Neptune Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

LAVAL, QC – Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: NEPT) (TSX: NEPT), announced its financial and operating results for the three-month period ending June 30, 2022.

Statement from Neptune Management and Board of Directors:

“The results Neptune achieved in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 reflect the impacts of strategic decisions we have made over the past year to become a leading consumer packaged goods company. We reported revenue of $16.3 million, an increase of 61% year-over-year, led by Sprout, which had its largest net sales quarter yet, and our personal care and beauty products, which generated the largest quarter of revenue in two years.”

“We are also continually striving to reduce expenses. Since our strategic review in late 2021, and including our most recent payroll reductions at cannabis and corporate, we have now reduced expenditures by approximately $18 million. This figure includes $7.6 million of reduced payroll expense across corporate and business units, with total headcount decreasing from 170 to 56, a 67% reduction. While it has been a year of tough strategic decisions, we are laser-focused on a path to growth and profitability and believe we are well-positioned to create value going forward.”

First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights:

• Fiscal first quarter 2023 revenue totaled $16.3 million, as compared to $10.1 million or an increase of 61% for the same period in fiscal 2022.
• Reported fiscal first quarter 2023 gross profit loss of $2.9 million compared to a gross profit loss of $2.3 million for the fiscal first quarter 2022.
• Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)¹ loss for fiscal first quarter 2023 was $9.8 million compared to an Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)¹ loss of $12.9 million for fiscal first quarter 2022.
• Reported first quarter net loss of $6.5 million compared to a reported net loss of $18.9 million in the prior comparable period in fiscal 2022.

First Quarter Business Highlights:

• Launched a new CPG-focused strategic plan to profitability, including divestiture of cannabis business.
• Announced appointment of Raymond Silcock as Chief Financial Officer.
• Announced the addition of Philip Sanford as Audit Chair of Neptune’s Board of Directors.
• Launched a new line of CoComelon co-branded organic snack bars.
• Announced the completion of a share consolidation.
• Closed a US$5,000,000 Registered Direct Offering Priced At-the-Market Under Nasdaq Rules.

Subsequent Events and Business Updates:

• Announced Amendment and Expansion of Sprout Secured Promissory Notes led by Morgan Stanley to expand the facility from US$22.5 million to a maximum of US$37.5 million.
• Provided a Sprout Organics Distribution Update and discussed potential expansion into new product categories beyond Baby Food Aisle.

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 adding to net loss, net finance costs (income) and depreciation and amortization, and income tax expense (recovery). Other items such as equity classified stock-based compensation, non-employee compensation related to warrants, litigation provisions, business acquisition and integration costs, signing bonuses, severances and related costs, impairment losses on non-financial assets, write-downs of non-financial assets, revaluations of derivatives, system migration, conversion and implementation, CEO directors and officers insurance, costs related to conversion from IFRS to US GAAP and other changes in fair values are also added back. 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, litigation provisions, impairment losses, write-downs revaluations of derivatives and other changes in fair values eliminates the non-cash impact, and the exclusion of acquisition costs, integration costs, signing bonuses, severance and related costs, costs related to cybersecurity and costs related to conversion from IFRS to US GAAP 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. In Q4 2022, the Company added the costs related to the conversion from IFRS to US GAAP as an adjustment to the definition of Adjusted EBITDA. 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.

Disclaimer – Safe Harbor Forward–Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements with respect to the Company’s strategic review, expected cost savings, projected growth of Sprout and Biodroga, the success of the Company’s action plan, including the divestiture of the Company’s cannabis business, future increased revenues, expectations regarding expenses, cash needs, cash flow, liquidity and sources of funding, future expansion plans, initiatives and strategies of the Company, and the Company’s performance, growth initiatives, profitability, future product launches and plans and gain in market share, as well as the timing for the filing of the Restated Filings.

These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: the ability of the Company to successfully implement its strategic initiatives; implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives and cost cutting plans; plans for expansion; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the ability of the Company to obtain financing on acceptable terms, the adequacy of our capital resources and liquidity, including but not limited to, availability of sufficient cash flow to execute our business plan (either within the expected timeframe or at all); the ability of the Company to obtain financing on acceptable terms, expectations regarding the resolution of litigation and other legal and regulatory proceedings, reviews and investigations; employee relations; and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions in the markets where the Company operates. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties relating to the Company’s business are contained under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated July 7, 2022, for the year ended March 31, 2022.

Neither NASDAQ nor the Toronto Stock Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

(This information is primarily sourced from Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc.  Highly Capitalized has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Read our Disclaimer here).