Categories
Art & Life Business

Top restaurants put a spin on diner fare at the Amex® Gold Card Pop-Up Diner powered by Resy, on tour four weekends this fall

Dine-In Reservations Are Exclusively Available to American Express Gold Card Members; General Public Can Purchase Menu Items from The Counter

 

NEW YORK — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Order up! This fall diner fare will get an upgrade at the Amex® Gold Card Pop-Up Diner, a traveling outdoor restaurant making weekend-long stops in four cities (a nod to the American Express® Gold Card’s market-leading 4x points at restaurants) between September 10 and October 3. When the Pop-Up Diner pulls into town, the chefs behind top Resy restaurants will get behind the griddle and put their twist on iconic diner dishes.


Chicago’s most-requested Resy restaurant Andros Taverna will kick off the tour with a Greek diner menu (September 10-12); critically acclaimed Italian restaurant Osteria will represent Philly (September 17-19); DC’s Korean gastropub Anju will cook for the Capitol city (September 24-26); and Michelin-starred Rezdôra, will head to Brooklyn for the Diner’s last call (October 1-3). Beverages will be provided by Other Half Brewing Company, HOXIE Spritzer and BRANDS WITHIN REACH (BWR) with Volvic Water.

 

The American Express® Gold Card Pop-Up Diner is the latest in a series of restaurant-focused events from the American Express® Gold Card, curated and produced by Resy: Amex® Gold Card Picnic in the Park (June 2021, 4 cities) and American Express® Gold Card Presents The Resy Drive-Thru (October 2021, LA; March 2021, Miami). As the ultimate Credit Card for food lovers, Gold Card Members can earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants including takeout and delivery and get access to unique dining experiences.

 

Amex Gold Card Pop-Up Diner Experience: Diner favorites, reimagined by Resy restaurants.

The Amex Gold Card Pop-Up Diner will offer two experiences: Dine-In, exclusively for American Express Gold Card Members, and The Counter, open to the general public.

 

The Dine-In experience will include a four-course prix fixe menu and outdoor seating within the pop-up. Additionally, American Express Gold Card Members – diner guests or passersby can play The Goldball Machine*, a 6 foot 5 inch tall gumball machine filled with gold balls instead of gumballs. Inside each ball will be a ticket denoting a prize, ranging from diner merchandise to the grand prize available in each city, a $1,000 Delta1 Gift Card; additional prizes in each city include a $800 Hilton Hotel gift card, $500 Emily & Ashley Jewelry gift card, $300 American Express gift card. Exclusively in NYC, two tickets to Hamilton will be available to win. Playing The Goldball Machine is complimentary, while prizes last. *Official Rules and terms apply, see Resy.com/diner for complete details.

 

The Counter – open to the public – will offer featured menu items for take-away, including a custom soft serve flavor in each city. Resy users will be able to pre-reserve a takeout package in the Resy app; walk-ups are also welcome.

 

The Amex Gold Card Pop-Up Diner operates Fridays from 6-11pm, Saturdays from 6-11pm and Sundays from 11am-4pm for brunch (local time in each city).

 

The Restaurant Lineup

CHICAGO: ANDROS TAVERNA

Friday, September 10, Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12

  • Menu Highlights: Lamb Gyro with Lemon Greek Yogurt in a Wood Fired Pita, Fluffy Spanakopita Omelette, Baklava Pancake
  • Soft Serve: Froyo with Cyprus Sea Salt, ILIADA Chocolate Olive Oil

PHILADELPHIA: OSTERIA

Friday, September 17, Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19

  • Menu Highlights: Chicken Parmigiana (mozzarella, tomato sauce, rigatoni), Mama Pina’s Meatballs (tomato sauce, Parmigiano, chili), Italian Bread Basket (mozzarella stick, garlic semolina, pepperoni Stromboli, tomato pie)
  • Soft Serve: Salted Butter Caramel

WASHINGTON, D.C.: ANJU

Friday, September 24, Saturday, September 25 and Sunday, September 26

  • Menu Highlights: “Dduk Sticks” (panko breaded and fried rice cakes, kimchi marinara), Galbi Burger with ssamjang aioli and furikake tots, Steak & Eggs (Sliced Galbi, Furikake Butter Rice, Fried Egg) Chocolate Chip Walnut Red Bean Cookie with milk
  • Soft Serve: Bingsu – Vanilla Soft Serve, Melon Ice, Mochi, Condensed Milk Syrup

BROOKLYN: REZDÔRA

Friday, October 1, Saturday, October 2 and Sunday, October 3

  • Menu Highlights: Doppio Stuffed Tortelli in style of “Pastrami on Rye” (mortadella filling, rye bread “breadcrumbs,” pastrami spice butter), Burger in Emilia-Romagna (cotechino sausage, salsa verde, tomato and Parmigiano crisp)
  • Soft Serve: Dominique’s New Jersey Boardwalk Soft Serve

 

To Purchase Tickets

Dine-In tickets for the Amex® Gold Card Pop-Up Diner go on sale August 10 at 10am ET exclusively for American Express® Gold Members. American Express Gold Card Members who have linked their eligible Cards to their Resy profiles will have access to bookings for the specified sales window. Dine-in tickets are $75 per person for a four-course menu including beer and wine2 and gratuity (taxes are not included in ticket price). Takeout packages go on sale August 12 at 10am ET to the general public. Takeout tickets are $28 per person and include choice of (1) main dish, soft serve and gratuity (taxes are not included in ticket price). All tickets are first come, first served. Tickets are delivered electronically to the Card Holder’s Resy app reservation tab. Walk-up guests are welcome and will be able to purchase items a la carte from the pop-up’s Counter. The event is subject to the terms & conditions set by Resy.

1 Delta is not a sponsor of the promotion and not affiliated with American Express.

2 Must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly.

Location: U.S.

Contacts

Media:

Vanessa Leitman

Vanessa.Leitman@resy.com

Margit Malacrida

Margit@parallel-pr.com

Categories
Business Science

Eagle Pharmaceuticals reports second quarter 2021 results

Q2 2021 net income was $0.28 per basic and $0.27 per diluted share and adjusted non-GAAP net income was $0.95 per basic and $0.93 per diluted share

Announced licensing agreement for U.S. commercial rights to Landiolol, a beta-1 adrenergic blocker and a leading hospital emergency use product in Europe and Japan

Responded to CRL for vasopressin and anticipates commercial launch by year-end; vasopressin patent trial decision expected around mid-September

FDA maintained Priority Review for the Company’s Abbreviated New Drug Application (“ANDA”) for vasopressin and assigned a GDUFA date of December 15, 2021

Expects approximately $20-$25 million from combined royalty and milestone revenue next year for TREAKISYM (bendamustine), if TREAKISYM RI formulation is approved

 

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: EGRX) (“Eagle” or the “Company”) today announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021.

Business and Recent Highlights:

  • Entered into a licensing agreement for the U.S. commercial rights to Landiolol, a leading hospital emergency use product in Europe and Japan. Landiolol is currently approved in Europe for the treatment of non-compensatory sinus tachycardia and tachycardic supraventricular arrhythmias. Eagle will support the submission of a new drug application (“NDA”) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) seeking approval for Landiolol for the short-term reduction of ventricular rate in patients with supraventricular tachycardia (“SVT”), including atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.
  • Advanced vasopressin program and continue to expect a commercial launch prior to year-end:
    • Responded to the Complete Response Letter (“CRL”) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (“ANDA”) for vasopressin received from FDA in February 2021;
    • FDA maintained Priority Review for the Company’s ANDA for vasopressin and assigned a GDUFA date of December 15, 2021;
    • Patent trial against Endo Par Innovation Company, LLC took place on July 7, 2021; Court ruling expected around mid-September.
  • Approval of TREAKISYM (bendamustine) ready-to-dilute (“RTD”) formulation, in combination with rituximab for treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (“r/r DLBCL”) received from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (“PMDA”) in Japan. This represents a meaningful extension of Eagle’s bendamustine franchise and is expected to significantly increase the market opportunity for bendamustine;
  • Filing of TREAKISYM rapid infusion (“RI”) (50ml) liquid formulation with the PMDA in Japan. Eagle expects RTD, and RI, if approved, formulations to generate approximately $20-$25 million of combined royalty and milestone revenue;
  • Appointed former FDA Official and Public Health Expert Dr. Luciana Borio to its Board of Directors; and
  • Continue to pursue additional in-licensing and acquisition opportunities to broaden Eagle’s pipeline and revenue streams.

Financial Highlights

Second Quarter 2021

Total revenue for Q2 2021 was $48.1 million, compared to $41.9 million in Q2 2020, primarily reflecting higher product sales of BELRAPZO® and RYANODEX®, partially offset by lower product sales of BENDEKA®.

  • Q2 2021 net income was $3.6 million, or $0.28 per basic and $0.27 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $0.3 million, or ($0.02) per basic and diluted share in Q2 2020.
  • Q2 2021 adjusted non-GAAP net income was $12.4 million, or $0.95 per basic and $0.93 per diluted share, compared to adjusted non-GAAP net income of $8.0 million, or $0.59 per basic and $0.57 per diluted share, in Q2 2020.
  • Cash and cash equivalents were $108.7 million, net accounts receivable was $52.7 million, and debt was $30 million as of June 30, 2021.

