Li-Cycle Reports Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results; Continuing Advancement of Spoke & Hub Network Strategy

Rhea-AI Summary

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (NYSE: LICY) reported third-quarter results for the period ending July 31, 2022. Revenue from product sales rose to $5.4 million, a significant increase from $1.3 million in Q3 2021. However, total revenues reached $(2.0) million due to a non-cash fair market value pricing adjustment of $(7.3) million. Operating expenses surged to $32.5 million, leading to a net loss of approximately $27.5 million. The company retains $649.0 million in cash, bolstered by recent investments and financing. The construction progress at the Rochester Hub is on schedule, with commissioning expected in 2023.

Positive

• Revenue from product sales increased to $5.4 million, up from $1.3 million in Q3 2021.
• Cash on hand stands at $649.0 million, providing ample liquidity for project pipelines.
• Strategic partnerships with LG Chem and Glencore bolstered the balance sheet with $250 million in investments.

Negative

• Total revenues of $(2.0) million included a $(7.3) million fair market value adjustment.
• Net loss increased to approximately $27.5 million from $6.9 million in Q3 2021.
• Operating expenses rose to $32.5 million due to rapid expansion, impacting profitability.

• Progressed construction at the Rochester Hub; on track to commence commissioning in stages in calendar 2023;
  
  

• Completed Arizona Spoke optimization projects, with Spoke now nearing target throughput; extended the same improvements to the Alabama Spoke, with production expected to start towards the end of the fourth quarter;
  
  

• Secured strategic sites for Norway and Germany Spokes, with equipment fabrication underway;
  
  

• Updated FY2022 black mass production target to 3,500 to 3,800 tonnes, reflecting moderate delay in timing to enable Spoke optimization projects; and
  
  

• Funded sufficiently for the current project pipeline with $649.0 million cash on hand as of July 31, 2022.

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (NYSE: LICY) ("Li-Cycle" or the “Company"), an industry leader in lithium-ion battery resource recovery and the leading lithium-ion battery recycler in North America, today announced financial results for its third quarter ended July 31, 2022. Revenue from product sales and recycling services were $5.4 million, an increase from $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2021. Total revenues were $(2.0) million, which included an unfavorable non-cash fair market value (FMV) pricing adjustment of $(7.3) million relating to prior-period black mass sales. In the third quarter of 2021, total revenue was $1.7 million, which included a FMV benefit of $0.4 million.

“During the quarter, we continued to advance development at our Rochester Hub, which is on track to start commissioning in stages in 2023. We also took deliberate steps to optimize operations at our new Spoke facilities in Arizona and Alabama, which are the first of their kind to process entire EV and stationary energy storage battery packs without the need for dismantling. In order to make these improvements, we temporarily slowed the pace of operations at our Arizona Spoke and we moderately postponed the start-up of operations at our Alabama Spoke. This has pushed out achievement of our FY2022 production target for those operations by one to two quarters and resulted in lower black mass production during the third quarter than originally planned,” said Ajay Kochhar, Li-Cycle President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Since the completion of these optimization projects, the Arizona Spoke is now nearing target throughput and has been demonstrating higher recovery yields in black mass. We are leveraging the process improvements and key lessons learned from the Arizona Spoke, not only for the Alabama Spoke, but also for our future Spoke locations in Norway and Germany."

"We continue to see robust battery supply from our global customers and are making strides in strategically advancing our Spoke & Hub network to align with their growing needs. The recent enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act in the U.S. is yet another meaningful tailwind for our Spoke & Hub business model,” added Kochhar. “Li-Cycle, underpinned by a growing portfolio of commercial partnerships, is competitively positioned to be a leading and preferred recycler and domestic supplier of critical battery materials in North America and Europe."

Third Quarter Financial Results Ended July 31, 2022

Revenues from product sales and recycling services of $5.4 million increased from $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2021. Total revenues of $(2.0) million included an unfavorable non-cash FMV pricing adjustment of $(7.3) million, relating to prior-period sales of black mass. This adjustment was the direct result of declines in nickel and cobalt prices of greater than 30% and 35%, respectively, during the quarter. Total revenues of $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2021 included a FMV benefit of $0.4 million.

