Release Details

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Celestica Announces First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Apr 28, 21 at 5:10 PM EDT

(All amounts in U.S. dollars.
Per share information based on diluted
shares outstanding unless otherwise noted.)

TORONTO, April 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Celestica Inc. (TSX: CLS) (NYSE: CLS), a leader in design, manufacturing and supply chain solutions for the world's most innovative companies, today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 (Q1 2021).

“We had a strong start to the year as we delivered solid results for the quarter. Our revenue, non-IFRS adjusted EPS* and non-IFRS operating margin* were all above the midpoint of our guidance ranges for Q1 2021. In addition, we were able to further reduce our debt, while also returning capital to shareholders through our share buyback program,” said Rob Mionis, President and CEO, Celestica.

“We are pleased with our operating performance despite the continuing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. We are excited by the opportunities in front of us and continue to focus on executing for our customers while driving profitable growth.”

Q1 2021 Highlights

  • Revenue: $1.23 billion, decreased 6% compared to $1.32 billion for the first quarter of 2020 (Q1 2020);
    Revenue of our non-Cisco business** increased 7% compared to Q1 2020.
  • Operating margin (non-IFRS)*: 3.5%, compared to 2.9% for Q1 2020.
  • ATS segment revenue: decreased 3% compared to Q1 2020, and represented 43% of total revenue, compared to 41% of total revenue for Q1 2020; ATS segment margin was 4.0%, compared to 2.7% for Q1 2020.
  • CCS segment revenue: decreased 9% compared to Q1 2020, and represented 57% of total revenue, compared to 59% of total revenue for Q1 2020; CCS segment margin was 3.1%, compared to 3.0% for Q1 2020.
  • Lifecycle Solutions portfolio revenue***: increased 7% compared to Q1 2020, and represented 59% of total revenue, compared to 51% of total revenue for Q1 2020.
  • IFRS earnings per share (EPS): $0.08, compared to a $0.02 loss per share for Q1 2020.
  • Adjusted EPS (non-IFRS)*: $0.22, compared to $0.16 for Q1 2020.
  • Adjusted return on invested capital (non-IFRS)*: 10.8%, compared to 9.5% for Q1 2020.
  • Free cash flow (non-IFRS)*: $20.9 million, compared to $53.8 million for Q1 2020.
  • Repaid $30.0 million of outstanding term loan borrowings.
  • Undrawn $450 million revolver**** and $449 million in cash/cash equivalents.
  • Repurchased and cancelled 0.6 million subordinate voting shares for $5.3 million under our normal course issuer bid.
  • Global network operating at normal workforce levels.

† Celestica has two operating and reportable segments - Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS) and Connectivity & Cloud Solutions (CCS). Our ATS segment consists of our ATS end market, and is comprised of our Aerospace and Defense (A&D), Industrial, Energy, HealthTech and Capital Equipment (semiconductor, display, and power & signal distribution equipment) businesses. Our CCS segment consists of our Communications and Enterprise (servers and storage) end markets. Segment performance is evaluated based on segment revenue, segment income and segment margin (segment income as a percentage of segment revenue). See note 26 to our 2020 audited consolidated financial statements, included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020 (2020 20-F), available at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com, for further detail.
* Non-International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar financial measures presented by other public companies that use IFRS or U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). See “Non-IFRS Supplementary Information” below for information on our rationale for the use of non-IFRS financial measures, and Schedule 1 for, among other items, non-IFRS financial measures included in this press release, as well as their definitions, uses, and a reconciliation of historical non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.
** total revenue from programs with customers other than Cisco Systems, Inc. (Cisco).
*** aggregate of ATS segment and Hardware Platform Solutions business revenue.
**** excluding ordinary course letters of credit.

Segment Updates

ATS Segment:

ATS segment revenue decreased in Q1 2021 compared to Q1 2020, driven primarily by adverse demand impacts related to coronavirus 2019 disease and related mutations (COVID-19), specifically in our commercial aerospace and Industrial businesses, as well as adverse revenue impacts due to COVID-19-related materials constraints across the segment. The decreases were largely offset by revenue growth in our HealthTech and Capital Equipment businesses, driven by new program ramps and market share gains. The increase in ATS segment margin in Q1 2021 compared to Q1 2020 was primarily due to favorable mix, including new program ramps in our HealthTech business, as well as improved productivity. We are pleased with the year-over-year improvement in ATS segment margin, and continue to anticipate being in the ATS segment target margin range of 5% to 6% by the end of 2021. We also continue to expect ATS segment revenue to grow by 10% in 2021 as compared to 2020.

Revenue from our semiconductor Capital Equipment customers grew in Q1 2021 compared to Q1 2020, driven by strong demand, new program wins and market share gains. We expect semiconductor demand to remain strong in 2021. We anticipate demand growth to accelerate towards the end of 2021 and into 2022 in our display business.

Within A&D, we continued to experience demand softness in our commercial aerospace business. We have taken actions deemed necessary to adjust our cost base to better align with the current and anticipated demand levels in our A&D business, and continue to work with customers and suppliers to maximize our returns in the face of the challenges presented by the current market. While we do not expect our commercial aerospace business to return to pre-COVID levels in the near term, we do expect a modest sequential recovery in the second half of the year, driven by new program wins.

Demand in our Industrial business in Q1 2021 compared to Q1 2020 was adversely impacted by COVID-19, although demand has largely stabilized. We expect year-over-year revenue growth to resume in the second quarter of 2021 (Q2 2021).

Our HealthTech business continued to see strong growth, supported by the ramping of new program wins in Q1 2021, attributable in part to programs in support of the fight against COVID-19. We anticipate continued strength in demand in this business in 2021.

CCS Segment:

CCS segment revenue decreased in Q1 2021 compared to Q1 2020, primarily due to the impact of our disengagement from programs with Cisco Systems, Inc. (Cisco Disengagement), which was completed at the end of 2020 as planned, as well as program-specific demand softness from certain storage customers in our Enterprise end market. This decline was partially offset by strong demand from service provider customers, including in our Hardware Platform Solutions (HPS) business. Our HPS business experienced strong revenue growth in Q1 2021, increasing 46% compared to Q1 2020, driven by increased service provider demand. CCS segment revenue from programs with customers other than Cisco increased 16% in Q1 2021 compared to Q1 2020. Although we anticipate that total CCS segment revenue for 2021 will decline compared to 2020, we currently expect double-digit percentage revenue growth for our HPS business in 2021 compared to 2020, increased from our prior high single-digit percentage growth expectations. Despite lower revenue levels, CCS segment margin improved in Q1 2021 compared to Q1 2020, primarily due to favorable mix. CCS segment margin is expected to be at the high end of our 2% to 3% target range, or slightly higher, for the full year 2021.

Supply Constraints:

Supply constraints continued to impact both of our segments, predominately in our ATS segment in Q1 2021, resulting in extended lead times for components, and delays in timing on certain projects. We expect this pressure to continue for the remainder of 2021.

Summary of Selected Q1 2021 Results

For information on the impact of COVID-19 on our business in Q1 2021, see "Segment Updates" above and footnote (1) below. Also see the "Recent Developments" section of each of our Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for Q1 2021, to be filed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, and Item 5 of our 2020 20-F.

 Q1 2021 Actual (1) Q1 2021 Guidance (2)
IFRS revenue (in billions)$1.23  $1.175 to $1.275
IFRS EPS (1)$0.08  N/A
IFRS earnings before income taxes as a % of revenue 1.3% N/A
Non-IFRS operating margin 3.5% 
3.4% at the mid-point of our revenue
and non-IFRS adjusted
EPS guidance ranges

IFRS SG&A (in millions)$58.8  N/A
Non-IFRS adjusted SG&A (in millions)$53.6  $51 to $53
Non-IFRS adjusted EPS$0.22  $0.18 to $0.24

(1) IFRS EPS of $0.08 for Q1 2021 included an aggregate charge of $0.16 (pre-tax) per share for employee stock-based compensation (SBC) expense, amortization of intangible assets (excluding computer software), and restructuring charges. See the tables in Schedule 1 and note 8 to our March 31, 2021 unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements (Q1 2021 Interim Financial Statements) for per-item charges. This aggregate charge was within our Q1 2021 guidance range of between $0.12 and $0.18 per share for these items.

IFRS EPS for Q1 2021 included a $0.04 per share negative impact attributable to restructuring charges and a $0.01 per share negative impact attributable to COVID-19 Costs, net of COVID Recoveries (each defined below). IFRS loss per share for Q1 2020 included a $0.06 per share negative impact attributable to restructuring charges and a $0.02 per share negative impact attributable to COVID-19 Costs. See Schedule 1 for the exclusions used to determine non-IFRS adjusted EPS for each of Q1 2021 and Q1 2020. COVID-19 Costs consist of both direct and indirect costs, including manufacturing inefficiencies related to lost revenue due to our inability to secure materials, idled labor costs, and incremental costs for labor, expedite fees and freight premiums, cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment, and IT-related services to support our work-from-home arrangements. COVID Recoveries consist of COVID-19-related government subsidies, credits and grants, and customer recoveries.

