Acreage Holdings Reports Third Quarter 2021 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Acreage Holdings reported financial results for Q3 2021, marking its third consecutive quarter of positive Adjusted EBITDA. Consolidated revenue reached $48.2 million, up 52% year-over-year and 9% sequentially. Gross margin increased to 49% from 43% in Q3 2020. The net loss attributable to Acreage improved to $12.3 million from $40.5 million in the same quarter last year. The company divested retail dispensaries in Oregon for $6.5 million and acquired operations in Ohio, enhancing its market position. Management emphasized a focus on profitability and shareholder value.

Positive

• Consolidated revenue increased to $48.2 million, a 52% YoY growth.
• Gross margin improved to 49% from 43% year-over-year.
• Adjusted EBITDA reached $6.5 million, compared to a loss of $6.9 million in Q3 2020.
• Net loss attributable to Acreage decreased significantly to $12.3 million from $40.5 million YoY.
• Acquisition of Ohio operations positions the company for growth in a key market.

Negative

• Retail revenue growth was muted by lower sales in Oregon dispensaries.
• Managed entities generated net sales of $16.1 million, down 6% YoY.

Third consecutive quarter of positive Adjusted EBITDA*

NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acreage Holdings, Inc. (“Acreage”) (CSE: ACRG.A.U, ACRG.B.U), (OTCQX: ACRHF, ACRDF), a vertically integrated, multi-state operator of cannabis ‎cultivation and retailing facilities in the U.S., today reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2021 ending September 30, 2021 ("Q3 2021").

Third Quarter 2021 Financial and Operational Highlights
(Unaudited)

• Consolidated revenue was $48.2 million, an increase of 52% year-over-year and 9% sequentially.
• Gross margin increased to 49% from 43% in Q3 2020.
• Net loss attributable to Acreage was $12.3 million, an improvement from a loss of $40.5 million in Q3 2020.
• Adjusted EBITDA* was $6.5 million, compared to $(6.9) million for Q3 2020. Adjusted EBITDA* as a percentage of consolidated revenue was 13.5% for the third quarter of 2021.
• Entered a definitive asset purchase and services agreement to divest the Company’s four Oregon retail dispensaries for total consideration of US $6.5 million.
• Rebranded two medical cannabis dispensaries in Connecticut to continue positioning the Company's multi-state retail stores under The Botanist brand.
• Subsequent to the quarter, Acreage completed the acquisition of cultivation, processing and retail operations in Ohio, establishing a market leadership position in the state.
  

Management Commentary

Peter Caldini, CEO of Acreage Holdings, said: “At the beginning of fiscal 2021, we introduced a refreshed strategy focused on our key priorities, which include delivering improved financial results and generating shareholder value. Our successes throughout 2021 are the culmination of these refocused efforts to drive profitability, strengthen the balance sheet, and accelerate growth in our core markets.”

Mr. Caldini continued, “Over the third quarter, we divested our retail assets in Oregon to reprioritize our operations and position our business to capitalize on growth opportunities in our growing core markets. This disciplined approach has delivered another solid quarter of financial performance, with sequential revenue growth, reduced operating expenses, and strong gross margins, resulting in a third consecutive quarter of positive Adjusted EBITDA.”

“With our latest acquisition of the Greenleaf group of companies, we have established a vertically integrated footprint in the rapidly growing Ohio market. This acquisition not only enhances our operational platform with high-quality cultivation, processing, and retail assets but will drive our financial performance from the fourth quarter onward. We are confident that the solid foundation we have built over the past year will position us for continued success as we close out the fiscal year and enter our next phase of growth in 2022.”