“We had a strong and productive quarter on multiple fronts and have laid the foundation for important growth drivers going forward. We made good progress with vasopressin during the quarter and continue to believe that we will be able to launch that important product before year-end. We are just months away from our February 2022 PEMFEXY launch, which allows us an initial period of exclusivity in a billion-dollar market. With the potential for an additional royalty and milestone revenue stream of $20-$25 million from the expanding TREAKISYM franchise in Japan, next year could be a record earnings year for Eagle,” stated Scott Tarriff, Chief Executive Officer of Eagle Pharmaceuticals.

“The licensing agreement for Landiolol represents Eagle’s first new chemical entity and is a true catalyst in reshaping our company as we evolve from a specialty pharmaceutical company into a mainstream pharmaceutical company, with a vibrant pipeline of products. Landiolol solidifies our hospital and critical care product portfolio, and we plan to leverage our current sales force with little additional infrastructure costs to promote the product. We are also pursuing other such opportunities to build value for the company and look forward to providing updates,” concluded Tarriff.

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Total revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was $48.1 million, compared to $41.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020.

Q2 2021 BELRAPZO product sales were $7.6 million, compared to $4.1 million in Q2 2020.

Q2 2021 RYANODEX product sales were $7.9 million, compared to $4.7 million in Q2 2020.

Royalty revenue was $28.5 million in the second quarter of 2021, compared to $27.6 million in the second quarter of 2020. BENDEKA royalties were $27.8 million in the second quarter of 2021, compared to $27.5 million in the second quarter of 2020. A summary of total revenue is outlined below:

Three Months Ended June 30,

2021

2020

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

Revenue (in thousands):

Product sales, net

$19,621

$14,376

Royalty revenue

28,503

27,562

Total revenue

$48,124

$41,938

Gross Margin was 78% during the second quarter of 2021, as compared to 69% in the second quarter of 2020. The increase in gross margin for the second quarter of 2021 was driven by revenue mix.

R&D expense was $9.9 million for the second quarter of 2021, compared to $7.1 million in the second quarter of 2020. The increase is largely attributable to development cost for vasopressin of $1.5 million, RYANODEX related projects of $0.8 million and PEMFEXY of $0.6 million, partially offset by $0.5 million decrease in development activity related to fulvestrant. Excluding stock-based compensation and other non-cash and non-recurring items, R&D expense during the second quarter of 2021 was $9.2 million.

SG&A expenses in the second quarter of 2021 totaled $16.6 million compared to $18.0 million in the second quarter of 2020. The decrease is primarily related to lower stock compensation expense and marketing spend. Excluding stock-based compensation and other non-cash and non-recurring items, second quarter 2021 SG&A expense was $12.4 million.

Net income for the second quarter of 2021 was $3.6 million, or $0.28 per basic and $0.27 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $0.3 million, or ($0.02) per basic and diluted share, in the second quarter of 2020, due to the factors discussed above.

Adjusted non-GAAP net income for the second quarter of 2021 was $12.4 million, or $0.95 per basic and $0.93 per diluted share, compared to adjusted non-GAAP net income of $8.0 million or $0.59 per basic and $0.57 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2020. For a full reconciliation of adjusted non-GAAP net income to the most comparable GAAP financial measures, please see the tables at the end of this press release.

2021 Expense Guidance

  • R&D spend in 2021, on a non-GAAP basis, is expected to be $34-$38 million, as compared to $27.8 million in 2020.
  • SG&A spend in 2021, on a non-GAAP basis, is expected to be $52-$56 million, as compared to $50.9 million in 2020.

The guidance provided in this section represents forward-looking information, and actual results may vary. Please see the risks and assumptions referred to in the Forward-Looking Statements section of this press release.

Liquidity

As of June 30, 2021, the Company had $108.7 million in cash and cash equivalents plus $52.7 million in net accounts receivable. The Company had $30 million in outstanding debt. Therefore, as of June 30, 2021, the Company had net cash plus receivables of $131.4 million.

In the second quarter of 2021, the Company purchased $2.9 million of its common stock as part of its $160.0 million Share Repurchase Program. From August 2016 through June 30, 2021, the Company has repurchased $211.2 million of its common stock.

Conference Call

As previously announced, Eagle management will host its second quarter 2021 conference call as follows:

Date

Monday, August 9, 2021

Time

8:30 A.M. EDT

Toll free (U.S.)

877-876-9173

International

785-424-1667

Webcast (live and replay)

www.eagleus.com, under the “Investor + News” section

A replay of the conference call will be available for one week after the call’s completion by dialing 888-562-2815 (US) or 402-220-7352 (International) and entering conference call ID EGRXQ221. The webcast will be archived for 30 days at the aforementioned URL.

About Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Eagle is a fully integrated pharmaceutical company with research and development, clinical, manufacturing and commercial expertise. Eagle is committed to developing innovative medicines that result in meaningful improvements in patients’ lives. Eagle’s commercialized products include RYANODEX®, BENDEKA®, BELRAPZO®, and its oncology and CNS/metabolic critical care pipeline includes product candidates with the potential to address underserved therapeutic areas across multiple disease states. Additional information is available on Eagle’s website at www.eagleus.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and other securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Words and phrases such as “anticipated,” “forward,” “will,” “would,” “may,” “remain,” “potential,” “prepare,” “expected,” “believe,” “plan,” “near future,” “belief,” “guidance,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future events such as: the number and timing of potential product launches, development initiatives or new indications for the Company’s product candidates; the period of market exclusivity for any of the Company’s product candidates; potential future revenue or earnings of the Company; the Company’s clinical development plan for the product candidates in its portfolio; the ability of the Company’s executive team to execute on the Company’s strategy and build stockholder value; the timing, scope or likelihood and timing of regulatory filings and approvals from the FDA for the Company’s product candidates, and the Company’s ability to maintain regulatory approval of its products and product candidates; the potential timing of the Company’s commercial launch of PEMFEXY, vasopressin or Landiolol, if ever; the Company’s plans for and ability to support the commercial launch of Landiolol in the United States, if approved; the ability of the Company’s product candidates, including Landiolol, vasopressin and PEMFEXY, to deliver value to stockholders; the success of the Company’s collaborations with its strategic partners and the timing and results of these partners’ preclinical studies and clinical trials, including the Company’s collaboration with its Japanese licensing partner, SymBio, with respect to the commercialization of SymBio’s product TREAKISYM; the future commercial success of TREAKISYM RTD and, if approved, TREAKISYM RI, including anticipated royalty and milestone revenue and potential market opportunity; the Company’s timing and ability to enroll patients in ongoing and upcoming clinical trials; the ability of the Company to obtain and maintain coverage and adequate reimbursement for its products; the implementation of certain healthcare reform measures; the timing of court decisions or other actions with respect to ongoing litigation; the Company’s timing and ability to repurchase additional shares of the Company’s common stock, if any, under its Share Repurchase Program; the Company’s ability to deliver value in 2021 and over the long term; the Company’s ability to utilize its cash and other assets to increase shareholder value; the Company’s ability to effectively manage and control expenses in line with its budget; and the Company’s plans and ability to advance the products in its pipeline. All of such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including disruption or impact in the sales of the Company’s marketed products, interruptions or other adverse effects to clinical trials, delays in regulatory review, manufacturing and supply chain interruptions, adverse effects on healthcare systems, disruption in the operations of the Company’s third party partners and disruption of the global economy, and the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations; risks that the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations will be impacted by the spread of COVID-19 in the geographies where the Company’s third-party partners operate; whether the Company will incur unforeseen expenses or liabilities or other market factors; whether the Company will successfully implement its development plan for its product candidates; delay in or failure to obtain regulatory approval of the Company’s product candidates; delays in or failure to obtain regulatory approval of any license agreements with third parties; whether the Company can successfully market and commercialize its product candidates; the success of the Company’s relationships with its partners; the availability and pricing of third party sourced products and materials; the outcome of litigation involving any of our products or that may have an impact on any of the Company’s products; successful compliance with the FDA and other governmental regulations applicable to product approvals, manufacturing facilities, products and/or businesses; general economic conditions, including the potential adverse effects of public health issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on economic activity and the performance of the financial markets generally; the strength and enforceability of the Company’s intellectual property rights or the rights of third parties; competition from other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and the potential for competition from generic entrants into the market; the risks inherent in the early stages of drug development and in conducting clinical trials; and those risks and uncertainties identified in the “Risk Factors” sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 5, 2021, as updated by the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, which the Company expects to file with the SEC on August 9, 2021, and its other subsequent filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to revise and disseminate forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of or non-occurrence of any events.

Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures

In addition to financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, this press release also contains adjusted non-GAAP net income and adjusted non-GAAP earnings per share attributable to Eagle. The Company believes these measures provide investors and management with supplemental information relating to operating performance and trends that facilitate comparisons between periods and with respect to projected information.

Adjusted non-GAAP net income excludes stock-based compensation expense, depreciation expense, amortization expense, severance, non-cash interest expense, expense related to collaboration with Tyme, fair value adjustments on equity investment, fair value adjustments related to derivative instrument, convertible promissory note related credit losses, accretion of discount on convertible promissory note and the tax effect of these adjustments. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures help indicate underlying trends in the Company’s business and are important in comparing current results with prior period results and understanding projected operating performance. Non-GAAP financial measures provide the Company and its investors with an indication of the Company’s baseline performance before items that are considered by the Company not to be reflective of the Company’s ongoing results. See the attached Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP Net Income and Adjusted Non-GAAP Earnings per Share and Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP EBITDA for details of the amounts excluded and included to arrive at adjusted non-GAAP net income, adjusted non-GAAP earnings per share amounts, and adjusted non-GAAP EBITDA amounts, respectively.

