Aphria Archives - Green Market Report

Debra BorchardtJune 8, 2021

Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) is launching a new medical marijuana product called Symbios. The company said that the new brand was developed to provide a broader product at a better price point. Potency will range from 15%-18% and all flower is grown in the same Greenhouse as Aphria-branded flower. Current strains include Nordle, Treasure Island, Sour Kush, Jack Herer, Exodus Cheese, and Grower’s Blend (milled flower).

Tilray said that the difference between the Aphria flower and Symbios flower is potency. All Aphria flower is hand-selected, hand-packed and guaranteed to be above 18% potency whereas Symbios’ potency will be slightly lower but priced at a more affordable price-point. The difference between the brand’s oils, which are made in Aphria’s greenhouse facility is that Aphria’s CBD oils are made with full-spectrum oil, meaning it’s as close as you can get to the whole plant in oil form. This means that it contains plant matter, terpenes and some minor cannabinoids, helping to create the “Entourage effect”. Symbios oils, on the other hand, are distillate-based, meaning it’s a pure representation of that specific cannabinoid. Because it’s a purer form of the cannabinoid, most terpenes and minor cannabinoids have been removed.

Irwin D. Simon, Tilray’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Medical cannabis innovation and patient care are core to the new Tilray’s business and global growth strategy. As we look ahead, we remain focused on building momentum across our three medical brands – Symbios, Aphria, and Tilray — while meeting the large and growing demand for new, high-quality cannabis products that promote health, wellness, and wellbeing.”

In addition to launching Symbios, Tilray also announced new high-potency, medical cannabis topicals under the Aphria brand designed to target inflammatory joint disease by regulating tissue inflammation when applied topically to the skin. They are made from a vegan and cruelty-free cream formulation and include CBD 750 (containing 750mg of CBD) and Balance 750 (containing 375mg of THC and 375mg of CBD).

Jim Meiers, President, Tilray Canada, added, “Symbios and our new Aphria topical treatments are exciting new additions to our medical portfolio in Canada, providing our patients with a broader selection of unique product formats to meet their needs and preferences. Our industry is only in the early stages of creating and bringing to market cannabinoid medicine options that meet patient needs. We are committed to building our leadership position in Canada now and into the future.”

Symbios and Aphria’s new high-potency topicals join a range of other products, including cannabis oils, soft gels, oral sprays, whole dried flower, and vapes that are now available to all medical patients through the Aphria online medical patient portal.

Debra BorchardtApril 12, 2021

Aphria Inc. (NASDAQ: APHA) stock was getting slammed in early trading after the company reported that revenue dropped versus the last quarter and reported a whopping net loss of $361 million. In addition to that, Aphria missed analysts’ estimates for earnings and revenues. Shares slid over 9% to sell at $14.70.

Aphria delivered its financial results for the third quarter ending February 28, 2021 in Canadian dollars with net revenue increasing 6.4% to $153.6 million versus $144.4 million for the same period last year. However, revenue fell sequentially by 4.3% versus the second-quarter net revenue of $160.5 million. It also missed estimates by roughly $9 million. The company blamed the decline on a decrease in net cannabis and distribution revenue, which was partially offset by an increase in net beverage alcohol revenue from the acquisition of SweetWater.

Aphria also reported a net loss for the third quarter of $361.0 million, or a loss of $1.14 per share versus a net loss of $120.6 million, or a loss of $0.42 per share in the second quarter. This missed the analyst’s estimate by $1.09. Last year in the third quarter Aphria posted a net income of $5.7 million, or earnings $0.02 per share. The company said that on an adjusted basis excluding the impacts of the items noted that it actually recorded a net loss for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2021 of $47.9 million, or a loss of $0.15 per share.

