4Front Ventures Reports First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

<br /> 4Front Ventures Reports First Quarter 2022 Financial Results<br />

PR Newswire


Q1 2022 Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue of

$32.4 million

, an increase of 7% from Q1 2021


Q1 2022 Adjusted EBITDA of

$9.0 million

, an increase of 53% from Q1 2021


Conference call to be held today,

May 23, 2022

at

5:00 p.m. ET



PHOENIX


,


May 23, 2022


/PRNewswire/ – 4Front Ventures Corp. (CSE: FFNT) (OTCQX: FFNTF) (“4Front” or the “Company”), a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator and retailer, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended

March 31, 2022

(“Q1 2022”). All financial information is presented in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.


Q1 2022 Highlights

  • Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue increased 7% year-over-year to

    $32.4 million
  • GAAP revenue increased 13% year-over-year to

    $26.1 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA increased 53% year-over-year to

    $9.0 million
  • Completed accretive acquisition of New England Cannabis Corporation (“NECC”), more than doubling the Company’s total flower canopy in

    Massachusetts

    and scaling its presence as a dominant wholesaler and producer in the state
  • Signed definitive agreement to acquire Island Cannabis Co. (“Island”), combining premier California brand with 4Front’s state-of-the-art

    Commerce, California

    manufacturing facility (acquisition subsequently completed in

    April 2022

    )

Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA are Non-GAAP measures. See “Note Regarding Non-GAAP Measures, Reconciliation, and Discussion”.


Management Commentary

“Our business inflected during the first quarter of 2022 as a result of the investments and efficiencies we made over the last 18 months to meet our long-term strategic goals,” said

Leo Gontmakher

, Chief Executive Officer of 4Front. “We now have a fully-capitalized infrastructure in place to drive robust growth through this year and well into the future. Our thesis of providing consistent, low-cost production at scale continues to play out as designed, with the operational achievements from 2021 continuing to provide a solid foundation for the expected growth of our production and sales.”

“In

California

, we were proud to announce the acquisition of Island at the end of March and its subsequent closing in April. The Island brand and their seasoned management team are perfect complements to the 4Front model, and since closing the transaction we have fully integrated Island into our production and distribution channels. The scale of our

Commerce

operations enables us to buy similarly successful, attractive brands and manufacture them at considerably lower cost, producing strong margins which fall right to our bottom line. We look forward to announcing more exciting developments in

California

over the coming months.”

“Our retail operations are showing solid performance, with increasing customer counts despite some expected pricing headwinds. Additionally, our cultivation and manufacturing processes and facilities are now fully optimized for the large-scale production of high-quality, low-cost products. The acquisition of NECC and its state-of-the-art facility, the best we have ever seen, has contributed to improvements not only in

Massachusetts

, but across our platform as we further implement their practices into our own process. The resulting high-quality flower has enabled increased sales of our house brands and further penetration into wholesale markets.”

“We’re excited to set up our next stage of growth in

Illinois

, with the first phase of our latest facility in

Matteson

expected to be completed in six months and ahead of schedule. I am confident that with the completion of the

Matteson

facility on the near horizon, and a fully operational

Commerce

facility showing strong sales momentum, we are fully prepared for our next stage of growth as a business.”

“Our corporate, operational, and commercial decisions are driven by our commitment to supplying our customers with low-cost, high-quality cannabis and consumer packaged goods at scale, all while maximizing shareholder value. I am more confident than ever that we have one of the most knowledgeable and experienced teams to successfully outperform in this industry as it continues to mature. We look forward to reporting our continued success as we progress through a very active Q2.”


Operational Highlights and Current Developments


In

January 2022

, the Company completed its acquisition of NECC

, following approval by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission. NECC’s state-of-the art 55,000 square foot cultivation and production facility significantly bolsters 4Front’s strategic position in the

Massachusetts

market and expands the Company’s institutional knowledge of lighting, airflow, and fertigation techniques. The acquisition firmly establishes the Company’s presence as a leading operator in the region and allows for the expanded distribution of our products in the wholesale market, supporting our goal of being the premier low-cost finished goods wholesaler in

Massachusetts

.


In

March 2022

, 4Front signed a definitive agreement to acquire Island Cannabis Co.

, a leading

California

producer of pre-roll, flower, and concentrate products, and the first California brand to join 4Front’s platform. Following its subsequent completion in

April 2022

, the acquisition adds premium flower to the 4Front product suite, and significant talent to the Company’s bench. Importantly to the Company’s long-term

California

strategy, Island’s management team brings deep operational experience in the local market to 4Front. Following the completion of the acquisition, 4Front has appointed former Island executives to its management team, including

Ray Landgraf

as President of California Operations, and

Brandon Mills

as Executive Vice President.