These adjusted measures are non-GAAP and should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company strongly encourages investors to review its consolidated financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and cautions investors that the non-GAAP measures used by the Company may differ from similar measures used by other companies, even when similar terms are used to identify such measures.

— Financial tables follow —

EAGLE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except share amounts)
June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents

$

108,717

$

103,155

Accounts receivable, net

52,659

50,678

Inventories

8,294

8,075

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

5,834

4,157

Total current assets

175,504

166,065

Property and equipment, net

1,967

2,077

Intangible assets, net

11,505

12,917

Goodwill

39,743

39,743

Deferred tax asset, net

14,061

15,180

Other assets

21,462

17,208

Total assets

$

264,242

$

253,190

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable

$

11,136

$

6,268

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

25,528

23,817

Current portion of long-term debt

8,000

8,000

Total current liabilities

44,664

38,085

Other long-term liabilities

3,360

3,959

Long-term debt, less current portion

21,371

25,135

Total liabilities

69,395

67,179

Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, 1,500,000 shares authorized and no shares issued or outstanding as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 16,879,974 and 16,739,203 shares issued as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

17

17

Additional paid in capital

316,249

305,403

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(904

)

Retained earnings

87,680

84,489

Treasury stock, at cost, 3,782,861 and 3,682,176 shares as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

(208,195

)

(203,898

)

Total stockholders’ equity

194,847

186,011

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

264,242

$

253,190

EAGLE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020

Revenue:
Product sales, net

$

19,621

$

14,376

$

36,741

$

32,070

Royalty revenue

28,503

27,562

52,632

55,888

Total revenue

48,124

41,938

89,373

87,958

Operating expenses:
Cost of product sales

7,907

10,313

16,349

15,078

Cost of royalty revenue

2,850

2,822

5,263

5,860

Research and development

9,911

7,135

24,199

16,562

Selling, general and administrative

16,636

17,959

36,515

42,714

Total operating expenses

37,304

38,229

82,326

80,214

Income from operations

10,820

3,709

7,047

7,744

Interest income

163

150

198

496

Interest expense

(422

)

(786

)

(844

)

(1,675

)

Other (expense) income

(5,013

)

2,300

487

(4,200

)

Total other (expense) income, net

(5,272

)

1,664

(159

)

(5,379

)

Income before income tax provision

5,548

5,373

6,888

2,365

Income tax provision

(1,936

)

(5,629

)

(3,697

)

(5,492

)

Net Income (Loss)

$

3,612

$

(256

)

$

3,191

$

(3,127

)

Earnings (Loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic

$

0.28

$

(0.02

)

$

0.24

$

(0.23

)

Diluted

$

0.27

$

(0.02

)

$

0.24

$

(0.23

)

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic

13,108,998

13,664,951

13,116,370

13,666,279

Diluted

13,262,164

13,664,951

13,293,920

13,666,279

EAGLE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands)

Six Months Ended June 30,

2021

2020

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)

$

3,191

$

(3,127

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred income taxes

1,119

(916

)

Depreciation expense

378

460

Noncash operating lease expense related to right-of-use assets

508

471

Amortization expense of intangible assets

1,412

1,333

Fair value adjustments on equity investment

(400

)

4,200

Stock-based compensation expense

10,789

13,713

Convertible promissory note related credit losses

100

Amortization of debt issuance costs

236

183

Fair value adjustments related to derivative instrument

(188

)

Accretion of discount on convertible promissory note

(56

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities which provided (used) cash:
Accounts receivable

(1,981

)

1,223

Inventories

(219

)

(1,325

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

(1,802

)

9,553

Accounts payable

4,868

8,246

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

1,710

(8,583

)

Other assets and other long-term liabilities, net

(594

)

(1,321

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

19,071

24,110

Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of equity investment security

(17,500

)

Purchase of property and equipment

(269

)

(376

)

Purchase of convertible promissory note

(5,000

)

Net cash used in investing activities

(5,269

)

(17,876

)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from common stock option exercises

1,608

513

Employee withholding taxes related to stock-based awards

(1,551

)

(1,310

)

Proceeds from existing revolving credit facility

110,000

Repayment of existing revolving credit facility

(110,000

)

Payment of debt

(4,000

)

(2,000

)

Repurchases of common stock

(4,297

)

(4,999

)

Net cash used in financing activities

(8,240

)

(7,796

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

5,562

(1,562

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

103,155

109,775

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

108,717

$

108,213

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Income taxes, net

$

4,300

$

502

Interest

625

1,458

Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for lease obligation – lease amendment

842

Contacts

Investor Relations for Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc:

Lisa M. Wilson

T: 212-452-2793

E:  lwilson@insitecony.com

Read full story here

Categories
Business Local News

NRG Energy, Inc. announces proposed offering of Sustainability-Linked Senior Notes

PRINCETON, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) intends to commence an offering of $1.1 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2032 (the “New Notes”). The New Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of NRG and will be guaranteed by each of NRG’s current and future subsidiaries that guarantee indebtedness under NRG’s credit agreement. The New Notes are being issued under NRG’s Sustainability-Linked Bond Framework, which sets out certain sustainability targets, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

 

NRG intends to use the net proceeds from the offering, together with cash on hand and borrowings under one or more of its liquidity facilities, to repurchase, pursuant to NRG’s concurrent exercise of its optional redemption rights, (i) all of the $1.0 billion outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 7.25% senior notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) and (ii) $355 million of the $1.23 billion outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 6.625% senior notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”), and to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the repurchase of the 2026 Notes and 2027 Notes.

 

The New Notes and related guarantees are being offered only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or, outside the United States, to persons other than “U.S. persons” in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The New Notes and related guarantees have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell any security, including the New Notes, nor a solicitation for an offer to purchase any security, including the New Notes, the 2026 Notes or the 2027 Notes.

 

About NRG

At NRG, we’re bringing the power of energy to people and organizations by putting customers at the center of everything we do. We generate electricity and provide energy solutions and natural gas to millions of customers through our diverse portfolio of retail brands. A Fortune 500 company, operating in the United States and Canada, NRG delivers innovative solutions while advocating for competitive energy markets and customer choice, working towards a sustainable energy future.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements that may state NRG’s or its management’s intentions, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and typically can be identified by the use of words such as “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “plan,” “believe” and similar terms. Although NRG believes that its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, among others, risks and uncertainties related to the capital markets generally and whether NRG will offer the New Notes or consummate the offering, the anticipated terms of the New Notes and the anticipated use of proceeds.

 

The foregoing review of factors that could cause NRG’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included herein should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect NRG’s future results included in NRG’s filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

Contacts

Investors:
Kevin L. Cole, CFA

609.524.4526

investor.relations@nrg.com

Media:
Candice Adams

609.524.5428

candice.adams@nrg.com

Categories
Business

AM Best to lead ratings discussion at Reinsurance Association of America event

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — AM Best will present a session focused on its evaluation of insurance and reinsurance companies at the Reinsurance Association of America’s upcoming Re Finance event, which takes place online Sept. 13-14, 2021.

Clare Finnegan, senior financial analyst, will present a session, titled, “Tying it All Together – A Rating Agency’s View on Evaluating Insurance/Reinsurance Companies,” at 1:50 p.m. (EDT) on Sept. 14. Finnegan is part of AM Best’s global reinsurance ratings division and covers a portfolio of commercial and alternative risk insurers and reinsurers. She also contributes to AM Best’s analytical research reports and was formerly a senior economist at the company.

 

Re Finance 2021 is a virtual program designed for insurance and reinsurance professionals, attorneys, and regulatory staff to learn about the fundamentals of property/casualty (re)insurance financial analysis and reporting. For more information, please visit the event website.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Jim Peavy
Director, Communications
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com

Categories
Business

Best’s Special Report: Insurers’ Defense-Related Loss Costs Rising for Lines of Business Most Susceptible to Heavy Litigation

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Defense and cost containment (DCC) expenses for certain lines of property/casualty insurance business are elevated compared with other lines; in particular, medical professional liability and product liability, according to a new AM Best report.

DCC expenses include defense, litigation and medical cost containmentessentially, the cost of settling a claim. The Best’s Special Report, “Defense-Related Loss Costs Rising for Lines Most Susceptible to Heavy Litigation,” notes that as insurance claims become increasingly severe and more complex, insurers have put more focus on working with risk professionals and other stakeholders to limit defense costs.

 

According to the report, the higher DCC expenses attributable to medical professional liability policies have been associated with expert witness fees, costs to secure medical records and other allocated costs involved in defending physicians. A drop in the medical professional liability segment’s DCC ratio in 2020 likely reflected a benefit from court closures due to the pandemic. In the product liability line, some of the costlier cases have involved protracted litigation typically stemming from product and food recalls. “A number of factors have led to a higher amount of recalls, including enhanced regulatory scrutiny and improved technology,” said Christopher Graham, senior industry analyst, industry research and analytics, AM Best. “These are positive developments for some industries but a negative for insurers given the heightened potential for lawsuits.”