“The duration and impact of lockdowns across many of the regions we operate in, particularly in Canada, were greater than we initially anticipated for the cannabis industry and our business; however, we believe Aphria remains well-positioned with our leading brands and market share to experience a robust increase in our top-line as the market improves,” said Irwin D. Simon, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. “In the U.S., we had a solid first full quarter of contribution from SweetWater even with lower on-premise sales compared to the prior-year quarter as many foodservice industry establishments were still operating with limited capacity. Going forward, we are excited about the strategic opportunities for incremental growth as we look to parlay our branded consumer products into additional complementary product offerings in Canada, the U.S., and internationally.”

Covid & Falling Prices

The pandemic continues to weigh on the company. Aphria said that it had to lower its inventory levels due to lockdowns. Aphria said it believes this is a transitory reduction in demand during the quarter. “These provincial government measures resulted in decreased orders from provincial boards and product returns of approximately $5.0 million. The Company mitigated a portion of the product return by finding alternative distribution channels for some of the products but experienced a reduction in net cannabis revenue as a result of $4.1 million.”

The company also noted that the average retail selling price of medical cannabis, before excise tax, decreased to $6.69 per gram in the quarter, compared to $6.96 per gram in the prior quarter. In a statement, Aphria said that the decline was a result of specific pricing programs offered to assist patients in need who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, along with other promotional programs. The average selling price of adult-use cannabis, before excise tax, decreased to $3.82 per gram in the quarter, compared to $4.29 per gram in the prior quarter, primarily due to consumer trends towards the purchase of large-format and price compression in the market.

Mr. Simon continued, “We remain excited with the opportunities created for both Aphria shareholders and Tilray stockholders in completing our proposed business combination with Tilray, and believe that together, we will create one of the strongest global cannabis and consumer packaged goods companies in the world. We expect to have a tremendous runway for long-term sustainable growth as we build upon our existing foundation in Canada and internationally by increasing the scale of our global operations. We expect Aphria and Tilray’s complementary cultures of innovation, brand development, and cultivation to further set us apart from others in the industry along with the strength of our balance sheet and cash availability as we enhance value for all stakeholders.”

In December Aphria and Tilray announced that the two companies would be merging. Aphria shareholders will receive 0.8381 shares of Tilray’s for each Aphria stock they own. Aphria will own about 62% of the combined company, however, the merged company will supposedly be known under the Tilray name and would trade with the TLRY stock ticker. In November, Tilray reported that its total revenue for the third quarter was flat at $51.4 million and up 2.0% sequentially.

Debra BorchardtJanuary 14, 2021

Aphria Inc. (TSX: APHA) (Nasdaq: APHA) reported its financial results for the second quarter and six months ended November 30, 2020, with all amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars. The stock was moving higher by over 7% in early trading as the earnings per share beat expectations.

Net revenue for Aphria increased 33% to $160.5 million from $120.6 million in the same period last year. Second-quarter net revenue increased 10% sequentially from $145.7 million. The company attributed this to an increase in distribution revenue at CC Pharma in Germany and an increase in net cannabis revenue as well as five days of contribution from net beverage alcohol revenue from the acquisition of SweetWater. The increase in distribution revenue is a result of a return to normalized levels from the prior quarter.

Still, the company delivered a net loss for the second quarter of the fiscal year 2021 of $120.6 million, or a loss of $0.42 per share versus a net loss of $7.9 million, or a loss of $0.03 per share for the same period last year, Sequentially, the fiscal first-quarter net loss was $5.1 million or a loss of $0.02 per share. On an adjusted basis excluding the impacts of the items noted in the reconciliation table below, the company recorded net income for the second quarter of the fiscal year 2021 of $3.2 million, or earnings of $0.01 per share.

The Q2 Non-GAAP EPS of C$0.01 beat expectations by C$0.04, however the GAAP EPS of -C$0.42 missed by C$0.39. The revenue of C$160.53M also topped expectations by C$6.78M.

