Cronos Group Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2018 Results

Increased Sales 428% Year-over-Year

Increased Sales 428% Year-over-Year

Signed 5 Year Exclusive Distribution Agreement for Poland

Launched Premium Recreational Brand COVE

Added 70,000 KG of Additional Capacity through Cronos GrowCo JV

Signed 5 Year Take-or-Pay Supply Agreement for 100,000 KG

TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) ("Cronos Group" or the "Company"), today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018.

"This year and subsequently, this quarter is about setting the stage and establishing Cronos Group's strategy for future growth," said Mike Gorenstein, CEO of Cronos Group. "Cronos Group delivered encouraging results across the Company in the second quarter with sales growing among all of our products and channels, impressive improvements in cultivation yields since the start of the year, and continued business development success in penetrating new markets and establishing new partnerships for expansion."

"We pushed the business forward while achieving great milestones for the Company and this is only the beginning. Cronos Group is prepared for the domestic recreational market with the launch of our first premium-focused brand COVE™ and is applying a thoughtful approach to our supply and inventory build. Simultaneously, we are working to advance the operations within our current global footprint and bring new partnerships and distribution relationships to the table. We are excited by the progress we are making to execute against our strategy," concluded Mike Gorenstein.

Second Quarter 2018 Business Highlights

  • Construction of Building 4, Cronos Group's 286,000 sq. ft. purpose-built indoor production facility located in Stayner, Ontario remains on schedule. Building 4 is ready to commence cultivation upon receipt of the Health Canada license which the Company expects imminently. The state-of-the-art facility is built to GMP standards and has the latest in cutting-edge automation technology.
  • Cronos Australia was granted a medicinal cannabis Manufacture License by the Australian Office of Drug Control in June 2018. This license permits manufacturing of cannabinoid based products in Australia and is required for all forms of extraction, refining, concentration and transformation of the cannabis plant. This license rounds out the licenses for domestic production, which includes the medicinal cannabis cultivation license and research license and brings Cronos Group one step closer to full scale operations in Australia.
  • In June 2018, Cronos entered into a strategic distribution partnership with Delfarma Sp. Zo.o ("Delfarma"). Delfarma is a pharmaceutical wholesaler with a distribution network of over 5,000 pharmacies and more than 200 hospitals that collectively reaches approximately 40% of the Polish domestic market. Under the five-year exclusive distribution agreement, Cronos will supply PEACE NATURALS™ branded cannabis products to Delfarma for distribution within Poland.
  • Cronos Group previewed its premium recreational brand COVE™ at the May 2018 LIFT Conference. COVE™ was born in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, which is known for producing some of the world's finest cannabis. COVE™ products are non-irradiated and hand-trimmed using only the best result of each harvest. By avoiding shortcuts like harsh refining processes, COVE™ is able to maintain the natural balance of the plant across all of the brand's terpene rich cannabis extracts and brings the highest quality products to its consumers.
  • On May 23, 2018 the trading of Cronos Group's common shares in Canada were up-listed from the TSX Venture Exchange to the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"). Cronos Group's common shares are listed under the symbol "CRON" on both the NASDAQ Global Market and the TSX.
  • In May 2018, the board of directors approved the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditor of the Company, which was subsequently approved by a majority of votes cast by shareholders at the Company's Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders on June 28, 2018.
  • Cronos Group bolstered its board of directors with the appointment of Michael Coates. Mr. Coates was elected to the board of directors by a majority of votes cast by shareholders at the Company's Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders. Michael Coates was President and Chief Executive Officer, Americas Region of Hill+Knowlton Strategies ("H+K"), a global public relations and integrated communications agency, from 2014 to 2016 and retired as Global Vice Chairman of H+K in 2017. In June 2018, Michael served as a member of the Premier of Ontario's transition team.

 

Business Highlights Subsequent to Second Quarter 2018

  • In July 2018, Cronos Group announced a 50/50 strategic joint venture with a group of investors led by Bert Mucci, a leading Canadian large-scale greenhouse operator. The entity created by this new partnership, Cronos Growing Company Inc. ("Cronos GrowCo"), expects to construct an 850,000 square foot, purpose-built, GMP certified greenhouse for cannabis production on approximately 100 acres of land owned by Cronos GrowCo in Kingsville, Ontario. Once fully operational, the greenhouse is expected to produce up to 70,000 kilograms of cannabis annually.
  • Cronos Group entered into a supply agreement with one of the largest cannabis companies in the world by revenues in the first quarter of 2018, Cura Cannabis Solutions ("Cura"). Cura signed a five year take-or-pay supply agreement to purchase a minimum of 20,000 kilograms of cannabis per annum from Cronos GrowCo starting from the date Cura receives its production and sales licenses from Health Canada. Cura also expects to build its proprietary, state-of-the-art extraction facility on a parcel of land owned by Cronos Group in the heart of Okanagan Valley, British Columbia.

