Imaflex Inc. announces an improvement in results for the quarter ended March 31, 2013

TICKER SYMBOL:  IFX

MONTREAL, May 24, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Imaflex Inc. (the "Company") (TSXV: IFX) announces results for the quarter ended March 31, 2013.

The results include those of Imaflex Inc. ("Imaflex") located in Montréal (Québec), its divisions Canguard Packaging ("Canguard") and Canslit ("Canslit") located in Victoriaville (Québec), and its wholly owned subsidiary, Imaflex USA Inc. ("Imaflex USA") located in Thomasville (North Carolina).

Summary - Results of Operations

Sales continued to increase in the first quarter of 2013, which translated into a higher gross profit. This improvement is in part attributable to better results from our US operations, after a year of transition and preparation in 2012 following the business acquisition.

Management's focus will be concentrated on regaining mulch film sales, as this will further improve the Company's overall performance.

Sales

Sales increased in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012 mainly due to an increase in sales in our US operations following the business acquisition, which contributed to sales for the entire quarter in 2013 whereas it contributed for only one month in the first quarter of 2012, as well as the increase in sales of polyethylene film and garbage bags.

The pricing of sales remained fairly constant in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the first quarter of 2012 as movements of resin prices did not have an important impact quarter over quarter.

Gross profit margin

The increase in the gross profit before amortization of production equipment is mainly attributable to the increased sales in the US operations which more than compensated for the additional production costs assumed through the business acquisition as well as more profitable sales in the Canadian operations, achieved without modifying the Company's existing cost structure. The US operations showed improved results after having further integrated the acquired business. The gross profit in percentage of sales also increased from 11.3% in 2012 to 13.9% in 2013. The amortization of production equipment increased from $ 254,000 in 2012 to $ 265,000 in 2013 and the gross profit increased by approximately $ 433,000: from approximately $ 1,076,000 in 2012 to approximately $ 1,509,000 in 2013.

Income taxes

The income tax expense represents current and future income taxes for the Canadian entity, as there is presently no income tax benefit recognized for the losses incurred by the US entity. The income tax expense as a percentage of pretax income is slightly lower than the Company's statutory tax rate despite the losses incurred in the US entity given the unrealized foreign exchange gains not entirely included in taxable income.

Net income (loss)

The Company's results improved from the first quarter of 2012 to the first quarter of 2013. This increase is attributable to the increase in gross profit, favourable foreign exchange movements and a lower finance expense. This was offset by the increase in selling and administrative expenses and the increase in the income tax expense. Selling and administrative expenses did increase due to additional administrative expenses, however part of this increase was attributable to the higher sales and part was due to the business acquisition. Management is still focused on keeping costs under control.

Capital Resources

The Company has an operating line of credit with its bankers to a maximum of $ 8,500,000 bearing interest at a rate of prime plus 2.0%.  The line of credit is secured by trade receivables and inventories. As at March 31, 2013, the Company had drawn $ 4,938,806 on its line of credit ($ 6,103,876 as at December 31, 2012). The Company's working capital decreased since December 31, 2012, going from $ 2,303,260 to $ 28,547, mainly explained by the inclusion of the long term portion of term debt in current liabilities. The Company believes it has sufficient capital to continue operating efficiently through the liquidity available in its working capital and the liquidity that will be generated by its operations. Management also expects to reimburse its long term debt based on the loans' original amortization schedules. Within twelve months, only one bank debt will remain outstanding. The Company's current capital structure should therefore enable it to meet all of its short term obligations. As part of its normal management process, the Company continuously monitors its capital structure and considers the increase in indebtedness or the issuance of shares as possible options to optimize its capital structure.

Management Outlook

Management is confident that 2013 is the year that our US entity will begin to contribute positively to the Company's consolidated results. This quarter's profit begins to show what can happen when losses in the US entity are curtailed.

Management expects all of our four manufacturing entities will contribute positively to our consolidated profitability by year-end.

Management's primary focus for the remainder of the year will be to continue to re-acquire the metalized film revenues it gave up in 2010 when the Company changed its distribution model for mulch films, and to work on the launch of its Can-Shield active ingredient films for the agricultural market. We are excited by the prospects for the Company going forward because of our improved performance and because a number of research and development projects have reached the point where they too will be coming to market in the near term.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements and information included in this release constitute "forward-looking statements".  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.  Additional discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's projections, estimates and expectations is contained in the Company's other public filings.  Unless otherwise required by the securities authorities, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf.

Non-IFRS Measure

The Company's management uses a non-IFRS measure in this press release, namely EBITDA.  Management wishes to specify that in the performance of the Company's financial results, EBITDA is shown as "Earnings before interest, taxes, non-controlling interest, depreciation and amortization".  While EBITDA is not a standard IFRS measure, management, analysts, investors and others use it as an indicator of the Company's financial and operating management and performance.  EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to net income determined in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of the Company's performance.  The Company's method of calculating EBITDA may be different from those used by other companies.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 

SOURCE: Imaflex Inc.