Esports Entertainment Group Co-Producing 24th Annual East Coast Gaming Congress in Atlantic City on October 25-26

 


Esports Entertainment Group Co-Producing 24th Annual East Coast Gaming Congress in Atlantic City on October 25-26

 

Newark, New Jersey–(Newsfile Corp. – August 4, 2021) – Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMBL) (NASDAQ: GMBLW) (or the “Company”), an esports entertainment and online gambling company, today announced the Company will co-produce and participate in the 24th Annual East Coast Gaming Congress and NexGen Gaming Forum in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 25-26, 2021. EEG is expected to be the only esports operator participating in the conference.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase our evolving brand and comprehensive B2B esports solution set with leaders from across the casino industry,” said Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group.

The East Coast Gaming Congress has been an institution in the gaming world, providing a forum to discuss issues that are central to the future of the industry for nearly a quarter century.

“This conference takes pride in looking ahead and being a forum in which the best ideas spring to life. The emergence of esports will be pivotal to the future of gaming and in the development of the East Coast Gaming Congress,” commented ECCG co-founders Lloyd Levenson and Michael Pollock.

In addition to EEG, the East Coast Gaming Congress and NexGen Gaming Forum is organized and produced by Spectrum Gaming Group, an independent research and regulatory consulting firm, Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law, and SI Sports.

About Esports Entertainment Group

Esports Entertainment Group is a full stack esports and online gambling company fueled by the growth of video-gaming and the ascendance of esports with new generations. Our mission is to help connect the world at large with the future of sports entertainment in unique and enriching ways that bring fans and gamers together. Esports Entertainment Group and its affiliates are well-poised to help fans and players to stay connected and involved with their favorite esports. From traditional sports partnerships with professional NFL/NHL/NBA/FIFA teams, community-focused tournaments in a wide range of esports, and boots-on-the-ground LAN cafes, EEG has influence over the full-spectrum of esports and gaming at all levels. The Company maintains offices in New Jersey, the UK and Malta. For more information visit www.esportsentertainmentgroup.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. The safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 protects companies from liability for their forward-looking statements if they comply with the requirements of the Act.

Contact:

U.S. Investor Relations
RedChip Companies, Inc.
Dave Gentry
407-491-4498
dave@redchip.com

Media & Investor Relations Inquiries
Jeff@esportsentertainmentgroup.com

Release – Esports Entertainment Group Launches New Pay-and-Play Casino Brand Targeting the Finnish Market

 


Esports Entertainment Group Launches New Pay-and-Play Casino Brand Targeting the Finnish Market

 

Newark, New Jersey–(Newsfile Corp. – August 3, 2021) – Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMBL) (NASDAQ: GMBLW) (or the “Company”), an esports entertainment and online gambling company, today announced the upcoming launch of Fiksukasino.com, a “pay-and-play” online casino brand targeting the Finnish gaming market. The Company’s Lucky Dino business has already experienced great success in Finland and is once again at the forefront of understanding player appetite in the region.

“Pay and play” is a rapidly growing concept in the online gaming industry that allows a player to bypass onerous registration processes, enabling safe and reliable play without delay. The smooth registration experience puts Fiksukasino in pole position when it comes to traffic sources and scaling customer acquisition.

“We are very excited for Lucky Dino to be launching this new brand. Bypassing the registration flow creates a much smoother and seamless experience for the player, offering instant deposit and withdrawals,” said Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group. “This latest launch is a testament to the Lucky Dino team’s market awareness and product innovation and strengthens the foundations in a key market for the company.”

The Finnish gaming industry grew an estimated 9% in 2020 reaching nearly US$3 billion.

About Esports Entertainment Group

Esports Entertainment Group is a full stack esports and online gambling company fueled by the growth of video-gaming and the ascendance of esports with new generations. Our mission is to help connect the world at large with the future of sports entertainment in unique and enriching ways that bring fans and gamers together. Esports Entertainment Group and its affiliates are well-poised to help fans and players to stay connected and involved with their favorite esports. From traditional sports partnerships with professional NFL/NHL/NBA/FIFA teams, community-focused tournaments in a wide range of esports, and boots-on-the-ground LAN cafes, EEG has influence over the full-spectrum of esports and gaming at all levels. The Company maintains offices in New Jersey, the UK and Malta. For more information visit www.esportsentertainmentgroup.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. The safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 protects companies from liability for their forward-looking statements if they comply with the requirements of the Act.

Contact:

U.S. Investor Relations
RedChip Companies, Inc.
Dave Gentry
407-491-4498
dave@redchip.com

Media & Investor Relations Inquiries
Jeff@esportsentertainmentgroup.com

Esports Entertainment Group Launches New Pay-and-Play Casino Brand Targeting the Finnish Market

 


Esports Entertainment Group Launches New Pay-and-Play Casino Brand Targeting the Finnish Market

 

Newark, New Jersey–(Newsfile Corp. – August 3, 2021) – Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMBL) (NASDAQ: GMBLW) (or the “Company”), an esports entertainment and online gambling company, today announced the upcoming launch of Fiksukasino.com, a “pay-and-play” online casino brand targeting the Finnish gaming market. The Company’s Lucky Dino business has already experienced great success in Finland and is once again at the forefront of understanding player appetite in the region.

“Pay and play” is a rapidly growing concept in the online gaming industry that allows a player to bypass onerous registration processes, enabling safe and reliable play without delay. The smooth registration experience puts Fiksukasino in pole position when it comes to traffic sources and scaling customer acquisition.

“We are very excited for Lucky Dino to be launching this new brand. Bypassing the registration flow creates a much smoother and seamless experience for the player, offering instant deposit and withdrawals,” said Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group. “This latest launch is a testament to the Lucky Dino team’s market awareness and product innovation and strengthens the foundations in a key market for the company.”

The Finnish gaming industry grew an estimated 9% in 2020 reaching nearly US$3 billion.

