Neo Performance Materials Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

Q3 2023 Highlights
(unless otherwise noted, all financial amounts in this news release are expressed in United States dollars)

• Q3 2023 revenue of $136.9 million, lower by 6.6% YoY.
• Operating income of $7.0 million in the quarter.
• Adjusted Net Income⁽¹⁾ of $4.0 million in the quarter, or $0.09 per share.
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $13.2 million in the quarter, higher by 87.1% YoY.
• Cash balance of $113.4 million, after funding acquisitions and investments of $16.4 million, distributing $10.1 million in dividends to its shareholders, and repurchasing $16.7 million of shares under the Normal Course Issuer Bid (the "NCIB").
• A quarterly dividend of Cdn$0.10 per common share was declared on November 9, 2023 for shareholders of record at December 18, 2023, with a payment date of December 28, 2023.

TORONTO, Nov. 10, 2023 /CNW/ - Neo Performance Materials Inc. ("Neo") (TSX: NEO) released its third quarter 2023 financial results. The financial statements and management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") of these results can be viewed on Neo's web site at www.neomaterials.com/investors/ and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

"I am pleased with the direction of our third quarter results as the underlying impact of a more stable rare earth pricing environment validates what the normalized earning power of Neo looks like," said Rahim Suleman, President and CEO of Neo. "During the quarter, we saw rare earth prices near bottom and show signs of a steady strengthening which we have seen continue in the current quarter. Combined with continued positive customer sentiment in Neo's key end markets, this provides us with confidence in the stability and improving trends in markets and more stable pricing and improved volumes."

"Our sintered magnet plant construction in Estonia is on track, and we look forward to emerging as the first major producer of rare earth permanent magnets for electrified vehicles and wind energy in Europe," Mr. Suleman added.  "Positioning Neo to be able to deliver permanent magnets where and when our customers want them is critical to Neo and our customers." 

__________________________

(1)Neo reports non-IFRS measures such as "Adjusted Net Income", "Adjusted Earnings per Share", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA Margin" and "EBITDA". Please see information on this and other non-IFRS measures in the "Non-IFRS Measures" section of this news release and in the MD&A, available on Neo's website at www.neomaterials.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

HIGHLIGHTS OF Q3 2023 CONSOLIDATED PERFORMANCE

For the three months ended September 30, 2023, consolidated revenue was $136.9 million compared to $146.6 million for the same period in the prior year; a decrease of $9.7 million or 6.6%.  Neo reported net income of $3.1 million, or $0.07 per share, compared to net loss of $3.8 million, or $0.09 per share, in the same period of 2022.  Adjusted Net Income⁽¹⁾ totaled $4.0 million, or $0.09 per share, compared to Adjusted Net Loss⁽¹⁾ of $1.9 million, or $0.04 per share, in the corresponding period of the prior year.  Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ was $13.2 million, an improvement of 87.1% compared to Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $7.0 million in the third quarter of 2022.

As at September 30, 2023, Neo had cash and cash equivalents of $113.4 million plus restricted cash of $3.2 million, compared to $147.5 million plus $1.2 million as at December 31, 2022. 

SELECTED FINANCIAL RESULTS

TABLE 1: Selected Consolidated Results
	Quarter-over-Quarter Comparison		Year-over-Year Comparison
($000s)	Q3 2023	Q3 2022	YTD Q3 2023	YTD Q3 2022
Revenue	136,917	146,627	442,877	481,130
Operating income	6,959	2,239	16,637	51,887
EBITDA(1)	11,053	5,460	24,493	66,068
Adjusted EBITDA(1)	13,160	7,034	34,122	66,607
Adjusted EBITDA %(1)	9.6 %	4.8 %	7.7 %	13.8 %

(1)Neo reports non-IFRS measures such as "Adjusted Net Income", "Adjusted Earnings per Share", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA Margin" and "EBITDA". Please see information on this and other non-IFRS measures in the "Non-IFRS Measures" section of this news release and in the MD&A.