(2) For Q1 2021, our revenue and non-IFRS adjusted EPS were above the mid-point of our guidance ranges, and non-IFRS adjusted SG&A was $0.6 million above our guidance range as a result of higher-than-anticipated variable spend. Non-IFRS operating margin for Q1 2021 was above the mid-point of our revenue and non-IFRS adjusted EPS guidance ranges. Our non-IFRS adjusted effective tax rate for Q1 2021 was 21% (compared to our anticipated estimate of approximately 20%).

See “Non-IFRS Supplementary Information” below for information on our rationale for the use of non-IFRS financial measures, and Schedule 1 for, among other items, non-IFRS financial measures included in this press release, as well as their definitions, uses, and a reconciliation of historical non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.

Q2 2021 Guidance(1)

 Q2 2021
IFRS revenue (in billions)$1.325 to $1.425
Non-IFRS operating margin
3.5% at the mid-point of our
revenue and non-IFRS adjusted
EPS guidance ranges

Non-IFRS adjusted SG&A (in millions)$54 to $56
Non-IFRS adjusted EPS$0.21 to $0.27

(1) For Q2 2021, we expect a negative $0.09 to $0.15 per share (pre-tax) aggregate impact on net earnings on an IFRS basis for employee SBC expense, amortization of intangible assets (excluding computer software), and restructuring charges. Based on the projected geographical mix of our profits in Q2 2021, we currently expect our non-IFRS adjusted effective tax rate to be approximately 21% (this estimate does not account for foreign exchange impacts or any unanticipated tax settlements). We cannot predict changes in currency exchange rates, the impact of such changes on our operating results, or the degree to which we will be able to manage such impacts.

We do not provide reconciliations for forward-looking non-IFRS financial measures, as we are unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of various events that have not yet occurred, are out of our control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted, and that would impact the most directly comparable forward-looking IFRS financial measure. For these same reasons, we are unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Forward-looking non-IFRS financial measures may vary materially from the corresponding IFRS financial measures.

Q1 2021 Webcast and Annual Shareholders Meeting Webcast

Management will host its Q1 2021 results conference call on April 29, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The webcast can be accessed at www.celestica.com. Celestica's Annual Meeting of Shareholders (Meeting) will be held on April 29, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. EDT. As previously announced, due to ongoing public health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Meeting will be held virtually via audio-only webcast at https://web.lumiagm.com/271769863, password: celestica2021. Online access to the Meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. EDT.

Non-IFRS Supplementary Information

In addition to disclosing detailed operating results in accordance with IFRS, Celestica provides supplementary non-IFRS financial measures to consider in evaluating the company’s operating performance. Management uses adjusted net earnings and other non-IFRS financial measures to assess operating performance and the effective use and allocation of resources; to provide more meaningful period-to-period comparisons of operating results; to enhance investors’ understanding of the core operating results of Celestica’s business; and to set management incentive targets. We believe investors use both IFRS and non-IFRS financial measures to assess management's past, current and future decisions associated with our priorities and our allocation of capital, as well as to analyze how our business operates in, or responds to, swings in economic cycles or to other events that impact our core operations. See Schedule 1 below.

About Celestica

Celestica enables the world's best brands. Through our recognized customer-centric approach, we partner with leading companies in Aerospace and Defense, Communications, Enterprise, HealthTech, Industrial, Capital Equipment, and Energy to deliver solutions for their most complex challenges. As a leader in design, manufacturing, hardware platform and supply chain solutions, Celestica brings global expertise and insight at every stage of product development - from the drawing board to full-scale production and after-market services. With talented teams across North America, Europe and Asia, we imagine, develop and deliver a better future with our customers.

For more information on Celestica, visit www.celestica.com. Our securities filings can be accessed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business; our priorities, goals and strategies; trends in the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry and our segments (including the components thereof), and their anticipated impact; the anticipated impact of specified adverse market conditions in each of our segments (and/or component businesses) and near term expectations (positive and negative); our anticipated financial and/or operational results, and our anticipated Q2 2021 non-IFRS adjusted effective tax rate; materials constraints; our intention to submit claims for COVID Subsidies; our credit risk; our liquidity; anticipated charges and expenses, including restructuring charges; the potential impact of tax and litigation outcomes; mandatory prepayments under our credit facility; interest rates; and our financial statement estimates and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements may, without limitation, be preceded by, followed by, or include words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “continues,” “project,” “potential,” “possible,” “contemplate,” “seek,” or similar expressions, or may employ such future or conditional verbs as “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “should,” or “would,” or may otherwise be indicated as forward-looking statements by grammatical construction, phrasing or context. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, where applicable, and applicable Canadian securities laws.

Forward-looking statements are provided to assist readers in understanding management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks related to: customer and segment concentration; challenges of replacing revenue from completed, lost or non-renewed programs or customer disengagements; our customers' ability to compete and succeed using our products and services; price, margin pressures, and other competitive factors and adverse market conditions affecting, and the highly competitive nature of, the EMS industry in general and our segments in particular (including the risk that anticipated market improvements do not materialize); changes in our mix of customers and/or the types of products or services we provide, including negative impacts of higher concentrations of lower margin programs; the cyclical and volatile nature of our semiconductor business; delays in the delivery and availability of components, services and materials; managing changes in customer demand; rapidly evolving and changing technologies, and changes in our customers' business or outsourcing strategies; the expansion or consolidation of our operations; volatility in the commercial aerospace industry; the inability to maintain adequate utilization of our workforce; the nature of the display market; defects or deficiencies in our products, services or designs; integrating and achieving the anticipated benefits from acquisitions and "operate-in-place" arrangements; compliance with customer-driven policies and standards, and third-party certification requirements; challenges associated with new customers or programs, or the provision of new services; the impact of our restructuring actions and/or productivity initiatives, including a failure to achieve anticipated benefits from actions associated with the review of our CCS segment portfolio (CCS Review), including the Cisco Disengagement; negative impacts on our business resulting from outstanding third-party indebtedness; the incurrence of future restructuring charges, impairment charges, other write-downs of assets or operating losses; managing our business during uncertain market, political and economic conditions, including among others, geopolitical and other risks associated with our international operations, including military actions, protectionism and reactive countermeasures, economic or other sanctions or trade barriers; disruptions to our operations, or those of our customers, component suppliers and/or logistics partners, including as a result of events outside of our control, including, among others: Britain's departure from the European Union (Brexit), policies or legislation instituted by the former or new administration in the U.S. (including tax reform), the potential impact of significant tariffs on items imported into the U.S. and related countermeasures, and/or the impact of (in addition to COVID-19) other widespread illness or disease; the scope, duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its severe, prolonged and continuing adverse impact on the commercial aerospace industry; changes to our operating model; changing commodity, materials and component costs as well as labor costs and conditions; execution and/or quality issues (including our ability to successfully resolve these challenges); non-performance by counterparties; maintaining sufficient financial resources to fund currently anticipated financial actions and obligations and to pursue desirable business opportunities; negative impacts on our business resulting from any significant uses of cash, securities issuances, and/or additional increases in third-party indebtedness (including as a result of an inability to sell desired amounts under our uncommitted accounts receivable sales program); foreign currency volatility; our global operations and supply chain; competitive bid selection processes; customer relationships with emerging companies; recruiting or retaining skilled talent; our dependence on industries affected by rapid technological change; our ability to adequately protect intellectual property and confidential information; increasing taxes, tax audits, and challenges of defending our tax positions; obtaining, renewing or meeting the conditions of tax incentives and credits; computer viruses, malware, hacking attempts or outages that may disrupt our operations; the inability to prevent or detect all errors or fraud; the variability of revenue and operating results; unanticipated disruptions to our cash flows; compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and government subsidies, grants or credits; the management of our information technology systems; our pension and other benefit plan obligations; changes in accounting judgments, estimates and assumptions; our ability to maintain compliance with applicable credit facility covenants; interest rate fluctuations and changes to LIBOR; deterioration in financial markets or the macro-economic environment; our credit rating; the interest of our controlling shareholder; current or future litigation, governmental actions, and/or changes in legislation or accounting standards; negative publicity; and our ability to achieve our environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiative goals, including with respect to climate change. The foregoing and other material risks and uncertainties are discussed in our public filings at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, including in our most recent MD&A, our 2020 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with, and subsequent reports on Form 6-K furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and as applicable, the Canadian Securities Administrators.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on various assumptions, many of which involve factors that are beyond our control. Our material assumptions include those related to the following: the scope and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our sites, customers and supply chain; fluctuation of production schedules from our customers in terms of volume and mix of products or services; the timing and execution of, and investments associated with, ramping new business; the success of our customers’ products; our ability to retain programs and customers; the stability of general economic and market conditions and currency exchange rates; supplier performance, pricing and terms; compliance by third parties with their contractual obligations; the costs and availability of components, materials, services, equipment, labor, energy and transportation; that our customers will retain liability for recently-imposed tariffs and countermeasures; global tax legislation changes; our ability to keep pace with rapidly changing technological developments; the timing, execution and effect of restructuring actions; the successful resolution of quality issues that arise from time to time; our having sufficient financial resources to fund currently anticipated financial actions and obligations and to pursue desirable business opportunities; the components of our leverage ratio (as defined in our credit facility); our ability to successfully diversify our customer base and develop new capabilities; the availability of cash resources for, and the permissibility under our credit facility of, repurchases of outstanding subordinate voting shares under our normal course issuer bid; the impact of actions associated with the CCS Review, including the Cisco Disengagement, on our business, and that we achieve the anticipated benefits therefrom; anticipated demand strength in certain of our businesses; and anticipated demand weakness in, and/or the impact of anticipated adverse market conditions on, certain of our businesses. Although management believes its assumptions to be reasonable under the current circumstances, they may prove to be inaccurate, which could cause actual results to differ materially (and adversely) from those that would have been achieved had such assumptions been accurate. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
  
All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.