Irwin D. Simon, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer said in a company statement, “We remain excited about our recently announced definitive agreement with Tilray to combine to create the largest global cannabis company and are on track to close the transaction in the second quarter of the calendar year 2021. Looking forward, we are planning to execute on the significant strategic and financial opportunities provided by the addition of SweetWater and, upon the closing of the Tilray business combination, including our over $100 million anticipated pre-tax synergies, to generate significant value for our stakeholders.” The company expects the merger to be completed in the second quarter of 2021.

Average Selling Price Drops

Aphria reported that the average retail selling price of medical cannabis, before excise tax dropped to $6.96 per gram in the quarter versus $7.38 in the prior quarter. The company said that the decline was the result of specific pricing programs offered to assist patients in need who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, along with other promotional programs. The average selling price of adult-use cannabis, before excise tax, increased to $4.29 per gram in the quarter, compared to $4.15 per gram in the prior quarter, primarily related to sales mix.

Increased Expenses

The operating expenses in the quarter jumped to $82.7 million from $54.5 million in the previous quarter and increased from $49.2 million in the prior year. The company blamed the increase on the transaction costs of $22.6 million associated with the acquisition of SweetWater during the quarter and increased share-based compensation largely driven by the increase in the company’s share price.

Cash Burn

Aphria noted that it ended the quarter with $320.0 million of proforma cash. Yet, the real cash and cash equivalents were $187 million, which dropped considerably from last year’s $400 million for the same time period. The working capital was $399 million, a steep decline from last year’s $725 million for the same time period. The company closed a USD $120 million financing with BMO, providing a USD $20 million revolving facility and a USD $100 million term debt facility.

On a positive note, Aphria’s efforts to improve its free cash flow were successful in the quarter, as it moved closer to its target of generating positive free cash flow. During the quarter, the Company improved its free cash flow by more than $70 million.

Debra BorchardtDecember 17, 2020

Stifel analyst Andrew Carter has downgraded Aphria (NASDAQ: APHA) from Buy to Hold and upgraded Tilray (NASDAQ: TLRY) from Sell to Hold following the announcement of the company’s merger. In the merger agreement, Aphria shareholders will receive 0.8381 shares of Tilray’s for each Aphria stock they own. Aphria will own about 62% of the combined company, however, the merged company will supposedly be known under the Tilray name and would trade with the TLRY stock ticker.

He said that the merger with Tilray offers compelling long-term potential but limited near-term upside. He raised the target price from C$8.25 to C$9.90 for Aphria based on the company’s 62% of the new combined company.

“We are taking a positive approach to this merger given the long-term potential. But pursuing this merger attracts scrutiny,” he wrote in his note. “Aphria has successfully achieved a leadership position in the Canadian adult-use market organically, and we question the opportunity cost of capital/management bandwidth for undertaking this acquisition. We believe the shares are likely to remain in a holding pattern over the near-term as investors gain confidence with the combined platform’s long-term potential. Against the incremental contribution, we are reducing our revenue estimates for the distribution business assuming the 1Q21 run-rate of C$82 million as the appropriate run-rate going forward. With our outlook suggesting discount will be a more fulsome percentage of sales, our estimates consider a higher level of excise taxes pressuring both net sales and EBITDA.”

Tilray’s price target was raised to $9.20 from $5. He wrote, “We believe Tilray offers a difficult case for standalone value creation with Tilray not showcasing, in our view, an enduring right-to-win for new market opportunities particularly in the U.S. with the increasing competitiveness of the Canadian market likely challenging the company’s ability to offer a profitable template for investors. We believe Tilray is contending with underappreciated liabilities and liquidity needs that would otherwise challenge the company’s ability to drive investor enthusiasm. But this merger provides Tilray shareholders participation in a platform offering truly impressive growth potential with the initial announcement suggesting a 23% premium to Tilray’s December 15th closing price.”

Carter believes the combined company will generate $890 million in combined 2021 net revenue with cannabis sales approaching $500 million with the combined portfolio offering mid-teens revenue growth and a combined margin profile comparing well with traditional consumer assets (~20% EBITDA margin).