 

According to the report, the ratio of net DCC expenses to annual incurred losses overall has dropped in the last decade, even on the lines most prone to high-profile lawsuits, which in addition to product liability and medical professional liability, can include worker’s compensation and auto liability. “Predictive analytics for claims handling has helped speed up the claims process and, in turn, has limited claim expenses,” said David Blades, director, industry research and analytics.

 

To access the full copy of this special report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=311432.

 

A video with Blades and Graham discussing the report is available at http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=ambdcccexpenses821.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Christopher Graham
Senior Industry Analyst, Industry
Research and Analytics
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5743
christopher.graham@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

David Blades, CPCU
Associate Director, Industry Research
and Analytics
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5422
david.blades@ambest.com

Jim Peavy
Director, Communications
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com

Categories
Business Local News

Universal Display Corporation announces second quarter 2021 financial results

EWING, N.J. —  (BUSINESS WIRE) — $OLED #OLEDUniversal Display Corporation (Nasdaq: OLED), enabling energy-efficient displays and lighting with its UniversalPHOLED® technology and materials, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021.

“Looking to the year, we are on track to achieve approximately 30% year-over-year sales growth, translating into a new record high for annual revenue for the Company,” said Sidney D. Rosenblatt, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Universal Display. “As we anticipate ongoing momentum in the OLED industry to increase in 2021 and beyond, we are excited about the long and vast runway of forecasted growth for the market. Given this expected growth, we are continuing to fuel and fortify our innovation engine, expand our global infrastructure, and invest in our people to advance our leadership position and further enable our customers and the OLED ecosystem.”

 

Rosenblatt continued, “Energy-efficiency and sustainability are key cornerstones of our UniversalPHOLED technology and materials. The discovery of our proprietary phosphorescent technology was an enabling breakthrough in the OLED industry. With efficiencies that are up to four times higher than conventional OLED materials, UDC’s patented and award-winning phosphorescent OLED technology and UniversalPHOLED materials are proven to be integral in enabling high-performance, low-power consumption and energy-efficiency in OLED displays and lighting. Our energy-efficiency initiatives are expanding as we continue to invent and develop new OLED materials and technologies, including progress toward delivery of an all-phosphorescent red, green and blue emissive system, that can enable a sustainable and low-carbon future.”

 

Financial Highlights for the Second Quarter of 2021

  • Total revenue in the second quarter of 2021 was $129.7 million as compared to $58.0 million in the second quarter of 2020. The increase in revenue was due to strengthened demand for OLED products utilizing our emitter material, as well as the recovery in sales that were adversely affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during the three months ended June 30, 2020. Even though we believe we have experienced the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain uncertain as to the possibility of its re-emergence and any corresponding negative impact on OLED market demand.
  • Revenue from material sales was $77.4 million in the second quarter of 2021 as compared to $31.9 million in the second quarter of 2020.
  • Revenue from royalty and license fees was $48.2 million in the second quarter of 2021 as compared to $22.4 million in the second quarter of 2020.
  • Cost of material sales was $25.3 million in the second quarter of 2021 as compared to $10.3 million in the second quarter of 2020.
  • Operating income was $49.9 million in the second quarter of 2021 as compared to operating loss of $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2020.
  • Net income was $40.5 million or $0.85 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2021 as compared to $815,000 million or $0.02 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2020.

 

Revenue Comparison

($ in thousands)

Three Months Ended June 30,

2021

2020

Material sales

$

77,438

$

31,927

Royalty and license fees

48,212

22,380

Contract research services

4,010

3,661

Total revenue

$

129,660

$

57,968

Cost of Materials Comparison

($ in thousands)

Three Months Ended June 30,

2021

2020

Material sales

$

77,438

$

31,927

Cost of material sales

25,316

10,277

Gross margin on material sales

52,122

21,650

Gross margin as a % of material sales

67

%

68

%

Financial Highlights for the First Half of 2021

  • Total revenue in the first half of 2021 was $263.7 million as compared to $170.2 million in the first half of 2020. The increase in revenue was due to strengthened demand for OLED products utilizing our emitter material, as well as the recovery in sales that were adversely affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during the three months ended June 30, 2020. Even though we believe we have experienced the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain uncertain as to the possibility of its re-emergence and any corresponding negative impact on OLED market demand.
  • Revenue from material sales was $157.2 million in the first half of 2021 as compared to $98.5 million in the first half of 2020.
  • Revenue from royalty and license fees was $99.1 million in the first half of 2021 as compared to $65.5 million in the first half of 2020.
  • Cost of material sales was $46.3 million in the first half of 2021 as compared to $30.5 million in the first half of 2020.
  • Operating income was $113.5 million in the first half of 2021 as compared to $43.3 million in the first half of 2020.
  • Net income was $92.2 million or $1.94 per diluted share in the first half of 2021 as compared to $39.0 million or $0.82 per diluted share in the first half of 2020.

Revenue Comparison

($ in thousands)

Six Months Ended June 30,

2021

2020

Material sales

$

157,246

$

98,502

Royalty and license fees

99,098

65,458

Contract research services

7,316

6,285

Total revenue

$

263,660

$

170,245

Cost of Materials Comparison

($ in thousands)

Six Months Ended June 30,

2021

2020

Material sales

$

157,246

$

98,502

Cost of material sales

46,315

30,488

Gross margin on material sales

110,931

68,014

Gross margin as a % of material sales

71

%

69

%

2021 Guidance

The Company continues to believe that its 2021 revenue will be approximately in the range of $530 million to $560 million. The OLED industry remains at a stage where many variables can have a material impact on its growth, and the Company thus caveats its financial guidance accordingly.

Dividend

The Company also announced a third quarter cash dividend of $0.20 per share on the Company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on September 30, 2021 to all shareholders of record on September 16, 2021.

Conference Call Information

In conjunction with this release, Universal Display will host a conference call on Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The live webcast of the conference call can be accessed under the events page of the Company’s Investor Relations website at ir.oled.com. Those wishing to participate in the live call should dial 1-877-524-8416 (toll-free) or 1-412-902-1028. Please dial in 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time. An online archive of the webcast will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call.

About Universal Display Corporation

Universal Display Corporation (Nasdaq: OLED) is a leader in the research, development and commercialization of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies and materials for use in display and solid-state lighting applications. Founded in 1994 and with subsidiaries and offices around the world, the Company currently owns, exclusively licenses or has the sole right to sublicense more than 5,000 patents issued and pending worldwide. Universal Display licenses its proprietary technologies, including its breakthrough high-efficiency UniversalPHOLED® phosphorescent OLED technology that can enable the development of energy-efficient and eco-friendly displays and solid-state lighting. The Company also develops and offers high-quality, state-of-the-art UniversalPHOLED materials that are recognized as key ingredients in the fabrication of OLEDs with peak performance. In addition, Universal Display delivers innovative and customized solutions to its clients and partners through technology transfer, collaborative technology development and on-site training. To learn more about Universal Display Corporation, please visit https://oled.com/.

Universal Display Corporation and the Universal Display Corporation logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Universal Display Corporation. All other company, brand or product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks.

All statements in this document that are not historical, such as those relating to the Company’s technologies and potential applications of those technologies, the Company’s expected results and future declaration of dividends, as well as the growth of the OLED market and the Company’s opportunities in that market, are forward-looking financial statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements in this document, as they reflect Universal Display Corporation’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in Universal Display Corporation’s periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, in particular, the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Universal Display Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Universal Display Corporation disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this document.

Follow Universal Display Corporation

Twitter
Facebook
YouTube

(OLED-C)

UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

June 30, 2021

December 31, 2020

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

542,914

$

630,012

Short-term investments

190,540

99,996

Accounts receivable

99,629

82,261

Inventory

104,653

91,591

Other current assets

55,156

20,746

Total current assets

992,892

924,606

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net of accumulated depreciation of $81,721 and $72,493

113,187

102,113

ACQUIRED TECHNOLOGY, net of accumulated amortization of $163,343 and $153,050

59,960

70,253

OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net of accumulated amortization of $6,848 and $6,155

10,386

10,685

GOODWILL

15,535

15,535

INVESTMENTS

8,500

5,000

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

35,579

37,695

OTHER ASSETS

114,676

103,341

TOTAL ASSETS

$

1,350,715

$

1,269,228

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

Accounts payable

$

10,334

$

13,801

Accrued expenses

27,247

41,404

Deferred revenue

122,978

105,215

Other current liabilities

2,004

4,540

Total current liabilities

162,563

164,960

DEFERRED REVENUE

46,174

57,086

RETIREMENT PLAN BENEFIT LIABILITY

79,966

78,527

OTHER LIABILITIES

70,396

55,941

Total liabilities

359,099

356,514

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, 5,000,000 shares authorized, 200,000 shares of Series A Nonconvertible Preferred Stock issued and outstanding (liquidation value of $7.50 per share or $1,500)

2

2

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 49,054,059 and 49,013,476 shares issued, and 47,688,411 and 47,647,828 shares outstanding, at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

491

490

Additional paid-in capital

638,991

635,595

Retained earnings

427,188

353,930

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(33,772

)

(36,019

)

Treasury stock, at cost (1,365,648 shares at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020)

(41,284

)

(41,284

)

Total shareholders’ equity

991,616

912,714

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

$

1,350,715

$

1,269,228

UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2021

2020

2021

2020

REVENUE:

Material sales

$

77,438

$

31,927

$

157,246

$

98,502

Royalty and license fees

48,212

22,380

99,098

65,458

Contract research services

4,010

3,661

7,316

6,285

Total revenue

129,660

57,968

263,660

170,245

COST OF SALES

27,969

12,643

51,267

35,102

Gross margin

101,691

45,325

212,393

135,143

OPERATING EXPENSES:

Research and development

24,101

21,397

47,406

40,894

Selling, general and administrative

20,239

16,147

36,643

31,550

Amortization of acquired technology and other intangible assets

5,497

5,490

10,985

10,980

Patent costs

1,809

1,858

3,644

3,496

Royalty and license expense

149

1,618

261

4,902

Total operating expenses

51,795

46,510

98,939

91,822

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

49,896

(1,185

)

113,454

43,321

Interest income, net

75

1,268

208

3,415

Other income, net

221

170

280

372

Interest and other income, net

296

1,438

488

3,787

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

50,192

253

113,942

47,108

INCOME TAX (EXPENSE) BENEFIT

(9,651

)

562

(21,714

)

(8,138

)

NET INCOME

$

40,541

$

815

$

92,228

$

38,970

NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:

BASIC

$

0.85

$

0.02

$

1.94

$

0.82

DILUTED

$

0.85

$

0.02

$

1.94

$

0.82

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN COMPUTING NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:

BASIC

47,299,627

47,227,294

47,284,773

47,160,163

DILUTED

47,356,864

47,243,991

47,347,596

47,190,505

CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE

$

0.20

$

0.15

$

0.40

$

0.30

UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)

Six Months Ended June 30,

2021

2020

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Net income

$

92,228

$

38,970

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Amortization of deferred revenue and recognition of unbilled receivables

(110,993

)

(58,644

)

Depreciation

9,229

7,283

Amortization of intangibles

10,985

10,980

Change in excess inventory reserve

1,117

611

Amortization of premium and discount on investments, net

(128

)

(3,280

)

Stock-based compensation to employees

14,624

12,918

Stock-based compensation to Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board

704

708

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)

1,458

(336

)

Retirement plan expense

4,457

2,828

Decrease (increase) in assets:

Accounts receivable

(17,368

)

(8,046

)

Inventory

(14,179

)

(21,181

)

Other current assets

(5,712

)

(5,967

)

Other assets

(15,005

)

(5,942

)

Increase (decrease) in liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

(17,036

)

(20,332

)

Other current liabilities

(2,536

)

(639

)

Deferred revenue

92,816

75,683

Other liabilities

14,455

6,416

Net cash provided by operating activities

59,116

32,030

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Purchases of property and equipment

(20,668

)

(11,804

)

Purchases of intangibles

(394

)

(25

)

Purchases of investments

(193,951

)

(404,232

)

Proceeds from sale and maturity of investments

100,000

412,760

Net cash used in investing activities

(115,013

)

(3,301

)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

787

590

Payment of withholding taxes related to stock-based compensation to employees

(13,018

)

(13,165

)

Cash dividends paid

(18,970

)

(14,215

)

Net cash used in financing activities

(31,201

)

(26,790

)

(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

(87,098

)

1,939

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

630,012

131,627

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

$

542,914

$

133,566

The following non-cash activities occurred:

Unrealized (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities

$

(35

)

$

1,242

Common stock issued to Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board that was earned and accrued for in a previous period

300

300

Net change in accounts payable and accrued expenses related to purchases of property and equipment

366

390

Contacts

Universal Display Contact:
Darice Liu

investor@oled.com
media@oled.com
+1 609-964-5123

Categories
Business Science Technology

AeroFarms and Nokia unveil partnership for next generation AI-enabled plant vision technology

  •  Ground-breaking technology partnership will significantly improve plant yields and quality in AeroFarms’ vertical farms through analytics, AI, drones and wireless networking.

 

NEWARK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AeroFarms and Nokia Bell Labs today unveiled a groundbreaking multi-year partnership to combine their expertise and expand their joint capabilities in cutting-edge networking, autonomous systems, and integrated machine vision and machine learning technologies to identify and track plant interactions at the most advanced levels.


As part of this partnership, AeroFarms, a Certified B Corporation and global leader in indoor vertical farming, contributes its commercial growing expertise, comprehensive environmental controls, an agriculture-focused data platform, and machine vision core foundation. Nokia Bell Labs, the world-renowned industrial research arm of Nokia, contributes its groundbreaking autonomous drone control and orchestration systems, private wireless networks, robust image and sensor data pipelines, and innovative artificial intelligence (AI) enabled mobile sensor technologies. This combination of innovative technologies allows AeroFarms to reach the next level of imaging insights that further enhance its capabilities as an industry leading operator of world-class, fully-connected smart vertical farms that grow the highest quality plants all year round.

 

AeroFarms and Nokia Bell Labs have been working together since 2020 and have reached an important milestone of achieving a proof of concept for this state-of-the-art integrated system and testing the technologies with AeroFarms’ current commercial crop varieties. Together, they are now ready to scale this system to all of AeroFarms’ crops and future indoor vertical farms, including the next ones in Danville, Virginia and Abu Dhabi, UAE.

 

The integration of Nokia Bell Labs’ AI-enabled drone-based sensors and advanced machine learning, computer vision and data analytics technologies with AeroFarms’ existing machine vision tools enhances and elevates AeroFarms’ position as an agriculture platform and capabilities organization dedicated to solving food and agriculture supply chain challenges.

 

David Rosenberg, CEO at AeroFarms, said: “With Nokia Bell Labs, we have developed the next-generation system that can image every plant every day in a cost-effective way at scale. This level of detailed imaging and insights helps us be better farmers by monitoring our plant biology dynamically and allowing us to course correct as needed to ensure the highest level of quality all year round. When I watch the drones autonomously imaging our plants, I am blown away by how this truly represents the power of harnessing leading-edge technologies and bringing brilliant problem solvers together from diverse groups to grow the best plants possible.”

 

Roger Buelow, CTO at AeroFarms, said: “AeroFarms’ expert team of plant scientists and engineers have been working together for two years with Nokia Bell Labs’ top researchers and engineers to train these complex learning systems with a nuanced understanding of plant biology. We have created a cross-disciplinary understanding at an industrial scale to develop the latest imaging technology to help accelerate our ability to introduce new crops and ensure the highest quality for our commercial operations.”

 

Nokia Bell Labs’ machine vision technology has enabled the most precise data capture yet, down to the level of individual plants, using leaf size segmentation, quantification, and pixel-based scanning to identify consistency and variation. Going beyond what even the human eye can perceive, this state-of-the art imaging technology enables the gathering of immense insights about a plant including its leaf size, stem length, coloration, curvature, spotting, and tearing. The end-to-end system is flexible and robust, built to take advantage of Nokia’s industry-leading 5G private wireless network with cloud processing technology, designed for low latency and high privacy in an on-premises network. It also provides intelligent industrial analytics capabilities as an integrated service that can be deployed quickly and efficiently anywhere.

 

Thierry Klein, VP, Integrated Solutions and Experiences Research Lab at Nokia, said: “Nokia Bell Labs is driven to solve hard and impactful problems, and together with AeroFarms, we are building the ability to see and identify plant interactions at unprecedented levels. The fundamental technologies of this partnership are our strength, and vertical farming is just the beginning. With the AeroFarms platform, we are exploring the power of network driven intelligence for industrial outcomes. These capabilities can expand into a multitude of indoor industrial operations, including logistics, warehousing, distribution hubs, and manufacturing.”

 

The multi-year partnership between AeroFarms and Nokia is anchored on shared values as mission-driven companies with the vision to scale technologies for the greater good. AeroFarms’ vertical farming platform is more sustainable than traditional farming with up to 390 times greater productivity per square foot annually, while using up to 95% less water and zero pesticides. In addition, vertical farming provides local food options for communities, reducing the environmental impact of trucking and shipping produce long distances and helping combat food waste.

 

Additional resources

AeroFarms website
Nokia Bell Labs website

 

About Nokia

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a trusted partner for critical networks, we are committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. We create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities needed for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world.

 

About AeroFarms

Since 2004, AeroFarms has been leading the way for indoor vertical farming and championing transformational innovation for agriculture. On a mission to grow the best plants possible for the betterment of humanity, AeroFarms is a Certified B Corporation with global headquarters in Newark, New Jersey. Named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company two years in a row and one of TIME’s Best Inventions in Food, AeroFarms patented, award-winning indoor vertical farming technology provides the perfect conditions for healthy plants to thrive, taking agriculture to a new level of precision, food safety, and productivity while using up to 95% less water and no pesticides ever versus traditional field farming. AeroFarms enables local production to safely grow all year round, using vertical farming for elevated flavor. In addition, through its proprietary growing technology platform, AeroFarms has grown over 550 varieties and has developed multi-year strategic partnerships ranging from government to major Fortune 500 companies to help uniquely solve agriculture supply chain needs. For additional information, visit: https://aerofarms.com/.

 

On March 26, 2021, AeroFarms announced a definitive business combination agreement with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: SV). Upon the closing of the business combination, AeroFarms will become publicly traded on Nasdaq under the new ticker symbol “ARFM”. Additional information about the transaction can be viewed here: https://aerofarms.com/investors/.