Schedule 1

Supplementary Non-IFRS Financial Measures

The non-IFRS financial measures included in this press release are: adjusted gross profit, adjusted gross margin (adjusted gross profit as a percentage of revenue), adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A), adjusted SG&A as a percentage of revenue, operating earnings (adjusted EBIAT), operating margin (adjusted EBIAT or operating earnings as a percentage of revenue), adjusted net earnings, adjusted EPS, adjusted return on invested capital (adjusted ROIC), free cash flow, adjusted tax expense and adjusted effective tax rate. Adjusted EBIAT, adjusted ROIC, free cash flow, adjusted tax expense and adjusted effective tax rate are further described in the tables below. In calculating our non-IFRS financial measures, management excludes the following items, where applicable: employee stock-based compensation (SBC) expense, amortization of intangible assets (excluding computer software), Other Charges, net of recoveries (defined below), and acquisition inventory fair value adjustments, all net of the associated tax adjustments (which are set forth in the table below), and non-core tax impacts (tax adjustments related to acquisitions, and certain other tax costs or recoveries related to restructuring actions or restructured sites).

We believe the non-IFRS financial measures we present herein are useful to investors, as they enable investors to evaluate and compare our results from operations in a more consistent manner (by excluding specific items that we do not consider to be reflective of our ongoing operating results), to evaluate cash resources that we generate from our business each period, and to provide an analysis of operating results using the same measures our chief operating decision makers use to measure performance. In addition, management believes that the use of a non-IFRS adjusted tax expense and a non-IFRS adjusted effective tax rate provide improved insight into the tax effects of our ongoing operations, and are useful to management and investors for historical comparisons and forecasting. These non-IFRS financial measures result largely from management’s determination that the facts and circumstances surrounding the excluded charges or recoveries are not indicative of the ordinary course of our ongoing operations.

Non-IFRS financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies that report under IFRS, or who report under U.S. GAAP and use non-GAAP financial measures to describe similar financial metrics. Non-IFRS financial measures are not measures of performance under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any IFRS financial measure.

The most significant limitation to management’s use of non-IFRS financial measures is that the charges or credits excluded from the non-IFRS financial measures are nonetheless recognized under IFRS and have an economic impact on us. Management compensates for these limitations primarily by issuing IFRS results to show a complete picture of our performance, and reconciling non-IFRS financial measures back to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.

The economic substance of the exclusions described above (where applicable to the periods presented) and management’s rationale for excluding them from non-IFRS financial measures is provided below:

Employee SBC expense, which represents the estimated fair value of stock options, restricted share units and performance share units granted to employees, is excluded because grant activities vary significantly from quarter-to-quarter in both quantity and fair value. In addition, excluding this expense allows us to better compare core operating results with those of our competitors who also generally exclude employee SBC expense in assessing operating performance, who may have different granting patterns and types of equity awards, and who may use different valuation assumptions than we do.

Amortization charges (excluding computer software) consist of non-cash charges against intangible assets that are impacted by the timing and magnitude of acquired businesses. Amortization of intangible assets varies among our competitors, and we believe that excluding these charges permits a better comparison of core operating results with those of our competitors who also generally exclude amortization charges in assessing operating performance.

Other Charges, net of recoveries, consist of, when applicable: Restructuring Charges, net of recoveries (defined below); Transition Costs (defined below); net Impairment charges (defined below); consulting, transaction and integration costs related to potential and completed acquisitions, and charges or releases related to the subsequent re-measurement of indemnification assets or the release of indemnification or other liabilities recorded in connection with our acquisition of Impakt Holdings, LLC (such releases were first recorded in Q1 2021) (collectively, Acquisition Costs (Recoveries)); legal settlements (recoveries); credit facility-related charges; and post-employment benefit plan losses. We exclude these charges, net of recoveries, because we believe that they are not directly related to ongoing operating results and do not reflect expected future operating expenses after completion of these activities or incurrence of the relevant costs. Our competitors may record similar charges at different times, and we believe these exclusions permit a better comparison of our core operating results with those of our competitors who also generally exclude these types of charges, net of recoveries, in assessing operating performance.

Restructuring Charges, net of recoveries, consist of costs relating to: employee severance, lease terminations, site closings and consolidations; write-downs of owned property and equipment which are no longer used and are available for sale; and reductions in infrastructure.

Transition Costs consist of: (i) costs recorded in connection with the relocation of our Toronto manufacturing operations, and the move of our corporate headquarters into and out of a temporary location during, and upon completion, of the construction of space in a new office building at our former location (all in connection with the sale of our Toronto real property) (collectively, Toronto Transition Costs) and (ii) costs recorded in connection with the transfer of manufacturing lines from closed sites to other sites within our global network (Internal Relocation Costs). Transition Costs consist of direct relocation and duplicate costs (such as rent expense, utility costs, depreciation charges, and personnel costs) incurred during the transition periods, as well as cease-use costs incurred in connection with idle or vacated portions of the relevant premises that we would not have incurred but for these relocations and transfers. We believe that excluding these costs permits a better comparison of our core operating results from period-to-period, as these costs will not reflect our ongoing operations once these relocations and manufacturing line transfers are complete.

Impairment charges, which consist of non-cash charges against goodwill, intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, and right-of-use (ROU) assets, result primarily when the carrying value of these assets exceeds their recoverable amount.

Acquisition inventory fair value adjustments relate to the write-up of the inventory acquired in connection with our acquisitions, representing the difference between the cost and fair value of such inventory. We exclude the impact of the recognition of these adjustments, when incurred, because we believe such exclusion permits a better comparison of our core operating results from period-to-period, as their impact is not indicative of our ongoing operating performance.

Non-core tax impacts are excluded, as we believe that these costs or recoveries do not reflect core operating performance and vary significantly among those of our competitors who also generally exclude these costs or recoveries in assessing operating performance.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the various non-IFRS financial measures discussed above, and a reconciliation of non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures (in millions, except percentages and per share amounts):


 Three months ended March 31
 2020 2021
  % of
revenue
  % of
revenue
IFRS revenue$1,318.6    $1,234.9   
      
IFRS gross profit$91.0  6.9 % $101.5  8.2%
Employee SBC expense4.8    4.9   
Non-IFRS adjusted gross profit$95.8  7.3 % $106.4  8.6%
      
IFRS SG&A$56.4  4.3 % $58.8  4.8%
Employee SBC expense(6.5)   (5.2)  
Non-IFRS adjusted SG&A$49.9  3.8 % $53.6  4.3%
      
IFRS earnings before income taxes$2.3  0.2 % $15.7  1.3%
Finance costs10.8    8.0   
Employee SBC expense11.3    10.1   
Amortization of intangible assets (excluding computer software)5.7    4.9   
Other Charges8.0    4.6   
Non-IFRS operating earnings (adjusted EBIAT) (1)$38.1  2.9 % $43.3  3.5%
      
IFRS net earnings (loss)$(3.2) (0.2)% $10.5  0.9%
Employee SBC expense11.3    10.1   
Amortization of intangible assets (excluding computer software)5.7    4.9   
Other Charges8.0    4.6   
Adjustments for taxes (2)(1.1)   (2.3)  
Non-IFRS adjusted net earnings$20.7    $27.8   
      
Diluted EPS     
Weighted average # of shares (in millions) *129.0    129.0   
IFRS earnings (loss) per share *$(0.02)   $0.08   
Non-IFRS adjusted earnings per share$0.16    $0.22   
# of shares outstanding at period end (in millions)129.1    128.4   
      
IFRS cash provided by operations$83.3    $48.8   
Purchase of property, plant and equipment, net of sales proceeds(12.2)   (12.6)  
Lease payments (3)(8.4)   (9.6)  
Finance costs paid (excluding debt issuance costs paid) (3)(8.9)   (5.7)  
Non-IFRS free cash flow (3)$53.8    $20.9   
      
IFRS ROIC % (4)0.6 %  3.9 % 
Non-IFRS adjusted ROIC % (4)9.5 %  10.8 % 


*       IFRS earnings (loss) per diluted share is calculated by dividing IFRS net earnings (loss) by the number of diluted weighted average shares outstanding (DWAS). In order to calculate IFRS loss per diluted share for Q1 2020, we used a DWAS of 129.0 million as at March 31, 2020. Because we reported a net loss on an IFRS basis in Q1 2020, the DWAS for such period-end excluded 0.2 million subordinate voting shares underlying in-the-money stock-based awards, as including these shares would be anti-dilutive. However, we included these shares in the DWAS used to calculate non-IFRS adjusted earnings (per diluted share) for Q1 2020, because such shares were dilutive in relation to this non-IFRS financial measure.
  
(1)Management uses non-IFRS operating earnings (adjusted EBIAT) as a measure to assess performance related to our core operations. Non-IFRS adjusted EBIAT is defined as earnings (loss) before income taxes, finance costs (defined below), employee SBC expense, amortization of intangible assets (excluding computer software), Other Charges (recoveries) (defined above), and in applicable periods, acquisition inventory fair value adjustments. Finance costs consist of interest expense and fees related to our credit facility (including debt issuance and related amortization costs), our interest rate swap agreements, our accounts receivable sales program and customers' supplier financing programs, and interest expense on our lease obligations, net of interest income earned. See note 8 to our Q1 2021 Interim Financial Statements for separate quantification and discussion of the components of Other Charges.
  
(2)       The adjustments for taxes, as applicable, represent the tax effects of our non-IFRS adjustments and non-core tax impacts (see below).

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of our IFRS tax expense and IFRS effective tax rate to our non-IFRS adjusted tax expense and our non-IFRS adjusted effective tax rate for the periods indicated, in each case determined by excluding the tax benefits or costs associated with the listed items (in millions, except percentages) from our IFRS tax expense for such periods:

        

 Three months ended
 March 31
 2020Effective
tax rate
 2021Effective
tax rate
     
IFRS tax expense and IFRS effective tax rate$5.5 239% $5.2 33%
      
Tax costs (benefits) of the following items excluded from IFRS tax expense:     
Employee SBC expense0.3   0.9  
Other Charges0.4   0.3  
Non-core tax impacts related to tax uncertainties*0.4     
Non-core tax impact related to restructured sites**   1.1  
Non-IFRS adjusted tax expense and non-IFRS adjusted effective tax rate$6.6 24% $7.5 21%






*
Consists of the reversal of certain tax uncertainties related to a prior acquisition that became statute-barred in Q1 2020.

** Consists of the reversals of tax uncertainties related to one of our Asian subsidiaries that completed its liquidation and dissolution during Q1 2021.

(3)    Management uses non-IFRS free cash flow as a measure, in addition to IFRS cash provided by (used in) operations, to assess our operational cash flow performance. We believe non-IFRS free cash flow provides another level of transparency to our liquidity. Non-IFRS free cash flow is defined as cash provided by (used in) operations after the purchase of property, plant and equipment (net of proceeds from the sale of certain surplus equipment and property), lease payments and finance costs paid (excluding any debt issuance costs and when applicable, waiver fees related to our credit facility). We do not consider debt issuance costs (nil paid in Q1 2021; $0.3 million paid in Q1 2020) or such waiver fees (when applicable) to be part of our core operating expenses. As a result, these costs are excluded from total finance costs paid in our determination of non-IFRS free cash flow. Note, however, that non-IFRS free cash flow does not represent residual cash flow available to Celestica for discretionary expenditures.
  
(4)Management uses non-IFRS adjusted ROIC as a measure to assess the effectiveness of the invested capital we use to build products or provide services to our customers, by quantifying how well we generate earnings relative to the capital we have invested in our business. Non-IFRS adjusted ROIC is calculated by dividing non-IFRS adjusted EBIAT by average net invested capital. Net invested capital (calculated in the table below) is defined as total assets less: cash, ROU assets, accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities, provisions, and income taxes payable. We use a two-point average to calculate average net invested capital for the quarter. A comparable measure under IFRS would be determined by dividing IFRS earnings (loss) before income taxes by average net invested capital (which we have set forth in the charts above and below), however, this measure (which we have called IFRS ROIC), is not a measure defined under IFRS.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, our calculation of IFRS ROIC % and non-IFRS adjusted ROIC % (in millions, except IFRS ROIC % and non-IFRS adjusted ROIC %).

  Three months ended 
  March 31 
  2020 2021 
      
IFRS earnings before income taxes $2.3  $15.7  
Multiplier to annualize earnings 4  4  
Annualized IFRS earnings before income taxes $9.2  $62.8  
      
Average net invested capital for the period $1,603.4  $1,609.8  
      
IFRS ROIC % (1) 0.6% 3.9% 
      
  Three months ended 
  March 31 
  2020 2021 
      
Non-IFRS operating earnings (adjusted EBIAT) $38.1  $43.3  
Multiplier to annualize earnings 4  4  
Annualized non-IFRS adjusted EBIAT $152.4  $173.2  
      
Average net invested capital for the period $1,603.4  $1,609.8  
      
Non-IFRS adjusted ROIC % (1) 9.5% 10.8% 
      
  December 31
2020
 March 31
2021
 
      
Net invested capital consists of:     
Total assets $3,664.1  $3,553.4  
Less: cash 463.8  449.4  
Less: ROU assets 101.0  98.4  
Less: accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities, provisions and income taxes payable 1,478.4  1,407.0  
Net invested capital at period end (1) $1,620.9  $1,598.6  
      
  December 31
2019
 March 31
2020
 
      
Net invested capital consists of:     
Total assets $3,560.7  $3,537.8  
Less: cash 479.5  472.1  
Less: ROU assets 104.1  96.9  
Less: accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities, provisions and income taxes payable 1,341.7  1,397.5  
Net invested capital at period end (1) $1,635.4  $1,571.3  

(1)   See footnote 4 of the previous table.

CELESTICA INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(in millions of U.S. dollars)
(unaudited)

 NoteDecember 31
2020
 March 31
2021
     
Assets    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $463.8   $449.4  
Accounts receivable41,093.4   965.0  
Inventories51,091.5   1,153.6  
Income taxes receivable 6.8   6.6  
Other current assets 81.7   66.2  
Total current assets 2,737.2   2,640.8  
     
Property, plant and equipment 332.5   325.1  
Right-of-use assets 101.0   98.4  
Goodwill 198.6   198.4  
Intangible assets 229.4   224.6  
Deferred income taxes 39.9   41.4  
Other non-current assets 25.5   24.7  
Total assets $3,664.1   $3,553.4  
     
Liabilities and Equity    
Current liabilities:    
Current portion of borrowings under credit facility and lease obligations6$99.8   $83.6  
Accounts payable 854.5   857.9  
Accrued and other current liabilities5553.1   486.8  
Income taxes payable 51.8   44.9  
Current portion of provisions 19.0   17.4  
Total current liabilities 1,578.2   1,490.6  
     
Long-term portion of borrowings under credit facility and lease obligations6486.1   469.7  
Pension and non-pension post-employment benefit obligations 117.3   114.8  
Provisions and other non-current liabilities 41.2   40.0  
Deferred income taxes 32.3   27.7  
Total liabilities 2,255.1   2,142.8  
     
Equity:    
Capital stock71,834.2   1,824.1  
Treasury stock7(15.7)  (2.5) 
Contributed surplus 974.5   973.5  
Deficit (1,368.8)  (1,358.3) 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (15.2)  (26.2) 
Total equity 1,409.0   1,410.6  
Total liabilities and equity $3,664.1   $3,553.4  
     

         
Commitments and Contingencies (note 12).

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.


CELESTICA INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

   Three months ended
   March 31
 Note 2020 2021
      
Revenue3 $1,318.6   $1,234.9  
Cost of sales5 1,227.6   1,133.4  
Gross profit  91.0   101.5  
Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A)  56.4   58.8  
Research and development  6.8   8.8  
Amortization of intangible assets  6.7   5.6  
Other charges8 8.0   4.6  
Earnings from operations  13.1   23.7  
Finance costs  10.8   8.0  
Earnings before income taxes  2.3   15.7  
Income tax expense (recovery)9    
Current  3.8   10.7  
Deferred  1.7   (5.5) 
   5.5   5.2  
Net earnings (loss) for the period  $(3.2)  $10.5  
      
Basic earnings (loss) per share  $(0.02)  $0.08  
Diluted earnings (loss) per share  $(0.02)  $0.08  
      
Shares used in computing per share amounts (in millions):     
Basic  129.0   128.9  
Diluted  129.0   129.0  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

CELESTICA INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(in millions of U.S. dollars)
(unaudited)

   Three months ended
   March 31
   2020 2021
      
Net earnings (loss) for the period  $(3.2)  $10.5  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:     
Items that may be reclassified to net earnings (loss):     
Currency translation differences for foreign operations  (1.2)  (4.4) 
Changes from currency forward derivatives designated as hedges  (15.7)  (9.9) 
Changes from interest rate swap derivatives designated as hedges  (8.9)  3.3  
Total comprehensive loss for the period  $(29.0)  $(0.5) 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.