Operating expenses were $32.5 million versus $7.9 million in the third quarter of 2021, reflecting the ongoing expansion of operations in North America and the early build out of the Spoke network in Europe. Personnel costs were up related to the addition of operational, corporate, commercial, and engineering personnel to support these growth efforts. The Company also incurred higher professional fees, administrative costs, and non-cash share-based compensation related to its expanding footprint and required services as a public company. In addition, the increase in raw materials and supplies was primarily driven by higher sales volumes from the Spoke operations.

Net loss for the quarter was approximately $27.5 million, compared to a net loss of approximately $6.9 million in the third quarter 2021. This loss for the current quarter included $8.6 million of fair value gains on financial instruments.

Adjusted EBITDA¹ loss for the quarter was $31.6 million, compared to $5.3 million in the third quarter 2021. This was largely driven by higher operating expenses described above, which was directly related to the growth and expansion of the Company's Spoke & Hub network. Adjusted EBITDA was also unfavorably impacted by a non-cash FMV pricing adjustment of $(7.3) million, versus an FMV gain of $0.4 million in the third quarter 2021. Additionally, non-cash stock-based compensation increased to $4.0 million, from $0.3 million in the third quarter 2021.

Balance Sheet Position

Li-Cycle ended its third quarter with $649.0 million cash on hand. The Company enhanced its balance sheet during the quarter with $50 million in investment proceeds from LG Chem Ltd. and LG Energy Solution, Ltd. and $200 million in convertible debt from Glencore Ltd., as previously announced. Li-Cycle has sufficient liquidity for its capital and operating needs to fund the current pipeline of projects in development.

During the quarter, the Company invested $82.1 million, with the majority of the capital allocated to securing equipment for the continued development and construction of the Rochester Hub, in addition to the Company’s incremental Spokes in North America and Europe.

In addition, the Company continues to evaluate multiple capital sources, including but not limited to debt-based financing alternatives, such as traditional corporate debt, project financing, government-related funding, and funding from potential strategic partners to further strengthen its balance sheet, optimize its capital structure and provide additional financial flexibility for its next phase of growth.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Company management will host a webcast and conference call on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The related presentation materials for the webcast and conference call will be made available on the investor section of the Li-Cycle website: https://investors.li-cycle.com/overview/default.aspx

Investors may listen to the conference call live via audio-only webcast or through the following dial-in numbers:

Domestic: (800) 579-2543
International: (203) 518-9783
Participant Code: LICYQ322
Webcast: https://investors.li-cycle.com

A replay of the conference call/webcast will also be made available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at https://investors.li-cycle.com.

About Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

Li-Cycle (NYSE: LICY) is on a mission to leverage its innovative Spoke & Hub Technologies™ to provide a customer-centric, end-of-life solution for lithium-ion batteries, while creating a secondary supply of critical battery materials. Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are increasingly powering our world in automotive, energy storage, consumer electronics, and other industrial and household applications. The world needs improved technology and supply chain innovations to better manage battery manufacturing waste and end-of-life batteries and to meet the rapidly growing demand for critical and scarce battery-grade raw materials through a closed-loop solution. For more information, visit https://li-cycle.com/.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA (loss)
The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA (loss) to net profit (loss):

		Three months ended				Nine months ended
		July 31,				July 31,
		2022		2021		2022		2021
		(Unaudited - dollar amounts in thousands)
Net profit (loss)		(27,522)		(6,897)		(19,625)		(21,591)
Income tax		—		—		5		—
Depreciation		2,969		697		6,790		1,831
Interest expense		1,523		437		7,168		931
EBITDA (loss)		(23,030)		(5,763)		(5,662)		(18,829)
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
Fair value (gain) loss on financial instruments (1)		(8,567)		509		(62,300)		2,433
Forfeited SPAC transaction cost		—		—		—		2,000
Adjusted EBITDA (loss)		(31,597)		(5,254)		(67,962)		(14,396)
(1) Fair value gain on financial instruments relates to warrants and convertible debt