“While we believe the combined platform will offer investors an impressive growth profile and a well-positioned vehicle for capitalizing on the growth of the global cannabis category, we believe the prevailing valuation fully considers the platform’s potential with the focus now on successfully completing a complex integration,” he said in his research report.

Debra BorchardtDecember 16, 2020

Aphria (APHA) and Tilray (TLRY) have announced the two companies would be merging. Aphria shareholders will receive 0.8381 shares of Tilray’s for each Aphria stock they own. Aphria will own about 62% of the combined company, however, the merged company will supposedly be known under the Tilray name and would trade with the TLRY stock ticker. Both stocks moved higher on the news, which neither company has commented on.

The combined revenue of the two companies would be approximately $685 million, making it the largest in terms of sales, but the combined market cap is still lower than competitor Canopy Growth (NASDAQ: CGC). Aphria said in a statement that the implied pro forma equity value of the Combined Company is approximately C$5.0 billion (US$3.9 billion), based on the share price of Aphria and Tilray at the close of the market on December 15, 2020. Aphria’s current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Irwin D. Simon, will lead the Combined Company as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The board of directors will consist of nine members, seven of which, including Mr. Simon, are current Aphria directors and two of which will be from Tilray, including Brendan Kennedy, and one of which is to be designated.

“This is an exciting day for both companies including our 2,500 employees, for the cannabis industry, and for patients and consumers around the world. We are bringing together two world-class companies that share a culture of innovation, brand development and cultivation to enhance our Canadian, U.S., and international scale as we pursue opportunities for accelerated growth with the strength and flexibility of our balance sheet and access to capital,” said Mr. Simon. “Our highly complementary businesses create a combined company with a leading branded product portfolio, including the most comprehensive Cannabis 2.0 product offerings for patients and consumers, along with significant synergies across our operations in Canada, Europe, and the United States. Our business combination with Tilray aligns with our strategic focus and emphasis on our highest return priorities as we strive to generate value for all stakeholders.”

Tilray’s Sales Have Been Disappointing

In November, Tilray reported that its total revenue for the third quarter was flat at $51.4 million and up 2.0% sequentially. The company attributed the disappointing results to the discontinuation of bulk sales and a slight decrease in Canada medical sales which caused cannabis segment revenue to fall by 11% to $31.4 million. Total cannabis kilogram equivalents sold decreased 53% to 5,107 kilograms from 10,848 kilograms in the prior year’s third quarter. Adult-Use and International Medical sales grew 26% and 42%, respectively. Excluding the year-over-year impact related to bulk sales, total cannabis revenue increased by 24%. Hemp segment revenue increased 28% to $20.0 million (C$26.5 million).

Mr. Kennedy, Tilray’s Chief Executive Officer added, “We are thrilled to bring together two cannabis industry leaders. At this nascent stage of development and expansion of the global cannabis market, we believe companies with leading geographic scale, product range and brand expertise are most likely to benefit long-term. By leveraging our combined strengths and capabilities, we expect to be able to meet the needs of consumers more effectively all over the world and advance patient care. With a strong financial profile, low-cost production, leading brands, distribution network and unique partnerships, we believe the Combined Company will be well-positioned to deliver sustainable, attractive returns for stockholders. I look forward to working with Irwin and the Combined Company’s management team to make our consumer products more accessible around the world.”

Aphria’s Position Of Strength

Aphria has been delivering much better results as the company reported in October that its gross revenue was $69.6 million in the first quarter for the fiscal year 2021. This represented strong growth, showing a 23% increase from the prior quarter, as well as the sixth consecutive quarter of growth. The company’s net cannabis revenue totaled $62.5 million, showing a whopping increase of 103% from the same quarter last year. The company reported an adjusted EBITDA of $10.4 million for the cannabis business, representing an 11% increase from the prior quarter.

