Canopy Growth Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Results and Positioning for 2018

Development of regulated legal cannabis markets in Canada and abroad just beginning in areas of consumer products, distribution, research and vertical integration
With launch of “Amazon-like” Tweed Main Street online store and significant investment in fulfillment, shipping and transactional IT system capabilities, Company is readying to lead online order/direct delivery backbone of Canadian cannabis market in 2018 and beyond
Consumers will demand access to wide variety of branded, consistent cannabis-based consumer packaged goods; systems of medical insurance coverage require medicinal defined products with clinically proven efficacy
Company’s expansion into developing medical cannabis markets abroad, under the Spectrum brand, to accelerate; Canopy-Health Innovations and Company to drive development and commercialization of cannabis-based medical therapies targeting large global markets
Platform expansion for volume and brands driven by Company and Canopy Rivers
SMITHS FALLS, ON, June 27, 2017 /CNW/ – Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (“Canopy Growth” or “the Company”) today released its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2017, the period ended March 31, 2017. All financial information in this press release is reported in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated.
Consolidated financial results include the accounts of the Company, its wholly‑owned, Licensed Producer (“LP”) subsidiaries Tweed Inc. (“Tweed”), Tweed Farms Inc. (“Tweed Farms”), and Bedrocan Canada Inc. (“Bedrocan Canada”) for the three and twelve months ended March 31, 2017, its wholly-owned subsidiary Mettrum Health Corp. (“Mettrum”) for the two months ended March 31, 2017 and its investments in affiliates.
Fiscal Year 2017 Highlights

• Revenue of $39.9 million; an increase of 214% over fiscal year 2016 revenues of $12.7 million
• Sold 5,139 kilograms and kilogram equivalents; a 203% increase over fiscal year 2016
• Harvested 10,837 kilograms compared to 6,029 kilograms in fiscal year 2016, representing an 80% increase
• Adjusted Product Contribution¹ in the fiscal year 2017 was $25.2 million or 63% of revenue. In the comparative period last year, the Adjusted Product Contribution was $8.1 million or 64% of revenue
• Adjusted EBITDA² amounted to a loss of $17.0 million compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $14.1 million in fiscal year 2016
• Acquired Mettrum; adding multiple ACMPR licenses, the sector’s second largest patient base and the Spectrumcolour‑based cannabis strain categorization system
• Initiated international expansion with investments in Australia, Brazil and Germany; Company subsidiaries exported medicinal cannabis to Germany and Brazil
• $101.8 million in cash and cash equivalents at year end

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2017 Highlights

• Revenue of $14.7 million; a 50% increase over third quarter fiscal year 2017 and a 191% increase over the prior year’s quarter
• Average sales price per gram was $8.03 as compared to $7.36 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 and $7.16 in the prior year’s quarter
• Sold 1,740 kilograms and kilogram equivalents; a 40% and 149% increase over the third quarter fiscal year 2017 and prior year’s quarter, respectively
• Adjusted Product Contribution¹ was $9.6 million or 66% of revenue as compared to an Adjusted Product Contribution of $3.2 million and 63% of revenue in the same quarter of last year, and 68% for the third quarter of fiscal 2017
• Sales and Marketing and G&A expenses continued the trend of decreasing as a percentage of sales
• Adjusted EBITDA² amounted to a loss of $5.3 million compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $4.4 million in the prior year’s quarter

Subsequent to Fiscal Year 2017

• Launched Tweed Main Street, a sector first, single online marketplace that enables registered patients to purchase medicinal cannabis from multiple producers across numerous brands
• Announced Tweed’s curated CraftGrow line, which will bring high‑quality cannabis grown by a diverse set of producers to Tweed Main Street customers
• Launched the sale of encapsulated cannabis oil softgels on June 19, 2017
• Announced the commitment of $20 million in funding for new subsidiary, Canopy Rivers Corporation and subsequent closing of an offering that raised aggregate gross proceeds of $36.2 million
• Unveiled international medical brand, Spectrum Cannabis, that will serve as the Company’s physician and patient-facing identity in strictly medical markets outside North America
• Indoor production facility in Smiths Falls and greenhouse in Niagara-on-the-Lake received Good Manufacturing Practice (“GMP”) certifications
• Six additional grow rooms licensed at Smiths Falls, Ontario Facility, increasing flowering space by 33%; industrial cannabis oil extraction system now operational, system capable of producing as much oil in approximately one month as the Company has produced since extraction activities commenced in November 2015
• Expansion at Bowmanville, Ontario facility completed and licensed, adding 200% more capacity