 

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with a proposed potential business combination among Spring Valley and AeroFarms or any related transactions, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction where, or to any person to whom, such offer, solicitation or sale may be unlawful. Any offering of securities or solicitation of votes regarding the proposed transaction will be made only by means of a proxy statement/prospectus that complies with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or pursuant to an exemption from the Securities Act or in a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, including those regarding the expected benefits of the partnership, improvement of plant yields and quality and Spring Valley’s proposed acquisition of AeroFarms are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the respective management of AeroFarms and Spring Valley and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of AeroFarms and Spring Valley. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed transaction, including the risk that any regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed transaction or that the approval of the stockholders of Spring Valley or AeroFarms is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction; risks related to the expansion of AeroFarms’ business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on AeroFarms’ business; the ability of Spring Valley or AeroFarms to issue equity or equity-linked securities or obtain debt financing in connection with the proposed transaction or in the future, and those factors discussed in Spring Valley’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, final prospectus dated November 25, 2020 and definitive proxy statement/prospectus dated July 26, 2021 under the heading “Risk Factors,” and other documents Spring Valley has filed, or will file, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither Spring Valley nor AeroFarms presently know, or that Spring Valley nor AeroFarms currently believe are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Spring Valley’s and AeroFarms’ expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Spring Valley and AeroFarms anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause Spring Valley’s and AeroFarms’ assessments to change. However, while Spring Valley and AeroFarms may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Spring Valley and AeroFarms specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Spring Valley’s and AeroFarms’ assessments of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

Contacts

AeroFarms Contacts
Investor Relations:

Jeff Sonnek

ICR

Jeff.Sonnek@icrinc.com
1-646-277-1263

Media Relations:

Marc Oshima
AeroFarms

MarcOshima@AeroFarms.com
1-917-673-4602

Categories
Business

Jimmy Placa of Davion Inc. wins EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 New Jersey Award

ISELIN, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #awards–Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced that Jimmy Placa of Davion Inc. was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 New Jersey Award winner.

The Entrepreneur Of The Year program is one of the preeminent competitive awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. The award recognizes those who are unstoppable entrepreneurial leaders, excelling in talent management; degree of difficulty; financial performance; societal impact and building a values-based company; as well as originality, innovation, and future plans.

 

Jimmy Placa was selected by an independent panel of judges and the award was announced during the program’s awards gala.

 

“Winning the Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 New Jersey Award among so many talented and deserving entrepreneurs is a tremendous honor. No entrepreneur can go it alone. This award serves as recognition of the entire Davion team in the U.S. and Canada that have worked so hard to make us leaders in our industry,” Jimmy Placa said.

 

Davion is a contract manufacturer of health, beauty, personal care, and household products. Davion manufactures and distributes consumer products for indie and major brands as well as regional and national retailers from our U.S. and Canadian facilities. Their facilities are FDA and Health Canada registered as well as ISO and cGMP certified.

 

In addition to Davion’s manufacturing and distribution expertise, Davion provides clients with targeted market research, custom formulation development, packaging design, procurement, quality control, and regulatory services (www.davioninc.com).

 

For 35 years, EY US has honored entrepreneurs whose ambition, courage and ingenuity have driven their companies’ success, transformed their industries and made a positive impact on their communities. Mr. Placa will go on to become a lifetime member of the esteemed multi-industry community of award winners, with exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of fellow alumni and other ecosystem members in over 60 countries — all supported by vast EY resources.

 

As a New Jersey award winner, Mr. Placa is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 National Awards. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced in November at the Strategic Growth Forum®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies.

 

In past years, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program has honored the inspirational leadership of entrepreneurs such as:

  • Brian Niccol of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
  • Saeju Jeong of Noom
  • Joe DeSimone of Carbon, Inc.
  • Howard Schultz of Starbucks Corporation
  • Jodi Berg of Vitamix
  • Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn
  • Hamdi Ulukaya of Chobani
  • Kendra Scott of Kendra Scott LLC
  • Andreas Bechtolsheim and Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks
  • James Park of Fitbit
  • Daymond John of Fubu

Contacts

Jimmy Placa

Davion Inc.

973-485-0793 x. 108

james.placa3@davioninc.com

Categories
Business

B&G Foods reports financial results for second quarter 2021

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — B&G Foods, Inc. (NYSE: BGS) today announced financial results for the second quarter and first two quarters of 2021.

 

Executive Summary (vs. Second Quarter of 2020 and vs. Second Quarter 2019 for two-year annual compound growth rates, where applicable):

  • Net sales decreased 9.4% to $464.4 million and base business net sales decreased 20.8%, driven by comparisons against the extraordinary demand and pantry loading at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic during the second quarter of 2020, partially offset by the Crisco acquisition.
  • Net sales and base business net sales for the second quarter of 2021 were 25.1% and 7.1% higher than pre-pandemic net sales and base business net sales for the second quarter of 2019. On a two-year compound annual growth basis, relative to pre-pandemic levels, second quarter net sales increased 11.8% and base business net sales increased 3.5%.
  • Diluted earnings per share decreased 45.7% to $0.38. On a two-year compound annual growth basis, second quarter diluted earnings per share increased 16.5%.
  • Adjusted diluted earnings per share1 decreased 42.3% to $0.41. On a two-year compound annual growth basis, second quarter adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 5.0%.
  • Net income decreased 45.3% to $24.6 million. On a two-year compound annual growth basis, second quarter net income increased 16.0%.
  • Adjusted net income1 decreased 41.2% to $27.1 million. On a two-year compound annual growth basis, second quarter adjusted net income increased 5.0%.
  • Adjusted EBITDA1 decreased 18.3% to $83.8 million. On a two-year compound annual growth basis, second quarter adjusted EBITDA increased 8.7%.
  • Adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses1 decreased 20.5% to $85.0 million. On a two-year compound annual growth basis, second quarter adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses increased 9.4%.
  • Net sales guidance reaffirmed at a range of $2.05 billion to $2.10 billion.

 

Commenting on the results, Casey Keller, President and Chief Executive Officer of B&G Foods, stated, “We are pleased with the Company’s performance in the second quarter, and our prospects for the remainder of the year. The second quarter was expected to be the most challenging to lap from a comparative perspective given that the second quarter of 2020 occurred at the height of pantry loading and stocking during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as expected, our net sales performance has remained elevated relative to 2019. When we look at the consumer trends that accelerated during the early stages of the pandemic—including an increase in cooking, baking and eating at home—trends which we expect may be longer term, our brands are well positioned to continue to capitalize on these opportunities.”

________________________

1

Please see “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Items Affecting Comparability” below for the definition of the non-GAAP financial measures “adjusted diluted earnings per share,” “adjusted net income,” “EBITDA,” “adjusted EBITDA,” “adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses” and “base business net sales,” as well as information concerning certain items affecting comparability and reconciliations of the non-GAAP terms to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

 

Mr. Keller continued, “Another significant impact coming out of the pandemic is inflation at unprecedented levels across the economy, including the food industry. We are seeing inflation on key input costs across our portfolio. We identified the risks of inflation early and have initiated price increases and cost savings initiatives to offset these costs. While the impact of pricing and cost savings may lag behind the rising input costs, we expect our margins to remain fairly stable in the long term.”

 

“Lastly, I’m pleased to report that as of earlier this week, the integration of the Crisco brand is substantially complete and we have assumed full responsibility for the operation of the business. Crisco is a tremendous addition to the B&G Foods portfolio.”

 

Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2021

Net sales for the second quarter of 2021 decreased $48.1 million, or 9.4%, to $464.4 million from $512.5 million for the second quarter of 2020. The decrease was primarily due to comparisons against the extraordinary demand and pantry loading at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic during the second quarter of 2020, partially offset by the Crisco acquisition. Net sales of Crisco, acquired on December 1, 2020, contributed $58.4 million to the Company’s net sales for the quarter. Net sales for the second quarter of 2021 were 25.1% higher than pre-pandemic net sales for the second quarter of 2019. On a two-year compound annual growth basis, relative to pre-pandemic levels, second quarter net sales increased 11.8%.

 

Base business net sales for the second quarter of 2021 decreased $106.6 million, or 20.8%, to $405.9 million from $512.5 million for the second quarter of 2020. The decrease in base business net sales for the second quarter of 2021 reflected a decrease in unit volume of $115.4 million, partially offset by an increase in net pricing and the impact of product mix of $6.2 million and the positive impact of foreign currency of $2.6 million. Base business net sales for the second quarter of 2021 were 7.1% higher than pre-pandemic base business net sales for the second quarter of 2019. On a two-year compound annual growth basis, relative to pre-pandemic levels, second quarter base business net sales increased 3.5%.

 

Net sales of Maple Grove Farms increased $2.2 million, or 11.7%, and net sales of the Company’s spices & seasonings2 increased $0.7 million, or 0.7%, for the second quarter of 2021 as compared to the second quarter of 2020. Net sales of Green Giant (including Le Sueur) decreased $58.4 million, or 35.6%; net sales of Clabber Girl decreased $8.9 million, or 33.5%; net sales of Ortega decreased $5.9 million, or 12.7%; and net sales of Cream of Wheat decreased $3.8 million, or 20.8%, for the second quarter of 2021 as compared to the second quarter of 2020. Net sales of all other brands in the aggregate decreased $32.5 million, or 23.0%, for the second quarter of 2021.