About Esports Entertainment Group

Esports Entertainment Group is a full stack esports and online gambling company fueled by the growth of video-gaming and the ascendance of esports with new generations. Our mission is to help connect the world at large with the future of sports entertainment in unique and enriching ways that bring fans and gamers together. Esports Entertainment Group and its affiliates are well-poised to help fans and players to stay connected and involved with their favorite esports. From traditional sports partnerships with professional NFL/NHL/NBA/FIFA teams, community-focused tournaments in a wide range of esports, and boots-on-the-ground LAN cafes, EEG has influence over the full-spectrum of esports and gaming at all levels. The Company maintains offices in New Jersey, the UK and Malta. For more information visit www.esportsentertainmentgroup.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. The safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 protects companies from liability for their forward-looking statements if they comply with the requirements of the Act.

Contact:

U.S. Investor Relations
RedChip Companies, Inc.
Dave Gentry
407-491-4498
dave@redchip.com

Media & Investor Relations Inquiries
Jeff@esportsentertainmentgroup.com

ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) – Post Call Commentary Maintaining Outperform Rating

Friday, July 30, 2021

ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO)
Post Call Commentary; Maintaining Outperform Rating

ACCO Brands Corporation designs, manufactures, sources, markets, and sells office products, academic supplies, and calendar products primarily in the United States, Canada, Northern Europe, Brazil, Australia, and Mexico. It operates through three segments: ACCO Brands North America, ACCO Brands EMEA, and ACCO Brands International. The company offers office products, such as stapling, binding and laminating equipment, and related consumable supplies, as well as shredders and whiteboards; and academic products, including notebooks, folders, decorative calendars, and stationery products. It also provides private label products, as well as business machine maintenance and repair services. The company offers its business, academic, and calendar product lines under the Artline, AT-A-GLANCE, Derwent, Esselte, Five Star, GBC, Hilroy, Leitz, Marbig, Mead, NOBO, Quartet, Rapid, Rexel, Swingline, Tilibra, Wilson Jones, and other brand names. In addition, it designs, sources, distributes, markets, and sells accessories for laptop and desktop computers, and tablets comprising security products; input devices, such as presenters, mice, and trackballs; ergonomic aids, including foot and wrist rests; docking stations; and other personal computers and tablet accessories under the Kensington, Microsaver, and ClickSafe brand names. The company sells its products to consumers and commercial end-users primarily through resellers, including traditional office supply resellers, wholesalers, mass merchandisers, and retailers, as well as directly to consumers through on-line and direct mail. ACCO Brands Corporation is headquartered in Lake Zurich, Illinois.

Joe Gomes, Senior Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

    PowerA Leads the Way. PowerA continues to post strong performance, even in the face of constrained console availability due to the chip shortage. While console availability constrained 2Q21 sales, at $50.7 million sales still were in management’s forecast range. We continue to expect a strong second half for PowerA.

    Operating Environment Trending Positive.  The overall operating environment continues to trend in a positive manner, although there remain some potential hiccups. The commercial business continues to improve with the return to the office of workers, worldwide economies are improving, and school instruction looks like it will return to in-classroom instruction. Commodity inflation and logistics …



This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Release – Namaste Technologies Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results


Namaste Technologies Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

 

  • Three Consecutive Quarters of Improved Gross Margins
  • Cannabis Revenue Increased by 18% in Q2 2021 Compared to Q2 2020
  • EBITDA Improvements in All Operating Segments

TORONTO, July 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Namaste Technologies Inc. (“Namaste” or the “Company”) (TSXV: N) (FRANKFURT: M5BQ) (OTCMKTS: NXTTF) a marketplace platform for cannabis and wellness products, today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended May 31, 2021 (“Q2 2021”) with references made to financial results for the second quarter ended May 31, 2020 (“Q2 2020”). All financial figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Q2 2021 Highlights:

  • Three consecutive quarters of improved gross margins before inventory adjustments as a result of increased sales of higher margin products.
  • Gross revenue for Q2 2021 was $6.3 million, of which a strong 52% is attributable to cannabis revenues, with cannabis revenues growing 18% in Q2 2021 compared to Q2 2020.
  • Operating expenses for the six-month period decreased by 15% compared to the same period in 2020 and contributed to improved EBITDA in all operating segments. Overall EBITDA across operating segments improved 33% in Q2 2021 and 30% in Q2 YTD 2021.
  • Inventories decreased by 14% to $5.2 million in Q2 2021 ($6.0 million in the first quarter ended February 28, 2021) demonstrating continued improved inventory management practices.
  • The Company’s working capital position remains strong at $25 million as at May 31, 2021.

Re cent Corporate Highlights:

  • The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary CannMart Inc. (“CannMart”), received a Health Canada renewal of its standard licence for processing and sale of cannabis under the applicable regulations.
  • CannMart entered into a number of supply agreements including with CannTx Life Sciences Inc. (CannMart exclusive distributor on a SKU-by-SKU basis), Rilaxe Canna Inc. (CannMart exclusive distributor) and Safari Flower Co. to expand its product offering to both its provincial cannabis board buyers and its own medical customers across Canada at CannMart.com.
  • The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary CannMart Labs Inc., (“CannMartLabs”) submitted its application for a Health Canada Controlled Drugs and Substances Dealer’s Licence for future storage and distribution of the following controlled substances: psilocybin, psilocin, ketamine, LSD, DMT and MDMA.
  • As part of our sustainability initiative, the Company successfully subleased its Toronto office location until expiry of its lease on October 30, 2024, confirming its commitment to finding top talent all over the world. The decision made by the Company is an initial step towards a long-term commitment to developing an Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) plan for meaningful action to protect our planet.
  • The Company’s wholly owned Swedish subsidiary Findify AB, achieved its best ever consecutive four months of sales in the first six calendar months of 2021 with revenue per new customer up 54% and subscription sales value up 106% compared to the same period last year.
  • CannMart, signed a Master Distribution Agreement with Rapid Dose Therapeutics Corp. (“RDT”) to be the exclusive distributor of their innovative RDT branded products across Canada.
  • CannMart Labs in-house brand “Roilty” received its first purchase orders from the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatechewan for its consumer-focused cannabis concentrates.
  • SKU listings at CannMart.com increased 589% to over 800 as of the end of Q2 2021, compared to 116 in Q1 2021 as CannMart received a record amount of requests from vendors across North America to list their products onto the CannMart.com platform.

