Pyxus International, Inc. Reports Fiscal Year 2021 Third Quarter Results

MORRISVILLE, N.C., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pyxus International, Inc. (OTC Pink: PYYX) ("Pyxus" or the "Company"), a global value-added agricultural company, today announced results for its fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020.

Quarter Highlights:

• Sales and other operating revenues increased $16.3 million or 4.5% to $379.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 from $363.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019.
• Gross profit as a percent of sales increased to 16.5% for the three months ended December 31, 2020 from 15.2% for three months ended December 31, 2019.
• Selling, general, and administrative expenses ("SG&A") were $45.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
• Net loss improved $13.8 million or 62.7% to $8.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 from $22.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019.
• Adjusted EBITDA* improved $15.7 million or 64.9% to $39.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 from $24.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019.
• Inventory decreased $100.1 million or 11.5% to $771.8 million as of December 31, 2020 from $871.9 million as of December 31, 2019.
• Notes payable to banks decreased $146.7 million or 25.3% to $433.6 million as of December 31, 2020 from $580.3 million as of December 31, 2019.

"Fiscal year 2021 continues to be a year of evolution for our business," said Pieter Sikkel, Pyxus' President and CEO. "Since the completion of our financial restructuring, we have undergone a strategic review of all business units and categories in which we operate in order to develop a stronger, more streamlined strategy to improve financial performance. We see the potential for increased leaf tobacco volume in fiscal year 2022 from countries including the United States and Brazil. In addition, the developments in the e-liquids category following the September 2020 PMTA submission deadline, paired with increased enforcement of PMTA regulation, provide an encouraging opportunity for potential future growth.

"The tobacco industry, like many other industries, has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to experience disruption in our supply chain and distribution channels. While the volume of customer orders is in line with expectations and we have adequate supply of product to meet demand, we have been impacted by procedural delays with regards to fulfillment of customer orders. This has resulted in the timing of fulfillment of certain customer orders shifting to the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021 and others to the first quarter of fiscal year 2022. Despite these challenges, we continue to manage our working capital closely and at December 31, 2020, inventory decreased $100.1 million or 11.5% to $771.8 million when compared to December 31, 2019. Additionally, we expect our uncommitted inventory to be near the midpoint of our stated range of $50-$150 million by fiscal year end.

"As we complete significant initiatives under the Global Operations Efficiency Program, we are beginning to see the benefits in reduced cost of goods and services sold as a percentage of sales and the flow through to gross profit. Additionally, going forward we expect to see positive impacts from reduced SG&A. Further, we are experiencing the benefits from the completion of our financial restructuring with $24.9 million of interest expense for the quarter, a $7.3 million or 22.7% reduction compared to the last year. In addition, we believe there are opportunities for growth in our current market segments with our customer base that, coupled with our financial restructuring and the Global Operations Efficiency Program, better position the Company for the post-COVID environment. We also look forward to sharing our enhanced global environmental, social and governance ("ESG") strategy for how we intend to deliver performance in a compliant and sustainable manner. While fiscal year 2021 has presented significant challenges for our Company, the communities where we work and the world, we believe the year has been a critical step forward for our Company's long-term success so that we may continue to live by our purpose - to transform people's lives so that together we can grow a better world."

Performance Summary for Three Months Ended December 31, 2020Sales and other operating revenues increased $16.3 million or 4.5% to $379.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 from $363.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. This increase was due to a 5.4% increase in leaf volume and an increase in cannabinoid revenue attributable to sales occurring in most of the Canadian provinces as well as the launch of the GO! cannabinoid product line. These increases were partially offset by a 1.8% decrease in leaf average sales prices. The 5.4% increase in leaf volume was driven by the timing of shipments in North America and South America and was partially offset by a decrease in volume from smaller crop sizes in Africa and shipping delays in Africa caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 1.8% decrease in leaf average sales prices was attributable to product mix in Africa, Asia, and Europe having a lower concentration of lamina and was partially offset by product mix having a higher concentration of lamina in North America and changes in foreign exchange rates in Europe.

Cost of goods and services sold increased $8.9 million or 2.9% to $317.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 from $308.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. This increase was mainly due to the increase in sales and other operating revenues.

Gross profit as a percent of sales increased to 16.5% for the three months ended December 31, 2020 from 15.2% for three months ended December 31, 2019. This increase was attributable to lower conversion costs in South America and changes in foreign exchange rates in Europe. These increases were partially offset by product mix in Africa, Asia, and Europe having a lower concentration of lamina and higher conversion costs in Africa.

SG&A expenses were $45.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. The current year included $3.3 million of expenses associated with our emergence from the Chapter 11 Cases. The prior year included $1.9 million of costs incurred to evaluate and develop plans for a potential partial monetization of interests in subsidiaries in the Other Products and Services segment.