Aphria’s total net revenue from the first quarter reached $145.7 million, an increase of 16% from last year’s quarter. The company did report a 4% decrease in total net revenue from the prior quarter, however, this is solely due to circumstances and lower distribution revenue stemming from COVID-19, specifically from CC Pharma in Germany. Especially considering the COVID-19 curve balls that every company has had to navigate, Aphria ended the first quarter with a bang. They finished with a strong balance sheet and liquidity; which includes $400 million of cash and cash equivalents to fund the company’s growth, both in Canada and internationally.

Aphria in November said it would enter the U.S. via an agreement to buy craft brewer Sweetwater Brewing Co. for around $300 million. SweetWater is known for beers that use terpenes and hemp flavoring. Aphria said the brand was “closely aligned with a cannabis lifestyle.” Tilray owns Manitoba Harvest, a hemp company that sells products in the U.S. and Canada.

Combined Company

In the Aphria statement, the company said that on a pro forma basis, for the period August to October 2020, the Combined Company would have held a 17.3% retail market share, the largest share held by any single Licensed Producer in Canada and 700 basis points higher than the next closest competitor. In the United States, Aphria said that the Combined Company will have a strong consumer packaged goods presence and infrastructure with two strategic pillars, including SweetWater, a cannabis lifestyle branded craft brewer, and Manitoba Harvest, a pioneer in branded hemp, CBD and wellness products with access to 17,000 stores in North America.

The combination of Aphria and Tilray is expected to deliver approximately C$100 million of annual pre-tax cost synergies within 24 months of the completion of the transaction. The Combined Company expects to achieve cost synergies in the key areas of cultivation and production, cannabis and product purchasing, sales and marketing, and corporate expenses.

Debra BorchardtJuly 29, 2020

Aphria Inc. (NASDAQ: APHA) stock was falling almost 10% in early trading after the company reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended May 31, 2020, in Canadian dollars. Aphria delivered net revenue of $152.2 million in the fourth quarter, an increase of 18% from the prior-year quarter, and an increase of 5% from the prior quarter. This number also beat the analyst estimate of $149 million.

However, the stock was getting beaten up after the company also reported a $98.8 million net loss for the fourth quarter, which was much worse than last year’s net income of $15.7 million. The losses were attributed to a non-cash impairment of $64.0 million in the quarter, which was due to “measures taken with respect to certain of the Company’s international businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

For the full year, Aphria reported net revenue of $543 million, with a net loss of $84 million. The 2020 revenue increased by 129% from $237.1 million in 2019.

“Our strong finish to fiscal year 2020 demonstrates that this was a transformative year for Aphria, as our net revenue increased 129% from fiscal year 2019,” said Irwin D. Simon, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. “We continue to focus on capturing strong market share in Canada by executing upon our strategic plan and positioning Aphria as a leader in category innovation. With exciting new product categories and line extensions launching in the very near future, we believe our award-winning adult-use portfolio remains unmatched in the industry.”

COVID Costs

Aphria said that it paused its previously announced extraction and processing expansions, including the on-going work completing the extraction center, up to and including its licensing as a result of the pandemic. The company said that it maintains sufficient extraction capacity to meet its current and near-term demand in Canada and abroad.

The company also noted that it sourced biological controls, product packaging, and vape componentry from outside of North America, but then stated that the equipment was readily available. It also stated that’s didn’t anticipate any difficulty in getting product packaging or equipment. The company also found alternative supply sources for essential supplies.