Q3 2021 Financial Summary
(in thousands)

		Three Months Ended September 30,					YoY% Change		Three Months Ended June 30, 2021		QoQ% Change
		2021			2020
Consolidated Revenue		$48,151			$31,742		52%		$44,217		9%
Gross Profit		23,803			13,475		77%		23,875		(0.3)%
% of revenue		49 %			42 %				54 %
Total operating expenses		30,299			52,055		(42)%		30,632		(1)%
Net operating loss		(6,496)			(38,580)				(6,757)
Not loss attributable to Acreage		(12,297)			(40,548)				(2,553)
Adjusted EBITDA*		6,497			(6,883)				8,086		(20)%

Retail revenue for Q3 2021 was $30.8 million, an increase of $6.9 million or 29% compared to Q3 2020. The year-over-year growth was primarily driven by increased demand and production across various states, new store openings, and the consolidation of several Maine dispensary locations and their conversion to adult-use sales. The growth in retail revenue was slightly muted as a result of lower sales in the Oregon retail dispensaries and the sale of the Company’s Florida operations. Sequentially, retail revenue for Q3 2021 improved by $2.4 million or 8% compared to the second quarter of 2021.

Wholesale revenue for Q3 2021 was $17.1 million, an increase of $9.3 million or 119% compared to the third quarter of 2020. The year-over-year growth in wholesale revenue was primarily driven by increased capacity and maturing operations at the Company's Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Illinois cultivation facilities, resulting in increased supply and improved product mix in each of the respective markets. Additionally, the Company’s wholesale operations in California, acquired in the second quarter of 2021, contributed to an increase in wholesale revenue in the third quarter. Sequentially, wholesale revenue for Q3 2021 improved by $1.5 million or 10% compared to the second quarter of 2021.

Total gross profit for Q3 2021 was $23.8 million, an increase of $10.3 million or 77% compared to Q3 2020. Growth in revenue and efficiencies achieved at Acreage’s production facilities drove the increase in gross profit. Total gross margin increased to 49% in Q3 2021 compared to 43% in the third quarter of 2020.

Total operating expenses for Q3 2021 decreased by $21.8 million or 42% to $30.3 million from Q3 2020. Total operating expenses for Q3 2021 includes a $2.3 million write-off of the capital assets at the Sewell, New Jersey locations, net of expected insurance recoveries, that were damaged by Hurricane Ida. Excluding equity-based compensation expenses, losses and write-downs, and depreciation and amortization expenses, all of which are non-cash in nature, total operating expenses for Q3 2020 decreased $17.6 million or 47% compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2020.

Consolidated EBITDA* for the third quarter of 2021 was a loss of $1.3 million, an improvement compared to a consolidated EBITDA* loss of $38.3 million in the previous year's comparable period. Adjusted EBITDA* for the third quarter of 2021 was $6.5 million, an improvement compared to Adjusted EBITDA* loss of $6.9 million in the previous year’s comparable period. Adjusted EBITDA from core operations*, which excludes markets where the Company has entered into definitive agreements to exit and start-up ventures such as beverages and CBD, was $7.5 million, indicating the Company's core markets are still being impacted by its non-core operations.

Net loss attributable to Acreage for Q3 2021 was $12.3 million, a $28.3 million improvement compared to the third quarter of 2020. Revenue growth, gross margin improvements, operating expense reductions, and net gains on disposal of assets all contributed to the net income improvements and were somewhat offset by increases in depreciation and amortization expenses and interest charges.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

The company ended the quarter with $29.5 million in cash and restricted cash. During Q3 2021, the Company entered into a definitive agreement and management services agreements to sell, upon regulatory approval, four retail dispensaries in Oregon for total consideration of $6.5 million, consisting of a $0.25 million cash payment at the time of signing and a 10-month secured promissory note.

Managed Services Agreements (MSA) Performance

In addition to operating corporately owned production and cultivation facilities and retail dispensaries, Acreage manages operations or provides consulting services on behalf of several third parties. During the third quarter of 2021, these managed entities generated net sales of $16.1 million, which was a decrease of $0.9 million or 6% compared to the third quarter of 2020, driven primarily by same-store sales growth that was offset by the acquisition and consolidation of various entities.