CELESTICA INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(in millions of U.S. dollars)
(unaudited)

 NoteCapital
stock

(note 7 )
 Treasury
stock

 (note 7)
 Contributed
surplus
 Deficit Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss (a)
 Total 
equity
Balance -- January 1, 2020 $1,832.1   $(14.8)  $982.6   $(1,420.1)  $(23.6)  $1,356.2  
Capital transactions7           
Issuance of capital stock 2.2      (2.2)          
Equity-settled stock-based compensation (SBC)    13.7   (2.0)        11.7  
Total comprehensive income (loss):            
Net loss for the period          (3.2)     (3.2) 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:            
Currency translation differences for foreign operations             (1.2)  (1.2) 
Changes from currency forward derivatives designated as hedges             (15.7)  (15.7) 
Changes from interest rate swap derivatives designated as hedges             (8.9)  (8.9) 
Balance -- March 31, 2020 $1,834.3   $(1.1)  $978.4   $(1,423.3)  $(49.4)  $1,338.9  
             
Balance -- January 1, 2021 $1,834.2   $(15.7)  $974.5   $(1,368.8)  $(15.2)  $1,409.0  
Capital transactions7           
Repurchase of capital stock for cancellation(b) (10.1)     1.7         (8.4) 
Equity-settled SBC    13.2   (2.7)        10.5  
Total comprehensive income (loss):            
Net earnings for the period          10.5      10.5  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:            
Currency translation differences for foreign operations             (4.4)  (4.4) 
Changes from currency forward derivatives designated as hedges             (9.9)  (9.9) 
Changes from interest rate swap derivatives designated as hedges             3.3   3.3  
Balance -- March 31, 2021 $1,824.1   $(2.5)  $973.5   $(1,358.3)  $(26.2)  $1,410.6  


(a) Accumulated other comprehensive loss is net of tax.
(b) Includes an accrual of $18.1 for the contractual maximum number of permitted subordinate voting share (SVS) repurchases as of March 31, 2021 under an automatic share purchase plan (ASPP) executed in March 2021, as well as a $15.0 reversal in the first quarter of 2021 of a prior accrual for the contractual maximum of SVS repurchases permitted as of December 31, 2020 under an ASPP executed in December 2020. No SVS repurchases were made under the December 2020 ASPP prior to its expiration in January 2021 (see note 7).

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.


CELESTICA INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions of U.S. dollars)
(unaudited)

  Three months ended
  March 31
 Note2020 2021
     
Cash provided by (used in):    
Operating activities:    
Net earnings (loss) for the period $(3.2)  $10.5  
Adjustments to net earnings (loss) for items not affecting cash:    
Depreciation and amortization 31.4   30.3  
Equity-settled SBC expense711.3   10.1  
Other charges (recoveries)81.5   (1.1) 
Finance costs 10.8   8.0  
Income tax expense 5.5   5.2  
Other 7.4   5.6  
Changes in non-cash working capital items:    
Accounts receivable 68.1   128.4  
Inventories (80.2)  (62.1) 
Other current assets    (1.7) 
Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities and provisions 39.3   (67.3) 
Non-cash working capital changes 27.2   (2.7) 
Net income tax paid (8.6)  (17.1) 
Net cash provided by operating activities 83.3   48.8  
     
Investing activities:    
Purchase of computer software and property, plant and equipment (12.3)  (12.6) 
Proceeds related to the sale of assets 0.1     
Net cash used in investing activities (12.2)  (12.6) 
     
Financing activities:    
Repayments under credit facility6(60.9)  (30.0) 
Payment of lease obligations (8.4)  (9.6) 
Repurchase of capital stock for cancellation7   (5.3) 
Finance costs paid6(9.2)  (5.7) 
Net cash used in financing activities (78.5)  (50.6) 
     
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (7.4)  (14.4) 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 479.5   463.8  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $472.1   $449.4  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.


CELESTICA INC.
 NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except percentages and per share amounts)
(unaudited)

1.             REPORTING ENTITY

Celestica Inc. (Celestica) is incorporated in Ontario with its corporate headquarters located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Celestica’s subordinate voting shares (SVS) are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

2.             BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Statement of compliance:

These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 (Q1 2021 Interim Financial Statements) have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard (IAS) 34, Interim Financial Reporting, and the accounting policies we have adopted in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), in each case as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), and reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly our financial position as at March 31, 2021 and our financial performance, comprehensive loss and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2021 (Q1 2021). The Q1 2021 Interim Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with our 2020 annual audited consolidated financial statements (2020 AFS), which are included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020. The Q1 2021 Interim Financial Statements are presented in United States (U.S.) dollars, which is also our functional currency. Unless otherwise noted, all financial information is presented in millions of U.S. dollars (except percentages and per share amounts).

The Q1 2021 Interim Financial Statements were authorized for issuance by our board of directors on April 28, 2021.

Use of estimates and judgments:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosures with respect to contingent assets and liabilities. We base our judgments, estimates and assumptions on current facts, historical experience and various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. The economic environment could also impact certain estimates and discount rates necessary to prepare our consolidated financial statements. Our assessment of these factors forms the basis for our judgments on the carrying values of our assets and liabilities, and the accrual of our costs and expenses. Actual results could differ materially from our estimates and assumptions. We review our estimates and underlying assumptions on an ongoing basis and make revisions as determined necessary by management. Revisions are recognized in the period in which the estimates are revised and may also impact future periods.

Coronavirus disease 2019 and related mutations (COVID-19) continue to create economic and business uncertainties. As a result, our review of the estimates, judgments and assumptions used in the preparation of the Q1 2021 Interim Financial Statements included consideration of actual and potential impacts of COVID-19, including with respect to, among other things: the determination of whether indicators of impairment existed for our assets and cash generating units (CGUs1), our estimated inventory provisions and expected credit losses, customer credit, and our eligibility for COVID-19-related government subsidies, grants and/or credits recognized during Q1 2021 (see note 11). Any revisions to estimates, judgments or assumptions (due to COVID-19 or otherwise) may result in, among other things, write-downs or impairments to our assets or CGUs, and/or adjustments to the carrying amount of our accounts receivable (A/R) and/or inventories, or to the valuation of our deferred tax assets, any of which could have a material impact on our financial performance and financial condition. However, we determined that no significant revisions to our estimates, judgments or assumptions were required for Q1 2021 as a result of COVID-19 (or otherwise). While we continue to believe the COVID-19 pandemic to be temporary, the situation is dynamic and the impact of COVID-19 on our financial performance and financial condition, including its impact on overall customer demand, cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. However, we continue to believe that our long-term estimates and assumptions are appropriate.

1 CGUs are the smallest identifiable group of assets that cannot be tested individually and generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those of other assets or groups of assets, and can be comprised of a single site, a group of sites, or a line of business.

Accounting policies:

The Q1 2021 Interim Financial Statements are based on accounting policies consistent with those described in note 2 to our 2020 AFS, and the recently adopted accounting standard discussed below.

Recently adopted accounting standard:

Interest Rate Benchmark Reform - Phase 2 (Amendments to IFRS 9 (Financial Instruments), IAS 39 (Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement), IFRS 7 (Financial Instruments: Disclosures), IFRS 4 (Insurance Contracts) and IFRS 16 (Leases)):

In August 2020, the IASB issued Interest Rate Benchmark Reform - Phase 2, which amends IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16. The amendments complement those issued in September 2019 and focus on the effects on financial statements when a company replaces a previous interest rate benchmark with an alternative benchmark rate as a result of Interbank Offered Rates (IBOR) reform. The Phase 2 amendments are effective for the Company's fiscal year commencing January 1, 2021, and we adopted the amendments as of such date. As of March 31, 2021, applicable interest rate benchmarks in the Company’s agreements have not been replaced. As a result, the adoption of the Phase 2 amendments had no impact on the Q1 2021 Interim Financial Statements. We will continue to monitor relevant developments and will evaluate the impact of the Phase 2 amendments on our consolidated financial statements as IBOR reform progresses.

3.             SEGMENT AND CUSTOMER REPORTING

Segments:

Celestica delivers innovative supply chain solutions globally to customers in two operating and reportable segments: Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS) and Connectivity & Cloud Solutions (CCS). Segment performance is evaluated based on segment revenue, segment income and segment margin (segment income as a percentage of segment revenue). See note 26 to our 2020 AFS for a description of the businesses that comprise our segments, and how segment revenue, segment income and segment margin are determined.

Information regarding the results of each reportable segment is set forth below:

Revenue by segment:Three months ended March 31
 2020  2021 
  % of total  % of total
ATS$547.0 41% $531.3 43%
CCS771.6 59% 703.6 57%
Communications end market revenue as a % of total revenue  39%   40%
Enterprise end market revenue as a % of total revenue  20%   17%
Total$1,318.6   $1,234.9  
      


Segment income, segment margin, and reconciliation of segment income to IFRS earnings before income taxes:Three months ended March 31
 Note2020 2021
   Segment Margin  Segment Margin
ATS segment income and margin $14.7 2.7% $21.3 4.0%
CCS segment income and margin 23.4 3.0% 22.0 3.1%
Total segment income 38.1   43.3  
Reconciling items:      
Finance costs 10.8   8.0  
Employee stock-based compensation (SBC) expense 11.3   10.1  
Amortization of intangible assets (excluding computer software) 5.7   4.9  
Other charges88.0   4.6  
IFRS earnings before income taxes $2.3   $15.7  

Customers:

We had no customers in Q1 2021 that individually represented 10% or more of total revenue. In the first quarter of 2020 (Q1 2020), we had one customer, Cisco Systems, Inc. (Cisco), a CCS segment customer, that individually represented 10% or more of total revenue. Our exit from programs with Cisco was completed in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Seasonality:

From time to time, we experience some level of seasonality in our quarterly revenue patterns across certain of our businesses. We also typically experience our lowest overall revenue levels during the first quarter of each year (there can be no assurance that this pattern will continue). The addition of new customers has also introduced different demand cycles from our existing customers, creating more volatility and unpredictability in our revenue patterns. These and other factors make it difficult to isolate the impact of seasonality on our business.