Still, the impairment losses that didn’t really seem related to COVID were as follows (in thousands):

• $4,800 on CannInvest Africa Ltd. and Verve Dynamics Incorporated (Pty) Ltd., the Company used a discount rate of 38.5%;
• $5,000 on ABP, S.A., the Company used a discount rate of 23.3%;
• $19,171 on Marigold Projects Jamaica Limited (“Marigold”), the Company used a discount rate of 38.5%; and
• $35,000 on ColCanna S.A.S., the Company used a discount rate of 40.0%

Medical Prices Rise, Adult Prices Fall

Aphria reported that the average retail selling price of medical cannabis (exclusive of wholesale), before excise tax, increased to $6.63 per gram in the quarter, compared to $6.41 in the prior quarter. The average selling price of adult-use cannabis, before excise tax, decreased to $5.23 per gram in the quarter, compared to $5.47 per gram in the prior quarter, primarily as a result of a change in sales mix and price reductions in key markets to solidify market share. Gross revenue for adult-use cannabis of $150.4 million in all of 2020.

The adjusted cannabis gross profit for the fourth quarter was $28.1 million, with an adjusted cannabis gross margin of 52.9%, compared to $23.7 million and 42.7% in the prior quarter. The increase in adjusted cannabis gross margin was primarily due to the increase in the higher-margin adult-use sales to wholesale transaction ratio in the current quarter, and higher usage of the lower-cost cannabis produced by Aphria versus purchased cannabis.

Adjusted distribution gross profit for the fourth quarter was $11.9 million, with an adjusted distribution gross margin of 12.1%, compared to $11.4 million and 12.9% in the prior quarter. The decrease in adjusted distribution gross margin was primarily related to the impacts of COVID-19 on sales mix.

Debra BorchardtJune 25, 2020

Aleafia Health Inc. (OTC: ALEAF) and its subsidiary Emblem Cannabis Corporation and Aphria Inc. (NASDAQ:APHA)have said that the parties entered into a settlement agreement on June 25, 2020, to resolve their outstanding dispute in respect of the termination of the parties’ wholesale cannabis supply agreement.

Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement Emblem will get C$29.1 million which will consist of a C$15.5 million cash payment, the issuance of common shares of Aphria with an aggregate market value of C$10 million that will be freely tradeable and transferable in Canada and waiver of claimed receivables. The parties have also agreed to a mutual release of all existing and potential claims relating to the Supply Agreement, and to the dismissal of the arbitration proceedings that had previously been commenced.

“The settlement agreement is fair and satisfactory to both parties and allows Aleafia Health to move forward with a significantly strengthened balance sheet. With a substantial injection of value into our business, we can focus on our continued growth,” said Aleafia Health CEO Geoff Benic.

This settlement ends any and all potential claims and litigation against and between Aphria, Emblem, and Aleafia Health relating to the Supply Agreement.

A Busted Deal

The original problem stemmed from a deal that was agreed to on September 11, 2018, which said that Aphria would provide up to 175,000 kg equivalents of cannabis products over an initial five-year term, commencing May 1, 2019. Aleafia terminated its deal to buy cannabis from Aphria saying the company failed to meet its supply obligations.

“Following Aphria’s failure to meet its supply obligations under the Supply Agreement, Emblem has exercised its contractual right to terminate the Supply Agreement in accordance with its terms. The termination of the Supply Agreement by Emblem was made without prejudice to its rights accrued to the date of termination (including its rights to be refunded the unused balance of its deposit) and its rights to seek damages as a result of Aphria’s default and termination thereunder.”

At the time, Aphria released a statement saying, “We are disappointed that Aleafia has chosen to terminate its Agreement with Aphria Inc. The Company had every intention of fulfilling its obligations under the Agreement. As a large shareholder of Aleafia, Aphria made good faith efforts to ensure the continuation of the Agreement understanding it was in the best interest of all parties involved. However, the termination of this legacy Agreement frees up significant supply allowing the Company to service its brands that are in high-demand across the country.”

Debra BorchardtMay 26, 2020

Aphria Inc. NYSE: APHA has decided to throw in the towel on its listing at the New York Stock Exchange and is moving to NASDAQ effective Friday, June 5, 2020, after the market close. Aphria said that shareholders can expect the common stock will begin trading as a Nasdaq-listed security at market open on Monday, June 8, 2020 and will continue to be listed under the ticker symbol “APHA.” This transition will not impact the company’s primary listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: APHA).