Managed entities generated EBITDA of $3.4 million for the third quarter of 2021, a decrease of $1.4 million compared to the third quarter of 2020.

Earnings Call

Management will host a conference call on November 11, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results in detail.

Webcast:	Click Here
Dial-in:	(833) 921-1669 (toll-free) or (236) 389-2667
Conference ID:	3398442

The webcast will be archived and can be accessed via Acreage’s website at investors.acreageholdings.com.

About Acreage Holdings, Inc.

Acreage is a multi-state operator of cannabis ‎cultivation and retailing facilities in the U.S., including the company’s national retail store ‎brand, The Botanist. With its principal address in New York City, Acreage’s wide range of national and regionally available cannabis products include the award-winning The Botanist brand, premium brand Superflux in Illinois and Ohio, the highly recognizable Tweed brand, the Prime medical brand in Pennsylvania, the Innocent edibles brand in Illinois, and others. Acreage also owns Universal Hemp, LLC, a hemp subsidiary dedicated to the distribution, marketing and sale of CBD products throughout the U.S. Since its founding in 2011, Acreage has focused on building and scaling operations to create a ‎seamless, consumer-focused, branded experience. Learn more at www.acreageholdings.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

For more information and documents related to the Acreage and Canopy Growth Corporation plan of arrangement, please visit: https://investors.acreageholdings.com/acreage-canopy-deal/

Forward Looking Statements And Non-GAAP Measures

This news release and each of the documents referred to herein contains “forward-looking information” and ‎‎“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, ‎respectively. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking ‎information, including, for greater certainty, statements regarding the Amended Arrangement, including the likelihood of completion thereof, the ‎occurrence or waiver of the Triggering Event, the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions set out in the Arrangement Agreement and other statements with respect to the proposed transactions with Canopy Growth. ‎Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as ‎‎“plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, ‎or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, ‎‎‎“would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. ‎

Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other ‎factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Acreage or its ‎subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or ‎implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking ‎information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ ‎materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, but not ‎limited to financing and liquidity risks, and the risks disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended ‎December 31, 2020, ‎dated March 25, 2021 and the Company’s other public filings, in each case filed with the SEC on the EDGAR website at www.sec.gov and with ‎Canadian securities regulators ‎and available on the issuer profile of Acreage on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Acreage has attempted to identify ‎important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking ‎information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. ‎

Although Acreage 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 information and forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of ‎the date of this news release and Acreage does not undertake any obligation to publicly update such ‎forward-looking information or forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events ‎or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider has reviewed and does not accept ‎responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.‎

For more information, contact:

Steve Goertz
Chief Financial Officer
investors@acreageholdings.com

Courtney Van Alstyne
MATTIO Communications
ir@mattio.com



US GAAP FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)

US GAAP Statements of Financial Position
	September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
US$ (thousands)	(unaudited)				(audited)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	27,868			$	32,542
Restricted cash	1,098				22,097
Inventory	33,520				23,715
Notes receivable, current	1,552				2,032
Assets held-for-sale	19,272				62,971
Other current assets	15,470				4,663
Total current assets	98,780				148,020
Long-term investments	38,921				34,126
Notes receivable, non-current	81,434				97,901
Capital assets, net	103,853				89,136
Operating lease right-of-use assets	22,349				17,247
Intangible assets, net	124,534				138,983
Goodwill	37,604				31,922
Other non-current assets	1,493				4,718
Total non-current assets	410,188				414,033
TOTAL ASSETS	$	508,968			$	562,053
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	25,317			$	18,913
Taxes payable	27,378				14,780
Interest payable	1,444				3,504
Operating lease liability, current	1,525				1,492
Debt, current	16,377				27,139
Non-refundable deposits on sale	1,750				750
Liabilities related to assets held-for-sale	2,808				18,154
Other current liabilities	8,844				13,010
Total current liabilities	85,443				97,742
Debt, non-current	126,186				153,318
Operating lease liability, non-current	21,830				16,609
Deferred tax liability	27,024				34,673
Other liabilities	37				2
Total non-current liabilities	175,077				204,602
TOTAL LIABILITIES	260,520				302,344
Members' equity	234,922				241,031
Non-controlling interests	13,526				18,678
TOTAL MEMBERS’ EQUITY	248,448				259,709
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' EQUITY	$	508,968			$	562,053