4.             ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Accounts receivable (A/R) sales program and supplier financing programs (SFPs):

We entered into an agreement in March 2020 with a third-party bank to sell up to $300.0 in A/R on an uncommitted basis, subject to pre-determined limits by customer. This agreement has a one-year term, with automatic annual one-year extensions, and may be terminated at any time by the bank or by us upon 3 months’ prior notice, or by the bank upon specified defaults. This agreement was automatically extended in March 2021. We are required to comply with covenants, including those relating to the fulfillment of payment obligations and restrictions on the sale, assignment or creation of liens, with respect to sold A/R. At March 31, 2021, we were in compliance with these covenants (December 31, 2020 — in compliance). Under our A/R sales program, we continue to collect cash from our customers and remit amounts collected to the bank weekly.

In addition, we participate in two SFPs (one with a CCS segment customer and one with an ATS segment customer), pursuant to which we sell A/R from the relevant customer to third-party banks on an uncommitted basis. The SFPs have an indefinite term and may be terminated at any time by the customer or by us upon specified prior notice. Under our SFPs, the third-party banks collect the relevant receivables directly from the customers.

At March 31, 2021, we sold $92.2 of A/R under our A/R sales program (December 31, 2020 — $119.7) and $84.5 of A/R (December 31, 2020 — $65.3) under the SFPs. We utilize the SFPs to substantially offset the effect of extended payment terms required by these customers on our working capital for the period.

The A/R sold under these programs are de-recognized from our A/R balance, and the proceeds are reflected as cash provided by operating activities in our consolidated statement of cash flows. Upon sale, we assign the rights to the A/R to the banks. A/R are sold net of discount charges, which are recorded as finance costs in our consolidated statement of operations.

Contract assets:

At March 31, 2021, our A/R balance included $201.7 of contract assets (December 31, 2020 — $231.8) recognized as revenue in accordance with our revenue recognition accounting policy.

5.             INVENTORIES

We record inventory provisions, net of valuation recoveries, in cost of sales. Inventory provisions reflect write-downs in the value of our inventory to net realizable value, and valuation recoveries primarily reflect gains on the disposition of previously written-down inventory. We recorded net inventory provisions of $2.4 for Q1 2021, primarily with respect to aged and excess inventory ($2.6 for Q1 2020, primarily with respect to aged inventory), the majority of which in both periods related to customers in our ATS segment. We regularly review the estimates and assumptions we use to value our inventory through analysis of historical performance, current conditions and future expectations.

Certain of our contracts provide for customer cash deposits to cover our risk of excess and obsolete inventory and/or for working capital requirements. Such deposits as of March 31, 2021 totaled $190.3 (December 31, 2020 — $174.7) and were recorded in accrued and other current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet.

6.          CREDIT FACILITIES AND LEASE OBLIGATIONS

In June 2018, we entered into an $800.0 credit agreement (Credit Facility) with Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto, which provides a $350.0 term loan (Initial Term Loan) that matures in June 2025, and a $450.0 revolving credit facility (Revolver) that matures in June 2023. In November 2018, we added an incremental term loan of $250.0 (Incremental Term Loan) under the Credit Facility, that matures in June 2025. The Initial Term Loan and the Incremental Term Loan are collectively referred to as the Term Loans.

The Term Loans required aggregate quarterly principal repayments of $1.5, and require a lump sum repayment of the remainder outstanding at maturity. Commencing in 2020, we are also required to make annual prepayments of outstanding obligations under the Credit Facility ranging from 0% — 50% (based on a defined leverage ratio) of specified excess cash flow for the prior fiscal year. A mandatory prepayment of our Term Loans of $107.0 (ECF Amount) was required in the second quarter of 2020 (Q2 2020) under this provision, which we paid during the first and second quarters of 2020 ($60.0 and $47.0, respectively). No such prepayments based on 2020 excess cash flow will be required in 2021. In addition, prepayments of outstanding obligations under the Credit Facility may also be required in the amount of specified net cash proceeds received above a specified annual threshold. No Credit Facility prepayments based on net cash proceeds were or will be required during 2020 or 2021, respectively. Any outstanding amounts under the Revolver are due at maturity.

In Q1 2021, we repaid an aggregate of $30.0 under our Incremental Term Loan. During Q1 2020, we made the scheduled quarterly principal repayment of $0.875 under the Initial Term Loan, and also prepaid an aggregate of $60.0 under the Incremental Term Loan. This prepayment was first applied to the Q1 2020 and all remaining scheduled quarterly principal repayments of the Incremental Term Loan prior to maturity, and thereafter to remaining principal amounts outstanding thereunder. This prepayment also reduced the ECF Amount due in Q2 2020 to $47.0. In Q2 2020, we prepaid $47.0 under the Initial Term Loan. This prepayment was first applied to the scheduled quarterly principal repayment for Q2 2020 and all remaining scheduled quarterly principal repayments of the Initial Term Loan prior to maturity, and thereafter to remaining principal amounts outstanding thereunder, and eliminated the remainder of the ECF Amount. Subsequent to this prepayment, we prepaid an additional $14.0 under the Term Loans in June 2020. No further prepayments were required or made during 2020.

At March 31, 2021, we were in compliance with all restrictive and financial covenants under the Credit Facility (December 31, 2020 — in compliance).

The following tables set forth, at the dates shown, outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility, excluding ordinary course letters of credit (L/Cs), outstanding lease obligations, and information regarding outstanding L/Cs, surety bonds and overdraft facilities:

 Outstanding borrowings Notional amounts under interest rate swaps (note 10)
 December 31
2020
 March 31
2021
 December 31
2020
 March 31
2021
Borrowings under the Revolver$   $   $  $ 
Borrowings under the Term Loans:       
Initial Term Loan$295.4   $295.4   $175.0  $175.0 
Incremental Term Loan175.0   145.0   100.0  100.0 
Total$470.4   $440.4   $275.0  $275.0 
                  
Total borrowings under Credit Facility$470.4   $440.4      
Unamortized debt issuance costs related to our Term Loans(7.2)  (6.7)     
Lease obligations122.7   119.6      
 $585.9   $553.3      
Current and long-term portion of Credit Facility and lease obligations:       
Current portion$99.8   $83.6      
Long-term portion486.1   469.7      
 $585.9   $553.3      
L/Cs, surety bonds and overdraft facilities:       
Outstanding L/Cs under the Revolver$21.3   $21.3      
Outstanding L/Cs and surety bonds outside the Revolver20.2   18.9      
Total$41.5   $40.2      
              
Available uncommitted bank overdraft facilities$162.7   $162.7      
Amounts outstanding under available uncommitted bank overdraft facilities$   $      

Finance costs consist of interest expense and fees related to our Credit Facility (including debt issuance and related amortization costs), our interest rate swap agreements, our A/R sales program and our SFPs, and interest expense on our lease obligations, net of interest income earned. We paid finance costs of $5.7 in Q1 2021 (Q1 2020 — $9.2).

7.             CAPITAL STOCK

SVS Repurchase Plans:

On November 19, 2020, the TSX accepted our notice to launch a normal course issuer bid (2020 NCIB), which allows us to repurchase, at our discretion, from November 24, 2020 until the earlier of November 23, 2021 or the completion of purchases thereunder, up to approximately 9.0 million SVS in the open market, or as otherwise permitted, subject to the normal terms and limitations of such bids. The maximum number of SVS we are permitted to repurchase for cancellation under the 2020 NCIB is reduced by the number of SVS purchased in the open market during the term of the 2020 NCIB to satisfy delivery obligations under our stock-based compensation (SBC) plans (see below). As part of the 2020 NCIB process, in March 2021, we entered into an Automatic Share Purchase Plan (ASPP) with a broker, which under current instructions allows the broker to purchase, on our behalf (for cancellation under the 2020 NCIB), including during any applicable trading blackout period, up to 100,000 SVS per day at specified prices through May 3, 2021. During Q1 2021, we paid $5.3 (including transaction fees) to repurchase and cancel 0.6 million SVS at a weighted average price of $8.35 per share (including 0.01 million SVS repurchased under the March 2021 ASPP). As of March 31, 2021, up to 8.4 million SVS remain available for repurchase under the 2020 NCIB either for cancellation or SBC delivery purposes. At March 31, 2021, we recorded an accrual of $18.1, representing the contractual maximum number of additional permitted SVS repurchases through May 3, 2021 (2.2 million SVS) pursuant to current instructions under the March 2021 ASPP. At December 31, 2020, we recorded an accrual of $15.0, representing the contractual maximum number of permitted SVS repurchases (2.0 million SVS) under a previous ASPP executed in December 2020. We reversed this accrual in Q1 2021, as no repurchases were made under such ASPP prior to its expiration in January 2021.

