts - internal |
(567 |
) |
- |
|
- |
|
(1,029 |
) |
(2,516 |
) |
- |
|
(126 |
) |
(4,580 |
) |
Carried interest and performance fee payouts - external (1) |
(121 |
) |
- |
|
- |
|
(476 |
) |
(790 |
) |
- |
|
- |
|
(595 |
) |
Net fees |
26,618 |
|
26,759 |
|
28,090 |
|
25,476 |
|
26,536 |
|
26,083 |
|
23,186 |
|
23,725 |
|
Commissions |
5,027 |
|
6,101 |
|
6,458 |
|
13,077 |
|
14,153 |
|
11,273 |
|
7,377 |
|
12,463 |
|
Commission expense - internal |
(1,579 |
) |
(2,385 |
) |
(2,034 |
) |
(3,134 |
) |
(4,128 |
) |
(3,089 |
) |
(3,036 |
) |
(5,289 |
) |
Commission expense - external (1) |
(585 |
) |
(476 |
) |
(978 |
) |
(3,310 |
) |
(3,016 |
) |
(2,382 |
) |
(49 |
) |
(253 |
) |
Net Commissions |
2,863 |
|
3,240 |
|
3,446 |
|
6,633 |
|
7,009 |
|
5,802 |
|
4,292 |
|
6,921 |
|
Finance income |
1,439 |
|
933 |
|
1,186 |
|
1,433 |
|
788 |
|
567 |
|
932 |
|
1,248 |
|
Gain (loss) on investments |
(930 |
) |
45 |
|
(7,884 |
) |
(1,473 |
) |
(43 |
) |
310 |
|
2,502 |
|
(4,652 |
) |
Other income |
999 |
|
(227 |
) |
170 |
|
208 |
|
313 |
|
529 |
|
438 |
|
303 |
|
Total net revenues(2) |
30,989 |
|
30,750 |
|
25,008 |
|
32,277 |
|
34,603 |
|
33,291 |
|
31,350 |
|
27,545 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation |
17,030 |
|
18,934 |
|
19,364 |
|
21,789 |
|
20,632 |
|
18,001 |
|
15,452 |
|
22,636 |
|
Direct payouts |
(1,114 |
) |
(1,121 |
) |
(1,272 |
) |
(1,384 |
) |
(1,367 |
) |
(1,892 |
) |
(1,198 |
) |
(890 |
) |
Carried interest and performance fee payouts - internal |
(567 |
) |
- |
|
- |
|
(1,029 |
) |
(2,516 |
) |
- |
|
(126 |
) |
(4,580 |
) |
Commission expense - internal |
(1,579 |
) |
(2,385 |
) |
(2,034 |
) |
(3,134 |
) |
(4,128 |
) |
(3,089 |
) |
(3,036 |
) |
(5,289 |
) |
Severance, new hire accruals and other |
(1,240 |
) |
(1,349 |
) |
(2,113 |
) |
(514 |
) |
(187 |
) |
(207 |
) |
(293 |
) |
(44 |
) |
Net compensation |
12,530 |
|
14,079 |
|
13,945 |
|
15,728 |
|
12,434 |
|
12,813 |
|
10,799 |
|
11,833 |
|
Severance, new hire accruals and other (3) |
1,240 |
|
1,349 |
|
2,113 |
|
514 |
|
187 |
|
207 |
|
293 |
|
44 |
|
Selling, general and administrative |
4,080 |
|
4,239 |
|
4,221 |
|
3,438 |
|
4,172 |
|
3,682 |
|
3,492 |
|
3,351 |
|
Interest expense |
1,076 |
|
884 |
|
483 |
|
480 |
|
239 |
|
312 |
|
260 |
|
350 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
710 |
|
710 |
|
959 |
|
976 |
|
1,136 |
|
1,134 |
|
1,165 |
|
1,117 |
|
Other expenses |
1,650 |
|
5,697 |
|
868 |
|
1,976 |
|
2,910 |
|
3,875 |
|
876 |
|
4,918 |
|
Total expenses |
21,286 |
|
26,958 |
|
22,589 |
|
23,112 |
|
21,078 |
|
22,023 |
|
16,885 |
|
21,613 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income(4) |
7,331 |
|
3,071 |
|
757 |
|
6,473 |
|
10,171 |
|
8,718 |
|
11,075 |
|
3,221 |
|
Net income per share(5) |
0.29 |
|
0.12 |
|
0.03 |
|
0.26 |
|
0.41 |
|
0.35 |
|
0.44 |
|
0.13 |
|
Adjusted base EBITDA |
18,083 |
|
16,837 |
|
17,909 |
|
18,173 |
|
17,705 |
|
16,713 |
|
15,050 |
|
14,605 |
|
Adjusted base EBITDA per share |
0.72 |
|
0.67 |
|
0.71 |
|
0.73 |
|
0.71 |
|
0.67 |
|
0.60 |
|
0.59 |
|
Operating margin |
59 |
% |
55 |
% |
55 |
% |
57 |
% |
55 |
% |
52 |
% |
52 |
% |
51 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summary balance sheet |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets(6) |
383,748 |
|
375,386 |
|
376,128 |
|
380,843 |
|
365,873 |
|
375,819 |
|
361,121 |
|
356,986 |
|
Total liabilities(7) |
106,477 |
|
103,972 |
|
89,264 |
|
83,584 |
|
74,654 |
|
84,231 |
|
64,081 |
|
67,015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total AUM |
23,432,661 |
|
21,044,252 |
|
21,944,675 |
|
23,679,354 |
|
20,443,088 |
|
19,016,313 |
|
18,550,106 |
|
17,073,078 |
|
Average AUM |
22,323,075 |
|
21,420,015 |
|
23,388,568 |
|
21,646,082 |
|
20,229,119 |
|
19,090,702 |
|
18,343,846 |
|
17,188,205 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) These amounts are included in the "Trailer, sub-advisor
and fund expenses" line on the consolidated statements of
operations. |
(2) Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2022 were