Production at the Company’s 170,000 square foot state-of-the-art production facility in

Commerce, California

continues to ramp, and after six months of operations, 4Front is more confident than ever that it is uniquely positioned to be truly disruptive in a

California

market that is ripe for consolidation and subsequent streamlining of cost efficiencies. The

Commerce

facility allows the Company to acquire brands and manufacture them significantly cheaper and more profitably, seamlessly integrating into 4Front’s production lines in a matter of weeks – a key differentiator in its

California

growth strategy.


Construction of 4Front’s cultivation and production facility in

Matteson, Illinois

remains ahead of schedule

and on track to be completed in Q4 2022. The 250,000 square foot initial phase is expected to begin operations in Q1 2023 and will be a key growth factor moving forward as the Company expands its wholesale business and retail footprint in

Illinois

. Consumer and wholesale demand continues to increase in the state, and with only two of its allowable ten dispensaries open so far, the Company anticipates substantial room for growth as it expands both its retail footprint and its wholesale presence in the medium-term.


Q1 2022 Financial Overview

Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue for Q1 2022 was

$32.4 million

, up 7% from Q1 2021. GAAP revenue for Q1 2022 was

$26.1 million

, up 13% from Q1 2021. The Company reiterates its belief that wholesale growth in both

Massachusetts

and

Illinois

is poised to strengthen over the year as additional retail comes on-line in those underserved states.

Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2022 was

$9.0 million

, up 53% from Q1 2021, representing an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 28%. Stepwise growth of Adjusted EBITDA and margin is expected to continue through 2023 as the Company’s operations drive increased production, higher sales volumes, and additional retail opportunities.

As of

March 31, 2022

, the Company had

$8.6 million

of cash and

$48.7 million

of related-party long-term debt not due until

May 2024

. As of today the Company has 636,636,686 subordinate voting shares outstanding.


Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call and webcast today,

Monday, May 23, 2022

, at

5:00 p.m. ET

to review its operational and financial results and provide an update on current business trends.



DATE:


Monday, May 23, 2022



TIME:


5:00 p.m. Eastern Time



U.S./CANADA TOLL-

FREE DIAL-IN:


1-888-664-6392



WEBCAST:


The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay at this link:



https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1546261&tp_key=3e8ddb380d




REPLAY:


A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available

until June 6, 2022. Toll-free replay number: 1-888-390-

0541 Replay entry code: 240284#



INTERNATIONAL DIAL-

IN ASSISTANCE:


Contact

[email protected]


About 4Front Ventures Corp.



4Front Ventures Corp.


(“4Front” or the “Company”) (


CSE: FFNT


) (


OTCQX: FFNTF


) is a national, vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator who owns or manages operations and facilities in strategic medical and adult-use cannabis markets, including

California

,

Illinois

,

Massachusetts

,

Michigan

and

Washington

. Since its founding in 2011, 4Front has built a strong reputation for its high standards and low-cost cultivation and production methodologies earned through a track record of success in facility design, cultivation, genetics, growing processes, manufacturing, purchasing, distribution, and retail. To date, 4Front has successfully brought to market more than 20 different cannabis brands and over 1,800 products, which are strategically distributed through its fully owned and operated Mission dispensaries and retail outlets in its core markets. As the Company continues to drive value for its shareholders, its team is applying its decade of expertise in the sector across the cannabis industry value chain and ecosystem. For more information, visit

Inspired by the plant




.


Financial Statements



4FRONT VENTURES CORP.



Formerly 4Front Holdings, LLC



Condensed Consolidated Interim Balance Sheets



As of

March 31, 2022

and

December 31, 2021



March 31, 2022



December 31, 2021



ASSETS


Current assets:


Cash


$             8,638


$             22,581


Accounts receivable, net


2,742


1,946


Other receivables


1,802


289


Current portion of lease receivables


2,627


3,630


Inventory


25,910


20,087


Current portion of notes receivable


11


109


Prepaid expenses


2,079


2,232


Total current assets


43,809


50,874


Property and equipment, net


57,815


42,633


Lease receivables


7,543


6,748


Intangible assets, net


43,616


26,246


Goodwill


33,404


23,155


Right-of-use assets


99,395


100,519


Deposits


5,107


5,364



TOTAL ASSETS


$             290,689


$             255,539



LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY



LIABILITIES


Current liabilities:


Accounts payable


$             5,110


$              2,131


Accrued expenses and other current liabilities


7,596


9,411


Taxes payable


27,619


23,968


Derivative liability


2,202


3,502


Current portion of convertible notes




2,784


Current portion of lease liability


3,700


3,629


Current portion of notes payable and accrued interest


5,385


3,413


Total current liabilities


51,612


48,838


Convertible notes


14,920


14,641


Notes payable and accrued interest from related party


48,651


48,266


Long term notes payable


1,709


1,709


Long term accounts payable


1,200


1,200


Contingent consideration payable


2,393


2,393


Construction finance liability


16,000




Deferred tax liability


7,162


7,849


Lease liability


93,505


93,111



TOTAL LIABILITIES


237,152


218,007



SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY


Equity attributable to 4Front Ventures Corp.


294,981


274,120


Additional paid-in capital


53,235


52,197


Deficit


(294,756)


(288,857)


Non-controlling interest


77


72



TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY


53,537


37,532



TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY


$             290,689


$              255,539


4FRONT VENTURES CORP.



Formerly 4Front Holdings, LLC



Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss



For the Three Months Ended

March 31, 2022

and

March 31, 2021



Three Months Ended March 31,



2022



2021



REVENUE


Revenue from sale of goods


$              23,083


$                20,080


Real estate income


2,965


2,890



Total revenues



26,048



22,970


Cost of goods sold


(12,594)


(9,125)



Gross profit



13,454



13,845



OPERATING EXPENSES


Selling and marketing expenses


5,166


5,157


General and administrative expenses


7,644


5,165


Depreciation and amortization


847


774


Equity based compensation


1,038


2,396


Total operating expenses


14,695


13,492



(Loss) Income from operations



(1,241)



353



Other income (expense)


Interest income


2


3


Interest expense


(2,620)


(2,461)


Amortization of loan discount upon conversion of debt to equity




(2,915)


Change in fair value of derivative liability


1,300


(2,532)


Loss on lease termination




(879)


Other


103





Total other income (expense), net



(1,215)



(8,784)



Net loss before income taxes



(2,456)



(8,431)



Income tax expense



(3,438)



(2,653)



Net loss from continuing operations



(5,894)



(11,084)



Net loss



(5,894)



(11,084)



Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest



5



5



Net loss attributable to shareholders



$               (5,899)



$               (11,089)



Basic and diluted loss per share



$                 (0.01)



$                   (0.02)



Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted



619,113,389



558,997,571


Note Regarding Non-GAAP Measures, Reconciliation, and Discussion

In this press release, 4Front refers to non-GAAP financial measures Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

4Front defines Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue as total revenue plus revenue from entities with which the Company has a management contract, or effectively similar relationship (net of any management fee or effectively similar revenue) but does not consolidate the financial results of per U.S. GAAP ASC 810. 4Front considers this measure to be an appropriate indicator of the growth and scope of the business.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined by the Company as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization less share-based compensation expense and one-time charges related to acquisition, financing related costs and other non-recurring expenses. 4Front considers this measure to be an important indicator of the financial strength and performance of our business.


Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue Reconciliation for the Three Months Ended

March 31, 2022


Revenue (GAAP)


$26,048


Less: Real Estate Income


2,965


Plus: Systemwide Revenue Adjustment


9,309


Systemwide Pro Forma Revenue (non-GAAP)


$32,392

This news release was prepared by management of 4Front Ventures, which takes full responsibility for its contents. The Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in

the United States

.


Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in 4Front Ventures’ periodic filings with securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as “will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should,” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements related to future developments and the business, financial condition and operations of 4Front Ventures, statements regarding our potential growth of production and sales, cost and profitability of production, margin growth, the expected time to completion of the

Matteson

facility, the potential to maximize shareholder value, disrupt the

California

market and outperform competitors, the pace of integration of new product’s into 4Front’s production lines in

California

and the potential growth of production, sales volumes and retail opportunities, the impact of the transactions on the business of 4Front and other statements regarding future developments of the business.

Although 4Front Ventures has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on satisfying closing conditions, obtaining regulatory approvals; and engagement in activities currently considered illegal under U.S. federal laws; change in laws; limited operating history; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; general economic conditions; hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry; and regulatory or political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management’s expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. 4Front Ventures disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and 4Front Ventures does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

Cision
View original content to download multimedia:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/4front-ventures-reports-first-quarter-2022-financial-results-301553215.html

SOURCE 4Front