Disciplined Capital Allocation Continues to Drive
Strategy to Distribute Brands at Scale in 2019
- Fourth quarter revenue of $20.8 million,
21% sequential growth
- Full year adjusted EBITDA of $21.5
million and fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA of $12.4
million
CHICAGO and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April
09, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green Thumb Industries Inc. (âGTIâ or
the âCompanyâ) (CSE:GTII) (GTBIF), a
leading national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and
owner-operator of the high growth national retail chain Riseâ¢,
today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and
full year ended December 31, 2018. All currency is in U.S.
dollars.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018
Highlights
- Revenue: Total revenue for
the fourth quarter of 2018 increased 237% year-over-year to $20.8
million. Fourth quarter sequential growth was 21%. Total revenue
for 2018 increased 278% year-over-year to $62.5 million.
- EBITDA: Fourth quarter 2018
EBITDA1 and Adjusted EBITDA1, as described in
an accompanying financial table, was a loss of $4.8 million and
$12.4 million, respectively. For the year, EBITDA and
Adjusted EBITDA was $27.7 million and $21.5 million, respectively,
driven primarily by gains in net asset value from strategic
investments.
- Net Income (Loss): Net loss
for the fourth quarter 2018 was $3.1 million and full year net loss
was $7.7 million.
- Balance Sheet: At fiscal
year-end, current assets totaled $187.3 million and included cash
and cash equivalents of $146.0 million. Total debt outstanding was
$7.2 million, $1.5 million of which is due within 12 months.
- Capital Markets: Listed on
the Canadian Securities Exchange on June 13th following
the successful completion of the Companyâs reverse takeover (âRTOâ)
of Bayswater Uranium Corporation. Including the RTO and two bought
deal financings, the Company raised nearly $250 million.
- Operations: Increased
revenue generation from two states to five states by
operationalizing both consumer packaged goods and retail business
units, including strong branded products distribution and the
opening of seven new Rise⢠stores nationwide. Subsequent to year
end, began generating revenue in four additional states for a total
of nine revenue-generating markets.
- Organic Growth: Achieved
meaningful wins in competitive licensing processes in Ohio (five
retail locations), Maryland (one cultivation), Pennsylvania (12
retail locations) and New Jersey (one production and one retail
location) in 2018. Subsequent to year end, the Company won one
processing license in Ohio.
- M&A: Completed and
pending strategic acquisitions in 2018 including KW Ventures
(Pennsylvania), Integral Associates (Nevada), KSGNF, LLC (Florida)
and Compassionate Organics LLC (Boston); added three production
facilities and 51 retail locations. Subsequent to year end, GTI
completed the acquisitions of Advanced Grow Labs (Connecticut) and
For Success Holding Company (Beboe).
- People: Onboarded over 300
new team members, including several key executive hires, bringing
total headcount at year-end to over 500 nationwide. GTI was also
named to the Crain's Chicago Business Top Workplaces 2018
list and the MG Retailer magazine Best Places to Work in
Cannabis list in 2018.
- Corporate Governance: During
the year, GTI established strong corporate governance policies and
continued to build a world-class board of directors, adding three
members with diverse backgrounds â Wendy Berger (28 yearsâ
experience in real estate lending, development and investments),
Glen T. Senk (ex-CEO of Urban Outfitters, scaled the Anthropologie
retail concept) and Wes Moore (CEO of Robin Hood, New York Cityâs
largest poverty-fighting organization).
Management Commentary
â2018 was a momentous year for GTI. In just six
months following our RTO in June and in the beginning of 2019, we
have expanded the infrastructure for our consumer products and
retail businesses to now include 13 production facilities and the
ability to open 88 retail locations across 12 states including
pending acquisitions. At the same time, we have built an
incredible team that is over 500 strong to support our strategy to
distribute brands at scale. With the growth of our branded product
distribution, new store openings and adult-use markets coming on
line, we are very pleased to have more than tripled our revenues
from one year ago both year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter,â
said GTI Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ben Kovler.
âDiscipline continues to drive how we allocate
capital to create long-term shareholder value,â Kovler continued.
âWe continue to execute against our strategic priorities for 2019:
1) establish a leading brand portfolio through innovation,
standardization, and distribution; 2) accelerate retail growth
through new store openings and consumer loyalty, and 3) bolster
infrastructure with people, process, and technology to deliver
sustainable profitable growth.â
Consumer Packaged Goods Business
Development
- Production and distribution of core brands
Rythm, Dogwalkers, and The Feel Collection drove the financial
performance of GTIâs consumer products business, with 80% retail
distribution.
- Through its Dogwalkers brand, the Company
launched an awareness campaign in December with major animal rescue
organizations across the country. Each tin of Dogwalkers purchased
benefits local animals in need.
- The Company supported Breast Cancer Awareness
Month in October with limited edition âRYTHM for a Causeâ vaporizer
pens in select states.