 

Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results

  • Cronos strengthened liquidity by raising $100.0 million of gross proceeds through a bought deal offering of common shares in April 2018. As of June 30, 2018, total liquidity was $118.0 million, which provides Cronos Group significant runway to execute on its strategic priorities.
  • Second quarter 2018 revenues totaled $3.4 million, as compared to $0.6 million for the second quarter 2017, representing an increase of $2.8 million, or 428%. The main drivers associated with the increase in revenues are an expansion in patient onboarding, an increase in average sales price and the continued strong growth in our cannabis oil offering.
  • Second quarter 2018 cannabis oil sales accounted for 40% of domestic medical sales.
  • Finished goods inventory and biological assets increased by 46% quarter-over-quarter to 2,451 kilograms as the Company focuses on building inventory for the adult-use market.

 

Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call and live audio webcast on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. EST to discuss second quarter 2018 results. The call will last approximately one hour. Instructions for the conference call are provided below:

Live Audio Webcast: https://thecronosgroup.com/investor-relations
Toll-free dial-in number: (888) 231-8191
International dial-in number: (647) 427-7450
Conference ID: 9963107

Additionally, an audio replay of the conference call will be available two hours after the call's completion and until 11:59 p.m. EST on August 28, 2018. Instructions for the audio replay are provided below:

Toll-free dial-in number: (855) 859-2056
Passcode: 9963107

About Cronos Group
Cronos Group is a globally diversified and vertically integrated cannabis company with a presence across four continents. The Company operates two wholly-owned Canadian licensed producers regulated under Health Canada's Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations: Peace Naturals Project Inc., which was the first non-incumbent medical cannabis license granted by Health Canada, and Original BC Ltd., which is based in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. The Company has multiple international production and distribution platforms including in Germany, Poland, Israel and Australia. The Company intends to continue to rapidly expand its global footprint as it focuses on building an international iconic brand portfolio and developing disruptive intellectual property. Cronos Group is committed to building industry leading companies that transform the perception of cannabis and responsibly elevate the consumer experience.

Forward-looking statements
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking statements include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance or other statements that are not statements of historical fact. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of assisting the reader in understanding our financial performance, financial position and cash flows as at and for periods ended on certain dates and to present information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and the reader is cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for any other purpose. Some of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: our business and operations, our strategy for future growth, growing our global footprint, establishing partnerships and distribution relationships, the expansion of the Company's growing and production capacities, the construction of our facilities and our intention to build an international iconic brand portfolio and develop disruptive intellectual property. Forward-looking statements are based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. While we consider these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to management, there is no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. Such factors include, without limitation, those discussed in the Company's current MD&A and Annual Information Form, both of which have been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and are based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations and opinions of management on the date such forward-looking statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.

    Cronos Group Inc.

    Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

    As at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017

    (in thousands of CDN $)


                                                                                            Notes            As at                  As at

                                                                                                           June 30,             December 31,

                                                                                                                2018                     2017
                                                                                                                ----                     ----

    Assets

    Current assets

                                              Cash                                                               $89,609                        $9,208

                                               Accounts
                                               receivable                     22(i)                                2,844                         1,140

                                               Sales taxes
                                               receivable                                                          6,952                         3,114

                                               Prepaids and
                                               other
                                               receivables                                                         4,112                           790

                                              Biological assets                             6                       6,899                         3,722

                                              Inventory                                     6                      12,334                         8,416

                                              Loan receivable                       7,22(i)                          314                           314


                                              Total current assets                                               123,064                        26,704

    Promissory note receivable                          8,22(i)                                     1,304                        -

    Investment in Whistler                                             9                             3,851                    3,807

    Other investments                                                 10                               725                    1,347

    Property, plant and equipment                                     11                            93,657                   56,172

    Intangible assets                                                 12                            11,043                   11,207

    Goodwill                                                          13                             1,792                    1,792
                                                                                                    -----                    -----

                                              Total assets                                                      $235,436                      $101,029



    Liabilities

    Current liabilities

                                               Accounts payable
                                               and other
                                               liabilities                           22(ii)                       $2,333                        $7,878