“Continued investment and the execution of unique, market driven business strategies have firmly positioned Canopy to address the legal adult recreational market that is set to open in Canada in 2018 and expand into federally-legal markets around the world,” said Bruce Linton, Chairman & CEO.
Added Linton, “With a patient base that has more than doubled over the past year, to over 58,000, we have scaled up operations in all areas, including cultivation capacity, information technology, quality assurance, fulfillment and customer care.  The development of Tweed Main Street, our new online store, which brings the products of our many leading brands under one roof, delivers a shopping experience that consumers frankly expect.  Investment in partnerships and product development have delivered a variety of products to our customers, including most recently softgels, produced under GMP conditions.  Developing the playbook that has secured our lead in the Canadian market has been a warm up exercise for the opportunity that lies ahead.  Our expansion into developing medical cannabis markets, with established products and procedures under the Spectrum brand, has begun in Germany and Chile.”
“We will continue to invest in our business, to bring more capacity and more permitted products to more customers in more markets, all with a view to increasing market share and maximizing shareholder return in the long term.  We strongly believe that continuing to invest in our industry leadership position, strategically trading off short-term profitability for long term value, is the right decision for shareholders, patients and our communities,” concluded Linton.
Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017 Revenue Review
Revenue for the fourth quarter fiscal 2017 was $14.7 million, a 50% increase over the third quarter fiscal 2017 in which revenue was $9.8 million and an increase of 191% over the prior year period in which revenue was $5.0 million.
Revenue in the fiscal year 2017 totaled $39.9 million, an increase of 214% over fiscal year 2016 when revenue was $12.7 million. 
Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017 Product Sales Review
During the fourth quarter fiscal 2017, Canopy Growth sold 1,740 kilograms and kilogram equivalents at an average price of $8.03 per gram, up from 700 kilograms and kilogram equivalents at an average price of $7.16 per gram during the prior year period.
During the fiscal year 2017, the Company has sold 5,139 kilograms and kilogram equivalents at an average price of $7.40 per gram compared to 1,696 kilograms and kilogram equivalents at an average price of $7.34 per gram in the same period last year.
Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017 Gross Margin Review
The IFRS reported gross margin was $1.4 million, or 10% of revenue, for the three month period ended March 31, 2017.  In the comparative period ended March 31, 2016, the IFRS gross margin was $2.7 million or 53% of revenue.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, management developed a plan to sell Sun‑Grown inventory at a reduced price commencing in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 which resulted in an expense to revalue the Tweed Farms “Sun-Grown” inventory which was recognized in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.  The fourth quarter gross margin was primarily impacted by taking into account the new pricing introduced subsequent to year-end for Tweed Farms Sun‑Grown strains, which are sold, in many cases, at a discount to similar strains sold under the Tweed brand.
The IFRS gross margin was $37.6 million, or 94% of revenue, for the twelve month period ended March 31, 2017. In the comparative period ended March 31, 2016, the gross margin on the same basis was $19.0 million or 150% of revenue. Gross margin includes the unrealized gains on changes in fair value of biological assets.
Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017 Adjusted Product Contribution Review
The Company’s “Adjusted Product Contribution”¹ is a Non-GAAP metric used by management which adjusts the reported gross margin by excluding the fair value measurements as required by IFRS and measures the cost of sales for the grams actually sold in the period. Management believes this measure provides useful information as it reflects the gross margin based on the Company’s weighted average cost per gram from seed to sale against the grams sold.
The Adjusted Product Contribution in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 was $9.6 million, or 66% of revenue compared to $3.2 million, or 63% of revenue in the comparison period last year. For fiscal 2017, the Adjusted Product Contribution was $25.2 million, or 63% of revenue compared to $8.1 million or 64% of revenue in the prior year period.
Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017 Operating Expense Review
Sales and marketing expenses in the fourth quarter fiscal 2017 were $4.1 million, or 28% of revenue, including two months of Mettrum operations amounting to an increase of $1.0 million, non-cash share-based compensation of $0.1 million related to previously issued escrowed shares, and higher patient assistance payments of $0.5 million. In comparison, sales and marketing expenses were $2.4 million or 48% of revenue in the same period last year.