Restructuring and asset impairment charges increased $7.1 million to $7.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 from $0.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. This increase was attributable to employee separation and impairment charges related to restructuring of certain U.S. operations, which included our industrial hemp and CBD businesses, and the continued restructuring of certain African operations.

Interest expense decreased $7.3 million or 22.7% to $24.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 from $32.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. This decrease was driven by lower outstanding long-term debt balances as well as lower balances on the African seasonal lines of credit.

Liquidity and Capital ResourcesThe Company's liquidity requirements are affected by various factors including crop seasonality, foreign currency and interest rates, green tobacco prices, customer mix, crop size and quality, branding, marketing, and advertising expenses to support growth of the Other Products and Services segment, legal and professional costs, and funding obligations under the debtor-in-possession facility extended to the Company's Canadian cannabis subsidiaries during the pendency of the proceedings they commenced under Canada's Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act in January 2021. As of December 31, 2020, the Company's available credit lines and cash totaled $428.6 million, including $293.9 million of availability under foreign seasonal lines of credit.

Financial Results Investor CallThe Company will hold a conference call to report financial results for the period ended December 31, 2020, on February 9, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. ET. The dial in number for the call is (786) 789-4776 or (888) 394-8218 and the conference ID is 8106551. Those seeking to listen to the call may access a live broadcast on the Pyxus International website. Please visit www.pyxus.com 15 minutes in advance to register.

For those who are unable to listen to the live event, a replay will be available for five days by dialing (719) 457-0820 or (888) 203-1112 and entering the access code 8106551. Any replay, rebroadcast, transcript or other reproduction of this conference call, other than the replay accessible by calling the number above, has not been authorized by Pyxus International and is strictly prohibited. Investors should be aware that any unauthorized reproduction of this conference call may not be an accurate reflection of its contents.

Fresh Start ReportingIn June 2020, the Company's predecessor and certain of its domestic subsidiaries (the "Debtors") voluntarily commenced cases (the "Chapter 11 Cases") under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code to implement a prepackaged Chapter 11 plan of reorganization in order to effectuate a financial restructuring, which plan or reorganization, as amended (the "Plan"), became effective on August 24, 2020 (the "Effective Date"). Upon the effectiveness of the Plan and the emergence of the Debtors from the Chapter 11 Cases, the Company determined it qualified for fresh start reporting under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), which resulted in the Company becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes on the Effective Date. The Company elected to apply fresh start reporting using a convenience date of August 31, 2020. Due to the application of fresh start reporting, the pre-emergence and post-emergence periods are not comparable. The lack of comparability is emphasized by the use of a "black line" to separate the Predecessor and Successor periods in the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. References to "Successor" relate to the Company's financial position and results of operations after August 31, 2020. References to "Predecessor" relate to the financial position and results of operations on or before August 31, 2020.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsReaders are cautioned that the statements contained in this report regarding expectations of our performance or other matters that may affect our business, results of operations, or financial condition are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which are based on current expectations of future events, may be identified by the use of words such as "strategy," "expects," "continues," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "will," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "goals," "targets," and other words of similar meaning. These statements also may be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, or if known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, or projected. Some of these risks and uncertainties include: 