Li-Cycle reports its financial results in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). The Company makes references to certain non-IFRS measures, including Adjusted EBITDA. These 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 the Company’s results of operations from management’s perspective. Accordingly, they should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for the analysis of the Company’s financial information reported under IFRS. Li-Cycle defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before depreciation and amortization, interest expense (income), income tax expense (recovery), foreign exchange (gain) loss, fair value (gain) loss on financial instruments, and non-recurring expenses such as forfeited SPAC transaction cost, and listing fee related to the business combination that resulted in Li-Cycle becoming a public company.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as “believe”, “may”, “will”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “plan”, “potential”, “future”, “target” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include but are not limited to statements about: the timing of the start of commissioning in stages of the Rochester Hub; the timing of the start of operations at the Alabama Spoke; the achievement of target throughput levels and recovery yields in black mass; the sufficiency of our current liquidity for capital and operating needs to fund our current pipeline of projects in development; our black mass production target of 3,500 to 3,800 tonnes during fiscal year 2022; and the timing of achievement of target throughput rates for our Arizona and Alabama Spoke operations. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this communication, which Li-Cycle believe are reasonable in the circumstances. There can be no assurance that such estimates or assumptions will prove to be correct and, as a result, actual results or events may differ materially from expectations expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding certain key elements of Li-Cycle’s current objectives, goals, targets, strategic priorities, expectations and plans, and in obtaining a better understanding of Li-Cycle’s business and anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes and is not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Li-Cycle, and are not guarantees of future performance. Li-Cycle believes that these risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: Li-Cycle’s inability to economically and efficiently source, recover and recycle lithium-ion batteries and lithium-ion battery manufacturing scrap, as well as third party black mass, and to meet the market demand for an environmentally sound, closed-loop solution for manufacturing waste and end-of-life lithium-ion batteries; Li-Cycle’s inability to successfully implement its global growth strategy, on a timely basis or at all; Li-Cycle’s inability to manage future global growth effectively; Li-Cycle’s inability to develop the Rochester Hub, Arizona Spoke, Alabama Spoke and other future projects including its Ohio, Norway and Germany Spoke projects in a timely manner or on budget or that those projects will not meet expectations with respect to their productivity or the specifications of their end products; Li-Cycle’s failure to materially increase recycling capacity and efficiency; Li-Cycle may engage in strategic transactions, including acquisitions, that could disrupt its business, cause dilution to its shareholders, reduce its financial resources, result in incurrence of debt, or prove not to be successful; one or more of Li-Cycle’s current or future facilities becoming inoperative, capacity constrained or if its operations are disrupted; additional funds required to meet Li-Cycle’s capital requirements in the future not being available to Li-Cycle on commercially reasonable terms or at all when it needs them; Li-Cycle expects to incur significant expenses and may not achieve or sustain profitability; problems with the handling of lithium-ion battery cells that result in less usage of lithium-ion batteries or affect Li-Cycle’s operations; Li-Cycle’s inability to maintain and increase feedstock supply commitments as well as securing new customers and off-take agreements; a decline in the adoption rate of EVs, or a decline in the support by governments for “green” energy technologies; decreases in benchmark prices for the metals contained in Li-Cycle’s products; changes in the volume or composition of feedstock materials processed at Li-Cycle’s facilities; the development of an alternative chemical make-up of lithium-ion batteries or battery alternatives; Li-Cycle’s revenues for the Rochester Hub are derived significantly from a single customer; Li-Cycle’s insurance may not cover all liabilities and damages; Li-Cycle’s heavy reliance on the experience and expertise of its management; Li-Cycle’s reliance on third-party consultants for its regulatory compliance; Li-Cycle’s inability to complete its recycling processes as quickly as customers may require; Li-Cycle’s inability to compete successfully; increases in income tax rates, changes in income tax laws or disagreements with tax authorities; significant variance in Li-Cycle’s operating and financial results from period to period due to fluctuations in its operating costs and other factors; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates which could result in declines in reported sales and net earnings; unfavourable economic conditions, such as consequences of the global COVID-19 pandemic; natural disasters, unusually adverse weather, epidemic or pandemic outbreaks, cyber incidents, boycotts and geo-political events; failure to protect or enforce Li-Cycle’s intellectual property; Li-Cycle may be subject to intellectual property rights claims by third parties; Li-Cycle’s failure to effectively remediate the material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting that it has identified or if it fails to develop and maintain a proper and effective internal control over financial reporting. These and other risks and uncertainties related to Li-Cycle’s business are described in greater detail in the section entitled "Risk Factors" and “Key Factors Affecting Li-Cycle’s Performance” in its Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Ontario Securities Commission in Canada on January 31, 2022. Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