$145,182 (December 31, 2021 - $164,645; December 31, 2020 -
$121,776). |
(3) The majority of the 2022 amount is compensation and other
transition payments to the former CEO that is currently scheduled
to be paid out in 2022, 2023 and
2024. |
(4) Net income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $17,632
(December 31, 2021 - $33,185; December 31, 2020 -
$26,978). |
(5) Basic and diluted net income per share for the year ended
December 31, 2022 was $0.70 and $0.67, respectively (December 31,
2021 - $1.33 and $1.28 respectively; December 31, 2020 - $1.10 and
$1.05, respectively). |
(6) Total assets as at December 31, 2022 were $383,748 (December
31, 2021 - $365,873; December 31, 2020 - $377,348). |
(7) Total liabilities as at December 31, 2022 were $106,477
(December 31, 2021 - $74,654; December 31, 2020 - $86,365). |
Schedule 3 - EBITDA reconciliation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 months ended |
12 months ended |
(in thousands $) |
Dec. 31, 2022 |
Dec. 31, 2021 |
Dec. 31, 2022 |
Dec. 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net income for the periods |
7,331 |
|
10,171 |
|
17,632 |
|
33,185 |
|
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
Interest expense |
1,076 |
|
239 |
|
2,923 |
|
1,161 |
|
Provision for income taxes |
2,372 |
|
3,354 |
|
7,447 |
|
12,005 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
710 |
|
1,136 |
|
3,355 |
|
4,552 |
|
EBITDA |
11,489 |
|
14,900 |
|
31,357 |
|
50,903 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
(Gain) loss on investments (1) |
930 |
|
43 |
|
10,242 |
|
1,883 |
|
Amortization of stock based compensation |
3,635 |
|
450 |
|
14,546 |
|
1,698 |
|
Other expenses (2) |
2,560 |
|
3,304 |
|
15,929 |
|
13,217 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
18,614 |
|
18,697 |
|
72,074 |
|
67,701 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
Carried interest and performance fees |
(1,219 |
) |
(4,298 |
) |
(3,265 |
) |
(12,235 |
) |
Carried interest and performance fee payouts - internal |
567 |
|
2,516 |
|
1,596 |
|
7,222 |
|
Carried interest and performance fee payouts - external |
121 |
|
790 |
|
597 |
|
1,385 |
|
Adjusted base EBITDA |
18,083 |
|
17,705 |
|
71,002 |
|
64,073 |
|
Operating margin (3) |
59 |
% |
55 |
% |
57 |
% |
53 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(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 above are met. |
(2) In
addition to the items outlined in Note 5 of the annual financial
statements, this reconciliation line also includes $1.2 million
severance, new hire accruals and other for the three months ended
December 31, 2022 (three months ended December 31, 2021 - $0.2
million) and $5.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022
(year ended December 31, 2021 - $0.7 million). This reconciliation
line excludes income (loss) attributable to non-controlling
interest of $0.3 million for the three months ended
December 31, 2022 (three months ended December 31, 2021 -
($0.2) million) and ($0.5) million for the year ended December 31,
2022 (year ended December 31, 2021 - $0.1 million). |
(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. |
Normal Course Issuer Bid
Sprott Inc. (“Sprott” or the “Company”)
(NYSE/TSX: SII) is pleased to announce that the Toronto Stock
Exchange (“TSX”) has approved the notice of its intention to make a
normal course issuer bid ("NCIB"). Pursuant to the terms of the
NCIB, Sprott may purchase its own common shares for cancellation
through the facilities of the TSX, alternative Canadian trading
systems and/or the New York Stock Exchange, in each case in
accordance with the applicable requirements, and as otherwise
permitted under applicable securities laws. The maximum number of
common shares which may be purchased by Sprott during the NCIB will
not exceed 648,908 common shares being approximately 2.5% of
25,956,325 (representing the number of issued and outstanding
common shares as of February 17, 2023). The average daily trading
volume (the “ADTV”) of the common shares on the TSX for the
six-month period ended January 31, 2023 was 53,658. Under the rules
of the TSX, Sprott is entitled to repurchase during the same
trading day on the TSX up to 25% of the ADTV of the common shares,
being 13,414 common shares, except where such purchases are made in
accordance with the "block purchase" exemption under applicable TSX
policy. Sprott will effect purchases at varying times commencing on
March 3, 2023 and ending on March 2, 2024.
In addition to providing shareholders liquidity,
Sprott believes that the common shares have been trading in a price
range which does not adequately reflect the value of such shares in
relation to Sprott’s business and its future prospects.
Under its current NCIB that commenced on March
3, 2022 and will terminate March 2, 2023, Sprott previously sought
and received approval from the TSX to repurchase up to 646,743
common shares. Pursuant to its current NCIB, Sprott has purchased
an aggregate of 81,538 common shares through the facilities of the
TSX and NYSE. 8,200 common shares were purchased on the TSX at a
weighted-average price of C$42.80 per common share, for total cash
consideration of C$350,960, and 73,338 common shares were purchased
on the NYSE at a weighted-average price of US$37.95 per common
share, for total cash consideration of US$2,783,177. Sprott did not
repurchase the maximum allowance under the current NCIB for a
combination of factors.
Conference Call and Webcast
A webcast will be held today, February 24, 2023
at 10:00 am ET to discuss the Company's financial results. To
listen to the webcast, please register
at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/97a6c8xe
Please note, analysts who cover the company
should register at
https://register.vevent.com/register/BI0345f2c1992a467f835282eb895bc20a
to participate in the live Q&A session.
Non-IFRS Financial Measures
This press release includes financial terms
(including AUM, net revenues, net commissions, net fees, expenses,
adjusted base EBITDA, operating margins and 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
and operating margins
EBITDA in its most basic form is defined as
earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and
amortization. EBITDA (or adjustments thereto) 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. Operating margins are a key
indicator of a company’s profitability on a per dollar of revenue
basis, and as such, is commonly used in the financial services
sector by analysts, investors and management.
Forward Looking
StatementsCertain 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 launch new products this year; (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; and (iii) the
closing, including timing thereof, of the transaction in respect of
our Canadian broker-dealer operations.
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; (v) that
the conditions to closing of the transaction in respect of our
Canadian broker-dealer operations will be satisfied or waived on a
timely basis, or at all; and (vi) 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 December 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 favorable 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) failure to satisfy the conditions to
closing of the transaction in respect of our Canadian broker-dealer
operations on a timely basis or at all; (xxix) those risks
described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company’s annual
information form dated February 23, 2023; and (xxx) those risks
described under the headings "Managing Financial Risks" and
"Managing Non-Financial Risks" in the Company’s MD&A for the
period ended December 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
energy transition 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 PartnerInvestor and
Institutional Client Relations;Head of Corporate
Communications(416) 943-4394gwilliams@sprott.com
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