• risks related to our indebtedness, including that the Company has substantial debt which may adversely affect it by limiting future sources of financing, interfering with its ability to pay interest, and principal on its indebtedness and subjecting it to additional risks, the Company requires a significant amount of cash to service indebtedness and its ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond its control, the Company may not be able to refinance or renew its indebtedness, which may have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, the Company may not be able to satisfy the covenants included in its financing arrangements, which could result in the default of its outstanding debt obligations, and despite current indebtedness levels, the Company may still be able to incur substantially more debt, which could exacerbate further the risks associated with its significant leverage;
• risks and uncertainties relating to the "Chapter 11 Cases and the Company's liquidity and business strategy", including but not limited to: whether the Company's leaf tobacco customers, farmers and other suppliers might lose confidence in Pyxus as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases and may seek to establish alternative commercial relationships, whether, as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases, foreign lenders that have provided short-term operating credit lines to fund leaf tobacco operations at the local level may lose confidence in Pyxus and cease to provide such funding, uncertainty and continuing risks associated with the Company's ability to achieve its goals and continue as a going concern, unanticipated developments with respect to liquidity needs and sources of liquidity could result in a deficiency in liquidity; and the Company's Board of Directors, as reconstituted in connection with the Chapter 11 Cases, may implement changes in the Company's business strategy that could affect the scope of its operations, including the countries in which it continues to operate and the business lines that it continues to pursue, and may result in the recognition of restructuring or asset impairment charges;
• risk and uncertainties related to the Company's leaf tobacco operations, including changes in the timing of anticipated shipments, changes in anticipated geographic product sourcing, changes in relevant capital markets affecting the terms and availability of short-term seasonal financing, political instability, currency and interest rate fluctuations, shifts in the global supply and demand position for tobacco products, changes in tax laws and regulations or the interpretation of tax laws and regulations, resolution of tax matters, adverse weather conditions, the impact of disasters or other unusual events affecting international commerce, and changes in costs incurred in supplying products and related services;
• risks and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including possible delays in shipments of leaf tobacco, including from the closure or restricted activities at ports or other channels, disruptions to the Company's operations or the operations of suppliers and customers resulting from restrictions on the ability of employees and others in the supply chain to travel and work, border closures, determinations by Pyxus or shippers to temporarily suspend operations in affected areas, whether the Company's operations that have been classified as "essential" under various governmental orders restricting business activities will continue to be so classified or, even if so classified, whether site-specific health and safety concerns related to COVID-19 might otherwise require operations at any of our facilities to be halted for some period of time, negative consumer purchasing behavior with respect to the Company's products or the products of its leaf tobacco customers during periods of government mandates restricting activities imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the extent to which the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations and the demand for its products may not coincide with impacts experienced in the United States due to the international scope of its operations, including in emerging and other markets in which the Company operates where the timing and severity of COVID-19 outbreaks and the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations may differ from those in the United States; and
• risks and uncertainties related to the Company's business lines in its Other Products and Services segment, including that the new businesses have limited operating histories, are in newly developed markets, may not generate the results that the Company anticipates and have, and may continue to need significant investment to fund continued operations and expansion, that technologies, processes and formulations may become obsolete, the impact of increasing competition, uncertainties with respect to the development of the industries and markets of the business lines, including the level of consumer demand for such products, the potential for product liability claims, uncertainties with respect to the extent of consumer acceptance of the products offered by the business lines, the impact of regulation associated with the business lines, including the risk of obtaining anticipated regulatory approvals, and risks and uncertainties related to the proceeding initiated in January 2021 under Canada's Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act by the Company's indirect subsidiaries in Canada that operates cannabis businesses, including whether the proposed sales processes with respect to these subsidiaries will be successfully completed within the anticipated time frames or at all and the extent of impairment that Pyxus may recognize with respect to its investment in these subsidiaries.

A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties, and other factors can be found in Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2020 and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that it may make from time to time.

About Pyxus International, Inc.Pyxus International, Inc. is a global agricultural company with more than 145 years' experience delivering value-added products and services to businesses and customers. Driven by a united purpose—to transform people's lives, so that together we can grow a better world—Pyxus International, its subsidiaries and affiliates, are trusted providers of responsibly sourced, independently verified, sustainable and traceable products and ingredients. For more information, visit www.pyxus.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECONCILIATION OF ITEMS FOR THE COMBINED PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020

Pyxus International, Inc. (the "Company," "we" or "us") applied Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") ASC Topic 852 – Reorganizations ("ASC 852") in preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2020 (the "Form 10-Q"; capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them in the 10-Q). For periods subsequent to the commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases on June 15, 2020, ASC 852 requires distinguishing transactions associated with the reorganization separate from activities related to the ongoing operations of the business. Upon the effectiveness of the Plan and the emergence of the Debtors from the Chapter 11 Cases, the Company determined it qualified for fresh start reporting under ASC 852, which resulted in the Company becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes on the August 24, 2020 Effective Date of the Plan. In the condensed consolidated financial statements included in the Form 10-Q, our financial results for the five months ended August 31, 2020 are referred to as those of the "Predecessor" and our financial results for the four months ended December 31, 2020 are referred to as those of the "Successor." Our results of operations as reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements for these periods are prepared in accordance with fresh start reporting, which requires that we report on our results for the periods prior to the Effective Date separately from the period following the Effective Date. The Company elected to apply fresh start reporting using a convenience date of August 31, 2020. The Company evaluated and concluded the events between August 24, 2020 and August 31, 2020 were not material to the Company's financial reporting on both a quantitative or qualitative basis.

We do not believe that reviewing the results of these periods in isolation would be useful in identifying any trends in or reaching any conclusions regarding our overall operating performance. Management believes that operating metrics for the Successor period when combined with the Predecessor period provides more meaningful comparisons to other periods and are useful in identifying current business trends. Accordingly, the tables below present the combined results for the nine months ended December 31, 2020. The combined results (referenced as "Combined (Non-GAAP)") for the nine months ended December 31, 2020 represent the sum of the reported amounts for the Predecessor period from April 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020 combined with the Successor period from September 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. These combined results are not considered to be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and have not been prepared as pro forma results under applicable regulations. The combined operating results are presented for supplemental purposes only, may not reflect the actual results we would have achieved absent our emergence from bankruptcy, may not be indicative of future results and should not be viewed as a substitute for the financial results of the Predecessor period and Successor period presented in accordance with GAAP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE Pyxus International, Inc.