Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Income Fund - Results for the third quarter ended Sept
Royalty income for the third quarter of 2007 amounted to $19.61 millionas compared to $19.86 million for the third quarter of 2006, a decrease of 1%from the same period last year. Royalties received in U.S. dollars were 15%higher than in the 2006 period due to the 5.8% and 10.4% price increases forpellets and concentrates, respectively, and slightly higher sales volume. Therise in the value of the Canadian dollar against its U.S. counterpartnegatively affected revenues and earnings and offset the price increases forpellets and for concentrates. It is customary that the weakness of the U.S.dollar will be a factor in settling prices for 2008. Equity earnings from IOCin the third quarter amounted to $10.71 million ($0.33 per unit) as comparedto $9.10 million ($0.28 per unit) in 2006. Revenue for the nine months was$48.90 million ($1.53 per unit) compared to $53.77 million ($1.68 per unit)for the first nine months of last year. IOC is making every effort to maximizeproduction for the remainder of the year and several new production recordsfor pellets have been achieved since the strike which occurred earlier in theyear. Sales for the period continued to be restricted by the availability ofproduct.
The Fund's cash flow from operating activities adjusted for changes inamounts receivable, accounts payable and income taxes payable/recoverable(adjusted cash flow) for the third quarter was $30.76 million or $0.96 perunit as compared to $20.58 million or $0.64 per unit for the same period in2006. Net income was $22.98 million or $0.72 per unit compared to$20.31 million or $0.63 per unit for the same period in 2006. The increase innet income was the result of increased earnings from IOC and a reduction inincome taxes.
On August 30, 2007, IOC declared a dividend payable in two installmentson September 30, 2007 and November 30, 2007. The Fund's share of the dividendwas US$18.88 million equating to CDN$18.84 million or $0.59 per unit.
Results for the three months and nine months ended September 30 aresummarized below:
3 Months 3 Months 9 Months 9 Months Ended Ended Ended Ended Sept. 30 Sept. 30 Sept. 30 Sept. 30 2007 2006 2007 2006 ----------------------------------------- (Unaudited) ----------- Revenue (in millions) $20.07 $20.25 $48.90 $53.77 -------- -------- -------- -------- Adjusted cash flow (in millions) $30.76 $20.58 $48.92 $55.27 -------- -------- -------- -------- Adjusted cash flow per unit $ 0.96 $ 0.64 $ 1.53 $ 1.73 -------- -------- -------- -------- Net income (in millions) $22.98 $20.31 $48.87 $65.68 -------- -------- -------- -------- Net income per unit $ 0.72 $ 0.63 $ 1.53 $ 2.05 -------- -------- -------- --------"Adjusted cash flow" (defined as cash flow from operating activities asshown on the attached financial statements adjusted for changes in amountsreceivable, accounts payable and income taxes payable/recoverable) is not arecognized measure under Canadian GAAP. The Trustees believe that adjustedcash flow is a useful analytical measure as it better reflects cash availablefor distributions to Unitholders.
A summary of IOC's sales in millions of tonnes is as follows:
9 Months 9 Months Year Ended Ended Ended Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31, 2007 2006 2006 -------- -------- -------- Pellets 7.84 8.63 12.94 Concentrates 1.55 1.52 2.91 -------- -------- -------- Total 9.39 10.15 15.85 -------- -------- --------On August 1, 2007, IOC announced a $60 million program to increase totalconcentrate production to 18.4 million tonnes by mid 2008 and to conduct afeasibility study to increase concentrate production further to 21 milliontonnes annually. This will enable IOC to increase sales resulting in increasedroyalty revenue for the Fund. Going forward, the future looks positive for IOCand thus for the Fund. The continued strength of the Canadian dollar againstits U.S. counterpart continues to be a negative but should be offset byincreased production and strong pricing.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Trustees of Labrador Iron OreRoyalty Income Fund,
Bruce C. Bone Chairman and Chief Executive Officer October 30, 2007 Management's Discussion and AnalysisThe following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction withthe Management's Discussion and Analysis section of the Fund's 2006 AnnualReport and the interim financial statements and notes contained in thisreport. Although management believes that expectations reflected inforward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risk anduncertainties including the factors discussed in the Fund's 2006 AnnualReport.
The Fund's revenues are entirely dependent on the operations of Iron OreCompany of Canada (IOC) as its principal assets relate to the operations ofIOC and its principal source of revenue is the 7% royalty it receives on allsales of iron ore products by IOC. In addition to the volume of iron ore sold,the Fund's royalty revenue is affected by the price of iron ore, which isusually set in US dollar terms, and thus the Canadian - U.S. dollar exchangerate.
The sales of IOC are usually 15% - 20% of the annual volume in the firstquarter, with the balance spread fairly evenly throughout the other threequarters. Because of the size of individual shipments some quarters may beaffected by the timing of the loading of ships that can be delayed from onequarter to the next.
Royalty income for the third quarter of 2007 amounted to $19.61 millionas compared to $19.86 million for the third quarter of 2006, a decrease of 1%from the same period last year. Royalties received in U.S. dollars were 15%higher than in the 2006 period due to the 5.8% and 10.4% price increases forpellets and concentrates, respectively, and slightly higher sales volume. Therise in the value of the Canadian dollar against its U.S. counterpartnegatively affected earnings and offset the price increases for pellets andfor concentrates. As is customary, the weakness of the U.S. dollar will be afactor in settling prices for 2008. Equity earnings from IOC in the thirdquarter amounted to $10.71 million ($0.33 per unit) as compared to$9.10 million ($0.28 per unit) in 2006. Revenue for the nine months was$48.90 million ($1.53 per unit) compared to $53.77 million ($1.68 per unit)for the first nine months of last year. IOC is making every effort to maximizeproduction for the remainder of the year and several new production recordsfor pellets have been achieved since the strike which occurred earlier in theyear. Sales for the period continued to be restricted by the availability ofproduct.
Bill C-52 will impose a tax on certain distributions from specifiedpublicly traded income flow-through trusts beginning in 2011. Other than the0.5% corporate tax rate reduction effective in 2011, these measures have noimpact on the Trust's future income tax liability as all timing differenceshad already been recorded.
On July 6, 2007, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) publishedrevised National Policy Statement 41-201 for Income Trusts, recommending thatall income trusts report distributable cash flow on a standardized basis. Forthe Fund this newly defined standardized cash flow is the same as cash flowfrom operating activities as recorded in the Fund's cash flow statements asthe fund does not incur capital expenditures or have any restrictions ondistributions. Standardized cash flow per unit was $0.66 for the third quarterand $1.43 for the first nine months of 2007 compared to $0.39 per unit and$1.22 per unit for the comparable periods in 2006. Cumulative standardizedcash flow from inception of the trust is $15.75 per unit and total cashdistributions since inception are $15.58 per unit, for a payout ratio of 99%.The Fund's cash flow from operating activities adjusted for changes in amountsreceivable, accounts payable and income taxes payable/recoverable (adjustedcash flow) for the third quarter was $30.76 million or $0.96 per unit ascompared to $20.58 million or $0.64 per unit for the same period in 2006. OnAugust 30, 2007 IOC declared a dividend payable in two installments onSeptember 30, 2007 and November 30, 2007. The Fund's share of the dividend wasUS$18.88 million equating to CDN$18.84 million or $0.59 per unit. Net incomewas $22.98 million or $0.72 per unit compared to $20.31 million or $0.63 perunit for the same period in 2006. The increase in net income was the result ofincreased earnings from IOC and a reduction in income taxes.
The following table sets out quarterly revenue, net income and cash flowdata for 2007, 2006 and 2005.