Sales and marketing expenses in the fiscal year 2017 were $13.0 million or 32% of revenue compared to sales and marketing expenses of $5.7 million or 45% of revenue in the prior year period. Sales and marketing expenses in the fiscal year 2017 include two months of Mettrum operations amounting to an increase of $1.0 million, a full year of Bedrocan Canada operations, whereas the comparative period included only six months of operation, amounting to an increase of $0.8 million, non-cash, share‑based compensation of $1.3 million related to previously issued escrowed shares and $1.8 million in higher patient assistance payments directly attributed to patient growth. Also included are higher staff levels, costs associated with the Company’s medical outreach program, branding programs and the expanding client care center.
General and Administrative (“G&A”) expenses in the fourth quarter fiscal 2017 and 2016 were $5.9 million and $2.6 million, respectively. G&A expenses, as a percentage of revenue, continued a downward trend, decreasing from 51% in the fourth quarter fiscal 2016 to 40% of revenue in the fourth quarter fiscal 2017. These costs include two months of Mettrum operations amounting to an increase of $1.7 million and higher employee compensation related expenses due to increased staff levels. G&A expenses during the quarter also included extensive use of consultants and advisory services while expanding and commercializing the Company’s operations, facility costs, compliance costs associated with meeting Health Canada requirements, as well as other public company related expenses including related professional fees.
G&A expenses in the fiscal year 2017 were $16.9 million or 42% or revenue. In comparison, G&A expenses were $8.2 million or 64% of revenue, in the same period last year. The increase in G&A expenses over the year ended March 31, 2017 reflects the Company’s growth and building of commercial capacity and capability. These costs include two months of Mettrum operations, amounting to an increase of $1.7 million, a full year of Bedrocan Canada operations, amounting to an increase of $1.3 million over the prior year period, and higher finance charges such as credit card payment processing fees of $0.6 million. G&A expenses during the year ended March 31, 2017 also included higher employee compensation related expenses due to increased staff levels and extensive use of consultants, legal and advisory services in acquisition-related activities and in expanding and commercializing the Company’s operations and facility costs at Tweed, Tweed Farms and Bedrocan Canada. In addition, compliance costs associated with meeting Health Canada requirements, as well as other public company related expenses including related professional fees were included.
Acquisition-related expenses for the three-month period ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 were $5.4 million and $nil, respectively. Acquisition-related expenses in the three month period ended March 31, 2017 included $4.6 million related to the acquisition of Mettrum. The Acquisition-related expenses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 increased due to the significance of the Mettrum acquisition and due diligence on potential acquisitions completed during the period and resulting increased level of legal, accounting and strategic business consulting services required to evaluate and complete the transactions.
Acquisition-related expenses for the year ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 were $7.4 million and $1.2 million respectively. Acquisition-related expenses in fiscal 2017 included $5.2 million related to the acquisition of Mettrum, $0.6 million related to M&A advisory services and $0.4 million related to the acquisition of MedCann GmbH Pharma and Nutraceuticals (since renamed Spektrum Cannabis GmbH). Acquisition-related expenses incurred in fiscal 2016 included $1.1 million related to the acquisition of Bedrocan Canada. The higher acquisition-related expenses in fiscal 2017 were due to higher number of acquisitions completed during fiscal 2017 and higher legal, accounting and strategic business consulting services required to complete the transactions. The Company may acquire additional strategic assets in the future as it pursues its business strategy. As such, the Company may incur related acquisition expenses, including legal, accounting and strategic business consulting service related fees, in the future.
Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017 Adjusted EBITDA
The Company’s “Adjusted EBITDA”² is a Non-GAAP metric used by management which is Income (loss) from operations, as reported, before interest, tax, and adjusted for removing other non-cash items, including the stock based compensation expense, depreciation, and the non-cash effects of accounting for biological assets and inventories, and further adjusted to remove acquisition related costs. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is a useful financial metric to assess its operating performance on a cash basis before the impact of non-cash items and acquisition activities.
Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter fiscal 2017 amounted to a loss of $5.3 million compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $4.4 million in the same period last year. In the year ended March 31, 2017, the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA amounted to a loss of $17.0 million compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $14.1 million in the twelve-months ended March 31, 2016.
Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017 Earnings Review