“We are very pleased with the accomplishments we have made on the operating front which include increased margins over the last three quarters as well as an improvement in EBITDA within all our operating segments,” said Meni Morim, CEO of Namaste. “While this is important, revenues were not where we wanted them to be as Covid-19 continued to have an impact on retail establishments. However, with the reduction of Covid-19 restrictions enabling greater access to retail stores, Covid-19 will have less of an impact on future revenues combined with the continuously improving margins will have a synergistic effect on our financials moving forward. In addition, we believe our various initiatives, including the impending launch of CannMart Labs, our in-house “Roilty” shatter brand hitting the shelves in the coming months, the upcoming launch of our nutraceuticals business in Q4 2021 as well as continuing to increase the number of SKUs available at CannMart.com will contribute to sales growth and improved margins over the next few quarters. We continue to be focused on controlling our operating expenses, improving gross margins and selling the right product mix to position Namaste on a clear path and trajectory towards profitability.”

For further details, the complete Financial Statements for the second quarter ended May 31, 2021 and the related Management’s Discussion & Analysis can be accessed on the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

NON IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Management evaluates the Company’s performance using a variety of measures, including “Net loss before income tax, depreciation and amortization” and “Adjusted EBITDA”. The non-IFRS measures discussed below should not be considered as an alternative to or to be more meaningful than revenue or net loss. These measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other publicly traded companies and should not be construed as an alternative to other financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS.

The Company believes these non-IFRS financial measures provide useful information to both management and investors in measuring the financial performance and financial condition of the Company.

Management uses these and other non-IFRS financial measures to exclude the impact of certain expenses and income that must be recognized under IFRS when analyzing consolidated underlying operating performance, as the excluded items are not necessarily reflective of the Company’s underlying operating performance and make comparisons of underlying financial performance between periods difficult. From time to time, the Company may exclude additional items if it believes doing so would result in a more effective analysis of underlying operating performance. The exclusion of certain items does not imply that they are non-recurring.

(i) Current and deferred income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and share-based compensation were excluded from the Adjusted EBITDA calculation as they do not represent cash expenditures.

(ii) Other income consisting of gain on disposal of subsidiary, interest income, realized gain on disposition of AFS investments, unrealized gain on derivatives and other miscellaneous non-recurring income were excluded from Adjusted EBITDA calculation.

(iii) Non-recurring costs related to restructuring and legacy issues were excluded from Adjusted EBITDA calculation.

(iv) Impairment loss relating to goodwill, customer list, domains and brand names were excluded from Adjusted EBITDA calculation.

(v) Impairment loss relating to receivable is a provision for expected credit loss to an associate and was excluded from Adjusted EBITDA calculation.

(vi) Share of associates loss, net of tax, is excluded due to lack of control.

About Namaste Technologies Inc.

Namaste Technologies is a marketplace platform for cannabis and wellness products. At CannMart.com, the Company provides Canadian medical customers with a diverse selection of hand-picked products from a multitude of federally licensed cultivators and US customers with access to hemp-derived CBD and smoking accessories. The Company also distributes licensed and in-house branded cannabis and cannabis derived products in Canada through a number of provincial government control boards and retailing bodies and facilitates licensed cannabis retailer sales online in Saskatchewan. Namaste’s global technology and continuous innovation address local needs in a burgeoning cannabis industry requiring smart solutions.

Information on the Company and its many products can be accessed through the links below:

NamasteTechnologies.com

NamasteMD.com

Cannmart.com

For more information please contact:
Namaste Technologies Inc.
Meni Morim, CEO
Edward Miller, VP Investor Relations
Ph: 647-362-0390
Email: ir@namastetechnologies.com

Source: Namaste Technologies Inc

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION – This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not historical in nature contain forward-looking information. Forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as “may”, “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.

The forward-looking information contained herein, including, without limitation, statements related to the Company’s expectations relating to increasing top line revenue, its intended adjustment to its product mix, the Company’s expected launch of new products and the creation of its new nutraceutical division, the Company’s continued focus on improving margins toward its goal to be profitable, are made as of the date of this press release and are based on assumptions management believed to be reasonable at the time such statements were made, including, without limitation, Namaste’s ability to maintain momentum of expanding its business, its ability to broaden its total addressable market and to evolve into a recognized wellness company, the Company’s expectation that the nutraceutical and wellness market and potentially the market for psychedelics will develop as currently anticipated, the nutraceutical market will continue to be a multi-billion dollar high-margin market, the introduction of new products and brands will generate additional revenue, the ability of the Company to turn inventory as anticipated, the impact and duration of covid-19 lockdowns on the business of the Company diminishing in the future, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. While the Company considers 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 its nature, forward-looking information is 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 information in this press release. Such factors include, without limitation: the inability of the Company to develop its business as anticipated and to increase revenues and/or its profitable margin on such revenues, unanticipated changes to current regulations that would adversely impact the Company’s business and proposed business and other regulatory risks, risks relating to the Company’s ability to execute its business strategy and the benefits realizable therefrom and risks specifically related to the Company’s operations. Additional risk factors can also be found in the Company’s current MD&A and annual information form, both of which have been filed under the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release or has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Source: Namaste Technologies Inc.

 

Namaste Technologies Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results


Namaste Technologies Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

 

  • Three Consecutive Quarters of Improved Gross Margins
  • Cannabis Revenue Increased by 18% in Q2 2021 Compared to Q2 2020
  • EBITDA Improvements in All Operating Segments

TORONTO, July 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Namaste Technologies Inc. (“Namaste” or the “Company”) (TSXV: N) (FRANKFURT: M5BQ) (OTCMKTS: NXTTF) a marketplace platform for cannabis and wellness products, today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended May 31, 2021 (“Q2 2021”) with references made to financial results for the second quarter ended May 31, 2020 (“Q2 2020”). All financial figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Q2 2021 Highlights:

  • Three consecutive quarters of improved gross margins before inventory adjustments as a result of increased sales of higher margin products.
  • Gross revenue for Q2 2021 was $6.3 million, of which a strong 52% is attributable to cannabis revenues, with cannabis revenues growing 18% in Q2 2021 compared to Q2 2020.
  • Operating expenses for the six-month period decreased by 15% compared to the same period in 2020 and contributed to improved EBITDA in all operating segments. Overall EBITDA across operating segments improved 33% in Q2 2021 and 30% in Q2 YTD 2021.
  • Inventories decreased by 14% to $5.2 million in Q2 2021 ($6.0 million in the first quarter ended February 28, 2021) demonstrating continued improved inventory management practices.
  • The Company’s working capital position remains strong at $25 million as at May 31, 2021.