Adjusted Distrib- Net Adjusted Cash utions Net Income Cash Flow per Declared Revenue Income per Unit Flow(1) Unit(1) per Unit -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- (million except per Unit information) 2007 ---- First Quarter $ 13.1 $ 10.7 $ 0.34 $ 8.7 $ 0.27 $ 0.35 Second Quarter $ 15.7 $ 15.2 $ 0.47 $ 9.5 $ 0.30 $ 0.35 Third Quarter $ 20.1 $ 23.0 $ 0.72 $30.8(2) $ 0.96 $ 0.70 2006 ---- First Quarter $ 14.4 $ 11.9 $ 0.37 $ 9.4 $ 0.29 $ 0.35 Second Quarter $ 19.2 $ 33.5 $ 1.05 $25.3(3) $ 0.79 $ 0.65 Third Quarter $ 20.2 $ 20.3 $ 0.63 $20.6(4) $ 0.64 $ 0.60 Fourth Quarter $ 29.4 $ 28.7 $ 0.90 $ 17.6 $ 0.56 $ 0.55 2005 ---- First Quarter 14.9 15.5 0.48 10.0 $ 0.31 $ 0.25 Second Quarter 21.3 21.3 0.67 13.5 $ 0.42 $ 0.35 Third Quarter 17.2 17.9 0.56 11.0 $ 0.34 $ 0.35 Fourth Quarter 26.2 31.4 0.98 40.1(5) $ 1.26 $ 1.20 Notes: (1) "Adjusted cash flow" (see below) (2) Includes a $18.8 million IOC dividend (3) Includes a $12.5 million IOC dividend (4) Includes a $8.5 million IOC dividend (5) Includes a $24.1 million IOC dividendAdjusted Cash Flow
------------------
"Adjusted cash flow" is defined as cash flow from operating activities asshown on the attached financial statements less changes in amounts receivable,accounts payable and income taxes payable/recoverable. It is not a recognizedmeasure under Canadian GAAP. The Trustees believe that adjusted cash flow is auseful analytical measure as it better reflects cash available fordistributions to Unitholders.
The following reconciles cash flow from operating activities to adjustedcash flow.
3 Months 3 Months 9 Months 9 Months Ended Ended Ended Ended Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, 2007 2006 2007 2006 --------------------------------------------------- Cash flow from operating activities $21,112,818 $12,502,172 $45,837,840 $38,926,689 Excluding: changes in amounts receivable, accounts payable and income taxes payable/recoverable 9,644,215 8,076,874 3,084,558 16,344,231 --------------------------------------------------- Adjusted cash flow $30,757,033 $20,579,046 $48,922,398 $55,270,920 --------------------------------------------------- Adjusted cash flow per unit $ 0.96 $ 0.64 $ 1.53 $ 1.73 ---------------------------------------------------Liquidity
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The Fund has a $50 million revolving credit facility reducing by$25 million in 2008 with the balance due in 2009. The amount drawn under thisfacility is currently $11.7 million ($11.7 million at September 30, 2007)leaving $38.3 million available to provide for any capital required by IOC orother Fund requirements.
Outlook
-------
Steel markets remain strong especially in Asia and IOC expects to be ableto sell all the concentrate and pellets it can produce. Prices for 2007increased by 5.8% for pellets and 10.4% for concentrates retroactive toJanuary 1 for most contracts and a new five year labour agreement is in place.The strike, which closed down production facilities for 7 weeks from March 9to April 27, 2007, will result in a loss of about 14% of annual productionwhich, based on last year's production, would amount to approximately2.3 million tonnes. Reduced sales due to this lost production occurred in thefirst half of the year and sales for the balance of the year will also beslightly lower than normal due to inventory replenishment. On August 1, 2007,IOC announced a $60 million program to increase total concentrate productionto 18.4 million tonnes by mid 2008 and to conduct a feasibility study toincrease concentrate production further to 21 million tonnes annually. Thiswill enable IOC to increase sales resulting in increased royalty revenue forthe Fund. Going forward, the future looks positive for IOC and thus for theFund. The continued strength of the Canadian dollar against its U.S.counterpart continues to be a negative but should be offset by increasedproduction and strong pricing.
Bruce C. Bone Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Toronto, Ontario October 30, 2007 << LABRADOR IRON ORE ROYALTY INCOME FUND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- As at ------------------------------ September 30 December 31 2007 2006 ------------------------------ (Unaudited) Assets Current Cash $ 11,597,830 $ 141,937 Amounts receivable 27,803,815 28,995,350 Income taxes recoverable 2,522,995 - -------------- -------------- 41,924,640 29,137,287 Deferred charges 249,976 343,729 Iron Ore Company of Canada ("IOC"), royalty and commission interests 308,544,794 311,577,494 Investment in IOC 169,744,547 169,050,037 -------------- -------------- $ 520,463,957 $ 510,108,547 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Liabilities and Unitholders' Equity Current Accounts payable $ 5,843,893 $ 6,269,559 Income taxes payable - 1,327,432 Distributions payable to unitholders 22,400,000 17,600,000 -------------- -------------- 28,243,893 25,196,991 Long-term debt 11,741,141 6,123,088 Future income tax liability 114,170,000 116,550,000 -------------- -------------- 154,155,034 147,870,079 Unitholders' equity Trust units 317,708,147 317,708,147 Undistributed income 48,600,776 44,530,321 -------------- -------------- $ 520,463,957 $ 510,108,547 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- LABRADOR IRON ORE ROYALTY INCOME FUND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME ------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 2006 ------------------------------ (Unaudited) Revenue IOC royalties $ 19,606,122 $ 19,863,703 IOC commissions 407,953 378,883 Interest and other income 58,885 4,100 -------------- -------------- 20,072,960 20,246,686 -------------- -------------- Expenses Newfoundland royalty taxes 3,921,224 3,972,741 Amortization of royalty and commission interests 1,336,146 1,265,823 Administrative expenses (note 2) 1,048,861 907,041 Interest expense 344,706 246,097 -------------- -------------- 6,650,937 6,391,702 -------------- -------------- Income before equity earnings and income taxes 13,422,023 13,854,984 Equity earnings in IOC 10,717,796 9,104,823 -------------- -------------- Income before income taxes 24,139,819 22,959,807 -------------- -------------- Provision for (recovery of) income taxes (note 3) Current 2,874,486 3,029,833 Future (1,710,000) (380,000) -------------- -------------- 1,164,486 2,649,833 -------------- -------------- Net income for the period 22,975,333 20,309,974 Undistributed income, beginning of period 48,025,443 32,281,300 Distributions to unitholders (22,400,000) (19,200,000) -------------- -------------- Undistributed income, end of period $ 48,600,776 $ 33,391,274 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Net income per unit $ 0.72 $ 0.63 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- LABRADOR IRON ORE ROYALTY INCOME FUND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME ------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 2006 ------------------------------ (Unaudited) Revenue IOC royalties $ 47,831,924 $ 52,690,502 IOC commissions 924,694 999,018 Interest and other income 144,386 83,743 -------------- -------------- 48,901,004 53,773,263 -------------- -------------- Expenses Newfoundland royalty taxes 9,566,385 10,538,100 Amortization of royalty and commission interests 3,032,700 3,305,204 Administrative expenses (note 2) 2,873,985 1,270,545 Interest expense 857,280 721,916 -------------- -------------- 16,330,350 15,835,765 -------------- -------------- Income before equity earnings and income taxes 32,570,654 37,937,498 Equity earnings in IOC 19,536,609 23,575,256 -------------- -------------- Income before income taxes 52,107,263 61,512,754 -------------- -------------- Provision for (recovery of) income taxes (note 3) Current 5,616,808 6,983,331 Future (2,380,000) (11,150,000) -------------- -------------- 3,236,808 (4,166,669) -------------- -------------- Net income for the period 48,870,455 65,679,423 Undistributed income, beginning of period 44,530,321 18,911,851 Distributions to unitholders (44,800,000) (51,200,000) -------------- -------------- Undistributed income, end of period $ 48,600,776 $ 33,391,274 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Net income per unit $ 1.53 $ 2.05 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- LABRADOR IRON ORE ROYALTY INCOME FUND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 2006 ------------------------------ (Unaudited) Net inflow (outflow) of cash related to the following activities Operating Net income for the period $ 22,975,333 $ 20,309,974 Items not affecting cash: Equity earnings in IOC (10,717,796) (9,104,823) Future income taxes (1,710,000) (380,000) Amortization of royalty and commission interests 1,336,146 1,265,823 Amortization of deferred charges 31,251 31,251 Common share dividend received from IOC 18,842,099 8,456,821 Change in amounts receivable, accounts and income taxes payable/recoverable (9,644,215) (8,076,874) -------------- -------------- Cash flow from operating activities 21,112,818 12,502,172 -------------- -------------- Financing Distributions paid to unitholders (11,200,000) (20,800,000) Proceeds from long-term debt 1,446,362 8,146,984 -------------- -------------- (9,753,638) (12,653,016) -------------- -------------- Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period 