- Subsequent to the quarter, GTI expanded its
brand portfolio with the Beboe suite of branded cannabis products
through the acquisition of For Success Holding Company. Beboe has
an exclusive partnership with Barneys New York for luxury cannabis
lifestyle and wellness shop âThe High Endâ, which launched in March
2019.
- At the end of the fourth quarter, GTI
generated revenue by producing and distributing its brand portfolio
in four markets: Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and
Massachusetts. Subsequent to year-end, the Company expanded
brand distribution to Nevada and Florida. Throughout 2018, several
investments were made in capacity expansion initiatives:
º In Illinois, GTI finalized the first phased expansion of a
production facility which increased capacity by over 60%, ahead of
another large planned expansion.
º In Maryland, the Company is completing an east coast R&D hub
for manufactured products and is also building out in-house
cultivation, anticipated to be completed in the second
quarter.
º In Pennsylvania, cultivation capacity was quadrupled and is
coming online in the second and third quarter of 2019.
º Subsequent to year end, production capacity will be tripled in
Florida, cultivation capacity is being expanded in Massachusetts,
and the buildout of the production facility in Northern Nevada was
completed and began production and distribution of GTIâs branded
portfolio.
Retail Business Development
- Total consolidated retail revenue included
contributions from 14 open stores, driven by seven new store
openings during the year: two in Maryland, four in Pennsylvania,
and one in Massachusetts.
- Pennsylvania: GTI opened Rise⢠York in
partnership with KW Ventures Holdings LLC in October 2018. GTI
closed the acquisition of KW Ventures Holdings in January 2019.
Rise⢠York is the fourth Rise⢠store operational in the
state.
- Subsequent to the quarter, GTI entered
Florida in January 2019 with the opening of Rise⢠Deerfield Beach,
its 15th store nationwide.
- More than five new store openings are planned
for the second quarter 2019 including Rise⢠stores across Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and Florida. GTI plans to open 15 to 20 new stores in
2019.
Business Infrastructure
Development
During and subsequent to the fourth quarter,
through business development and acquisition-related activities,
GTI executed on its âEnter, Open, Scaleâ strategy to expand market
presence and scale operations. The Company made significant
progress in the following areas:
- Ohio: Entered the market and
scaled national retail operations by winning five retail licenses,
and subsequent to year-end, expanded consumer products operations
by winning a processing license, allowing the Company to produce
and distribute its brands in the state.
- Florida: In November, closed
the acquisition of 100% of the ownership interests of KSGNF, LLC,
the holder of a license to operate a cultivation and processing
facility and up to 35 retail locations in Florida. Subsequent to
the quarter in April, GTI began distributing Rythm-branded flower
following approval by the state.
- Nevada: In November, signed
a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the ownership interests
of Las Vegas-based Integral Associates. The acquisition includes
three retail locations under the name Essence and two cultivation
and processing facilities. Integral Associates also won eight
additional retail licenses in both the Reno and Las Vegas
areas.
- Pennsylvania: In December,
scaled existing retail and wholesale operations by winning the
ability to open 12 new stores. The state awarded only 23 new
licenses after receiving 180 applications.
- New Jersey: In December,
entered the state by winning a license to cultivate and manufacture
consumer products as well as operate one retail store, making GTI
one of only six of 146 applicants to be awarded a new license in
the state.
- Connecticut: In February
2019, entered through the acquisition of Advanced Grow Labs
(âAGLâ), one of only four companies in the state licensed to grow
and process cannabis. The acquisition also includes controlling
interest of one retail store.
- California and Colorado: In
February 2019, entered through the acquisition of For Success
Holding Company, the Los Angeles-based creator of the luxury
lifestyle suite of Beboe branded cannabis products, which are
currently distributed in California and Colorado. Pending
acquisition Integral Associates also won one retail license in West
Hollywood, which includes a consumption lounge, providing GTI entry
into the California retail market.
- Talent: Broadened depth of
executive leadership with key hires Matt Miller, as General
Counsel, Kate Denton, as Senior Vice President of Marketing, and
Greg Flickinger as Senior Vice President Operations. Miller brings
over 22 years of legal and business experience, most recently with
his seven-year tenure at Groupon as Vice President, Deputy General
Counsel. Denton brings over 15 years of experience in leading and
building brands including Kraft Foods and PepsiCo. Flickinger
brings over 25 years of experience in operations, supply chain,
engineering, and R&D from General Mills, Synderâs-Lance and
most recently H.E.B.
Capital Markets and Financing
Activities
- In the fourth quarter, GTI closed a bought
deal financing transaction and raised $78.8 million, including
proceeds from the full exercise of the underwritersâ overâallotment
option.
- For the year, GTI completed an RTO and two
bought deal financing transactions totaling nearly $250 million.