MAGNEQUENCH SEGMENT RESULTS

TABLE 2: Selected Magnequench Results
	Quarter-over-Quarter Comparison		Year-over-Year Comparison
	Q3 2023	Q3 2022	YTD Q3 2023	YTD Q3 2022
Volume (tonnes)	1,389	1,097	3,413	3,620
($000s)
Revenue	54,414	67,402	158,908	219,828
Operating income	2,911	4,897	4,943	27,995
EBITDA(1)	4,477	6,345	9,116	35,814
Adjusted EBITDA(1)	6,042	7,282	15,199	35,384

_________________________________

(1)Neo reports non-IFRS measures such as "Adjusted Net Income", "Adjusted Earnings per Share", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA Margin" and "EBITDA". Please see information on this and other non-IFRS measures in the "Non-IFRS Measures" section of this news release and in the MD&A.

Magnequench revenue in the third quarter declined by about 19.3% compared to the prior year period, due to substantially lower pass-through prices for magnetic rare earth elements.  Volumes improved compared to the prior year period, although the permanent magnet industry remains slow in the near-term. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue expanded slightly in the quarter.

CHEMICALS & OXIDES ("C&O") SEGMENT RESULTS

TABLE 3: Selected C&O Results
	Quarter-over-Quarter Comparison		Year-over-Year Comparison
($000s)	Q3 2023	Q3 2022	YTD Q3 2023	YTD Q3 2022
Revenue	57,812	52,231	180,377	189,244
Operating income (loss)	6,068	(5,298)	1,466	21,324
EBITDA(1)	6,958	(3,231)	4,053	26,490
Adjusted EBITDA(1)	7,737	(3,863)	6,088	25,710

(1)Neo reports non-IFRS measures such as "Adjusted Net Income", "Adjusted Earnings per Share", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA Margin" and "EBITDA". Please see information on this and other non-IFRS measures in the "Non-IFRS Measures" section of this news release and in the MD&A.

C&O revenue improved by 10.7% during the three months ended September 30, 2023, driven by a net improved product mix and improved volumes, despite a substantially lower rare earth price environment.  C&O dynamics were mixed with rare earth pricing for neodymium and praseodymium elements continuing to face pricing headwinds offset by strong performance in high purity dysprosium.  The dysprosium volumes were related to the higher-value, multi-layer ceramic capacitor ("MLCC") market as opposed to the standard grade dysprosium which pertains to the magnetics market.  C&O's environmental emissions catalyst business also showed strong volumes as China recovered from a slower first quarter of 2023.  Adjusted EBITDA during the quarter strongly benefited from improved pricing lead-lag dynamics in the rare earth separations business (using historical cost inventory with current sales prices).  

RARE METALS SEGMENT RESULTS

TABLE 4: Selected Rare Metals Results
	Quarter-over-Quarter Comparison		Year-over-Year Comparison
($000s)	Q3 2023	Q3 2022	YTD Q3 2023	YTD Q3 2022
Revenue	25,976	31,567	104,877	86,521
Operating income	2,749	5,199	25,267	13,186
EBITDA(1)	4,349	6,587	26,665	16,457
Adjusted EBITDA(1)	3,293	5,797	26,407	15,312

(1)Neo reports non-IFRS measures such as "Adjusted Net Income", "Adjusted Earnings per Share", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA Margin" and "EBITDA". Please see information on this and other non-IFRS measures in the "Non-IFRS Measures" section of this news release and in the MD&A.

Rare Metals reported 17.7% lower revenue during the third quarter, although continued to report very strong earnings through the first nine months of 2023.  The segment delivered healthy margin performance driven by strength in Hafnium pricing and demand. The upward trend in Hafnium prices which began in the fourth quarter of 2021 has continued throughout the third quarter of 2023 with an increase of over 30% during the three months ended September 30, 2023. The recycling purchases and activities of Rare Metals were particularly impactful to maintaining and growing margins as prices for scrap material purchased in the quarter did not rise as fast as selling prices for finished goods.  

CONFERENCE CALL ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2023 AT 10 AM EASTERN

Management will host a teleconference call on Friday, November 10, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the third quarter 2023 results.  Interested parties may access the teleconference by calling [phone] (local) or [phone] (toll free long distance) or by visiting https://app.webinar.net/pm932Ea2GDY.  A recording of the teleconference may be accessed by calling [phone] (local) or [phone] (toll free long distance), and entering pass code 418328# until December 10, 2023.

