Aurora Cannabis Announces Fiscal First Quarter 2021 Results
- #1 Canadian Medical Position by Cannabis Net Revenue & Strong International Medical Growth
- Cannabis Net Revenue of $67.8 million, Adjusted Gross Margin of 48%, or 52% Excluding Nordic 1 Ramp Up Costs
- Achieved Targeted SG&A During Q1 2021
EDMONTON, AB, Nov. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – Aurora Cannabis Inc. (the “Company” or “Aurora”) (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB), the Canadian company defining the future of cannabinoids worldwide, today announced its financial and operational results for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 ended September 30, 2020.
We continue to take the necessary steps to execute our plan and transform our business to achieve sustainable profitability, and ultimately positive cash flow.
Miguel Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Aurora Cannabis
Our Q1 2021 results are transitional but do highlight successes across a number of diverse profit pools. We remain the leader by revenue in the high-margin Canadian medical market, our international medical business experienced more than 40% net revenue growth this quarter, and our CBD brand Reliva is #1 ranked by Nielsen in the U.S. CBD sector.
“While we are not satisfied with our past performance in the growing Canadian consumer business, we have a sense of urgency in the execution of our tactical plan to grow profitable market share. Our efforts are directed at delivering the highest quality products, refocusing on our leading premium and ultra-premium brands, better allocating our sales and marketing spend, and executing key account partnerships at both the province and retail levels.”
“We have also taken action to improve our liquidity and strengthen our balance sheet. It was a responsible decision to raise capital using our ATM in today’s environment and the cash is expected to ensure we have the runway needed to compete with our peers. Cannabis companies are being evaluated on both their business performance and liquidity and we wanted to ensure that we are addressing both. I remain confident in Aurora’s prospects and it is my utmost priority to secure our winning future.”
First Quarter 2021 Highlights
(Unless otherwise stated, comparisons are made between fiscal Q1 2021 and Q4 2020 results and are in Canadian dollars)
Q1 2021 total and cannabis net revenue1 was $67.8 million, a slight increase from the $67.5 million of cannabis net revenue1 in the prior quarter.
Adjusted gross margin before fair value adjustments on cannabis net revenue1 remained strong at 48%, versus 50% in Q4 2020. Excluding $2.6 million of ramp up costs at Aurora Nordic 1, the Company’s Q1 2021 adjusted gross margin before fair value adjustments on cannabis net revenue1 was 52%.
Adjusted EBITDA loss was $57.9 million in Q1 2021, which includes restructuring payments such as contract and employee termination costs of $47.4 million. Excluding these impacts, the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA loss, as defined under the term credit facility, is $10.5 million. Aurora was in full compliance with its September 30, 2020 term debt covenants. As a reminder, the Company’s goal is to achieve positive Adjusted EBITDA in Q2 2021.
Cash balance at November 6, 2020 was approximately $250 million.
Consumer cannabis:
- Consumer cannabis net revenue1 was $34.3 million, a 3% decrease from the prior quarter. Of note, Aurora’s consumer cannabis extract net revenue increased by $3.6 million as compared to the prior quarter, driven by Aurora’s focus on high-growth extract segments such as vapes, edibles and concentrates, and a $1.1 million increase in U.S. CBD.
- Adjusted gross margin before fair value adjustments on consumer cannabis net revenue1 was 38% in Q1 2021 versus 35% in the prior quarter, primarily driven by sales mix shifting toward higher margin derivative products
Medical cannabis:
- Medical cannabis net revenue1 was $33.5 million, a 4% increase from the prior quarter. The increase was primarily attributable to a strong performance in the international medical business, which grew 41% quarter over quarter, and from consistent performance in Aurora’s leading Canadian medical operation.
- Adjusted gross margin before fair value adjustments on medical cannabis net revenue1 was 59% in Q1 2021 versus 67% in the prior quarter. Excluding $2.6 million of ramp-up costs at Aurora Nordic 1, Q1 2021 adjusted gross margin before fair value adjustments on medical cannabis was 67%.
Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) and Adjusted EBITDA:
- SG&A, including Research and Development (“R&D”), was $46.9 million in Q1 2021, down $19.6 million from the prior quarter as a result of the Company’s Business Transformation Plan. Included in SG&A is $4.1 million of costs related to restructuring charges, and severance and benefit costs associated with the Business Transformation Plan. Excluding these impacts, Q1 SG&A and R&D was $42.8 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA1 in Q1 2021 was a loss of $57.9 million, compared to the prior quarter Adjusted EBITDA loss of $29.6 million when excluding R&D and other restructuring costs. The Q1 increased loss is primarily attributable to the legal settlement and contract termination fees and costs associated to ongoing severance and benefits associated with the business transformation plan. Excluding these impacts, Adjusted EBITDA loss decreased by $19.1 million, or 64%, to $10.5 million, the third sequential quarter of significantly improved Adjusted EBITDA.
Additional Financial Information:
- Capital Expenditures (“CapEx”) were approximately $13.2 million in Q1 2021, a decline from the $16.4 million reported in Q4 2020.
- Aurora continues to execute its announced plan for reducing production and complexity through the closure of 5 cultivation facilities, with three facilities now fully closed. Supporting the Company’s drive to align its production footprint to market and geographic demand, Aurora has also recently received flower and oil sales licensing at its EU GMP certified Aurora Nordic 1 facility, located in Odense, Denmark, which is expected to serve European and international medical markets.
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1 These terms are non-GAAP measures, see “Non-GAAP Measures” below.
Fiscal Q1 2021 Cash Use: Significant Improvement in Cash Used in Operations
Total cash use in Q1 2021 was similar to the prior quarter. However, the mix within the use of cash showed significant positive progress.
In Q1 2021, the Company used $25.2 million in cash to fund operations, excluding working capital investments, and used $47.4 million for contract and employee termination costs, including the previously announced exit of the UFC agreement. Cash used to pay for capital expenditures in Q1 2021 was $15.0 million versus $32.0 million in the prior quarter, as many long-lead projects are now complete. Cash used in operations and for capital expenditures are crucial metrics in Aurora’s drive toward generating sustainable positive free cash flow, and both have improved significantly and consistently over the past several quarters.
Increased net working capital used $37.0 million in the quarter, driven by a $13.8 million increase in accounts receivable and a $25.1 million increase in inventory. The Company continues to execute plans to more closely align production levels with demand.
Given Aurora’s continued strong gross margins, reduced level of SG&A expense and capital expenditures, and ongoing improvements in working capital investment, management expects the Company to continue its move toward positive cash flow during fiscal 2021.
The main components of cash source and use in Q1 2021 were as follows:
Q1 2021 Key Financial and Operational Metrics
Base Shelf Prospectus
On October 27, 2020, Aurora announced its completion of the previously filed At-The-Market (“ATM”) program and the filing of a new short form base shelf prospectus. The new base shelf prospectus is expected to provide the Company with continued financial flexibility going forward.
Conference Call
Aurora will host a conference call today, November 9, 2020, to discuss these results. Miguel Martin, Chief Executive Officer, and Glen Ibbott, Chief Financial Officer, will host the call starting at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. A question and answer session will follow management’s presentation.
DATE: Monday, November 9, 2020
TIME: 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time | 6:30 a.m. Mountain Time
WEBCAST: http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=142058
About Aurora
Aurora is a global leader in the cannabis industry serving both the medical and consumer markets. Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Aurora is a pioneer in global cannabis dedicated to helping people improve their lives. The Company’s brand portfolio includes Aurora, Aurora Drift, San Rafael ’71, Daily Special, AltaVie, MedReleaf, CanniMed, Whistler, and Reliva. Providing customers with innovative, high-quality cannabis and hemp products, Aurora’s brands continue to break through as industry leaders in the medical, performance, wellness and recreational markets wherever they are launched. For more information, please visit our website at www.auroramj.com.
Aurora’s Common Shares trade on the TSX and NYSE under the symbol “ACB”, and is a constituent of the S&P/TSX Composite Index.