 

Net sales for the second quarter of 2021 for spices & seasonings, Ortega, Cream of Wheat, Maple Grove Farms and Clabber Girl were each higher than the net sales for such brands during pre-pandemic second quarter of 2019. Spices & seasonings2 net sales were higher than second quarter of 2019 net sales by $18.1 million, or 22.2%; Ortega by $6.9 million, or 20.0%; Cream of Wheat by $2.5 million, or 21.9%; Maple Grove Farms by $2.4 million, or 13.4%; and Clabber Girl3 by $1.1 million, or 12.5%. Net sales of Green Giant (including Le Sueur) were lower than net sales for the second quarter of 2019 by $7.2 million, or 6.4%. Net sales of all other brands in the aggregate were higher by $2.6 million, or 2.7%, compared to the second quarter of 2019.

 

Gross profit was $111.6 million for the second quarter of 2021, or 24.0% of net sales. Excluding the negative impact of $0.4 million of acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold during the second quarter of 2021, the Company’s gross profit would have been $112.0 million, or 24.1% of net sales. Gross profit was $134.1 million for the second quarter of 2020, or 26.2% of net sales. Excluding the negative impact of $0.5 million of acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold during the second quarter of 2020, the Company’s gross profit would have been $134.6 million, or 26.3% of net sales.

________________________

2

Includes the spices & seasoning brands acquired in the fourth quarter of 2016, as well as the Company’s legacy spices & seasonings brands, such as Dash and Ac’cent.

3

Compares net sales of Clabber Girl from May 15, 2021 through July 3, 2021 versus May 15, 2019 through June 29, 2019. Clabber Girl was acquired on May 15, 2019.

 

During the second quarter of 2021, the Company’s gross profit was negatively impacted by higher than expected input cost inflation, including materially increased costs for raw materials and transportation. The Company expects input cost inflation to be materially higher in the second half of 2021 than it was in the second half of 2020. The Company is attempting to mitigate the impact of inflation on the Company’s gross profit by locking in prices through short-term supply contracts and advance commodities purchase agreements and by implementing cost saving measures. The Company has also announced list price increases and has reduced trade promotions to its customers for certain of its products. However, increases in the prices the Company charges its customers generally lag behind rising input costs. As such, the Company does not expect to fully offset the incremental costs that the Company is facing in fiscal 2021 and expects continued cost inflation in fiscal 2022.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $2.8 million, or 6.2%, to $47.1 million for the second quarter of 2021 from $44.3 million for the second quarter of 2020. The increase was composed of increases in warehousing expenses of $4.6 million, acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses of $1.9 million and consumer marketing expenses of $0.3 million, partially offset by decreases in selling expenses of $2.5 million and general and administrative expenses of $1.5 million. The increase in warehousing expenses was primarily driven by the Crisco acquisition and customer fines related to COVID-19 shortages and delays. Expressed as a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 1.4 percentage points to 10.1% for the second quarter of 2021, compared to 8.7% for the second quarter of 2020.

 

Net interest expense increased $1.9 million, or 7.5%, to $26.7 million for the second quarter of 2021 from $24.8 million in the second quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in average long-term debt outstanding during the second quarter of 2021 as compared to the second quarter of 2020, primarily as a result of incremental borrowings the Company made in the fourth quarter of 2020 to fund the Crisco acquisition and related fees and expenses. The increase in net interest expense was partially offset by a lower effective cost of borrowing during the second quarter of 2021.

 

The Company’s net income was $24.6 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2021, compared to net income of $44.9 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2020. The Company’s adjusted net income for the second quarter of 2021 was $27.1 million, or $0.41 per adjusted diluted share, compared to $46.0 million, or $0.71 per adjusted diluted share, for the second quarter of 2020.

 

For the second quarter of 2021, adjusted EBITDA was $83.8 million, a decrease of $18.8 million, or 18.3%, compared to $102.6 million for the second quarter of 2020. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 18.0% for the second quarter of 2021, compared to 20.0% in the second quarter of 2020.

 

For the second quarter of 2021, adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses was $85.0 million, a decrease of $21.9 million, or 20.5%, compared to $106.9 million for the second quarter of 2020. COVID-19 expenses of $1.2 million and $4.3 million for the second quarter of 2021 and the second quarter of 2020, respectively, primarily included temporary enhanced compensation for the Company’s manufacturing employees, compensation the Company continued to pay manufacturing employees while in quarantine (which was incremental to the compensation the Company paid to the manufacturing employees who produced the Company’s products while others were in quarantine), and expenses relating to other precautionary health and safety measures. Adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses as a percentage of net sales was 18.3% for the second quarter of 2021, compared to 20.9% in the second quarter of 2020.

 

Financial Results for the First Two Quarters of 2021

Net sales for the first two quarters of 2021 increased $7.6 million, or 0.8%, to $969.5 million from $961.9 million for the first two quarters of 2020. The increase was primarily due to the Crisco acquisition, largely offset by comparisons against the extraordinary demand and pantry loading at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic during the last four months of the first two quarters of 2020. Net sales of Crisco, acquired on December 1, 2020, contributed $116.5 million to the Company’s net sales for the first two quarters. Net sales for the first two quarters of 2021 were 23.7% higher than pre-pandemic net sales for the first two quarters of 2019. On a two-year compound annual growth basis, relative to pre-pandemic levels, net sales for the first two quarters of 2021 increased 11.2%.

 

Base business net sales1 for the first two quarters of 2021 decreased $109.1 million, or 11.3%, to $852.8 million from $961.9 million for the first two quarters of 2020. The decrease in base business net sales for the first two quarters of 2021 reflected a decrease in unit volume of $125.2 million, partially offset by an increase in net pricing and the impact of product mix of $12.8 million and the positive impact of foreign currency of $3.3 million. Base business net sales for the first two quarters of 2021 were 5.5% higher than pre-pandemic base business net sales for the first two quarters of 2019. On a two-year compound annual growth basis, relative to pre-pandemic levels, base business net sales for the first two quarters of 2021 increased 2.7%.

 

Net sales of the Company’s spices & seasonings2 increased $30.7 million, or 17.9%, and net sales of Maple Grove Farms increased $4.3 million, or 11.9%, in the first two quarters of 2021, as compared to the first two quarters of 2020. Net sales of Green Giant (including Le Sueur) decreased $84.4 million, or 26.2%; net sales of Clabber Girl decreased $10.1 million, or 22.5%; net sales of Ortega decreased $5.8 million, or 6.8%; and net sales of Cream of Wheat decreased $4.5 million, or 12.2%, in the first two quarters of 2021, as compared to the first two quarters of 2020. Net sales of all other brands in the aggregate decreased $39.3 million, or 14.9%, for the first two quarters of 2021.

 

Net sales for the first two quarters of 2021 for spices & seasonings, Ortega, Maple Grove Farms, Cream of Wheat and Clabber Girl were each higher than the net sales for such brands during the pre-pandemic first two quarters of 2019. Spices & seasonings2 net sales were higher than first two quarters of 2019 net sales by $35.2 million, or 21.1%; Ortega by $8.5 million, or 11.9%; Maple Grove Farms net sales by $5.1 million, or 14.5%; Cream of Wheat by $3.3 million, or 11.4%; and Clabber Girl3 by $1.1 million, or 12.5%. Net sales of Green Giant (including Le Sueur) were lower than net sales for the first two quarters of 2019 by $10.9 million, or 4.4%. Net sales of all other brands in the aggregate were higher by $0.8 million, or 0.3%, compared to the first two quarters of 2019.

 

Gross profit was $229.4 million for the first two quarters of 2021, or 23.7% of net sales. Excluding the negative impact of $5.9 million of acquisition/divestiture-related expenses, the amortization of acquisition-related inventory fair value step-up and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold during the first two quarters of 2021, the Company’s gross profit would have been $235.3 million, or 24.3% of net sales. Gross profit was $239.0 million for the first two quarters of 2020, or 24.8% of net sales. Excluding the negative impact of $2.8 million of acquisition/divestiture-related expenses and non-recurring expenses included in cost of goods sold during the first two quarters of 2020, the Company’s gross profit would have been $241.8 million, or 25.1% of net sales.

 

During the first two quarters of 2021, the Company’s gross profit was negatively impacted by higher than expected input cost inflation, including materially increased costs for raw materials and transportation. The Company expects input cost inflation to be materially higher in the second half of 2021 than it was in the second half of 2020. The Company is attempting to mitigate the impact of inflation on its gross profit by locking in prices through short-term supply contracts and advance commodities purchase agreements and by implementing cost saving measures. The Company has also announced list price increases and has reduced trade promotions to its customers for certain of its products. However, increases in the prices the Company charges its customers generally lag behind rising input costs. As such, the Company does not expect to fully offset the incremental costs that it is facing in fiscal 2021 and expects continued cost inflation in fiscal 2022.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $13.2 million, or 15.6%, to $97.5 million for the first two quarters of 2021 from $84.3 million for the first two quarters of 2020. The increase was composed of increases in warehousing expenses of $8.7 million, consumer marketing expenses of $4.3 million and acquisition/divestiture-related and non-recurring expenses of $3.8 million, partially offset by decreases in selling expenses of $3.3 million and general and administrative expenses of $0.3 million. The increase in warehousing expenses was primarily driven by the Crisco acquisition and customer fines related to COVID-19 shortages and delays. Expressed as a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 1.3 percentage points to 10.1% for the first two quarters of 2021, compared to 8.8% for the first two quarters of 2020.