NON-IFRS MEASURES

This news release refers to certain non-IFRS financial measures and ratios such as "Adjusted Net Income", "EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA", and "Adjusted EBITDA Margin".  These measures and ratios are not recognized measures under IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures and ratios are provided as additional information to complement IFRS financial measures by providing further understanding of Neo's results of operations from management's perspective. Neo's definitions of non-IFRS measures used in this news release may not be the same as the definitions for such measures used by other companies in their reporting.  Non-IFRS measures and ratios have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of Neo's financial information reported under IFRS.  Neo uses non-IFRS financial measures and ratios to provide investors with supplemental measures of its base-line operating performance and to eliminate items that have less bearing on operating performance or operating conditions and thus highlight trends in its core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures.  Neo believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS financial measures and ratios in the evaluation of issuers.  Neo's management also uses non-IFRS financial measures to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period. For definitions of how Neo defines such financial measures and ratios, please see the "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" section of Neo's management's discussion and analysis filing for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, available on Neo's web site at www.neomaterials.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

TABLE 5: CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

($000s)		September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
ASSETS
Current
Cash and cash equivalents		$           113,419		$           147,491
Restricted cash		3,207		1,179
Accounts receivable		71,017		81,409
Inventories		197,173		212,702
Income taxes receivable		1,080		355
Assets held for sale		66		—
Other current assets		21,106		23,279
Total current assets		407,068		466,415
Property, plant and equipment		96,032		75,767
Intangible assets		38,571		42,984
Goodwill		64,023		66,042
Investments		16,942		16,363
Deferred tax assets		7,707		6,956
Other non-current assets		1,184		1,933
Total non-current assets		224,459		210,045
Total assets		$           631,527		$           676,460
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current
Bank advances and other short-term debt		$                     —		$             17,288
Accounts payable and other accrued charges		70,303		69,093
Income taxes payable		9,846		10,033
Provisions		1,200		1,369
Lease obligations		1,500		1,264
Derivative liability		36,492		28,570
Current portion of long-term debt		2,406		747
Other current liabilities		671		278
Total current liabilities		122,418		128,642
Long term debt		22,844		29,885
Employee benefits		454		489
Derivative liability		1,858		—
Provisions		24,967		23,604
Deferred tax liabilities		16,108		13,942
Lease obligations		3,259		813
Other non-current liabilities		3,325		1,442
Total non-current liabilities		72,815		70,175
Total liabilities		195,233		198,817
Non-controlling interest		2,906		3,193
Equity attributable to equity holders of Neo Performance Materials Inc.		433,388		474,450
Total equity		436,294		477,643
Total liabilities and equity		$           631,527		$           676,460

See accompanying notes to this table in Neo's Consolidated Financial Statements for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023, available on Neo's website at www.neomaterials.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

TABLE 6: CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Comparison of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022:

($000s)		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2023		2022		2023		2022
Revenue		$         136,917		$         146,627		$      442,877		$      481,130
Cost of sales
Cost excluding depreciation and amortization		106,255		120,137		355,465		356,249
Depreciation and amortization		2,674		2,279		7,210		7,045
Gross profit		27,988		24,211		80,202		117,836
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative		13,688		13,781		44,670		42,296
Share-based compensation		1,024		735		1,792		1,873
Depreciation and amortization		1,794		1,781		5,374		5,529
Research and development		4,523		5,675		11,729		15,956
Impairment of assets		—		—		—		295
		21,029		21,972		63,565		65,949
Operating income		6,959		2,239		16,637		51,887
Other income (expense)		1,011		(448)		362		(1,736)
Finance income (cost), net		648		(1,437)		(7,449)		(4,143)
Foreign exchange loss		(190)		(723)		(1,432)		(175)
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes and equity (loss) income of associates		8,428		(369)		8,118		45,833
Income tax expense		(4,124)		(3,775)		(11,722)		(15,771)
Income (loss) from operations before equity (loss) income of associates		4,304		(4,144)		(3,604)		30,062
Equity (loss) income of associates (net of income tax)		(1,195)		332		(3,658)		3,518
Net income (loss)		$             3,109		$           (3,812)		$        (7,262)		$        33,580
Attributable to:
Equity holders of Neo Performance Materials Inc.		$             3,069		$           (3,719)		$        (7,075)		$        33,238
Non-controlling interest		40		(93)		(187)		342
		$             3,109		$           (3,812)		$        (7,262)		$        33,580
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to equity holders of Neo Performance Materials Inc.:
Basic		$               0.07		$             (0.09)		$           (0.16)		$             0.81
Diluted		$               0.07		$             (0.09)		$           (0.16)		$             0.80

