LAVAL, Quebec –
Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc. (“Neptune” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: NEPT), a consumer-packaged goods company focused on plant-based, sustainable and purpose-driven lifestyle brands, today announced its financial and operating results for the three-month period ending June 30, 2023.
During the first quarter of 2024 Neptune continued to focus on operational improvements, cost reductions and operational efficiencies. In the first quarter the Company’s organic baby food product line, Sprout, performed well with 26% gross profit margins achieved, ahead of Neptune’s projection of 22% in 2024. Neptune continues to prioritize cost management and the implementation of measures to increase operational efficiency throughout the business and the Company expects to see this in further cost savings through fiscal 2024.
First Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights:
Consolidated net revenue of $10.6 million, down from $16.3 million for the same period last year. This is largely due to a decrease of $2.7 million or 100% in Cannabis revenues from the now-divested Cannabis business, as well as decrease of $2.9 million in nutraceutical revenues versus the same period last year due to timing of orders, offset by an increase in revenue from food and beverages.
Gross profit of $2.8 million compared to a gross loss of $4.5 million for the same period last year. This improvement to the gross profit was attributable to the increase in food and beverage revenues, the divestiture of the cannabis business and cost cutting measures, offset by the decrease in nutraceutical revenues due to timing of customer orders.
Consolidated SG&A expenses of $10.0 million compared to $9.0 million in Q1 of fiscal 2023, an increase of $1.0 million or 12%. This was primarily due to the increase in consulting expenses and accounting fees relating to the filing of the 10K.
Sprout achieved gross margins of 26% in the first quarter, ahead of our previous guidance targeting 22% for fiscal 2024.
Biodroga reported gross margins of 28%, reflecting effective cost management initiatives.
Reported first quarter net loss of $6.4 million compared to a reported net loss of $6.5 million in the comparable period in fiscal 2023.
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) loss of $7.3 million compared to an Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) loss of $11.4 million same period 2023.
First Quarter Business Highlights:
Secured inventory financing for Sprout through an invoice purchase and security agreement partnership, amending the maximum available amount to $7.5 million, from $5 million previously announced.
Extended maturity of $13 million promissory note for Sprout from Morgan Stanley to December 31, 2024.
Announced the closing of a public offering of approximately $4 million.
Increased Sprout’s distribution growth to nearly 29,340 doors in the United States and 3,000 in Canada, totaling nearly 32,340 in North America.
Subsequent Events and Business Updates
Announced initiation of the next phase of strategic review process.
Appointed Lisa Gainsborg, the Company’s Financial Controller, to Interim Chief Financial Officer.
Entered into a binding term sheet with Morgan Stanley providing option to exchange debt of Sprout Organics.
Amended the inventory finance rider to allow expanded access to the total available amounts. At the same time executed an over advance rider of up to $600,000.
Conference Call Details:
The Company will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) Friday, August 18, 2023, to discuss these results. The conference call will be webcast live and can be accessed by registering on the Events and Presentations portion of Neptune’s Investor Relations website at www.investors.neptunewellness.com. The webcast will be archived for approximately 90 days.
About Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc.
Neptune is a consumer-packaged goods company that aims to innovate health and wellness products. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Laval, Quebec with a United States headquarters in Jupiter, Florida, the company focuses on developing a portfolio of high-quality, affordable consumer products that align with the latest market trends for natural, sustainable, plant-based and purpose-driven lifestyle brands. The company’s products are available in more than 29,000 retail locations and include well-known organic food and beverage brands such as Sprout Organics, Nosh, and Nurturme, as well as nutraceuticals brands like Biodroga and Forest Remedies. With its efficient and adaptable manufacturing and supply chain infrastructure, the company can quickly respond to consumer demand, and introduce new products through retail partners and e-commerce channels. Please visit neptunewellness.com for more details.
Disclaimer – Safe Harbor Forward–Looking Statements
Statements in this news release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other unknown factors that could cause the actual results of Neptune to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements labeled with the terms “believes”, “belief”, “expects”, “intends”, “projects”, “anticipates”, “will”, “should” or “plans” to be uncertain and forward-looking. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect management’s expectations or beliefs regarding future events including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the timing of reporting quarterly results. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking statements and information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information or forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information” section contained in Neptune’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and it subsequent filings, which are available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. All forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Neptune does not undertake to update any such forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
1
The Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. It is not a standard measure endorsed by US GAAP requirements. A reconciliation to the Company’s net loss is presented below. In the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Company recasted comparative Adjusted EBITDA to conform to its current definition. As a result, the following adjustments were removed in the current and comparative quarters: litigation provisions, business acquisition and integration costs, signing bonus, severance and related costs, and write-down of inventories and deposits.
2
Working capital is calculated by subtracting current liabilities from current assets. Because there is no standard method endorsed by US GAAP, the results may not be comparable to similar measurements presented by other public companies. Current assets as at June 30, 2023, March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022 were $23.399, $23.550 and $37.388 respectively, and current liabilities as at June 30, 2023, March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022 were $45.026, $41.034 and $30.317 respectively.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES
The Company uses one adjusted financial measure, Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) to assess its operating performance. This non-GAAP financial measure is presented in a consistent manner, unless otherwise disclosed. The Company uses this measure for the purposes of evaluating its historical and prospective financial performance, as well as its performance relative to competitors. The measure also helps the Company to plan and forecast for future periods as well as to make operational and strategic decisions. The Company believes that providing this information to investors, in addition to its GAAP financial statements, allows them to see the Company’s results through the eyes of Management, and to better understand its historical and future financial performance. Neptune’s method for calculating Adjusted EBITDA may differ from that used by other corporations.
A reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA is presented below.
ADJUSTED EBITDA
Although the concept of Adjusted EBITDA is not a financial or accounting measure defined under US GAAP and it may not be comparable to other issuers, it is widely used by companies. Neptune obtains its Adjusted EBITDA measurement by excluding from its net loss the following items: net finance costs (income), depreciation and amortization, and income tax expense (recovery). Other items such as equity classified stock-based compensation, non-employee compensation related to warrants, impairment losses on non-financial assets, revaluations of derivatives, costs related to conversion from IFRS to US GAAP and other changes in fair values are also added back to Neptune’s net loss. The exclusion of net finance costs (income) eliminates the impact on earnings derived from non-operational activities. The exclusion of depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, non-employee compensation related to warrants, impairment losses, revaluations of derivatives and other changes in fair values eliminates the non-cash impact of such items, and the exclusion of costs related to conversion from IFRS to US GAAP, together with the other exclusions discussed above, present the results of the on-going business. From time to time, the Company may exclude additional items if it believes doing so would result in a more effective analysis of underlying operating performance. Adjusting for these items does not imply they are non-recurring. For purposes of this analysis, the Net finance costs (income) caption in the reconciliation below includes the impact of the revaluation of foreign exchange rates.
In the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Company recast comparative Adjusted EBITDA to conform to the current definition. As a result, the following adjustments were removed in the current and comparative quarters: litigation provisions, business acquisition and integration costs, signing bonus, severance and related costs, and write-down of inventories and deposits.
1
The Adjusted EBITDA is not a standard measure endorsed by US GAAP requirements. In the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Company recasted comparative Adjusted EBITDA to conform to its current definition. As a result, the following adjustments were removed in the current and comparative quarters: litigation provisions, business acquisition and integration costs, signing bonus, severance and related costs, and write-down of inventories and deposits.