Li-Cycle assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Li-Cycle’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.
Condensed consolidated interim statements of financial position
As at July 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021
(Unaudited - expressed in U.S. dollars)
			July 31, 2022		October 31, 2021
			$		$
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents			649,026,466		596,858,298
Accounts receivable			5,267,403		4,072,701
Other receivables			4,220,123		973,145
Prepayments and deposits			93,722,271		8,585,224
Inventory			5,900,931		1,259,581
			758,137,194		611,748,949
Non-current assets
Plant and equipment			89,753,260		26,389,463
Right-of-use assets			54,912,574		27,009,760
Other assets			2,109,568		—
			146,775,402		53,399,223
			904,912,596		665,148,172
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			38,458,692		18,701,116
Lease liabilities			5,478,799		2,868,795
Loans payable			7,495		7,752
			43,944,986		21,577,663
Non-current liabilities
Lease liabilities			51,486,271		26,496,074
Loans payable			26,335		31,996
Convertible debt			284,853,896		100,877,838
Warrants			—		82,109,334
Restoration provisions			434,489		334,233
			336,800,991		209,849,475
			380,745,977		231,427,138
Shareholders' equity
Share capital			768,608,594		672,079,154
Contributed surplus			16,238,257		3,026,721
Accumulated deficit			(260,647,570)		(241,088,229)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(296,612)		(296,612)
Equity attributable to the Shareholders of Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.			523,902,669		433,721,034
Non-controlling interest			263,950		—
Total equity			524,166,619		433,721,034
			904,912,596		665,148,172

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.
Condensed consolidated interim statements of comprehensive loss
Three and nine months ended July 31, 2022 and 2021
(Unaudited - expressed in U.S. dollars)
		Three months ended July 31,				Nine months ended July 31,
		2022		2021		2022		2021
		$		$		$		$
Revenue
Product sales		(2,338,949)		1,593,563		9,574,620		2,682,531
Recycling services		372,510		115,560		950,134		301,216
		(1,966,439)		1,709,123		10,524,754		2,983,747
Expenses
Employee salaries and benefits		9,525,996		3,476,995		28,633,550		7,722,475
Professional fees		4,184,457		1,216,310		10,618,212		4,218,362
Share-based compensation		3,998,966		298,489		13,675,130		1,307,874
Raw materials and supplies		3,571,752		1,109,582		6,802,193		2,003,939
Office, administrative and travel		5,293,879		431,881		11,287,158		1,053,766
Depreciation		2,969,337		697,604		6,790,188		1,830,603
Research and development		514,769		576,551		1,384,635		1,928,582
Freight and shipping		671,358		155,456		1,469,203		587,953
Plant facilities		1,073,881		227,942		2,494,919		676,278
Marketing		661,749		160,479		1,858,324		465,269
Change in Finished Goods Inventory		81,820		(475,862)		82,807		(1,120,755)
		32,547,964		7,875,427		85,096,319		20,674,346
Loss from operations		(34,514,403)		(6,166,304)		(74,571,565)		(17,690,599)
Other (income) expense
Fair value (gain) loss on financial instruments		(8,567,022)		508,850		(62,300,143)		2,433,196
Interest expense		3,533,007		437,163		9,725,534		932,497
Foreign exchange (gain) loss		51,691		(214,496)		180,534		536,216
Interest income		(2,010,423)		(503)		(2,557,099)		(1,725)
		(6,992,747)		731,014		(54,951,174)		3,900,184
Net loss		(27,521,656)		(6,897,318)		(19,620,391)		(21,590,783)
Income tax		—		—		5,000		—
Net loss and comprehensive loss		(27,521,656)		(6,897,318)		(19,625,391)		(21,590,783)
Net loss attributable to
Shareholders of Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.		(27,479,280)		(6,897,318)		(19,559,341)		(21,590,783)
Non-controlling interest		(42,376)		—		(66,050)		—
Net loss and comprehensive loss		(27,521,656)		(6,897,318)		(19,625,391)		(21,590,783)
Loss per common share - basic and diluted		(0.16)		(0.07)		(0.12)		(0.23)