Re cent Corporate Highlights:

  • The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary CannMart Inc. (“CannMart”), received a Health Canada renewal of its standard licence for processing and sale of cannabis under the applicable regulations.
  • CannMart entered into a number of supply agreements including with CannTx Life Sciences Inc. (CannMart exclusive distributor on a SKU-by-SKU basis), Rilaxe Canna Inc. (CannMart exclusive distributor) and Safari Flower Co. to expand its product offering to both its provincial cannabis board buyers and its own medical customers across Canada at CannMart.com.
  • The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary CannMart Labs Inc., (“CannMartLabs”) submitted its application for a Health Canada Controlled Drugs and Substances Dealer’s Licence for future storage and distribution of the following controlled substances: psilocybin, psilocin, ketamine, LSD, DMT and MDMA.
  • As part of our sustainability initiative, the Company successfully subleased its Toronto office location until expiry of its lease on October 30, 2024, confirming its commitment to finding top talent all over the world. The decision made by the Company is an initial step towards a long-term commitment to developing an Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) plan for meaningful action to protect our planet.
  • The Company’s wholly owned Swedish subsidiary Findify AB, achieved its best ever consecutive four months of sales in the first six calendar months of 2021 with revenue per new customer up 54% and subscription sales value up 106% compared to the same period last year.
  • CannMart, signed a Master Distribution Agreement with Rapid Dose Therapeutics Corp. (“RDT”) to be the exclusive distributor of their innovative RDT branded products across Canada.
  • CannMart Labs in-house brand “Roilty” received its first purchase orders from the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatechewan for its consumer-focused cannabis concentrates.
  • SKU listings at CannMart.com increased 589% to over 800 as of the end of Q2 2021, compared to 116 in Q1 2021 as CannMart received a record amount of requests from vendors across North America to list their products onto the CannMart.com platform.

“We are very pleased with the accomplishments we have made on the operating front which include increased margins over the last three quarters as well as an improvement in EBITDA within all our operating segments,” said Meni Morim, CEO of Namaste. “While this is important, revenues were not where we wanted them to be as Covid-19 continued to have an impact on retail establishments. However, with the reduction of Covid-19 restrictions enabling greater access to retail stores, Covid-19 will have less of an impact on future revenues combined with the continuously improving margins will have a synergistic effect on our financials moving forward. In addition, we believe our various initiatives, including the impending launch of CannMart Labs, our in-house “Roilty” shatter brand hitting the shelves in the coming months, the upcoming launch of our nutraceuticals business in Q4 2021 as well as continuing to increase the number of SKUs available at CannMart.com will contribute to sales growth and improved margins over the next few quarters. We continue to be focused on controlling our operating expenses, improving gross margins and selling the right product mix to position Namaste on a clear path and trajectory towards profitability.”

For further details, the complete Financial Statements for the second quarter ended May 31, 2021 and the related Management’s Discussion & Analysis can be accessed on the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

NON IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Management evaluates the Company’s performance using a variety of measures, including “Net loss before income tax, depreciation and amortization” and “Adjusted EBITDA”. The non-IFRS measures discussed below should not be considered as an alternative to or to be more meaningful than revenue or net loss. These measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other publicly traded companies and should not be construed as an alternative to other financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS.

The Company believes these non-IFRS financial measures provide useful information to both management and investors in measuring the financial performance and financial condition of the Company.

Management uses these and other non-IFRS financial measures to exclude the impact of certain expenses and income that must be recognized under IFRS when analyzing consolidated underlying operating performance, as the excluded items are not necessarily reflective of the Company’s underlying operating performance and make comparisons of underlying financial performance between periods difficult. From time to time, the Company may exclude additional items if it believes doing so would result in a more effective analysis of underlying operating performance. The exclusion of certain items does not imply that they are non-recurring.

(i) Current and deferred income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and share-based compensation were excluded from the Adjusted EBITDA calculation as they do not represent cash expenditures.

(ii) Other income consisting of gain on disposal of subsidiary, interest income, realized gain on disposition of AFS investments, unrealized gain on derivatives and other miscellaneous non-recurring income were excluded from Adjusted EBITDA calculation.

(iii) Non-recurring costs related to restructuring and legacy issues were excluded from Adjusted EBITDA calculation.

(iv) Impairment loss relating to goodwill, customer list, domains and brand names were excluded from Adjusted EBITDA calculation.

(v) Impairment loss relating to receivable is a provision for expected credit loss to an associate and was excluded from Adjusted EBITDA calculation.

(vi) Share of associates loss, net of tax, is excluded due to lack of control.

About Namaste Technologies Inc.

Namaste Technologies is a marketplace platform for cannabis and wellness products. At CannMart.com, the Company provides Canadian medical customers with a diverse selection of hand-picked products from a multitude of federally licensed cultivators and US customers with access to hemp-derived CBD and smoking accessories. The Company also distributes licensed and in-house branded cannabis and cannabis derived products in Canada through a number of provincial government control boards and retailing bodies and facilitates licensed cannabis retailer sales online in Saskatchewan. Namaste’s global technology and continuous innovation address local needs in a burgeoning cannabis industry requiring smart solutions.

Information on the Company and its many products can be accessed through the links below:

NamasteTechnologies.com

NamasteMD.com

Cannmart.com

For more information please contact:
Namaste Technologies Inc.
Meni Morim, CEO
Edward Miller, VP Investor Relations
Ph: 647-362-0390
Email: ir@namastetechnologies.com

Source: Namaste Technologies Inc

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION – This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not historical in nature contain forward-looking information. Forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as “may”, “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.