See Management's Discussion and Analysis for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023, available on Neo's website at www.neomaterials.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

TABLE 7: RECONCILIATIONS OF NET INCOME (LOSS) TO EBITDA, ADJUSTED EBITDA AND FREE CASH FLOW

($000s)		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2023		2022		2023		2022
Net income (loss)		$           3,109		$         (3,812)		$       (7,262)		$       33,580
Add back (deduct):
Finance (income) cost, net		(648)		1,437		7,449		4,143
Income tax expense		4,124		3,775		11,722		15,771
Depreciation and amortization included in cost of sales		2,674		2,279		7,210		7,045
Depreciation and amortization included in operating expenses		1,794		1,781		5,374		5,529
EBITDA		11,053		5,460		24,493		66,068
Adjustments to EBITDA:
Other (income) expense  (1)		(1,011)		448		(362)		1,736
Foreign exchange loss (2)		190		723		1,432		175
Equity loss (income) of associates		1,195		(332)		3,658		(3,518)
Share-based compensation (3)		1,024		735		1,792		1,873
Fair value adjustments to inventory acquired (4)		423		—		995		—
Impairment of assets		—		—		—		295
Transaction and project startup costs (recoveries) (5)		286		—		2,114		(22)
Adjusted EBITDA (6)		$         13,160		$           7,034		$       34,122		$       66,607
Adjusted EBITDA Margins (6)		9.6 %		4.8 %		7.7 %		13.8 %
Less:
Capital expenditures (7)		$           7,793		$           1,734		$       19,629		$       11,098
Free Cash Flow (6)		$           5,367		$           5,300		$       14,493		$       55,509
Free Cash Flow Conversion (6)		40.8 %		75.3 %		42.5 %		83.3 %

Notes:

(1)	Represents other (income) expenses resulting from non-operational related activities, including provisions for damages for outstanding legal claims related to historic volumes.  These costs and recoveries are not indicative of Neo's ongoing activities.
(2)	Represents unrealized and realized foreign exchange losses that include non-cash adjustments in translating foreign denominated monetary assets and liabilities.
(3)	Represents share-based compensation expense in respect of the Plan and the LTIP.
(4)	In accordance with IFRS 3 Business Combinations, and on completion of the acquisition of SGTec, Neo recorded SGTec's acquired inventory at fair value, which included a mark-up for profit of $1.3 million.  A portion of this inventory was sold in the three months ended September 30, 2023, and the period since the acquisition, and had a $0.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively, impact on Net income (loss) in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.
(5)	These represent primarily legal, professional advisory fees and other transaction costs for capital structuring associated with Neo or investments of Neo. Neo has removed these charges to provide comparability with historic periods.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, Neo incurred $0.3 million and $0.9 million, respectively, of project costs related to the establishment of the Sintered Magnet manufacturing capability in Europe. Additionally, Neo also incurred total acquisition-related costs of $nil and $1.2 million, respectively, in the acquisition of SGTec for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.  These costs have been included in selling, general and administrative expense in the condensed consolidated statements of profit or loss.
(6)	Neo reports non-IFRS measures such as "Adjusted Net Income", "Adjusted Earnings per Share", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA Margin", "Free Cash Flow" and "Free Cash Flow Conversion". Please see information on this and other non-IFRS measures in the "Non-IFRS Measures" section of this new release and in the MD&A, available on Neo's website www.neomaterials.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
(7)	Includes capital expenditures of $7.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and capital expenditures of $17.4 million and right-of-use assets of $2.2 million for the  nine months ended September 30, 2023.  Excludes the additions of Property, Plant and Equipment of $12.0 million from the acquisition of SGTec.

TABLE 8: RECONCILIATIONS OF NET INCOME (LOSS) TO ADJUSTED NET INCOME (LOSS)