SVS repurchases:

Information regarding SVS repurchase activities for the periods indicated is set forth below*:

  Three months ended March 31
  2020 2021
Aggregate cost(1) of SVS repurchased for cancellation (2) $  $5.3 
Number of SVS repurchased for cancellation (in millions)(2)    0.6 
Weighted average price per share for repurchases $  $8.35 


*No SVS were repurchased for delivery under stock-based compensation plans in either period.
(1)Includes transaction fees.
(2)Excludes an accrual of $18.1 we recorded as at March 31, 2021 for the contractual maximum number of permitted SVS repurchases as of March 31, 2021 under the March 2021 ASPP.

SBC:

From time to time, we pay cash to a broker to purchase SVS in the open market to satisfy delivery requirements under our SBC plans. At March 31, 2021, the broker held 0.4 million SVS with a value of $2.5 (December 31, 2020 — 2.4 million SVS with a value of $15.7) for this purpose, which we report as treasury stock on our consolidated balance sheet. We used 2.0 million of the SVS held as of December 31, 2020 to settle SBC awards that vested during Q1 2021.

We grant restricted share units (RSUs) and performance share units (PSUs) to employees under our SBC plans. The majority of RSUs vest one-third per year over a three-year period. The number of outstanding PSUs that will actually vest will vary from 0% to 200% of a target amount granted based on the level of achievement of a pre-determined non-market performance measurement in the final year of a three-year performance period, subject to modification by each of a separate pre-determined non-market financial target and our relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR) performance over the three-year vesting period. The portion of our expense that relates to performance-based compensation is subject to adjustment in any period to reflect changes in the estimated level of achievement of pre-determined goals and financial targets. We also grant deferred share units (DSUs) and RSUs (under specified circumstances) to directors as compensation under our Directors' Share Compensation Plan. See note 2(l) to the 2020 AFS for further detail.

Information regarding RSU, PSU and DSU grants to employees and directors, as applicable, for the periods indicated is set forth below:

 Three months ended March 31
 2020 2021
RSUs Granted:
Number of awards (in millions)2.1  2.4 
Weighted average grant date fair value per unit$8.84  $8.11 
 
PSUs Granted:
Number of awards (in millions, representing 100% of target)1.7  1.8 
Weighted average grant date fair value per unit$9.92  $8.82 
    
DSUs Granted:
Number of awards (in millions)0.10  0.03 
Weighted average grant date fair value per unit$3.50  $8.37 

Information regarding employee and director SBC expense for the periods indicated is set forth below:

 Three months ended March 31 
 2020 2021 
Employee SBC expense in cost of sales$4.8  $4.9  
Employee SBC expense in SG&A6.5  5.2  
Total$11.3  $10.1  
     
Director SBC expense in SG&A (1)$0.5  $0.5  

(1) Expense consists of director compensation that is to be settled with SVS, or SVS and cash, as elected by each director.

8.             OTHER CHARGES

  Three months ended March 31
  2020 2021
Restructuring (a) $8.0  $5.8  
Transition Costs (b)   0.1  
Acquisition Costs (Recoveries) and Other (c)   (1.3) 
  $8.0  $4.6  

(a)        Restructuring:

During Q1 2021, we recorded restructuring charges of $5.8 (Q1 2020 — $8.0). Our restructuring charges for Q1 2021 consisted primarily of actions to adjust our cost base to address reduced levels of demand in certain of our businesses, due in part to the impact of COVID-19, including continued actions to right-size our commercial aerospace facilities.

We recorded cash restructuring charges of $5.7 and non-cash restructuring charges of $0.1 in Q1 2021. The cash charges consisted primarily of employee termination costs, and the non-cash charges reflect the write-down of right-of-use (ROU) assets in connection with vacated properties. During Q1 2020, we recorded cash charges of $6.5, primarily for employee termination costs, and non-cash charges of $1.5 to write down certain equipment related to disengaged programs. At March 31, 2021, our restructuring provision was $3.8 (December 31, 2020 — $4.7), which we recorded in the current portion of provisions on our consolidated balance sheet.

(b)        Transition Costs:

We incurred $0.1 of Transition Costs (defined in note 16(c) to the 2020 AFS) in Q1 2021 (nil in Q1 2020) pertaining to the transfer of manufacturing lines from closed sites to other sites within our global network.

(c)        Acquisition Costs (Recoveries) and Other:

We incur consulting, transaction and integration costs relating to potential and completed acquisitions. We also incur charges or releases related to the subsequent re-measurement of indemnification assets or the release of indemnification or other liabilities recorded in connection with our acquisition of Impakt Holdings, LLC (Impakt). Collectively, these costs, charges and releases are referred to as Acquisition Costs (Recoveries). Net Acquisition Recoveries of $0.8 during Q1 2021 consisted of $0.4 in consulting costs related to potential acquisitions and $1.2 of releases related to certain indirect tax liabilities previously recorded in connection with our acquisition of Impakt. No Acquisition Costs (Recoveries) were recorded in Q1 2020. Other consists of legal recoveries in Q1 2021 (for component parts purchased in prior periods) in connection with the settlement of class action lawsuits in which we were a plaintiff.

9.         INCOME TAXES

Our income tax expense or recovery for each quarter is determined by multiplying the earnings or losses before tax for such quarter by management’s best estimate of the weighted-average annual income tax rate expected for the full year, taking into account the tax effect of certain items recognized in the interim period. As a result, the effective income tax rates used in our interim financial statements may differ from management’s estimate of the annual effective tax rate for the annual financial statements. Our estimated annual effective income tax rate varies as the quarters progress, for various reasons, including as a result of the mix and volume of business in various tax jurisdictions within the Americas, Europe and Asia, in jurisdictions with tax holidays and tax incentives, and in jurisdictions for which no net deferred income tax assets have been recognized because management believes it is not probable that future taxable profit will be available against which tax losses and deductible temporary differences could be utilized. Our annual effective income tax rate can also vary due to the impact of restructuring charges, foreign exchange fluctuations, operating losses, cash repatriations, and changes in our provisions related to tax uncertainties.

For Q1 2021, our net income tax expense of $5.2 was favorably impacted by $1.1 in reversals of tax uncertainties in one of our Asian subsidiaries that completed its liquidation and dissolution during the quarter. Taxable foreign exchange impacts for Q1 2021 were not significant.

For Q1 2020, our net income tax expense of $5.5 was favorably impacted by $5.7 in net reversals of tax uncertainties in certain of our Asian subsidiaries, offset in part by $3.0 of tax expense arising from taxable temporary differences associated with the then-anticipated repatriation of undistributed earnings from certain of our Chinese and Thai subsidiaries, and $1.0 in taxable foreign exchange impacts arising primarily from the weakening of the Chinese renminbi and Thai baht relative to the U.S. dollar.

10.          FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Our financial assets are comprised primarily of cash and cash equivalents, A/R, and derivatives used for hedging purposes. Our financial liabilities are comprised primarily of accounts payable, certain accrued and other liabilities, the Term Loans, borrowings under the Revolver, lease obligations, and derivatives. 

Interest rate risk:

Borrowings under the Credit Facility expose us to interest rate risk due to the potential variability of market interest rates. In order to partially hedge against our exposure to interest rate variability on our Term Loans, we have entered into various agreements with third-party banks to swap the variable interest rate (based on LIBOR plus a margin) with a fixed rate of interest for a portion of the borrowings under our Term Loans. At March 31, 2021, we had: (i) interest rate swaps hedging the interest rate risk associated with $175.0 of our Initial Term Loan borrowings, that allow us to cancel up to $75.0 of the notional amount of such swaps commencing in August 2021, and expire in August 2023, and additional interest rate swaps hedging the interest rate risk associated with $100.0 of our Initial Term Loan borrowings effective upon such expiration through June 2024; and (ii) interest rate swaps hedging the interest rate risk associated with $100.0 of our Incremental Term Loan borrowings that expire in December 2023. See note 21 to the 2020 AFS for additional detail regarding these interest rate swap agreements, including our exercise in December 2020 of an option to cancel $75.0 of the notional amount of the interest rate swaps covering the Incremental Term Loan (increasing the unhedged amount under the Incremental Term Loan by a corresponding amount).

At March 31, 2021, the interest rate risk related to $165.4 of borrowings under the Credit Facility was unhedged, consisting of unhedged amounts outstanding under the Term Loans ($120.4 under the Initial Term Loan and $45.0 under the Incremental Term Loan), and no amounts outstanding (other than ordinary course L/Cs) under the Revolver. See note 6.

At March 31, 2021, the fair value of our interest rate swap agreements was a net unrealized loss of $13.2, consisting of an unrealized gain of $0.3 for certain of our swaps, which we recorded in other non-current assets, and an unrealized loss of $13.5 on the remainder (December 31, 2020 — unrealized loss of $16.5), which we recorded in other non-current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet. The unrealized portion of the change in fair value of the swaps is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) (OCI). The realized portion of the change in fair value of the swaps is released from accumulated OCI and recognized under finance costs in our consolidated statement of operations in the respective interest payment periods.