The forward-looking information contained herein, including, without limitation, statements related to the Company’s expectations relating to increasing top line revenue, its intended adjustment to its product mix, the Company’s expected launch of new products and the creation of its new nutraceutical division, the Company’s continued focus on improving margins toward its goal to be profitable, are made as of the date of this press release and are based on assumptions management believed to be reasonable at the time such statements were made, including, without limitation, Namaste’s ability to maintain momentum of expanding its business, its ability to broaden its total addressable market and to evolve into a recognized wellness company, the Company’s expectation that the nutraceutical and wellness market and potentially the market for psychedelics will develop as currently anticipated, the nutraceutical market will continue to be a multi-billion dollar high-margin market, the introduction of new products and brands will generate additional revenue, the ability of the Company to turn inventory as anticipated, the impact and duration of covid-19 lockdowns on the business of the Company diminishing in the future, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. While the Company considers 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 its nature, forward-looking information is 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 information in this press release. Such factors include, without limitation: the inability of the Company to develop its business as anticipated and to increase revenues and/or its profitable margin on such revenues, unanticipated changes to current regulations that would adversely impact the Company’s business and proposed business and other regulatory risks, risks relating to the Company’s ability to execute its business strategy and the benefits realizable therefrom and risks specifically related to the Company’s operations. Additional risk factors can also be found in the Company’s current MD&A and annual information form, both of which have been filed under the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release or has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Source: Namaste Technologies Inc.

 

ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) – Post Call Commentary; Maintaining Outperform Rating

Friday, July 30, 2021

ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO)
Post Call Commentary; Maintaining Outperform Rating

ACCO Brands Corporation designs, manufactures, sources, markets, and sells office products, academic supplies, and calendar products primarily in the United States, Canada, Northern Europe, Brazil, Australia, and Mexico. It operates through three segments: ACCO Brands North America, ACCO Brands EMEA, and ACCO Brands International. The company offers office products, such as stapling, binding and laminating equipment, and related consumable supplies, as well as shredders and whiteboards; and academic products, including notebooks, folders, decorative calendars, and stationery products. It also provides private label products, as well as business machine maintenance and repair services. The company offers its business, academic, and calendar product lines under the Artline, AT-A-GLANCE, Derwent, Esselte, Five Star, GBC, Hilroy, Leitz, Marbig, Mead, NOBO, Quartet, Rapid, Rexel, Swingline, Tilibra, Wilson Jones, and other brand names. In addition, it designs, sources, distributes, markets, and sells accessories for laptop and desktop computers, and tablets comprising security products; input devices, such as presenters, mice, and trackballs; ergonomic aids, including foot and wrist rests; docking stations; and other personal computers and tablet accessories under the Kensington, Microsaver, and ClickSafe brand names. The company sells its products to consumers and commercial end-users primarily through resellers, including traditional office supply resellers, wholesalers, mass merchandisers, and retailers, as well as directly to consumers through on-line and direct mail. ACCO Brands Corporation is headquartered in Lake Zurich, Illinois.

Joe Gomes, Senior Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

    PowerA Leads the Way. PowerA continues to post strong performance, even in the face of constrained console availability due to the chip shortage. While console availability constrained 2Q21 sales, at $50.7 million sales still were in management’s forecast range. We continue to expect a strong second half for PowerA.

    Operating Environment Trending Positive.  The overall operating environment continues to trend in a positive manner, although there remain some potential hiccups. The commercial business continues to improve with the return to the office of workers, worldwide economies are improving, and school instruction looks like it will return to in-classroom instruction. Commodity inflation and logistics …



This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) – PowerA, Economic Recovery Deliver Strong 2Q Results

Thursday, July 29, 2021

ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO)
PowerA, Economic Recovery Deliver Strong 2Q Results

ACCO Brands Corporation designs, manufactures, sources, markets, and sells office products, academic supplies, and calendar products primarily in the United States, Canada, Northern Europe, Brazil, Australia, and Mexico. It operates through three segments: ACCO Brands North America, ACCO Brands EMEA, and ACCO Brands International. The company offers office products, such as stapling, binding and laminating equipment, and related consumable supplies, as well as shredders and whiteboards; and academic products, including notebooks, folders, decorative calendars, and stationery products. It also provides private label products, as well as business machine maintenance and repair services. The company offers its business, academic, and calendar product lines under the Artline, AT-A-GLANCE, Derwent, Esselte, Five Star, GBC, Hilroy, Leitz, Marbig, Mead, NOBO, Quartet, Rapid, Rexel, Swingline, Tilibra, Wilson Jones, and other brand names. In addition, it designs, sources, distributes, markets, and sells accessories for laptop and desktop computers, and tablets comprising security products; input devices, such as presenters, mice, and trackballs; ergonomic aids, including foot and wrist rests; docking stations; and other personal computers and tablet accessories under the Kensington, Microsaver, and ClickSafe brand names. The company sells its products to consumers and commercial end-users primarily through resellers, including traditional office supply resellers, wholesalers, mass merchandisers, and retailers, as well as directly to consumers through on-line and direct mail. ACCO Brands Corporation is headquartered in Lake Zurich, Illinois.

Joe Gomes, Senior Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

    2Q21 Operating Results. Revenue increased 41.1% to $517.8 million. Consensus was $474 million and we had forecast $465 million. Adjusted EPS was $0.43, compared to $0.18 last year. We had forecast adjusted EPS of $0.29 and consensus was $0.26.

    North America.  Revenue of $295 million rose 27% with PowerA adding $41 million. Comparable sales rose 8% y-o-y to $251 million. Commercial product sales were up significantly as offices reopened while back-to-school sales came in as expected. Adjusted op. inc. was up 32% to $60 million. Higher volume and lower reserves were partially offset by higher logistics and commodity costs and a more normal …



This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Cannabis Sales Growth Put in Perspective


Image Credit: Beverly Yuen Thompson (Flickr)


Marijuana Sales Growth Breaking Records While Barely Scratching the Surface

 

While non-CBD cannabis products are legal in only 74% of the United States, sales revenue exceeds that of many products that trade freely. For example, the U.S. market for athletic shoes is $14 billion annually. By comparison, during the first half of 2021, cannabis sales were $12 billion. The current cannabis growth trajectory suggests sales will become more than double the entire athletic footwear market this year. Milk, which can be found in most households, restaurants, and coffee shops, had sales in 2020 of only $12.6 billion. The businesses that make up legal cannabis are all thought to be in their infancy; what do current numbers tell us about the future?