The Company intends to use net proceeds from the offerings for
business development, including wholesale capacity expansion,
strategic initiatives and working capital.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018
Financial Overview (Unaudited)
Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2018 was
$20.8 million, up 237% from $6.2 million for the fourth quarter of
2017 and up 21% from $17.2 million for the third quarter of 2018.
For the year, total revenue was $62.5 million, up 278% from $16.5
million in 2017. Fourth quarter and full year revenue growth were
driven by both the consumer products and retail businesses,
including the expansion of branded product distribution, new store
openings, and increased consumer demand.
On a pro forma basis, revenue for the fourth
quarter exceeded $44 million. This included revenue from the
M&A transactions that closed in first quarter 2019 and those
that are currently pending.
In the fourth quarter, GTI generated operating
revenue in five markets: Nevada, Illinois, Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts, and Maryland. The Company made capital investments
related to the build out of new markets in Florida, Nevada, Ohio
and New York in anticipation of revenue generation in the first
half of 2019. Subsequent to year end, consumer products
revenue began in Nevada and retail revenue in Florida.
Gross profit before biological asset adjustment
for the fourth quarter and full year 2018 was $9.7 million or 47%,
and $28.5 million or 46%, respectively, as compared to $1.0 million
or 17%, and $6.1 million or 37% for the same periods last year.
Gross profit after net gains on biological asset transformation for
the fourth quarter and full year 2018 was $12.5 million or 60%, and
$32.7 million or 52%, respectively, as compared to 26% and 44% for
the same periods last year, driven by additional operating scale
achieved from revenue growth.
Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter
and full year 2018 were $28.0 million and $60.3 million,
respectively, as compared to $3.9 million and $11.5 million for the
same periods last year. Total operating expenses include general
and administrative (âG&Aâ) expenses, which totaled $26.5
million and $56.4 million for the fourth quarter and for the year.
G&A expenses were driven by investments in headcount to support
the Companyâs growing consumer products and retail businesses, as
well as non-cash expenses related to stock-based compensation of
$12.6 million for the fourth quarter and $16.2 million for the
year.
Story
continues
Total other income was $8.7 million for the
fourth quarter and $51.6 million for the year. This non-operating
income reflected the net increase in asset value of the Companyâs
strategic investment portfolio as well as noncontrolling
interests.
Net loss attributable to GTI for the fourth
quarter of 2018 was $3.1 million, as compared to a net loss of $2.4
million for the fourth quarter of 2017. For the full year 2018, net
loss was $7.7 million.
EBITDA1 was a loss of $4.8 million for
the fourth quarter of 2018, as compared to EBITDA loss of $2.0
million for the fourth quarter of 2017. Excluding fair value
adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interest and non-cash
stock compensation expenses, GTI generated Adjusted
EBITDA1 of $12.4 million for the fourth quarter of
2018. For the year, EBITDA was $27.7 million, as compared to EBITDA
loss of $3.0 million in 2017. Excluding fair value adjustments
attributable to noncontrolling interests, non-cash stock
compensation expenses, and one-time listing fee related to the
Companyâs RTO, Adjusted EBITDA was $21.5 million for the year.
These results included the gains of net asset value from strategic
investments. Please refer to the Supplemental Information
(Unaudited) Regarding Non-IFRS Financial Measures at the end of
this press release for additional information.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
As of December 31, 2018, total assets were $416.1
million, including cash and cash equivalents of $146.0 million and
long-term liabilities of $17.1 million. The Company had $7.2
million of total debt, $1.5 million of which is due within 12
months.
Total equity shares, on an as converted basis,
were 157,360,623 at December 31, 2018.
Additional Information
The financial information reported in this news
release is based on unaudited management prepared financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. Accordingly, such
financial information may be subject to change. The audit process
is nearly complete and fully-audited financial statements for the
period will be released and filed under the Companyâs profiles on
SEDAR at www.SEDAR.com by April
30, 2019. All financial information contained in this news release
is qualified in its entirety with reference to such audited
financial statements. While the Company does not expect there
to be any material changes, to the extent that the financial
information contained in this news release is inconsistent with the
information contained in the Companyâs audited financial
statements, the financial information contained in this news
release shall be deemed to be modified or superseded by the
Companyâs audited financial statements. The making of a
modifying or superseding statement shall not be deemed an admission
for any purposes that the modified or superseded statement, when
made, constituted a misrepresentation for purposes of applicable
securities laws.
GTI refers to certain non-IFRS financial measures
such as Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and
Amortization (EBITDA) and adjusted EBITDA earnings defined as
earnings before interest, other income, taxes, depreciation,
amortization, less certain non-cash equity compensation expense,
including one-time transaction fees and all other non-cash items.
These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by
IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by
other issuers.
- Please see the âSupplemental Information
(Unaudited) Regarding Non-IFRS Financial Measuresâ at the end of
this press release for more detailed information regarding non-IFRS
financial measures.
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