11,359,180 (150,844) Cash, beginning of period 238,650 424,991 -------------- -------------- Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 11,597,830 $ 274,147 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Cash income taxes paid $ 2,332,816 $ 3,109,679 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Cash interest paid $ 281,409 $ 127,334 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- LABRADOR IRON ORE ROYALTY INCOME FUND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 2006 ------------------------------ (Unaudited) Net inflow (outflow) of cash related to the following activities Operating Net income for the period $ 48,870,455 $ 65,679,423 Items not affecting cash: Equity earnings in IOC (19,536,609) (23,575,256) Future income taxes (2,380,000) (11,150,000) Amortization of royalty and commission interests 3,032,700 3,305,204 Amortization of deferred charges 93,753 93,753 Common share dividend received from IOC 18,842,099 20,917,796 Change in amounts receivable, accounts payable and income taxes payable/recoverable (3,084,558) (16,344,231) -------------- -------------- Cash flow from operating activities 45,837,840 38,926,689 -------------- -------------- Financing Distributions paid to unitholders (40,000,000) (70,400,000) Proceeds from long-term debt 5,618,053 8,146,984 -------------- -------------- (34,381,947) (62,253,016) -------------- -------------- Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period 11,455,893 (23,326,327) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 141,937 23,600,474 -------------- -------------- Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 11,597,830 $ 274,147 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Cash income taxes paid $ 9,467,235 $ 19,881,451 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Cash interest paid $ 681,767 $ 535,526 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 1. Basis of Presentation The financial statements have not been reviewed in accordance with section 7050 of the CICA Handbook, Auditor Review of the Interim Financial Statements, by the Fund's Auditor. Not all disclosures required by Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for annual financial statements have been presented and, accordingly, these interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the most recently prepared annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006. These interim financial statements follow the same accounting policies and method of application as the most recent annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006. On January 1, 2007, the Fund adopted the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants new accounting standards: Section 3855 "Financial Instruments - Recognition and Measurement", Section 3861 "Financial Instruments - Disclosure and Presentation" and Section 1530 "Comprehensive Income". Section 3855 establishes standards for recognizing and measuring financial instruments. All financial instruments are required to be measured at fair value on the initial recognition with the exception of certain financial instruments that do not have quoted market values in an active market. Financial instruments that will be realized within the normal operating cycle are measured at their carrying amount as this approximates fair value. These standards have been applied prospectively without restatement of prior periods. The adoption of these standards did not have an impact on the Fund's financial statements. The Fund does not have any other comprehensive income components and as such, comprehensive income is equal to net income. Accordingly, a Statement of Comprehensive Income is not presented. Seasonality The results of operations and operating cash flows of the Fund vary considerably from quarter to quarter. The operations of the Fund are dependent on the royalty and commission revenues from IOC, whose production and revenues are not constant throughout the year, being lower during the winter months when the St. Lawrence Seaway is closed. 2. Unit appreciation rights In 2005, the Fund adopted a unit appreciation rights plan which granted 50,000 units to each if its six trustees, all as more fully described in the annual financial statements. Since the grant date, 193,000 unit appreciation rights have been exercised. Compensation expense is not recognized when rights are issued, but is accrued as an expense over the period that the rights vest. The unit appreciation rights are marked to market each quarter to the extent the units exceed $23.00. Compensation expense of $569,000 (2006 - $521,000) for the three months and $1,304,000 (2006 - $319,000) for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 have been accrued in connection with the unit appreciation rights. In September 2007, a Trustee exercised unit appreciation rights in respect of 6,250 units at a market value of $39.67 resulting in a total payment of $104,188 (2006 - Nil). 3. Income taxes In the second quarter of 2007, the Federal Government enacted legislation which will result in a 0.5% reduction in the federal corporate income tax rate in 2011. >>For further information
Bruce C. Bone, Chairman & Chief ExecutiveOfficer, (416) 863-7133
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