US GAAP Statements of Operations
US$ (thousands)		Q3'21					Q3'20					FY'21					FY'20
Retail revenue, net		$	30,794				$	23,914				$	85,038				$	61,362
Wholesale revenue, net		17,077					7,798					42,634					21,513
Other revenue, net		280					30					3,090					164
Total revenues, net		48,151					31,742					130,762					83,039
Cost of goods sold, retail		(16,279		)			(14,134		)			(43,412		)			(37,004		)
Cost of goods sold, wholesale		(8,069		)			(4,133		)			(19,049		)			(11,395		)
Total cost of goods sold		(24,348		)			(18,267		)			(62,461		)			(48,399		)
Gross profit		23,803					13,475					68,301					34,640
OPERATING EXPENSES
General and administrative		8,466					14,819					23,067					40,237
Compensation expense		10,699					8,306					32,236					30,740
Equity-based compensation expense		4,168					10,445					17,191					65,369
Marketing		583					46					992					1,514
Impairments, net		2,339					—					3,157					187,775
Loss on notes receivable		—					—					1,726					8,161
Write down (recovery) of assets held-for-sale		—					2,893					(8,616		)			11,003
Legal settlements, net		—					14,150					322					14,150
Depreciation and amortization		4,044					1,396					9,670					4,888
Total operating expenses		30,299					52,055					79,745					363,837
Net operating income (loss)		(6,496		)			(38,580		)			(11,444		)			(329,197		)
OTHER INCOME (LOSS)
(Loss) income from investments, net		489					(433		)			(777		)			(195		)
Interest income from loans receivable		1,067					1,606					4,125					5,083
Interest expense		(3,620		)			(6,147		)			(14,072		)			(11,106		)
Other income (loss), net		81					(656		)			7,825					(853		)
Total other (loss) income		(1,983		)			(5,630		)			(2,899		)			(7,071		)
Loss before income taxes		(8,479		)			(44,210		)			(14,343		)			(336,268		)
Income tax (expense) benefit		(5,579		)			(3,826		)			(11,661		)			21,633
Net loss		(14,058		)			(48,036		)			(26,004		)			(314,635		)
Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interests		(1,761		)			(7,488		)			(3,347		)			(64,941		)
Net loss attributable to Acreage Holdings, Inc.		$	(12,297	)			$	(40,548	)			$	(22,657	)			$	(249,694	)

*NON-GAAP MEASURES, RECONCILIATION AND DISCUSSION (UNAUDITED)

This release contains tables that reconcile our results of operations reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) to adjusted results that exclude the impact of certain items identified as affecting comparability (non-GAAP). We use EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA from core operations, adjusted net loss attributable to Acreage, same store sales trends, among other measures, to evaluate our actual operating performance and for planning and forecasting future periods. We believe the adjusted results presented provide relevant and useful information for investors because they clarify our actual operating performance, make it easier to compare our results with those of other companies and allow investors to review performance in the same way as our management. Since these measures are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, they should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, our reported results as indicators of our performance, and they may not be comparable to similarly named measures from other companies. The tables below reconcile our results of operations in accordance with GAAP to the adjusted results mentioned above:

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
US$ (thousands, except per share amounts)		Q3'21					Q3'20					FY'21					FY'20
Net loss (GAAP)		$	(14,058	)			$	(48,036	)			$	(26,004	)			$	(314,635	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		5,579					3,826					11,661					(21,633		)
Interest expense (income), net		2,553					4,541					9,947					6,023
Depreciation and amortization		4,590					1,396					11,384					4,888
EBITDA (non-GAAP)*		$	(1,336	)			$	(38,273	)			$	6,988				$	(325,357	)
Adjusting items:
Loss (income) from investments, net		(489		)			433					777					195
Impairments, net		—					—					818					187,775
Loss on Sewell facility		2,339					—					2,339					—
Loss on notes receivable		—					—					1,726					8,161
Write down (recovery) of assets held-for-sale		—					2,893					(8,616		)			11,003
Equity-based compensation expense		4,168					10,445					17,191					65,370
Legal settlements, net		—					14,150					322					14,150
Gain on business divestiture		(109		)			—					(11,791		)			—
Transaction costs		—					3,114					—					3,114
Other non-recurring expenses		1,924					355					6,425					9,605
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)*		$	6,497				$	(6,883	)			$	16,179				$	(25,984	)
EBITDA from beverage and CBD		539					—					2,014					—
EBITDA from businesses under definitive agreements to exit		498					—					2,192					—
Adjusted EBITDA from core operations (non-GAAP)*		$	7,534				$	(6,883	)			$	20,385				$	(25,984	)

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
US$ (thousands, except per share amounts)		Q3'21					Q3'20					FY'21					FY'20
Net loss attributable to Acreage Holdings, Inc. (GAAP)		$	(12,297	)			$	(40,548	)			$	(22,657	)			$	(249,694	)
Net loss per share attributable to Acreage Holdings, Inc. (GAAP)		$	(0.11	)			$	(0.39	)			$	(0.21	)			$	(2.54	)
Adjusting items:(1)
Loss (income) from investments, net		$	(403	)			$	363				$	639				$	156
Impairments, net		—					—					672					150,220
Loss on Sewell facility		1,928					—					1,923					—
Loss on notes receivable		—					—					1,419					6,529
Write down (recovery) of assets held-for-sale		—					2,427					(7,082		)			8,802
Equity-based compensation expense		3,436					8,763					14,131					52,295
Legal settlements, net		—					11,872					265					11,320
Gain on business divestiture		(90		)			—					(9,692		)			—
Transaction costs		—					2,613					—					2,491
Other non-recurring expenses		1,586					298					5,281					7,684
Tax impact of adjustments above		(33		)			130					(5,549		)			(24,648		)
Total adjustments		$	6,424				$	26,466				$	2,007				$	214,849
Adjusted net loss attributable to Acreage Holdings, Inc. (non-GAAP)*		$	(5,873	)			$	(14,082	)			$	(20,650	)			$	(34,845	)
Adjusted net loss per share attributable to Acreage Holdings, Inc. (non-GAAP)*		$	(0.05	)			$	(0.14	)			$	(0.19	)			$	(0.35	)
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted		110,193					103,450					108,385					98,304
Weighted average NCI ownership %		17.57			%		16.10			%		17.80			%		20.00			%

(1) Adjusting items have been reduced by the respective non-controlling interest percentage for the period.

 

FAQ

What were Acreage Holdings' financial results for Q3 2021?

Acreage reported $48.2 million in revenue, a 52% increase year-over-year, with an Adjusted EBITDA of $6.5 million.

How did the net loss of Acreage Holdings change in Q3 2021?

The net loss attributable to Acreage improved to $12.3 million, down from $40.5 million in Q3 2020.

What strategic moves did Acreage make in Q3 2021?

Acreage divested four retail dispensaries in Oregon for $6.5 million and acquired operations in Ohio.

What is the significance of Acreage's improved gross margin?

The gross margin increased to 49%, reflecting operational efficiencies and better production performance.

How did retail revenue perform for Acreage in Q3 2021?

Retail revenue reached $30.8 million, a 29% increase compared to Q3 2020, but growth was muted by lower Oregon sales.