The Numbers

Cannabis sales were approximately $18 billion in 2020. The six-month trend, plus growth from new state roll-outs, place the industry on pace to reach $25 billion to as much as $30 billion in sales by the end of 2021. At worst, this is a $7 billion increase on 2020’s $18 billion, or 38.9%. This potential is not found in other consumables or industries. Looking at figures from a year earlier, during the 2020 Covid driven events, sales revenue increased by 60% over the prior year.  According to information published by Whitney Economics and Leafly, that level of growth would continue the marijuana industry’s position as the country’s fastest-growing business.

 

Whitney Economics and Leafly cannabis industry growth and projected growth

 

Mid-Year Cannabis Industry Numbers

During the first half of 2021, revenues were near $12.5 billion (medical and adult-use combined). This indicates an acceleration as the first-quarter revenues were less than half that amount at about $5.8 billion.

These newer legal states that have more recently put a framework in place (distribution, admin, recordkeeping, etc.) are hovering around $1.2 billion in sales each.

Massachusetts, where legal cannabis sales are on pace to reach $1.2 billion in 2021 would attain roughly a 70% gain over 2020. Massachusetts state’s stores opened in Nov. 2018.

Michigan was experiencing monthly sales of approximately $100 million earlier in the year. Sales in March and April increased by 50% putting them at the $150 million pace. The trend suggests, Michigan’s 2021 sales could be $1.6 billion. This would be a 65% increase over 2020 sales.

Illinois leaves us with the same projection of $1.2 billion in annual sales for all of 2021. This would be a 20% increase – weak by cannabis standards, coveted in most industries.  Slower growth may be a result of delayed implementation because of political battles over licensing and equity.

 

 

Take-Away

The fastest-growing industry (sales) in the U.S. over the past few years is cannabis – and the growth streak is expected to continue. Its also accelerating and has the potential to expand for years to come. While this should keep investor attention, individual company success are derived by more than just an industry’s expansion. Even the incredible tech revolution of the 90s had businesses in the right place, at the right time, fail because of competition, management errors, lack of capital, etc.

Channelchek is a resource for investors interested in growing companies and growing or mature industries to find solid, unbiased research. Sorting through the myriad of opportunities within an industry, can benefit from taking in research, data, and video conversations with management on Channelchek.

 

Suggested Reading:



The Future of Cannabis Crosses Many Industries



Psychedelic’s Laws and Investment May Follow Cannabis’ Success





Cannabis Fundamentals, Not Hype is Important to Investors



About the New Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act

 

Sources:

https://www.businessinsider.com/legal-marijuana-states-2018-1

https://whitneyeconomics.com/

https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/cannabis-jobs-report

https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/americans-on-pace-to-spend-twice-as-much-on-weed-as-on-milk

 

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Release – Schwazze Closes Acquisition of Southern Colorado Growers


Schwazze Closes Acquisition of Southern Colorado Growers

 

Acquisition Substantially Increases Cultivation Capabilities;

Provides Major Boost to Wholesale Supply of Distillate to Colorado CPG Manufacturers

DENVER, CO – July 22, 2021 – Schwazze, (OTCQX:SHWZ) (“Schwazze” or the “Company”), announced that it has closed the transaction to acquire the assets of Southern Colorado Growers (“SCG”) in Huerfano County, Colorado; previously announced June 1, 2021.  The acquisition includes 34 acres of land with outdoor cultivation capacity, as well as indoor, greenhouse, and hoop house cultivation facilities and equipment.  This purchase continues Schwazze’s expansion in Colorado and, is the company’s first major move into cultivation, which will provide high-end, premium cannabis directly to its Star Buds dispensaries and significant production of biomass for its PurpleBee’s extraction and manufacturing facility. PurpleBee’s is Colorado’s largest supplier of wholesale distillate for the CPG market, providing high quality distillate to leading vaporizer, concentrates and edibles companies.

The consideration for the acquisition is $6.8 million for the business and $4.5 million for the real estate and farm assets.  Total consideration of $11.3 million was paid as $5.9 million of cash and $5.4 million in Schwazze common stock upon closing.

Schwazze has major expansion plans for SCG, which includes the buildout of cultivation capacity over the next four quarters. SCG produces premium flower with approximately 30 strains and has won multiple Connoisseur Cup awards for select strains in 2020 (Best Hybrid Flower – Banger & Mac) and 2021 (Best Rec Hybrid – The Mac). 

“Our team is excited to add SCG, a premier cannabis cultivator, to our growing platform. This acquisition will provide premium quality flower to our 17 Star Buds Colorado locations.  In addition, the SCG garden will significantly increase our capability to produce a substantial amount of biomass for our Purplebee’s distillate manufacturing operation, which will benefit the entire cannabis industry throughout the state. The addition of SCG to our portfolio is expected to provide a positive margin impact for Schwazze,” said Justin Dye, Schwazze’s CEO.  

About Schwazze
Schwazze (OTCQX: SHWZ) is building the premier vertically integrated cannabis company in Colorado and plans to take its operating system to other states where it can develop a differentiated leadership position.  Schwazze is the parent company of a portfolio of leading cannabis businesses and brands spanning seed to sale. The Company is committed to unlocking the full potential of the cannabis plant to improve the human condition.  Schwazze is anchored by a high-performance culture that combines customer-centric thinking and data science to test, measure, and drive decisions and outcomes. The Company’s leadership team has deep expertise in retailing, wholesaling, and building consumer brands at Fortune 500 companies as well as in the cannabis sector.  Schwazze is passionate about making a difference in our communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and doing our part to incorporate climate-conscious best practices.  Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. was Schwazze’s former operating trade name. The corporate entity continues to be named Medicine Man Technologies, Inc.

Schwazze derives its name from the pruning technique of a cannabis plant to enhance plant structure and promote healthy growth.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Such statements may be preceded by the words “plan,” “will,” “may,”, “predicts,” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control and cannot be predicted or quantified. Consequently, actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) our inability to manufacture our products and product candidates on a commercial scale on our own or in collaboration with third parties; (ii) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (iv) loss of one or more key executives or scientists; (v) difficulties in securing regulatory approval to market our products and product candidates; (vi) our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy in Colorado and outside the state, (vii) our ability to consummate the acquisition described in this press release or to identify and consummate future acquisitions that meet our criteria, (viii) our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and realize synergies therefrom, ({ix) the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, (x) the timing and extent of governmental stimulus programs, and (xi) the uncertainty in the application of federal, state and local laws to our business, and any changes in such laws. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law.