Non-GAAP Measures
The Company uses certain financial performance measures that are not recognized or defined under IFRS (termed “Non-GAAP Measures”). As a result, this data may not be comparable to data presented by other licensed producers of cannabis and cannabis companies. For an explanation of these measures to related comparable financial information presented in the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS, refer to the discussion below. The Company believes that these Non-GAAP Measures are useful indicators of operating performance and are specifically used by management to assess the financial and operational performance of the Company. These Non-GAAP Measures include, but are not limited, to the following:
- Cannabis net revenue represents revenue from the sale of cannabis products, excluding excise taxes. Cannabis net revenue is further broken down as follows:
- Medical cannabis net revenue represents Canadian and international cannabis net revenue for medical cannabis sales only, excluding wholesale bulk cannabis net revenue.
- Consumer cannabis net revenue represents cannabis net revenue for consumer cannabis sales only.
- Management believes the cannabis net revenue measures provide more specific information about the net revenue purely generated from our core cannabis business and by market type.
- Average net selling price per gram and gram equivalent is calculated by taking cannabis net revenue divided by total grams and grams equivalent of cannabis sold in the period. Average net selling price per gram and gram equivalent is further broken down as follows:
- Average net selling price per gram of dried cannabis represents the average net selling price per gram for dried cannabis sales only, excluding wholesale bulk cannabis sold in the period.
- Average net selling price per gram and gram equivalent of consumer cannabis represents the average net selling price per gram and gram equivalent for dried cannabis and cannabis extracts sold in the consumer market.
- Management believes the average net selling price per gram or gram equivalent measures provide more specific information about the pricing trends over time by product and market type.
- Adjusted gross profit before FV adjustments on cannabis net revenue represents cash gross profit and gross margin on cannabis net revenue and is calculated by subtracting from total cannabis net revenue (i) cost of sales, before the effects of changes in FV of biological assets and inventory; (ii) cost of sales from non-cannabis auxiliary support functions; and removing (iii) depreciation in cost of sales; and (iv) cannabis inventory impairment. Adjusted gross margin before FV adjustments on cannabis net revenue is calculated by dividing adjusted gross profit before FV adjustments on cannabis net revenue divided by cannabis net revenue. Adjusted gross profit and gross margin before FV adjustments on cannabis net revenue is further broken down as follows:
- Adjusted gross profit and gross margin before FV adjustments on medical cannabis net revenue represents adjusted gross profit and gross margin before FV adjustments on sales generated in the medical market only.
- Adjusted gross profit and gross margin before FV adjustments on consumer cannabis net revenue represents adjusted gross profit and gross margin before FV adjustments on sales generated in the consumer market only.
- Management believes that these measures provide useful information to assess the profitability of our cannabis operations as it represents the cash gross profit and margin generated from cannabis operations and excludes the effects of non-cash FV adjustments on inventory and biological assets, which are required by IFRS.
- Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net (loss) income excluding interest income (expense), accretion, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, changes in fair value of inventory sold, changes in fair value of biological assets, share-based compensation, acquisition costs, foreign exchange, changes in fair value of financial instruments, gains and losses on deemed disposal, and non-cash impairment of intangibles, goodwill, inventory, property, plant and equipment and other assets. Adjusted EBITDA is intended to provide a proxy for the Company’s operating cash flow and is widely used by industry analysts to compare Aurora to its competitors, and derive expectations of future financial performance for Aurora. Adjusted EBITDA increases comparability between comparative companies by eliminating variability resulting from differences in capital structures, management decisions related to resource allocation, and the impact of FV adjustments on biological assets and inventory and financial instruments, which may be volatile and fluctuate significantly from period to period.
Non-GAAP measures should be considered together with other data prepared accordance with IFRS to enable investors to evaluate the Company’s operating results, underlying performance and prospects in a manner similar to Aurora’s management. Accordingly, these non-GAAP measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
Included in the three months ended September 30, 2020 Adjusted EBITDA loss is $43.3 million of legal settlement and contract termination fees (three months ended June 30, 2020 – $0.8 million) and $4.1 million (three months ended June 30, 2020 – $1.9 million) related restructuring charges, severance and benefits associated with the business transformation plan. Excluding these impacts, Adjusted EBITDA loss, as defined under the term credit facility, is $10.5 million (three months ended June 30, 2020 – $29.6 million).