 

Net interest expense increased $2.8 million, or 5.5%, to $53.7 million for the first two quarters of 2021 from $50.9 million in the first two quarters of 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in average long-term debt outstanding during the first two quarters of 2021 as compared to the first two quarters of 2020, primarily as a result of incremental borrowings the Company made in the fourth quarter of 2020 to fund the Crisco acquisition and related fees and expenses. The increase in net interest expense was partially offset by a lower effective cost of borrowing during the first two quarters of 2021.

 

The Company’s net income was $51.4 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, for the first two quarters of 2021, compared to net income of $73.0 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, for the first two quarters of 2020. The Company’s net income in the first two quarters of 2020 benefited from a discrete tax benefit of $2.3 million related to the U.S. CARES Act. The Company’s adjusted net income for the first two quarters of 2021, which excludes, among other things, the impact of the discrete tax benefit received in the first quarter of 2020, was $61.2 million, or $0.94 per adjusted diluted share, compared to $75.3 million, or $1.17 per adjusted diluted share, for the first two quarters of 2020.

 

For the first two quarters of 2021, adjusted EBITDA was $176.7 million, a decrease of $6.6 million, or 3.6%, compared to $183.3 million for the first two quarters of 2020. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 18.2% for the first two quarters of 2021, compared to 19.1% in the first two quarters of 2020.

 

For the first two quarters of 2021, adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses was $180.8 million, a decrease of $6.9 million, or 3.7%, compared to $187.7 million for fiscal 2020. COVID-19 expenses of $4.1 million and $4.4 million for the first two quarters of 2021 and the first two quarters of 2020, respectively, included temporary enhanced compensation for the Company’s manufacturing employees, compensation the Company continued to pay manufacturing employees while in quarantine (which was incremental to the compensation the Company paid to the manufacturing employees who produced the Company’s products while others were in quarantine), and expenses relating to other precautionary health and safety measures. Adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses as a percentage of net sales was 18.6% for the first two quarters of 2021, compared to 19.5% in the first two quarters of 2020.

 

Full Year Fiscal 2021 Guidance

B&G Foods reaffirmed its net sales guidance for full year fiscal 2021. Net sales, which will be positively impacted by a full twelve months of ownership of the Crisco brand, are expected to be approximately $2.05 billion to $2.10 billion.

 

B&G Foods continues to see strong consumer demand for its products relative to pre-pandemic 2019. The Company has also seen and expects to continue to see significant cost inflation for various inputs, including ingredients, packaging and transportation. The Company has initiated various revenue enhancing activities (including list price increases and trade spend initiatives) and cost savings initiatives to offset these costs but there can be no assurance at this point of the ultimate effectiveness of these activities and initiatives. Because the Company’s management is not able to fully estimate the impact COVID-19, cost inflation and the Company’s cost inflation mitigation efforts will have on the Company’s results for the remainder of fiscal 2021, the Company is unable at this time to provide more detailed guidance for full year fiscal 2021. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business will depend on many factors, including, among others: how long social distancing and stay-at-home and work-from home policies and recommendations remain in effect; whether, and the extent to which, additional waves or variants of COVID-19 will affect the United States and the rest of North America; the Company’s ability to continue to operate its manufacturing facilities, maintain its supply chain without material disruption, procure ingredients, packaging and other raw materials when needed; the extent to which macroeconomic conditions resulting from the pandemic and the pace of the subsequent recovery may impact consumer eating and shopping habits; and the extent to which consumers continue to work remotely even after the pandemic subsides and how that may impact consumer habits.

 

Conference Call

B&G Foods will hold a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET today, August 5, 2021 to discuss second quarter 2021 financial results. The live audio webcast of the conference call can be accessed at www.bgfoods.com/investor-relations. A replay of the webcast will be available following the conference call through the same link.

 

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Items Affecting Comparability

“Adjusted net income” (net income adjusted for certain items that affect comparability), “adjusted diluted earnings per share,” (diluted earnings per share adjusted for certain items that affect comparability), “base business net sales” (net sales without the impact of acquisitions until the acquisitions are included in both comparable periods and without the impact of discontinued or divested brands), “EBITDA” (net income before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and loss on extinguishment of debt), “adjusted EBITDA” (EBITDA as adjusted for cash and non-cash acquisition/divestiture-related expenses, gains and losses (which may include third party fees and expenses, integration, restructuring and consolidation expenses, amortization of acquired inventory fair value step-up and gains and losses on sale of assets) and non-recurring expenses, gains and losses) and “adjusted EBITDA before COVID-19 expenses” (adjusted EBITDA as adjusted for COVID-19 expenses) are “non-GAAP financial measures.

Contacts

Investor Relations:

ICR, Inc.

Dara Dierks

866.211.8151

Media Relations:

ICR, Inc.

Matt Lindberg

203.682.8214

Read full story here

Categories
Business Technology

Semperis launches active directory security Halftime Report to spotlight gaps in securing hybrid identity systems  

New resource provides timely index of escalating cybercriminal tactics, practical resources for cybersecurity skill-building, and latest Active Directory and Azure Active Directory vulnerabilities

 

HOBOKEN, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #ActiveDirectorySemperis, the pioneer of identity-driven cyber resilience for enterprises, today announced the release of the Active Directory Security Halftime Report, the first in a periodic series of insights and practical skill-building resources for preventing and mitigating identity-related cyberattacks. The report addresses the surge in identity-related attacks and vulnerabilities—from the Colonial Pipeline breach to the Windows Print Spooler vulnerability—with expert advice on hardening identity security postures that have eroded through years of misconfigurations and lagging skillsets.

“Active Directory remains the beating heart of identity management—the core of the identity platform for most organizations—but everything around it has changed rapidly,” said Mickey Bresman, CEO at Semperis. “AD secure configuration was not as much of a concern 15 years ago, and many recommendations that were provided at the time proved to be insecure and have been completely revised since. A lot of the mistakes that were made then are the problems organizations now need to address.”

 

Bresman also calls out lagging skillsets at a time when conversations about protecting the business from cyberattacks are converging for identity and security teams.

 

“You have people that know AD extremely well, but their thinking is more operationally related,” said Bresman. “Or you have people that know red-teaming and security extremely well, but they are not AD experts. It’s not that simple to find that combination of skills in a single person.”

 

Against a backdrop of these escalating identity-related cyberattacks, the Active Directory Security Halftime Report highlights the essential areas of focus for identity and access management (IAM) teams, security teams, and CISOs responsible for guarding organizations’ identity systems.

 

More than two-thirds of the Halftime Report will provide how-to guidance from highly experienced identity experts (including longtime recognized Microsoft MVPs) for preventing, mitigating, and recovering from identity system cyberattacks. Identity systems continue to be a prime attack vector for cybercriminals despite well-known vulnerabilities—especially in Active Directory, the core identity store for 90% of businesses worldwide.

 

With an emphasis on fast-track skills-building for identity and security professionals, the Active Directory Security Halftime Report consolidates:

  • Practical guidelines for hardening AD security by closing common gaps that can be uncovered with the free security assessment tool Purple Knight, built by Semperis identity and access management (IAM) experts;
  • New perspectives on building a cyber-resilient organization by breaking down siloes between identity and security teams;
  • Tips for managing security in increasingly complex hybrid identity systems, particularly across on-premises Active Directory and Azure Active Directory environments; and
  • Trends in cybercriminals’ tactics for compromising identity systems, as highlighted in the monthly Semperis Identity Attack Watch series.

 

The Active Directory Security Halftime Report, available at https://pages.semperis.com/2021-ad-security-halftime-report/, will be updated on a periodic basis to serve as a timely, concise index of resources for organizations that have prioritized hardening their Active Directory and Azure Active Directory defenses against escalating cyberattacks.

 

Although the threat landscape is continually expanding, organizations can improve their security posture by methodically identifying and addressing the well-known identity-related vulnerabilities covered in the Active Directory Security Halftime Report.

 

“Regardless of the particular mix of on-premises and cloud systems and assets, every organization will need to protect the identity store,” said Bresman. “Identity is going to continue to play a huge role in the protection game that we are playing against the adversaries.”

 

About Semperis

For security teams charged with defending hybrid and multi-cloud environments, Semperis ensures integrity and availability of critical enterprise directory services at every step in the cyber kill chain and cuts recovery time by 90%. Purpose-built for securing Active Directory, Semperis’ patented technology protects over 40 million identities from cyberattacks, data breaches, and operational errors. The world’s leading organizations trust Semperis to spot directory vulnerabilities, intercept cyberattacks in progress, and quickly recover from ransomware and other data integrity emergencies. Semperis is headquartered in New Jersey and operates internationally, with its research and development team distributed between San Francisco and Tel Aviv.

Semperis hosts the award-winning Hybrid Identity Protection conference (www.hipconf.com). The company has received the highest level of industry accolades and was recently ranked the fourth fastest-growing company in the tri-state area and 35th overall in Deloitte’s 2020 Technology Fast 500™. Semperis is accredited by Microsoft and recognized by Gartner.

 

Twitter https://twitter.com/SemperisTech

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/semperis

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SemperisTech

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCycrWXhxOTaUQ0sidlyN9SA

Contacts

Media
Jessica MacGregor

fama PR for Semperis

Semperis@famapr.com
617-986-5024