Global reform of major interest rate benchmarks is currently underway, including the anticipated replacement of some Interbank Offered Rates (including LIBOR) with alternative nearly risk-free rates. See note 2, "Recently issued accounting standards and amendments" of the 2020 AFS. There remains uncertainty over the timing and methods of transition to such alternate rates.

We have obligations under our Credit Facility, lease arrangements, derivative instruments, and financing and discounting programs that are indexed to LIBOR (LIBOR Agreements). The interest rates under these agreements are subject to change when and if LIBOR ceases to exist. Our Credit Facility provides that when the administrative agent, the majority of lenders or we determine that LIBOR is unavailable or being replaced, then we and the administrative agent may amend the underlying credit agreement to reflect a successor rate. Once LIBOR becomes unavailable, if no successor rate has been established, applicable loans under the Credit Facility will convert to Base Rate loans. Certain of our other LIBOR Agreements also specify a successor rate once LIBOR ceases to exist, while the remaining LIBOR Agreements will require amendment. While we expect that reasonable alternatives to LIBOR will be implemented in advance of its cessation date, we cannot assure that this will be the case. If LIBOR is no longer available and the alternative reference rate is higher, interest rates under the affected LIBOR Agreements would increase, which would adversely impact our interest expense, A/R discount charges, and our financial performance and cash flows. In addition, hedge ineffectiveness could result due to the cessation of LIBOR, in particular where our interest rate swap agreements transition under the International Swaps and Derivative Association (ISDA) protocols using a different spread adjustment as compared to the underlying hedged debt. We will continue to monitor developments with respect to the cessation of LIBOR, and will evaluate potential impacts on our LIBOR Agreements, processes, systems, risk management methodology and valuations, financial reporting, taxes, and financial results. However, we are currently unable to predict when the publication of LIBOR will cease, nor what the future replacement rate or consequences on our operations or financial results will be.

Currency risk:

The majority of our currency risk is driven by operational costs, including income tax expense, incurred in local currencies by our subsidiaries. We cannot predict changes in currency exchange rates, the impact of exchange rate changes on our operating results, nor the degree to which we will be able to manage the impact of currency exchange rate changes. Such changes, including negative impacts on currency exchange rates related to the COVID-19 pandemic, could have a material effect on our business, financial performance and financial condition.

Our major currency exposures at March 31, 2021 are summarized in U.S. dollar equivalents in the following table. The local currency amounts have been converted to U.S. dollar equivalents using spot rates at March 31, 2021.

 Canadian
dollar
 Euro Thai
baht
 Chinese
renminbi
Cash and cash equivalents$1.7   $20.1   $2.4   $6.1  
Accounts receivable11.4   47.4      12.0  
Income taxes and value-added taxes receivable15.0   1.0   3.0   6.5  
Other financial assets   1.2   0.3   0.4  
Pension and non-pension post-employment liabilities(85.0)  (0.4)  (19.6)  (1.0) 
Income taxes and value-added taxes payable(1.0)  (0.3)  (4.9)  (9.7) 
Accounts payable and certain accrued and other liabilities and provisions(69.0)  (33.6)  (25.9)  (37.7) 
Net financial assets (liabilities)$(126.9)  $35.4   $(44.7)  $(23.4) 

We enter into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge our cash flow exposures and foreign currency swaps to hedge our balance sheet exposures. While these contracts are intended to reduce the effects of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, our hedging strategy does not mitigate the longer-term impacts of changes to foreign exchange rates. At March 31, 2021, we had foreign currency forwards and swaps to trade U.S. dollars in exchange for the following currencies:

CurrencyContract
amount in

U.S. dollars
 Weighted average
exchange rate in
U.S. dollars
 Maximum
period in
months
 Fair value
gain (loss)
Canadian dollar$233.2  $0.78  13 $3.4  
Thai baht111.9  0.03  12 (3.0) 
Malaysian ringgit44.7  0.24  12 0.3  
Mexican peso19.8  0.05  12 0.3  
British pound0.1  1.38  4   
Chinese renminbi47.3  0.15  12 0.5  
Euro38.2  1.19  8 1.8  
Romanian leu30.2  0.24  12 (0.1) 
Singapore dollar22.0  0.74  12 (0.1) 
Japanese yen10.4  0.0093  4 0.5  
Korean won6.4  0.0009  4 0.3  
Total$564.2      $3.9  

As of March 31, 2021, approximately two-thirds of the fair values of our outstanding foreign currency forward and swap contracts related to effective cash flow hedges where we applied hedge accounting, and the remainder were related to economic hedges where we recorded the changes in the fair values of such contracts through our consolidated statement of operations. At March 31, 2021, the fair value of our outstanding contracts was a net unrealized gain of $3.9 (December 31, 2020 — net unrealized gain of $23.3), resulting from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates between the contract execution and the period-end date.

Credit risk:

Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty may default on its contractual obligations resulting in a financial loss to us. We believe our credit risk of counterparty non-performance continues to be relatively low, notwithstanding the impact of COVID-19. We are in regular contact with our customers, suppliers and logistics providers, and to date have not experienced significant counterparty non-performance. However, if a key supplier (or any company within such supplier's supply chain) or customer fails to comply with their contractual obligations, this could result in a significant financial loss to us. We would also suffer a significant financial loss if an institution from which we purchased foreign currency exchange contracts and swaps, interest rate swaps, or annuities for our pension plans defaults on their contractual obligations. With respect to our financial market activities, we have adopted a policy of dealing only with credit-worthy counterparties. In light of COVID-19, we enhanced the monitoring of, and/or developed plans intended to mitigate any identified exposures from our customers, which enhancements and plans remain in effect. No significant adjustments were made to our allowance for doubtful accounts during Q1 2021 or Q1 2020 in connection with our ongoing assessments and monitoring initiatives.

Liquidity risk:

Liquidity risk is the risk that we may not have cash available to satisfy our financial obligations as they come due. The majority of our financial liabilities recorded in accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities and provisions are due within 90 days. We manage liquidity risk through maintenance of cash on hand and access to the various financing arrangements described in notes 4 and 6. We believe that cash flow from operating activities, together with cash on hand, cash from permitted sales of A/R (although there can be no assurance that any participant bank will purchase any of the A/R that we wish to sell), and borrowings available under the Revolver and potentially available under uncommitted intraday and overnight bank overdraft facilities are sufficient to fund our currently anticipated financial obligations, and will remain available in the current environment.

11.         COVID-19 GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES

The governments of various jurisdictions in which we have operations have approved legislation and taken administrative actions intended to aid businesses that have been adversely impacted by COVID-19, including making subsidies, grants and credits available to eligible entities to subsidize or offset qualifying expenses, including employee wages, or to lower payroll taxes or required social insurance program contributions (in certain countries), in each case subject to limits and other specified criteria (collectively, COVID Subsidies). We determined that we qualify for estimated aggregate of approximately $4 of COVID Subsidies for Q1 2021 (Q1 2020 — nil) from various government authorities, which we recognized as a reduction to the related expenses in cost of goods sold (Q1 2021 — approximately $3; Q1 2020 — nil) and SG&A (Q1 2021 — approximately $1; Q1 2020 — nil) on our consolidated statement of operations. As of March 31, 2021, we have received all but approximately $3 of the recognized COVID Subsidies, and have submitted, or expect to submit, claims for such remainder. The most significant of the COVID Subsidies that we recognized are provided under the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) first announced by the Government of Canada in April 2020.

12.         COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation and Other Matters:

In the normal course of our operations, we may be subject to lawsuits, investigations and other claims, including environmental, labor, product, customer disputes, and other matters. Management believes that adequate provisions have been recorded where required. Although it is not always possible to estimate the extent of potential costs, if any, we believe that the ultimate resolution of all such pending matters will not have a material adverse impact on our financial performance, financial position or liquidity.

In 2017, the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC) issued assessments seeking to disqualify certain research and development expenses for the years 2006 to 2009, which entitled our Brazilian subsidiary (which ceased operations in 2009) to charge reduced sales tax levies to its customers. Although we received lower re-assessments for 2007 and 2008 during Q1 2020 in response to our initial appeal, we intend to continue to appeal the original assessments and the re-assessments for all years from 2006 to 2009. See note 25 to the 2020 AFS for further details. The assessments and re-assessments, including interest and penalties, have been revised by the MCTIC, and as of March 31, 2021, total approximately 24 million Brazilian real (approximately $4 at period-end exchange rates) for all such years, reduced from original assessments totaling approximately 39 million Brazilian real (approximately $7 at period-end exchange rates).

The successful pursuit of assertions made by any government authority, including tax authorities, could result in our owing significant amounts of tax or other reimbursements, interest and possibly penalties. We believe we adequately accrue for any probable potential adverse ruling. However, there can be no assurance as to the final resolution of any claims and any resulting proceedings. If any claims and any ensuing proceedings are determined adversely to us, the amounts we may be required to pay could be material, and in excess of amounts accrued.

Contacts: Celestica Global Communications (416) 448-2200 media@celestica.com Celestica Investor Relations (416) 448-2211 clsir@celestica.com



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