Velan Inc. Reports Its Second Quarter 2023/24 Financial Results

MONTREAL, Oct. 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Velan Inc. (TSX: VLN) (the "Company"), a world-leading manufacturer of industrial valves, announced today its financial results for its second quarter ended August 31, 2023.

Highlights:

• Order backlog² remains strong at $485.7 million, an increase of $21.3 million or 4.6% since the beginning of the year. The increase in backlog² is primarily attributable to changes in the profile of scheduled backlog² shipment dates. The portion of the current backlog² deliverable in the next twelve months is $339.4 million.
• Net new orders ("bookings")² of $71.5 million for the quarter, a decrease of $2.0 million or 2.7% compared to last year. The decrease in bookings² is primarily attributable to a reduction in MRO distributor orders as well as lower process and mining orders, partially offset by a pick-up in oil and gas orders compared to last year.
• Sales for the quarter amounted to $80.3 million, an improvement of $12.7 million or 18.7% compared to the first quarter of the current fiscal year, a decrease of $4.7 million or 5.6% compared to the second quarter of the previous fiscal year. The decrease in sales for the quarter compared to the prior year is primarily attributable to delays on certain shipments caused by customer readiness issues and a shortage of deliverable orders in the Company's Italian operations.
• Gross profit for the quarter amounted to $23.4 million or 29.1% compared to last year's $23.5 million or 27.6%. Gross profit improved by $8.3 million or 690 basis points compared to the first quarter of the current fiscal year. Gross profit percentage for the quarter was a result of improved product mix offsetting the lower sales volume and unfavorable unrealized foreign exchange translations compared to last year.
• Net loss¹ of $2.1 million and EBITDA³ of $3.0 million for the quarter compared to a net loss¹ of $3.7 million and EBITDA² of $1.4 million last year. The increase in EBITDA² is primarily attributable to a $2.1 million decrease in administration costs.
• The Company's net cash amounted to $39.4 million at the end of the quarter, a decrease of $19.3 million compared to the $58.6 million net cash balance at the beginning of the quarter. The decrease in net cash for the quarter is primarily related to temporary unfavorable movements in working capital, notably in accounts receivable, inventories and accounts payable and accrued liabilities as the Company prepares for its ramp-up in Q3 and Q4 of the current year. The overall available liquidity remains strong with $122.1 million of available cash-on-hand and facilities.
• The Company announced earlier today that it has been verbally informed that the French Ministry of Economy is refusing to grant its approval in connection with the change of control of Segault S.A.S. and Velan S.A.S. as part of the overall sale of Velan Inc. to Flowserve. As a result, Flowserve informed the Company that they intend to terminate the arrangement agreement on October 7, 2023.
  

Bruno Carbonaro, CEO and President of Velan Inc., said, "Our second quarter was an improvement in terms of results when compared to our second quarter of last year, as we partly recovered from some of the delays experienced at the start of the year. We are now focused on the ramp-up for the second half of the year. We continue to manage our business prudently with specific focus around executing on our backlog while working on a pipeline of opportunities. We will ensure to benefit from the working capital investments we made in the first half of the fiscal year by working diligently on increasing our collections and reducing our inventories on hand during the latter part of the year. Our North American commercial operations are tapping into new and emerging markets while we also continue to see growth in the nuclear business activities in France. Finally, the Board, the Velan family and Flowserve are obviously disappointed with the outcome and the decision of the French regulators. The Board recognizes, appreciates, and wants to thank the executives, the management team, the integration team, and all employees at Velan and outside stakeholders who have done everything possible and who worked tirelessly to support the transaction and make it happen. The board and executive leadership are very confident in our strong future, and we will resume operations as an independent business, free of the covenants and other restrictions of the arrangement agreement."

Financial Highlights:

Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 (unless otherwise noted, all amounts are in U.S. dollars and all comparisons are to the second quarter of fiscal 2023):

