Annual Report 2013
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Bigger and Better Annual Report 2013 ABOUT US Founded in 1909 by Ablan Leon, Leon’s Furniture Limited has grown into the largest home furnishing retailer in Canada, with a modern network of 312 stores selling a wide range of furniture, major appliances and home electronics. Today, with annual total system-wide sales of over $2 billion and over 8,600 associates across the country, Leon’s remains committed to the standards of service, integrity and trust established by its founder more than 100 years ago. Financial Highlights ($ in thousands, except per share amounts) 2013 2012 % Change Revenue $ 1,694,643 $ 682,163 148.4% Income before income taxes 91,556 63,683 43.8% Net income 67,183 46,782 43.6% Cash generated from operations 83,120 49,221 68.9% Dividends paid 28,239 38,449 (26.6%) Per common share Net income $ 0.95 $ 0.67 41.8% Cash flow generated from operations $ 1.18 $ 0.70 68.6% Dividends declared $ 0.40 $ 0.40 – Shareholders’ equity at year end $ 7.03 $ 6.46 8.8% REVENUE NET INCOME SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY PER SHARE ($ in thousands) $1,694,643 ($ in thousands) $67,183 ($ per share) $7.03 2,000,000 70,000 7 1,750,000 60,000 6 1,500,000 50,000 5 1,250,000 40,000 4 1,000,000 30,000 3 750,000 500,000 20,000 2 250,000 10,000 1 0 0 0 09 10 11 12 13 09 1011 12 13 09 1011 12 13 Note: Leon’s 2013 results include operations of The Brick Ltd. from March 28, 2013. Leon’s March 28, 2013 acquisition of The Brick Ltd. created the biggest retailer of home furnishings, appliances and electronics in Canada. This landmark combination of industry leaders has also made us a better retailer, with significantly higher earnings per share in 2013 and abundant opportunity to keep improving the profitability of our business over the next several years. President’s Message to Shareholders A Remarkable Year Of the many milestones Leon’s has achieved since 1909, none has been greater than last year’s acquisition of The Brick Ltd. Today, our two storied brands comprise the largest retail network for home furnishings, appliances and electronics in Canada, but our plans to realize the full potential of this historic combination have just begun. TERRENCE T. LEON, President and Chief Executive Officer THE IMPACT OF THE APPROXIMATELY $700 million purchase of respect over the past 43 years. As a result, our two The Brick was most clearly visible in Leon’s 2013 financial major banners serve surprisingly distinct customer results. For the year, system-wide sales were $2,039 groups within the competitive landscape. Both also million including $344.8 million of franchise sales, compared command a position of relative strength in their original to markets. The acquisition of The Brick has significantly $880.2 million in system-wide sales and $198.1 million in strengthened Leon’s presence in Western Canada—the franchise sales in 2012. country’s fastest growing region—while enhancing the Net income also increased significantly, rising in every geographic diversification of our business. successive quarter of 2013 and ending the year at $67.2 million or $0.95 per common share, an increase Although Leon’s and The Brick will continue to operate of 41.8 percent. This improvement reflects the earnings under separate banners, integration teams drawn from contribution from The Brick as of March 28, 2013 as well both divisions have been working from day one to identify as other factors. operating synergies and leverage the best practices throughout our core business processes. Our first order Beyond the immediately positive effect the acquisition of of business has been information systems, where we have The Brick had on Leon’s financial results, its greatest value already approved the development of a next-generation is yet to be realized as we integrate and optimize platform that will allow us to standardize processes across the core functions of our combined operations over the both divisions. It will also make it easier for customers next few years. In doing so, however, we will be careful to choose when and how they wish to shop with us by to preserve the hard-earned market positions of both expanding our online retailing presence and adding the banners by managing The Brick and Leon’s as separate capacity to incorporate emerging mobile technologies. operating divisions. The acquisition of The Brick has also given us the The Brick’s winning corporate culture helped make this opportunity to improve the way we provide warranty an easy decision. Similar to Leon’s, it is a successful, family- service to our customers. While Leon’s warranty work founded business. The Brick’s greatest intangible asset is was previously outsourced, we now own a separate service the enormous goodwill that has come from treating its company that is generating profit by handling the service customers, employees and communities with care and work of our combined operations as well as third-party clients. 