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.
Condensed consolidated interim statements of cash flows
Three and nine months ended July 31, 2022 and 2021
(Unaudited - expressed in U.S. dollars)
		Three months ended July 31,				Nine months ended July 31,
		2022		2021		2022		2021
		$		$		$		$
Operating activities
Net loss for the period		(27,521,656)		(6,897,318)		(19,625,391)		(21,590,783)
Items not affecting cash								—
Share-based compensation		3,998,966		298,489		13,675,130		1,307,874
Depreciation		2,969,337		697,604		6,790,188		1,830,603
Amortization of government grants		—		(26,887)		—		(92,926)
Loss on disposal of assets		—		—		—		13,399
Foreign exchange (gain) loss on translation		(103,895)		(152,562)		(561,803)		509,195
Fair value (gain) loss on financial instruments		(8,567,022)		508,850		(62,300,143)		2,433,196
Interest and accretion on convertible debt		2,886,555		—		8,094,918		—
		(26,337,715)		(5,571,824)		(53,927,101)		(15,589,442)
Changes in non-cash working capital items
Accounts receivable		6,233,862		(1,467,219)		(1,194,702)		(2,309,564)
Other receivables		(2,655,693)		(37,157)		(3,246,978)		(56,188)
Prepayments and deposits		(5,914,245)		(2,668,131)		(3,543,585)		(7,118,905)
Inventory		(2,468,948)		(719,231)		(4,641,350)		(1,322,927)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		5,953,737		6,518,975		2,729,377		9,830,211
		(25,189,002)		(3,944,587)		(63,824,339)		(16,566,815)
Investing activity
Purchases of plant and equipment		(29,555,201)		(5,804,757)		(45,037,303)		(10,903,007)
Prepaid equipment deposits		(42,745,602)		(794,002)		(62,591,565)		(1,163,841)
Prepaid construction charges		(9,812,572)		—		(21,891,269)		—
Proceeds from disposal of plant and equipment		—		—		—		16,866
		(82,113,375)		(6,598,759)		(129,520,137)		(12,049,982)
Financing activities
Proceeds from private share issuance, net of share issuance costs		—		—		—		21,620,000
Proceeds from public share issuance, net of share issuance costs		49,698,756		—		49,698,756		—
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		—		169,105		—		169,105
Proceeds from exercise of warrants		—		—		65,180		—
Proceeds from convertible Debt		198,682,238		—		198,682,238		—
Proceeds from loans payable		—		7,000,000		—		10,091,220
Proceeds from government grants		—		26,887		—		92,926
Capital contribution from the holders of non-controlling interest		—		—		330,000		—
Repayment of lease liabilities		(1,366,336)		(204,231)		(3,258,899)		(530,953)
Repayment of loans payable		(1,548)		(423,595)		(4,631)		(1,138,336)
		247,013,110		6,568,166		245,512,644		30,303,962
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		139,710,733		(3,975,180)		52,168,168		1,687,165
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		509,315,733		6,325,902		596,858,298		663,557
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		649,026,466		2,350,722		649,026,466		2,350,722
Non-cash investing activities
Purchase of plant and equipment in payables and accruals		(12,653,536)		22,392		17,028,199		2,655,301
Non-cash financing activities
Equity issued for non-cash costs		—		—		—		455,055
Interest paid		(648,032)		(437,163)		(1,632,196)		(932,497)

____________________________
¹ Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measure under IFRS. See Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this press release, including for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net profit (loss).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220914005397/en/

Nahla Azmy

Sheldon D'souza

Investors: investors@li-cycle.com

Louie Diaz

Media: media@li-cycle.com

Source: Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

FAQ

What were Li-Cycle's revenues for the third quarter of 2022?

Li-Cycle reported revenues from product sales of $5.4 million and total revenues of $(2.0) million for the third quarter of 2022.

What caused the net loss reported by Li-Cycle in Q3 2022?

The net loss of approximately $27.5 million was mainly due to increased operating expenses and a non-cash fair market value pricing adjustment of $(7.3) million.

How much cash does Li-Cycle currently have on hand?

As of July 31, 2022, Li-Cycle has $649.0 million in cash.

What is Li-Cycle's production target for FY2022?

Li-Cycle updated its FY2022 black mass production target to between 3,500 and 3,800 tonnes.

When is the commissioning of the Rochester Hub expected to begin?

The commissioning of the Rochester Hub is on track to commence in stages in 2023.