Net loss in the fourth quarter fiscal 2017 was $21.1 million or $0.14 per basic and diluted share compared to a net loss of $5.1 million or $0.05 per basic and diluted share in the comparative period last year, inclusive of the IFRS accounting for biological assets. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded net loss of $16.7 million or $0.14 per basic and diluted share, compared to net loss of $3.5 million or $0.05 per basic and diluted share in the comparative period last year.  Reported net loss was inclusive of the IFRS accounting for biological assets.
Fiscal Year 2017 Balance Sheet Review
At March 31, 2017, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $101.8 million, representing an increase of $86.4 million from March 31, 2016, principally due to cash received from the bought deal financings that closed on, April 15, 2016, August 24, 2016 and December 22, 2016, a private placement that closed on March 22, 2017, and options exercised, combined totaling $129.3 million, net of share issue costs, which also includes $1.0 million of share issue costs associated with the Mettrum acquisition. The increase also included $3.5 million in mortgage proceeds received in the second quarter and $12.3 million in net cash acquired at closing of the Mettrum acquisition, offset by capital expansion totaling $29.4 million and to fund the cash applied to operating activities of $27.1 million.
Inventory at March 31, 2017 amounted to $46.0 million (March 31, 2016 – $22.2 million) and biological assets amounted to $13.6 million (March 31, 2016 – $5.3 million), together totaling $59.6 million (March 31, 2016 – $27.5 million). At March 31, 2017, the Company held 8,360 kilograms of dry cannabis and 3,049 L of cannabis oils. Included in the dry cannabis quantities was 377 kilograms available for sale in the Company’s online stores, 3,173 kilograms in process of finishing or awaiting approval for sale and 4,810 kilograms held for extraction. Dry cannabis inventory held for extraction is expected to be rapidly converted to oils and capsules when the new AES industrial capacity extraction equipment is fully commissioned and now that capsules have been approved for sale by Health Canada.
The audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis documents for the three and twelve months ended March 31, 2017 have been filed with SEDAR and are available on www.sedar.com. The basis of financial reporting in the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis documents is in thousands of Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated.
Note 1: The Adjusted Product Contribution is a non-GAAP financial measure that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Adjusted Product Contribution is reconciled and explained in Management’s Discussion & Analysis under “Adjusted Product Contribution (Non-GAAP Measure)”, a copy of which has been filed today on www.sedar.com.
Note 2: The Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled and explained in Management’s Discussion & Analysis under “Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP Measure)”, a copy of which has been filed today on www.sedar.com.
Webcast and Conference Call Information
Canopy Growth will host a conference call and audio webcast with Bruce Linton, CEO and Tim Saunders, CFO at 8:30 AM Eastern Time today.
Webcast Information
A live audio webcast will be available at:
https://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=1429857&s=1&k=C6562574595771C03BC10CF011775CCA
Calling Information
Toll Free Dial-In Number: 1-888-231-8191
International Dial-In Number (647) 427-7450
Conference ID: 24922372
Replay Information
A replay of the call will be accessible by telephone until 11:59 PM ET on July 27, 2017.
Toll Free Dial-in Number: 1-855-859-2056
Replay Password: 24922372
About Canopy Growth Corporation
Canopy Growth is a world-leading diversified cannabis company, offering distinct brands and curated cannabis varieties in dried, oil and capsule forms. Through its wholly‑owned subsidiaries, Canopy Growth operates numerous state-of-the-art production facilities with over half a million square feet of GMP-certified indoor and greenhouse production capacity, all to an unparalleled level of quality assurance procedures and testing. Canopy Growth has established partnerships with leading sector names in Canada and abroad, with interests and operations spanning four continents. The Company is proudly dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners, providing consistent access to high quality cannabis products, conducting robust clinical research, and furthering the public’s understanding of cannabis. For more information visit www.canopygrowth.com.
Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements 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 involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Canopy Growth Corporation and its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include future operational and production capacity, the impact of enhanced infrastructure and production capabilities, and forecasted available product selection. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and Canopy Growth Corporation does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities legislation. Neither the TSX Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

 
 
SOURCE Canopy Growth Corporation
For further information: Tyler Burns, Investor Relations, Canopy Growth Corporation, Tyler.burns@canopygrowth.com, 1-855-558-9333 ex 122; Director: Bruce Linton, tmx@tweed.com, tmx@canopygrowth.com
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Source: www.newswire.ca