It is cheaper for companies to list at NASDAQ than it is to list at the NYSE. The amenities offered to companies that list at NYSE don’t apply to cannabis companies. For example, a cannabis company can list at NYSE, but is not allowed to ring the opening or closing bells. Cannabis companies are treated like second class citizens at the NYSE, but their exchange listing money seems to be considered of equal value.

“We are excited to have Nasdaq as our new exchange partner. This move is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to find cost-effective ways of operating so we can continue to deliver long-term value to shareholders,” said Irwin D. Simon, Chief Executive Officer. “Additionally, as a purpose-driven company, we believe Nasdaq will be a good fit for Aphria, particularly given our focus on, and the progress we have made, integrating ESG practices across our business.”

ESG stands for environmental, social and governance and is typically considered to be a measurement of the sustainability and societal impact of an investment in a company or business. These criteria help to better determine the future financial performance of companies (return and risk).

“With over 76% of Nasdaq-listed companies reporting on at least one ESG metric, we welcome Aphria to the Nasdaq family as they strive to integrate ESG best practices across their business and add strategic value to all of their stakeholders,” said Bob McCooey, Global Head of Capital Markets, Nasdaq.

The NASDAQ has been a bit more welcoming of cannabis companies, although only slightly. For example, the Green Market Report is often declined on-site interview requests because it is a cannabis-only news outlet despite having a long-standing relationship with the NASDAQ.

Debra BorchardtApril 15, 2020

It was late in the evening when Aphria Inc. (NYSE: AHPA) decided to drop its earnings for the fiscal third quarter ending February 2020. Normally, companies will report in the off hours when the numbers are especially dismal, but that wasn’t necessarily the case for Aphria.

The company reported net cannabis revenue of $55.6 million in the third quarter, an increase of 65% from the prior quarter. The total net revenue was $144.4 million in the third quarter, a 96% increase over the same time period in 2019 and a 20% increase sequentially. The revenue beat estimates by $13 million. The net income came in at $5.7 million, or $0.02 per share, which beat analyst estimate by eight cents. The adjusted EBITDA was $5.7 million in the third quarter. The company ended the quarter with $515.1 million of cash and cash equivalents.

“We are proud of our sustained growth in Canada and continued expansion of our international capabilities,” stated Irwin D. Simon, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. “During this unprecedented time, the well-being of our employees, patients, consumers, partners and the communities we operate in is our primary focus. Our facilities, offices and patient care teams remain open and operational to continue to provide our patients and consumers with what we believe is best-in-class care and service with appropriate measures in place to protect the health and safety of employees. As we face uncertain times, I am proud of how the Aphria team has come together to navigate these uncharted waters. Going forward, we believe Aphria continues to be differentiated in the cannabis industry through our brands, cultivation expertise, high-quality standards, cash position, and balance sheet.”

Pulls Guidance

Despite the solid quarter, Aphria said it was suspending its previously announced guidance for revenue, of $575 million to $625 million, and adjusted EBITDA, of $35 million to $42 million, for fiscal 2020. The company said it plans to re-instate its annual guidance once the pandemic stabilizes, which may not be until a point in the company’s fiscal 2021 year.

Prices Fall For Medical

The average retail selling price of medical cannabis (exclusive of wholesale), before excise tax, decreased to $6.41 per gram in the quarter, compared to $8.16 in the prior quarter, primarily related to the implementation of compassionate pricing policy in the quarter. The average selling price of adult-use cannabis, before excise tax, increased to $5.47 per gram in the quarter, compared to $5.22 per gram in the prior quarter, primarily as a result of a change in sales mix.