• Sales amounted to $80.3 million for the quarter, decreasing by $4.7 million or 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. The decrease in sales for the quarter is primarily attributable to lower shipments of large orders by the Company's Italian operations due to a reduction of these orders recorded in the previous fiscal year. The decrease in sales for the quarter was also caused by delays on certain shipments caused by customer readiness issues. Otherwise, the decrease was partially offset by the positive impact of the strengthening of the euro average rate against the U.S. dollar on sales which amounted to $2.1 million for the quarter compared to last fiscal year. Finally, sales for the quarter were also positively impacted by favorable revaluations of the Company's provision for performance guarantees and volume rebate accrual.
• Bookings² for the quarter amounted to $71.5 million, a decrease of $2.0 million or 2.7% compared to the second quarter of last year. The decrease for the quarter is primarily attributable to lower orders recorded by the Company's North American operations. The decrease in North American bookings² for the quarter is partly attributable to a reduction in MRO distributor orders, due in part to higher re-stocking orders in the previous year but also a slowdown currently observed in some covered markets. Additionally, the reduction in North American bookings² for the quarter was also due to lower process and mining orders compared to last year. The decrease in bookings² for the quarter was partially offset by higher oil and gas bookings² recorded in the Company's Italian operations. Finally, the decrease in bookings² was also partially compensated by the strengthening of the euro average rate against the U.S. dollar on bookings² for the Company's European operations which resulted in a favorable impact of $2.3 million in the second quarter compared to the prior year.
• Gross profit for the quarter amounted to $23.4 million, a decrease of $0.1 million or 0.4% compared to the second quarter of last year. The gross profit percentage for the quarter of 29.1% was an increase of 150 basis points compared to last year's second quarter. The slight decrease in gross profit for the quarter is primarily due to the lower sales volume which impacted the absorption of fixed production overhead costs as well as unfavorable unrealized foreign exchange translations related to the fluctuation of the U.S. dollar against the euro and the Canadian dollar when compared to similar movements from the previous year. This decrease in gross profit for the quarter was offset by an improved product mix as well as favorable revaluations of the Company's provision for performance guarantees and volume rebate accrual.
• Administration costs for the quarter amounted to $22.6 million, a decrease of $2.1 million or 8.5%. The decrease in administration costs for the quarter is primarily attributable to the recording in the last quarter of the previous fiscal year of an asbestos provision for potential settlement value of future unknown claims. The settlement expense amounted to $3.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2023. The decrease in administration costs for the quarter is also due to lower outbound freight costs which have now stabilized and sales commissions in relation to the lower sales volume. Finally, the decrease for the quarter was partially offset by a general increase in administration costs.
• Net loss¹ amounted to $2.1 million or $0.10 per share compared to a net loss¹ of $3.7 million or $0.17 per share last year. EBITDA² for the quarter amounted to $3.0 million or $0.14 per share compared to $1.4 million or $0.06 per share last year. The favorable movement in EBITDA² for the quarter is primarily attributable to the previously explained decrease in administration costs, partially offset by an increase in other expense. The positive movement in the Company's results was primarily attributable to the previously mentioned factors combined with a favorable movement in income taxes and an unfavorable movement in finance costs.
  

First Six months Fiscal 2024 (unless otherwise noted, all amounts are in U.S. dollars and all comparisons are to the first six months of fiscal 2023):

• Sales for the half year totaled $148.0 million, a decrease of $12.1 or 7.5% compared to the last fiscal year. The decrease in sales for the half year is primarily attributable to lower shipments of large orders by the Company's Italian operations due to a reduction of these orders recorded in the previous fiscal year. The decrease for the half year was also due to accelerated shipments in the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year as a result of customer demand and the Company's increased production ramp-up. The decrease in sales for the half year was partially offset by increased shipments in the Company's North American operations. Otherwise, the decrease was also partially offset by the positive impact of the strengthening of the euro average rate against the U.S. dollar on sales which amounted to $2.1 million for the half year compared to last fiscal year. Finally, sales for the half year were also positively impacted by favorable revaluations of the Company's provision for performance guarantees and volume rebate accrual.
• Bookings² for the half year amounted to $163.4 million, a decrease of $3.6 million or 2.1% compared to the prior fiscal year. The decrease for the half year is primarily attributable to lower orders recorded by the Company's North American operations. The decrease in North American bookings² for the half year is partly attributable to a reduction in MRO distributor orders, due in part to higher re-stocking orders in the previous year but also a slowdown currently observed in some covered markets. Additionally, the reduction in North American bookings² for the half year was also due to lower process orders compared to last year. The decrease in bookings² for the half year was partially offset by higher oil and gas bookings² recorded in the Company's Italian operations and an increase in nuclear orders recorded by the Company's French operations. Finally, the decrease in bookings² was also partially compensated by the strengthening of the euro average rate against the U.S. dollar on bookings² for the Company's European operations which resulted in a favorable impact of $2.7 million on the half year compared to the prior year.