                                              Total current liabilities                                            2,333                         7,878

    Construction loan payable                                         14                             5,565                    5,367

    Deferred income tax liability                                     21                               268                    1,416
                                                                                                      ---                    -----

                                              Total liabilities                                                    8,166                        14,661

    Shareholders' equity

    Share capital                                        15(a)                                    224,742                   83,559

    Shares to be issued                                  15(c)                                         17                        -

    Warrants                                             16(a)                                      1,868                    3,364

    Stock options                                        16(b)                                      3,810                    2,289

    Accumulated deficit                                                                           (4,051)                 (3,724)

    Accumulated other comprehensive income                                                            884                      880
                                                                                                      ---                      ---

                                              Total shareholders' equity                                         227,270                        86,368
                                                                                                                 -------                        ------

                                               Total liabilities
                                               and
                                               shareholders'
                                               equity                                                           $235,436                      $101,029


    Commitments and contingencies                                     20

    Subsequent events                                                 25

 

    Cronos Group Inc.

    Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

    For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017

    (in thousands of CDN $, except share and per share amounts)


                                                                                                                                       Three Months Ended                               Six Months Ended

                                                                                                                                          June 30,                                   June 30,
                                                                                                                                          --------                                   --------

                                                                                                                Notes             2018                     2017                 2018                       2017
                                                                                                                -----             ----                     ----                 ----                       ----

    Revenue                                                                    17                         $3,394                               $643                      $6,339                                $1,157


    Cost of sales

                                                      Inventory expensed
                                                      to cost of sales,
                                                      before fair value
                                                      adjustments                                     5,6                   1,254                                 215                                2,821                    413


    Gross profit before fair value adjustments                                                            2,140                                428                       3,518                                   744

    Fair value adjustments

                                                      Unrealized change
                                                      in fair value of
                                                      biological assets                               5,6                 (6,831)                            (1,122)                             (9,575)               (2,701)

                                                      Realized fair value
                                                      adjustments on
                                                      inventory sold in
                                                      the period                                      5,6                   2,625                                 429                                4,819                  1,288


                                                     Total fair value adjustments                                        (4,206)                              (693)                             (4,756)               (1,413)
                                                                                                                          ------                                ----                               ------                 ------

    Gross profit                                                                                          6,346                              1,121                       8,274                                 2,157


    Operating expenses

                                                     Sales and marketing                                                     364                                  87                                  950                    131

                                                      General and
                                                      administrative                                                       4,219                               1,872                                6,680                  3,208

                                                      Share-based
                                                      payments                                  16(b),19                     950                                 439                                1,724                    631

                                                      Depreciation and
                                                      amortization                                  11,12                     323                                 228                                  608                    429


                                                     Total operating expenses                                              5,856                               2,626                                9,962                  4,399
                                                                                                                           -----                               -----                                -----                  -----


    Operating income (loss)                                                                                 490                            (1,505)                    (1,688)                              (2,242)


    Other income (expense)

                                                      Interest income
                                                      (expense)                                                             (37)                                 13                                 (59)                 (137)

                                                      Share of income
                                                      from Whistler
                                                      investment                                        9                       3                                 313                                   44                    416

                                                      Gain on other
                                                      investments                                      10                       -                              1,330                                  221                  1,271


                                                     Total other income (expense)                                           (34)                              1,656                                  206                  1,550
                                                                                                                             ---                               -----                                  ---                  -----


    Income (loss) before income taxes                                                                       456                                151                     (1,482)                                (692)


    Income tax recovery                                                        21                          (267)                              (23)                    (1,155)                                 (22)
                                                                                                           ----                                ---                      ------                                   ---

                                                     Net income (loss)                                                      $723                                $174                               $(327)                $(670)


    Other comprehensive income

                                                      Gain on revaluation
                                                      and disposal of
                                                      other investments,
                                                      net of tax                                    10,21                      39                                  11                                    4                    694


    Comprehensive income (loss)                                                                            $762                               $185                      $(323)                                  $24
                                                                                                           ====                               ====                       =====                                   ===

    Net income (loss) per share

                                                     Basic and diluted                                 18                   $0.00                               $0.00                              $(0.00)               $(0.01)


    Weighted average number of outstanding shares

                                                     Basic                                             18             175,529,196                         132,647,546                          166,343,078            128,824,503

                                                     Diluted                                           18             211,524,230                         167,787,028                          166,343,078            128,824,503

 

    Cronos Group Inc.

    Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

    For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017

    (in thousands of CDN $)


                                                                                                    Three Months Ended                              Six Months Ended

                                                                                                    June 30,                                   June 30,
                                                                                                    --------                                   --------

                                                                               Notes          2018                              2017                       2018                 2017
                                                                               -----          ----                              ----                       ----                 ----

    Operating activities

    Net income (loss)                                                                    $723                              $174                               $(327)                    $(670)

    Items not affecting cash:

                                           Unrealized change in fair value
                                           of biological assets                  5,6             (6,831)                              (1,122)                         (9,575)                    (2,701)

                                           Realized fair value adjustments
                                           on inventory sold in the period       5,6               2,625                                   429                            4,819                       1,288

                                          Share-based payments             16(b),19                 950                                   439                            1,724                         631

                                          Depreciation and amortization        11,12                 575                                   228                            1,115                         429

                                           Share of income from Whistler
                                           investment                              9                 (3)                                (313)                            (44)                      (416)

                                          Gain on other investments               10                   -                              (1,330)                           (221)                    (1,271)

                                          Deferred income tax recovery            21               (267)                                 (23)                         (1,155)                       (22)

                                          Foreign exchange loss (gain)                                4                                     -                            (12)                          -


                                                                                      (2,224)                          (1,518)                             (3,676)                   (2,732)

    Net changes in non-cash working
     capital:

                                          Accounts receivable                                     (318)                                 (55)                         (1,704)                      (191)

                                          Sales taxes receivable                                (2,686)                                    -                         (3,838)                          -

                                          Prepaids and other receivables                            544                               (2,087)                         (3,322)                    (2,152)

                                          Biological assets                                       4,422                                 1,079                            6,398                       1,711

                                          Inventory                                             (5,945)                                (883)                         (8,737)                    (2,093)

                                           Accrued interest on loan
                                           receivable                                                 -                                    -                               -                        (5)

                                           Accounts payable and other
                                           liabilities                                            (659)                                  136                          (5,750)                        208


    Cash flows used in operating
     activities                                                                       (6,866)                          (3,328)                            (20,629)                   (5,254)

    Investing activities

                                           Repayment of purchase price
                                           liability                                                  -                                    -                               -                    (1,299)

                                          Investment in Whistler                   9                   -                              (1,076)                               -                    (1,076)

                                           Investment in ABcann Global
                                           Corporation                            10                   -                              (1,016)                               -                    (1,016)

                                           Proceeds from sale of other
                                           investments                            10                 280                                 1,683                              967                       1,771

                                           Payment to exercise ABcann
                                           Global Corporation warrants            10                   -                                    -                           (113)                          -

                                           Advances of promissory note
                                           receivable                              8               (378)                                    -                         (1,304)                          -

                                           Purchase of property, plant and
                                           equipment                              11            (30,025)                              (3,494)                        (37,667)                    (5,529)

                                          Purchase of intangible assets           12                (38)                                    -                           (169)                          -


    Cash flows used in investing
     activities                                                                      (30,161)                          (3,903)                            (38,286)                   (7,149)

    Financing activities

                                           Proceeds from exercise of
                                           warrants                          15(b)                  132                                   245                            1,412                         889

                                           Proceeds received for shares to
                                           be issued                         15(c)                    -                                    -                             961                           -

                                           Proceeds from exercise of
                                           options                           16(b)                  467                                   185                              540                         442

                                          Proceeds from share issuance       15(a)              100,032                                     -                         146,032                      17,336

                                          Share issuance costs                                  (6,363)                                    -                         (9,444)                    (1,322)

                                           Payment of accrued interest on
                                           construction loan                      14                   -                                    -                           (185)                          -

                                          Repayment of mortgage payable                               -                              (4,000)                               -                    (4,000)


    Cash flows provided by (used in)
     financing activities                                                              94,268                           (3,570)                             139,316                     13,345
                                                                                       ------                            ------                              -------                     ------

    Net change in cash                                                                 57,241                          (10,801)                              80,401                        942

    Cash - beginning of period                                                         32,368                            15,207                                9,208                      3,464
                                                                                       ------                            ------                                -----                      -----

    Cash - end of period                                                              $89,609                            $4,406                              $89,609                     $4,406
                                                                                      =======                            ======                              =======                     ======

    Supplemental cash flow information

                                          Interest paid                                            $189                                   $80                             $496                        $200


 

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SOURCE Cronos Group Inc.

Company Codes: NASDAQ-NMS:CRON, Toronto:CRON

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