Customer demand exceeded Ahpria’s supply capabilities in the quarter as a result of the timing of Aphria Diamond’s license receipt and, as a short-term measure, the company purchased wholesale product from other Licensed Producers to supplement its near-term supply capabilities. Wholesale product purchases resulted in a higher cost and less margin opportunity for those sales. During the quarter, sales of purchased cannabis accounted for $20.2 million, with gross profit of $5.1 million and a gross margin of 25.2%. If the company had been able to utilize cannabis it had grown, at the “all-in” cost of sales of dried cannabis per gram reported this quarter, the Company would have reported an additional $7.6 million of gross margin and adjusted EBITDA.

Debra BorchardtJanuary 14, 2020

Aphria Inc. (TSX: APHA and NYSE: APHA) reported its results in Canadian dollars for the second quarter ending November 30, 2019, with revenue for adult-use cannabis increasing 46% sequentially to $29 million. Total net revenue decreased sequentially by 4% to $120.6 million but jumped 457% over last year’s second quarter.

The drop from the first quarter for Aphria was attributed to a decrease in distribution revenue from $95.3 million to $86.4 million associated with the change in the German government’s medical reimbursement model and seasonality in CC Pharma. However, the company said that this was partially offset by an increase in net cannabis revenue of $33.7 million from $30.8 million.

Aphria delivered a net loss of $7.9 million, but a positive EBITDA of $1.9 million in the quarter. Last year the company reported a net income of $54 million for the same time period. The company blamed the decrease in net income on provisions associated with its Tier 3 passive investment portfolio.

“We are very pleased with our strong growth and execution in Canada demonstrated by our increase in adult-use cannabis revenue and positive adjusted EBITDA as a result of our compelling brands and market positioning,” stated Irwin D. Simon, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. “We are continuing to expand our capabilities internationally with solid progress during the quarter in Germany and South America and look to monetize non-core assets. We are confident in our market position and our ability to generate sustainable profit growth. I am honoured to continue to work closely with our tremendous team around the world to fuel growth and value for all of our stakeholders.”

The company also announced that Simon will officially remove “interim” from his title and become the official CEO. He has been serving as the interim CEO since February. He is also Chairman of the Board.

Cannabis Retail Prices Rise

Aphria reported that the average retail selling price of medical cannabis (exclusive of wholesale), before excise tax, increased to $8.16 per gram in the quarter, compared to $7.56 in the prior quarter, primarily related to a higher percentage of total medical sales coming from Broken Coast in the prior quarter. The average selling price of adult-use cannabis, before excise tax, decreased to $5.22 per gram in the quarter, compared to $6.02 per gram in the prior quarter, primarily as a result of a change in sales mix.

The company noted that customer demand exceeded its supply capabilities in the second quarter as a result of the timing of Aphria Diamond’s license receipt and as a short-term measure the company purchased wholesale products from other Licensed Producers to supplement its near-term supply capabilities. “Wholesale product purchases resulted in a higher cost and less margin opportunity for those sales.”

The net revenue figures included over 5,567 kilogram equivalents sold for the adult-use market and 1,237 kilogram equivalents for medical cannabis sales. The company ended the quarter with a strong balance sheet and liquidity, including $497.7 million of cash and cash equivalents, to fund planned Canadian and International growth.

Looking Ahead

Aphria is forecasting that for fiscal 2020 it expects to deliver net revenue of $575 million to $625 million and EBITDA of roughly $35 million to $42 million. However, it did note that there is a slower than expected rollout in Ontario with more than 40 store openings still pending. Plus, Alberta is still banning vape products and there is a slowing in CC Pharma’s growth arising from recent changes in the German government’s medical reimbursement model.

Carl Merton, Aphria’s Chief Financial Officer said, “We are updating our annual outlook with a little over four months left in our fiscal year to reflect certain market dynamics that have evolved relative to our initial expectations. We look forward to generating an acceleration in our revenue and profit growth in the second half of the fiscal year and continue to believe the Canadian and international cannabis industry outlook remains robust. Aphria is well-positioned for long-term sustainable growth as we continue to manage the controllable aspects of our business.”

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