Investors
Joanne Jobin
Investor Relations
Joanne.jobin@schwazze.com
647 964 0292

Media
Julie Suntrup, Schwazze
Vice President | Marketing & Merchandising
julie.suntrup@schwazze.com
303 371 0387

Schwazze Closes Acquisition of Southern Colorado Growers


Schwazze Closes Acquisition of Southern Colorado Growers

 

Acquisition Substantially Increases Cultivation Capabilities;

Provides Major Boost to Wholesale Supply of Distillate to Colorado CPG Manufacturers

DENVER, CO – July 22, 2021 – Schwazze, (OTCQX:SHWZ) (“Schwazze” or the “Company”), announced that it has closed the transaction to acquire the assets of Southern Colorado Growers (“SCG”) in Huerfano County, Colorado; previously announced June 1, 2021.  The acquisition includes 34 acres of land with outdoor cultivation capacity, as well as indoor, greenhouse, and hoop house cultivation facilities and equipment.  This purchase continues Schwazze’s expansion in Colorado and, is the company’s first major move into cultivation, which will provide high-end, premium cannabis directly to its Star Buds dispensaries and significant production of biomass for its PurpleBee’s extraction and manufacturing facility. PurpleBee’s is Colorado’s largest supplier of wholesale distillate for the CPG market, providing high quality distillate to leading vaporizer, concentrates and edibles companies.

The consideration for the acquisition is $6.8 million for the business and $4.5 million for the real estate and farm assets.  Total consideration of $11.3 million was paid as $5.9 million of cash and $5.4 million in Schwazze common stock upon closing.

Schwazze has major expansion plans for SCG, which includes the buildout of cultivation capacity over the next four quarters. SCG produces premium flower with approximately 30 strains and has won multiple Connoisseur Cup awards for select strains in 2020 (Best Hybrid Flower – Banger & Mac) and 2021 (Best Rec Hybrid – The Mac). 

“Our team is excited to add SCG, a premier cannabis cultivator, to our growing platform. This acquisition will provide premium quality flower to our 17 Star Buds Colorado locations.  In addition, the SCG garden will significantly increase our capability to produce a substantial amount of biomass for our Purplebee’s distillate manufacturing operation, which will benefit the entire cannabis industry throughout the state. The addition of SCG to our portfolio is expected to provide a positive margin impact for Schwazze,” said Justin Dye, Schwazze’s CEO.  

About Schwazze
Schwazze (OTCQX: SHWZ) is building the premier vertically integrated cannabis company in Colorado and plans to take its operating system to other states where it can develop a differentiated leadership position.  Schwazze is the parent company of a portfolio of leading cannabis businesses and brands spanning seed to sale. The Company is committed to unlocking the full potential of the cannabis plant to improve the human condition.  Schwazze is anchored by a high-performance culture that combines customer-centric thinking and data science to test, measure, and drive decisions and outcomes. The Company’s leadership team has deep expertise in retailing, wholesaling, and building consumer brands at Fortune 500 companies as well as in the cannabis sector.  Schwazze is passionate about making a difference in our communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and doing our part to incorporate climate-conscious best practices.  Medicine Man Technologies, Inc. was Schwazze’s former operating trade name. The corporate entity continues to be named Medicine Man Technologies, Inc.

Schwazze derives its name from the pruning technique of a cannabis plant to enhance plant structure and promote healthy growth.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Such statements may be preceded by the words “plan,” “will,” “may,”, “predicts,” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control and cannot be predicted or quantified. Consequently, actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) our inability to manufacture our products and product candidates on a commercial scale on our own or in collaboration with third parties; (ii) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (iii) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (iv) loss of one or more key executives or scientists; (v) difficulties in securing regulatory approval to market our products and product candidates; (vi) our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy in Colorado and outside the state, (vii) our ability to consummate the acquisition described in this press release or to identify and consummate future acquisitions that meet our criteria, (viii) our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and realize synergies therefrom, ({ix) the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, (x) the timing and extent of governmental stimulus programs, and (xi) the uncertainty in the application of federal, state and local laws to our business, and any changes in such laws. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law.

Investors
Joanne Jobin
Investor Relations
Joanne.jobin@schwazze.com
647 964 0292

Media
Julie Suntrup, Schwazze
Vice President | Marketing & Merchandising
julie.suntrup@schwazze.com
303 371 0387

Travelzoo (TZOO) – Fast Road Toward Recovery

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Travelzoo (TZOO)
Fast Road Toward Recovery

Travelzoo is a US-based company which acts as a publisher of travel and entertainment offers. The company informs a varied number of members in Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America, as well as millions of website users, about the best travel, entertainment and local deals available from various companies. It provides travel, entertainment, and local businesses in a flexible manner to the various customer. The company operates in three geographic segments namely Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. Travelzoo derives its revenue through advertising fees including listing fees paid by travel, entertainment, and local businesses to advertise their offers on company’s media properties. Most of the company’s revenue is derived from the North America.

Michael Kupinski, Director of Research, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

    Q2 tops expected results. Total company revenues were $19.1 million versus our $16.1 million estimate. The revenues benefited from recovering advertising trends, particularly in North America. Adjusted EBITDA was roughly $4.9 million versus our $1.7 million estimate, benefiting from higher gross margins, (86.8% versus our 79.8% estimate).

    What gross margins imply? Management indicated that full year 2021 gross margins are expected to be relatively stable from that of Q2 at 86.8%.  This is quite favorable, indicating that the company is returning toward a more “normalized” business model, one that is based on higher margin advertising, rather than lower margin Travel Voucher sales …



This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Release – Travelzoo Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results

 

 


Travelzoo Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results

 

NEW YORK
July 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 
Travelzoo® (NASDAQ: TZOO):

  • Consolidated revenue of 
    $19.1 million, up 172% year-over-year and up 34% quarter-over-quarter
  • Non-GAAP consolidated operating profit of 
    $4.9 million
  • Earnings per share (EPS) of 
    $0.22 attributable to 
    Travelzoo from continuing operations
  • Cash flow from operations of 
    $12.8 million

Travelzoo, a global Internet media company that publishes exclusive offers and experiences for members, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended 
June 30, 2021. Consolidated revenue was 
$19.1 million, up 172% from 
$7.0 million year-over-year and up 34% from 
$14.3 million in the prior quarter. Reported revenue excludes revenue from discontinued operations in 
Asia Pacific
Travelzoo’s reported revenue consists of advertising revenues and commissions, derived from and generated in connection with purchases made by 
Travelzoo members.