($000s)		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2023		2022		2023		2022
Net income (loss)		$             3,109		$           (3,812)		$        (7,262)		$        33,580
Adjustments to net income (loss):
Foreign exchange loss (1)		190		723		1,432		175
Impairment of assets		—		—		—		295
Share-based compensation (2)		1,024		735		1,792		1,873
Transaction and project startup costs (recoveries) (3)		286		—		2,114		(22)
Other items included in other expense (4)		(897)		520		(278)		2,014
Fair value adjustments to inventory acquired (5)		423		—		995		—
Tax impact of the above items		(122)		(76)		(669)		(473)
Adjusted net income (loss)		$             4,013		$           (1,910)		$        (1,876)		$        37,442
Attributable to:
Equity holders of Neo		$             3,973		$           (1,817)		$        (1,689)		$         37,100
Non-controlling interest		$                  40		$                (93)		$           (187)		$              342
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		44,517,503		41,368,970		44,967,960		40,913,207
Diluted		45,019,400		41,368,970		44,967,960		41,353,231
Adjusted earnings (loss) per share (6) attributable to equity holders of Neo:
Basic		$               0.09		$              (0.04)		$           (0.04)		$              0.91
Diluted		$               0.09		$              (0.04)		$           (0.04)		$              0.90

Notes:

(1)	Represents unrealized and realized foreign exchange losses that include non-cash adjustments in translating foreign denominated monetary assets and liabilities.
(2)	Represents share-based compensation expense in respect of the Plan and the LTIP.
(3)	These represent primarily legal, professional advisory fees and other transaction costs for capital structuring associated with Neo or investments of Neo.  Neo has removed these charges to provide comparability with historic periods.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, Neo incurred $0.3 million and $0.9 million, respectively, of project costs related to the establishment of the Sintered Magnet manufacturing capability in Europe. Additionally, Neo also incurred total acquisition-related costs of $nil and $1.2 million, respectively, in the acquisition of SGTec for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.  These costs have been included in selling, general and administrative expense in the condensed consolidated statements of profit or loss.
(4)	Represents other expenses resulting from non-operational related activities, including provisions for damages for outstanding legal claims related to historic volumes.  These costs and recoveries are not indicative of Neo's ongoing activities.
(5)	In accordance with IFRS 3 Business Combinations, and on completion of the acquisition of SGTec, Neo recorded SGTec's acquired inventory at fair value, which included a mark-up for profit of $1.3 million.  A portion of this inventory was sold in the three months ended September 30, 2023, and the period since the acquisition, and had a $0.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively, impact on Net income (loss) in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.
(6)	Neo reports non-IFRS measures such as "Adjusted Net Income", "Adjusted Earnings per Share", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA Margin", "Free Cash Flow" and "Free Cash Flow Conversion". Please see information on this and other non-IFRS measures in the "Non-IFRS Measures" section of this new release and in the MD&A, available on Neo's website www.neomaterials.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About Neo Performance Materials

Neo manufactures the building blocks of many modern technologies that enhance efficiency and sustainability.  Neo's advanced industrial materials - magnetic powders and magnets, specialty chemicals, metals, and alloys - are critical to the performance of many everyday products and emerging technologies. Neo's products help to deliver the technologies of tomorrow to consumers today.  The business of Neo is organized along three segments: Magnequench, Chemicals & Oxides and Rare Metals. Neo is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; with corporate offices in Greenwood Village, Colorado, United States; Singapore; and Beijing, China. Neo has a global platform that includes 10 manufacturing facilities located in China, the United States, Germany, Canada, Estonia, Thailand and the United Kingdom, as well as one dedicated research and development centre in Singapore.  For more information, please visit www.neomaterials.com.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada. Forward-looking information may relate to future events or the future performance of Neo. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, with respect to Neo's objectives and goals, as well as statements with respect to its beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, and intentions, are forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements in this discussion include, but are not limited to, the following: expectations regarding certain of Neo's future results and information, including, among other things, revenue, expenses, sales growth, capital expenditures, and operations; statements with respect to current and future market trends that may directly or indirectly impact sales and revenue of Neo; expected use of cash balances; continuation of prudent management of working capital; source of funds for ongoing business requirements and capital investments; expectations regarding sufficiency of the allowance for uncollectible accounts and inventory provisions; analysis regarding sensitivity of the business to changes in exchange rates; impact of recently adopted accounting pronouncements; risk factors relating to intellectual property protection and intellectual property litigation; risk factors relating to national or international economies (including the impact of COVID-19), geopolitical risk and other risks present in the jurisdictions in which Neo, its customers, its suppliers, and/or its logistics partners operate, and; expectations concerning any remediation efforts to Neo's design of its internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Neo believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information included in this discussion and analysis should not be unduly relied upon. For more information on Neo, investors should review Neo's continuous disclosure filings that are available under Neo's profile at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE Neo Performance Materials, Inc.

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