EcoSynthetix Reports 2021 Third Quarter Results

Canada NewsWire

BURLINGTON, ON, Nov. 3, 2021

BURLINGTON, ON, Nov. 3, 2021 /CNW/ - EcoSynthetix Inc. (TSX: ECO) ("EcoSynthetix" or the "Company"), a renewable chemicals company that produces a portfolio of commercially proven bio-based products, today announced its financial and operational results for the three months (Q3 2021) and nine months (YTD 2021) ended September 30, 2021. Financial references are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Highlights

(Comparison periods in each case are the three months ended September 30, 2020)

   -- Recorded net sales of $4.7 million, up 57%, in Q3 2021, due to higher 
      volumes of 34% and higher average selling price of 23% 
   -- Gross profit of $1.1 million, up 149%, in Q3 2021, enabled by the 
      diversification of revenue mix 
   -- Recorded Adjusted EBITDA loss of $0.1 million in Q3 2021, an improvement 
      of $0.1 million, or 49%, compared to the prior period 
   -- Purchased and cancelled 90,800 common shares in Q3 2021, and 200,400 in 
      YTD 2021, under the normal course issuer bid for total consideration of 
      $0.4 million and $0.8 million respectively 
   -- Maintained a strong balance sheet with cash of $40.8 million as at 
      September 30, 2021 

"Our diversification strategy is working. We continued to see strong momentum in sales volumes, pricing and improved mix which drove topline growth in the quarter despite continued challenges in the graphic paper market," said Jeff MacDonald, CEO of EcoSynthetix. "We made further, meaningful progress at our key strategic wood composites accounts and see an opportunity to continue to grow volumes both within these first commercial facilities, as well as to expand into other operations within our customers' broader networks. The profile of our bio-based wood composites binder offers both value and performance while also reducing the carbon footprint of a manufacturer's supply chain. As consumers, retailers and manufacturers pursue more sustainable and healthier alternatives to petroleum-based binders, DuraBind(TM) is a clear alternative with strong, well-known reference accounts. Testament to this is further recognition for our customer Swiss Krono's BE.YOND particleboard, which was recognized with an award last month from the Association of German Interior Architects for its contribution to healthy living spaces."

Financial Summary

Net Sales

Net sales were $4.7 million and $13.3 million for Q3 2021 and YTD 2021, respectively, compared to $3.0 million and $10.3 million in the corresponding periods in 2020. The increase in the quarter was due to higher sales volumes which increased sales $1.0 million, or 34%, enabled by the continued diversification of the Company's revenue mix from increased sales of DuraBind(TM) and a rebound in paper volume, as well as a higher average selling price which increased sales by $0.7 million, or 23%. The 29% increase in the YTD period was due to higher sales volumes which increased sales $1.8 million, or 17%, and a higher average selling price which increased sales by $1.2 million, or 12%. Subsequent to the quarter, a paper account exited coated paper production and closed a line that uses EcoSphere(R). The annualized impact on sales volumes is expected to be approximately $1.4 million on a go forward basis.

Gross Profit

Gross profit was $1.1 million and $3.0 million for Q3 2021 and YTD 2021, respectively, compared to $0.4 million and $2.1 million in the corresponding periods in 2020. The increase in both periods was primarily due to higher sales volumes and a higher average selling price partly offset by higher manufacturing costs.

Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 23.5% and 22.3% for Q3 2021 and YTD 2021, respectively, compared to 14.8% and 20.0% in the corresponding periods in 2020. Gross profit as a percentage of sales adjusted for manufacturing depreciation was 27.8% and 26.7% for Q3 2021 and YTD 2021, respectively, compared to 21.7% and 25.6% for the corresponding periods in 2020. The increases in gross profit as a percentage of sales adjusted for manufacturing depreciation were primarily due to a higher average selling price partly offset by higher manufacturing costs.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) were $1.4 million and $3.9 million for Q3 2021 and YTD 2021, respectively, compared to $0.9 million and $3.1 million for the corresponding periods in 2020. The increase in SG&A in the quarterly period was primarily due to lower payments received under the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy program (CEWS) of $0.1 million, an increase in share based compensation of $0.1 million and an increase in provision for variable based compensation of $0.2 million. The increase in SG&A in the YTD period was primarily due to a provision for variable based compensation of $0.4 million as well as the drivers previously mentioned in the quarterly period.

Research and Development

Research and development (R&D) costs were $0.5 million and $1.4 million for Q3 2021 and YTD 2021, respectively, compared to $0.3 million and $1.1 million for the corresponding periods in 2020. R&D expense as a percentage of sales was 10% for Q3 2021 and YTD 2021, respectively, compared to 11% in both of the corresponding periods in 2020. The Company's R&D efforts continue to focus on further enhancing value for its existing products and expanding addressable opportunities.

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

Adjusted EBITDA loss was $0.1 million and $0.6 million for Q3 2021 and YTD 2021, respectively, compared to $0.2 million and $0.7 million in the corresponding periods in 2020. Adjusted EBITDA loss during both periods remained largely comparable to the prior year as a higher net loss was partially offset by lower interest income and higher share based compensation. The lower interest income is due to lower interest rates on cash and short-term investments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Net Loss

Net loss was $0.8 million, or $0.01 per common share, and $2.2 million, or $0.04 per common share, for Q3 2021 and YTD 2021, respectively, compared to $0.6 million, or $0.01 per common share, and $1.7 million, or $0.03 per common share, for the corresponding periods in 2020. The increases in both periods were primarily due to lower interest income due to lower interest rates on cash and short-term investments referenced above.

Liquidity

Cash on hand was $40.8 million as at September 30, 2021, compared to $42.0 of cash on hand and short-term investments as at December 31, 2020. The Company purchased and cancelled 90,800 common shares for consideration of $0.4 million under the normal course issuer bid in Q3 2021 and 200,400 common shares for consideration of $0.8 million in YTD 2021.

Notice of Conference Call

EcoSynthetix will host a conference call Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 8:30 AM ET to discuss its financial results. Jeff MacDonald, CEO, and Robert Haire, CFO, will co-chair the call. All interested parties can join the call by dialling (416) 764-8659 or (888) 664-6392 with the conference identification of 18016865. Please dial in 15 minutes prior to the call to secure a line. A live audio webcast of the conference call will also be available at www.ecosynthetix.com. The presentation will be accompanied by slides, which will be available via the webcast link and the Company's website. Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be required to join the webcast.

(1) Non-IFRS Financial Measures

This press release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures. These non-IFRS measures are not recognized measures under IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing a further understanding of results of operations of EcoSynthetix from management's perspective. Accordingly, they should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the financial information of EcoSynthetix reported under IFRS. The Company uses non-IFRS measures such as Adjusted EBITDA to provide investors with a supplemental measure of operating performance and thus highlight trends in its core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures. Management also believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers. Management also uses non-IFRS measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, prepare annual operating budgets and assess the Company's ability to meet its capital expenditure and working capital requirements.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure recognized under IFRS and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. See "IFRS and Non-IFRS Measures." The Company presents Adjusted EBITDA because the Company believes it facilitates investors' use of operating performance comparisons from period to period and company to company by backing out potential differences caused by variations in capital structures (affecting relative interest expense), the book amortization of intangibles (affecting relative amortization expense) and the age and book value of property and equipment (affecting relative depreciation expense). The Company also presents Adjusted EBITDA because it believes it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties as a measure of financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA as presented herein are not recognized measures under IFRS and should not be considered as an alternative to operating income or net income as measures of operating results or an alternative to cash flows as measures of liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as consolidated net income (loss) before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation,