Park Lawn Deepens its Presence in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area

Rhea-AI Summary

Park Lawn Corporation announced the acquisition of Speaks, which includes three funeral homes and a cemetery in Missouri. This strategic purchase expands Park Lawn's footprint in the Kansas City market and is expected to close in April 2023, pending regulatory approval.

Highlights include an estimated addition of US$2,247,759 in annual Adjusted EBITDA from the acquisition, which will be financed through existing cash and credit facilities. For the year ending December 31, 2021, Park Lawn reported Adjusted EBITDA of US$76,284,577 and net earnings of US$27,812,866.

Positive

• Acquisition adds three funeral homes and one cemetery, enhancing market presence.
• Expected annual addition of US$2,247,759 in Adjusted EBITDA from the acquisition.
• Acquisition aligns with historical EBITDA multiple targets.

Negative

• None.

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 8, 2023 / Park Lawn Corporation (TSX:PLC, PLC.U) ("Park Lawn" or "PLC") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Carson-Speaks Chapel in Independence, Missouri; Speaks Buckner Chapel in Buckner, Missouri; Speaks Suburban Chapel in Independence, Missouri; and Oak Ridge Memory Gardens in Independence, Missouri (collectively "Speaks"). The Speaks acquisition expands Park Lawn's footprint in the Kansas City metropolitan market through the addition of three (3) stand-alone funeral homes and one (1) stand-alone cemetery and is anticipated to close in early April 2023 following the receipt of regulatory approval.

"We are pleased to further solidify our strong operating position in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area through the strategic acquisition of the Speaks businesses," said J. Bradley Green, Chief Executive Officer of PLC. Mr. Green continued, "These distinguished businesses not only closely align with Park Lawn's values but will also further our operational synergies in the market. We are honored to welcome the Speaks businesses and their teams into the Park Lawn family."

Highlights of the transaction include:

• The addition of three (3) stand-alone funeral homes and one (1) stand-alone cemetery.
• The transaction represents 772 calls per year, 80 interments per year, and is expected to be financed with funds from PLC's credit facility and available cash on hand.
• Following the closing and integration of the transaction, the Speaks acquisition is expected to add approximately US$2,247,759 in Adjusted EBITDA annually.¹
• For the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, PLC had Adjusted EBITDA of US$76,284,577 and net earnings of US$27,812,866.
• The agreed upon purchase price multiple for the transaction is within PLC's publicly-stated targeted Adjusted EBITDA multiple range for its historical transactions.

About Park Lawn Corporation:

PLC provides goods and services associated with the disposition and memorialization of human remains. Products and services are sold on a pre-planned basis (pre-need) or at the time of a death (at-need). PLC and its subsidiaries own and operate businesses including cemeteries, crematoria, funeral homes, chapels, planning offices and a transfer service. PLC operates in three Canadian provinces and eighteen U.S. states.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information (within the meaning of applicable securities laws) relating to the business of PLC and the environment in which it operates. Forward-looking statements in this news release are identified by words such as "believe", "anticipate", "project", "expect", "intend", "plan", "will", "may", "estimate", "pro-forma" and other similar expressions. These statements are based on PLC's expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections and include, without limitation, statements regarding PLC's expectation that the Speaks acquisition will add approximately US$2,247,759 in Adjusted EBITDA; the acquisition will provide operational synergies for existing businesses in the market and the expected time of closing of the acquisition. The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on certain assumptions, including that PLC is able to obtain regulatory approval or satisfy regulatory requirements for the acquisition, the acquisition closes in the anticipated time frame, the acquisition will perform as expected following closing, PLC will be able to implement business improvements and achieve cost savings, PLC will be able to retain key personnel, there will be no unexpected expenses occurring as a result of the acquisition, the purchase price multiples for future acquisitions remain at or below levels paid by PLC for previously announced acquisitions, the acquisition and financing markets remain accessible, capital can be obtained at reasonable costs and PLC's current business lines operate and obtain synergies as expected, as well as those regarding present and future business strategies, organic growth initiatives, the environment in which PLC will operate in the future, expected revenues, expansion plans and PLC's ability to achieve its goals. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in PLC's most recent Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion and Analysis available at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, these forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, PLC assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non‐IFRS Measures

Adjusted Net Earnings is not a measure recognized under IFRS and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. Such measure is presented in this news release because management of PLC believes that such measure is relevant in evaluating PLC's proposed acquisition of Speaks. Such measure, as computed by PLC, may differ from similar computations as reported by other similar organizations and, accordingly, may not be comparable to similar measures reported by such other organizations. Please refer to pages 8 and 19 of PLC's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ending December 31, 2021, which was filed on SEDAR on March 3, 2022, for how PLC reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to the nearest IFRS measure.

Contact Information

Daniel Millett
Chief Financial Officer
(416) 231-1462, ext. 221

¹Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure. Refer to the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release for more information on this non-IFRS financial measure.

SOURCE: Park Lawn Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/738395/Park-Lawn-Deepens-its-Presence-in-the-Kansas-City-Metropolitan-Area

FAQ

What is the acquisition by Park Lawn Corporation announced on February 8, 2023?

Park Lawn Corporation announced its acquisition of Speaks, which includes three funeral homes and a cemetery in Missouri, enhancing its Kansas City market footprint.

When is the expected closing date for the Park Lawn acquisition of Speaks?

The acquisition is anticipated to close in early April 2023 after receiving regulatory approval.

How much Adjusted EBITDA is expected from the Speaks acquisition?

The acquisition is expected to add approximately US$2,247,759 in Adjusted EBITDA annually.

What were Park Lawn's financial results for the year ending December 31, 2021?

For the year ending December 31, 2021, Park Lawn reported Adjusted EBITDA of US$76,284,577 and net earnings of US$27,812,866.

What financing will be used for the acquisition of Speaks by Park Lawn?

Park Lawn will finance the acquisition using funds from its credit facility and available cash on hand.