02 LEON'S FURNITURE LIMITED Our combined team will have access to national buying opportunities in merchandising and marketing, and a national distribution network that will enable us to greatly enhance our online shopping capabilities. We have significantly increased earnings per share with abundant opportunity for ongoing improvements as fundamental business processes are integrated and optimized. While our greatest opportunities for income growth are within the walls of our existing operations, we will also continue to pursue the expansion of both divisions in selected markets. In 2013, we celebrated the grand openings of Leon’s corporate stores in Orangeville and Brantford, Ontario, and Sherbrook, Quebec. We also celebrated the grand openings of a new Leon’s franchise store in Saint-Georges, Quebec and two new Brick franchise stores in Collingwood, Ontario and Swan River, Manitoba. In addition, new Brick stores opened in Hamilton and Waterloo, Ontario. Also, three Brick stores were remodeled in Hamilton, Kitchener and Scarborough, Ontario. Finally, a brand new replacement store was opened in Brantford, Ontario As you will see on pages 6 and 7 of this report, Leon’s is a bigger company than ever before. Today, our retail network consists of 312 stores and six strong banners from coast to coast. It is complemented by the industry’s most extensive distribution network as well as in-house service capabilities that back up every product we sell. These are the three pillars of success in our business and each of them has been significantly strengthened during the course of the past year. After 105 years in this business, we have also learned that opportunities to acquire another industry leader don’t come along every day. Our ability to take advantage of this opportunity was a function of Leon’s traditionally conservative approach to financial management, including a balance sheet that was debt free at the end of 2012. Our financial strength made it possible to seize this compelling opportunity amid the slow pace of growth in the Canadian retail sector. We took on a prudent amount The Brick’s Midnorthern of debt to do so, in a relatively low interest rate environment, and are confident in Appliance banner and Appliance our ability to retire this amount from the cash flows of the business over the next Canada make Leon’s the few years. In the meantime, we have significantly increased earnings per share with country’s largest commercial abundant opportunity for ongoing improvement as fundamental business processes retailer of appliances to builders, developers, hotels and property are integrated and optimized. management companies. As for the year ahead, we expect that the Canadian economy will continue to grow at a modest pace, as consumers remain cautious about the prospects for a full economic recovery. Generating growth within this environment has been a challenge for Leon’s and most other Canadian retailers. We have been in business long enough to know that pent-up demand will lead to stronger consumer spending in our industry but do not expect this to happen until the latter half of 2014 at the earliest. In closing, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all of the talented executives, corporate and franchised store management teams and associates throughout our operating divisions. Together, they have gone about the business of serving our customers well, despite the distractions and demands of a truly remarkable year. With their continued support, I am confident that we will continue to improve Leon’s performance and successfully advance our growth initiatives in the year ahead. (signed) TERRENCE T. LEON President and Chief Executive Officer ANNUAL REPORT 2013 05 At-A-Glance Coast to Coast SINCE LEON’S WAS FOUNDED MORE than a century ago, Warehouse, The Brick Mattress Store, Brick Clearance our history has been one of continuous expansion and Centres, and Midnorthern Appliance. The Midnorthern innovation. In 2013, we took the biggest step in our Appliance banner, in combination with Leon’s Appliance evolution to date with the acquisition of The Brick Ltd. Canada banner, has made us the country’s largest This combination of industry leaders represents the largest commercial retailer of appliances to builders, developers, network of home furnishing, appliance and electronics hotels and property management companies. stores in Canada. Equally important, this transaction has brought together On March 28, 2013, Leon’s completed the acquisition two storied Canadian companies with complementary of The Brick Ltd. for approximately $700 million. This geographic footprints that strengthen our position in the landmark transaction created the largest retailer of home home furnishings marketplace.