• The total backlog² increased by $21.3 million or 4.6% since the beginning of the fiscal year, settling at $485.7 million at the end of the quarter. The increase in backlog² is primarily attributable to changes in the profile of scheduled backlog² shipment dates. The increase in backlog² is also due to the strengthening of the euro spot rate against the U.S. dollar since the beginning of the fiscal year which represented $6.5 million.
• Gross profit for the half year amounted to $38.4 million, a decrease of $5.1 million or 11.8% compared to the prior fiscal year. The gross profit percentage for the six-month period of 26.0% represented a decrease of 120 basis points compared to the same period last year. The decrease in gross profit for the half year is primarily due to the lower sales volume which impacted the absorption of fixed production overhead costs as well as unfavorable unrealized foreign exchange translations related to the fluctuation of the U.S. dollar against the euro and the Canadian dollar when compared to similar movements from the previous year. This decrease in gross profit for the half year was partially offset by an improved product mix as well as favorable revaluations of the Company's provision for performance guarantees and volume rebate accrual.
• Administration costs for the half year amounted to $44.1 million, a decrease of $6.4 million or 12.7%. The decrease in administration costs for the half year is primarily attributable to the recording in the last quarter of the previous fiscal year of an asbestos provision for potential settlement value of future unknown claims. The settlement expense amounted to $6.3 million in the first six months of fiscal 2023. The decrease in administration costs for the half year is also due to lower outbound freight costs which have now stabilized and sales commissions in relation to the lower sales volume. Finally, the decrease for the half year was partially offset by a general increase in administration costs.
• Net loss¹ for the half year amounted to $10.4 million or $0.48 per share compared to $11.0 million or $0.51 per share last year. EBITDA² for the half year amounted to negative $0.8 million or negative $0.04 per share compared to negative $1.5 million or negative $0.07 per share last year. The favorable movement in EBITDA² for the six-month period is primarily attributable to the previously explained decrease in administration costs, partially offset by a decrease in gross profit and an increase in other expense. The positive movement in the Company's results was primarily attributable to the same factors as previously explained combined with a favorable movement in income taxes and an unfavorable movement in finance costs.

Dividend

The Company opted to declare no dividend this quarter.

Conference call

Financial analysts, shareholders, and other interested individuals are invited to attend the second quarter conference call to be held on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT). The toll-free call-in number is 1-800-945-0427, access code 22028032. The material that will be referenced during the conference call will be made available shortly before the event on the company's website under the Investor Relations section (https://www.velan.com/en/company/investor_relations). A recording of this conference call will be available for seven days at 1-416-626-4100 or 1-800-558-5253, access code 22028032.

About Velan

Founded in Montreal in 1950, Velan Inc. (www.velan.com) is one of the world's leading manufacturers of industrial valves, with sales of US$370.4 million in its last reported fiscal year. The Company employs approximately 1,650 people and has manufacturing plants in 9 countries. Velan Inc. is a public company with its shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol VLN.

Safe harbour statement

This news release may include forward-looking statements, which generally contain words like "should", "believe", "anticipate", "plan", "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "continue" or "estimate" or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions, all of which are subject to risks and uncertainties, which are disclosed in the Company's filings with the appropriate securities commissions. While these statements are based on management's assumptions regarding historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that it believes are reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may differ materially from those expressed herein. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by the applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Non-IFRS and supplementary financial measures

In this press release, the Company has presented measures of performance or financial condition which are not defined under IFRS ("non-IFRS measures") and are, therefore, unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. These measures are used by management in assessing the operating results and financial condition of the Company and are reconciled with the performance measures defined under IFRS. Company has also presented supplementary financial measures which are defined at the end of this report. Reconciliation and definition can be found on the next page.

Earnings (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA")

The term "EBITDA" is defined as net income or loss attributable to Subordinate and Multiple Voting Shares plus depreciation of property, plant & equipment, plus amortization of intangible assets and financing costs, plus net finance costs plus income tax provision. The terms "EBITDA per share" is obtained by dividing EBITDA by the total amount of subordinate and multiple voting shares. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Definitions of supplementary financial measures

The term "Net new orders" or "bookings" is defined as firm orders, net of cancellations, recorded by the Company during a period. Bookings are impacted by the fluctuation of foreign exchange rates for a given period. The measure provides an indication of the Company's sales operation performance for a given period as well as well as an expectation of future sales and cash flows to be achieved on these orders.

The term "backlog" is defined as the buildup of all outstanding bookings to be delivered by the Company. The Company's backlog is impacted by the fluctuation of foreign exchange rates for a given period. The measure provides an indication of the future operational challenges of the Company as well as an expectation of future sales and cash flows to be achieved on these orders.

The term "book-to-bill" is obtained by dividing bookings by sales. The measure provides an indication of the Company's performance and outlook for a given period.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

¹ Non-IFRS and supplementary financial measures ? see explanation above
² Net earnings or loss refer to net income or loss attributable to Subordinate and Multiple Voting Shares

For further information please contact:
Bruno Carbonaro, Chief Executive Officer and President
Tel: (438) 817-7593
or
Rishi Sharma, Chief Financial Officer
Tel: (438) 817-4430