The reported net income attributable to 
Travelzoo from continuing operations was 
$3.0 million for Q2 2021. At the consolidated level, including minority interests, the reported net income from continuing operations was 
$3.0 million. EPS from continuing operations was 
$0.22, compared to a loss per share of (
$0.48) in the prior-year period.

Non-GAAP operating profit was 
$4.9 million. The calculation of non-GAAP operating profit excludes amortization of intangibles (
$0.3 million), stock option expenses (
$0.9 million), and severance-related expenses (
$0.2 million). See section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

“We see continued improvement in our business. We seize the exceptional industry opportunities for providing 30 million 
Travelzoo members exclusive and irresistible travel, entertainment, and local offers and experiences. 
Travelzoo members are affluent, active, and open for new experiences. 75% say 
Travelzoo influences their travel destinations because they trust 
Travelzoo“, said  Holger Bartel, Global CEO.

Cash Position
As of 
June 30, 2021, consolidated cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were 
$82.1 million. Cash flow from operations was 
$12.8 million. There were no significant capital expenditures.

Reserve
Reported revenues include a reserve of 
$3.7 million related to commissions to be earned from refundable vouchers sold. The reserve is booked as contra revenue. For Q2 2021, an adjustment to the reserve increased reported revenue by 
$286,000.

Travelzoo North America

North America business segment revenue increased 233% year-over-year to 
$14.0 million. Operating profit for Q2 2021 was 
$3.5 million, or 25% of revenue, compared to an operating loss of 
$4.7 million in the prior-year period.

Travelzoo Europe

Europe business segment revenue increased 128% year-over-year to 
$4.2 million. Operating loss for Q2 2021 was 
$227,000, compared to an operating loss of 
$1.7 million in the prior-year period.

Jack’s Flight Club
On 
January 13, 2020
Travelzoo acquired 60% of Jack’s 
Flight Club, a membership subscription service. Jack’s 
Flight Club revenue decreased 9% year-over-year to 
$860,000. Operating income for Q2 2021 was 
$170,000, compared to an operating loss of 
$248,000 in the prior-year period. After consolidation with 
Travelzoo, Jack’s 
Flight Club’s net income was 
$98,000, with 
$59,000 attributable to 
Travelzoo as a result of recording 
$275,000 of amortization of intangible assets related to the acquisition.

Licensing
In 
June 2020
Travelzoo sold its subsidiary in 
Japan, Travelzoo Japan K.K., to Mr.  Hajime Suzuki. In connection with the sale, 
Travelzoo and Travelzoo Japan K.K. entered into a royalty-bearing licensing agreement for the exclusive use of 
Travelzoo members in 
Japan. In 
August 2020
Travelzoo sold its 
Singapore subsidiary to Mr.  Julian Rembrandt and entered into a royalty-bearing licensing agreement for, among other things, the exclusive use of 
Travelzoo’s members in 
Australia
New Zealand, and 
Singapore. Under the licensing agreements, 
Travelzoo’s existing members in 
Australia
Japan
New Zealand, and 
Singapore will continue to be owned by 
Travelzoo as the licensor. Licensing revenue is booked with a lag of one quarter. 
Travelzoo did not record any licensing revenue from either subsidiary in Q2 2021.

Members and Subscribers
As of 
June 30, 2021, we had 31.3 million members worldwide. In 
North America, the unduplicated number of 
Travelzoo members was 17.7 million as of 
June 30, 2021, up 6% from 
June 30, 2020. In 
Europe, the unduplicated number of 
Travelzoo members was 8.5 million as of 
June 30, 2021, down 6% from 
June 30, 2020. Jack’s 
Flight Club had 1.7 million subscribers as of 
June 30, 2021, consistent with 1.7 million subscribers as of 
June 30, 2020.

Discontinued Operations
As announced in a press release on 
March 10, 2020
Travelzoo decided to exit its 
Asia Pacific business which in 2019 reduced EPS by 
$0.60. The 
Asia Pacific business has been classified as discontinued operations since 
March 31, 2020. Prior periods have been reclassified to conform with the current presentation. Certain reclassifications have been made for current and prior periods between the continued operations and the discontinued operations in accordance with 
U.S. GAAP.

Income Taxes
Income tax expense was 
$1.1 million in Q2 2021, compared to an income tax benefit of 
$1.3 million in the prior-year period.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management calculates non-GAAP operating income when evaluating the financial performance of the business. Travelzoo’s calculation of non-GAAP operating income, also called “non-GAAP operating profit” in this press release and today’s earnings conference call, excludes the following items: impairment of intangibles and goodwill, amortization of intangibles, stock option expenses, and severance- related expenses. This press release includes a table which reconciles GAAP operating income to the calculation of non-GAAP operating income. Non-GAAP operating income is not required by, or presented in accordance with, generally accepted accounting principles in 
the United States of America (“GAAP”). This information should be considered as supplemental in nature and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may not be the same as similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Looking Ahead
We currently expect for Q3 2021 to report higher revenue and profitability. We see a trend of recovery of our revenue. We have been able to reduce our operating expenses, and we believe we can continue the trend of lower fixed costs in the foreseeable future.

Conference Call

Travelzoo will host a conference call to discuss second quarter results today at 
11:00 a.m. ET. Please visit http://ir.travelzoo.com/events-presentations to download the management presentation (PDF format) to be discussed in the conference call; and access the webcast.

About Travelzoo
Travelzoo® provides our 30 million members insider deals and one-of-a-kind experiences personally reviewed by one of our deal experts around the globe. We have our finger on the pulse of outstanding travel, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences. For over 20 years we have worked in partnership with more than 5,000 top travel suppliers—our long-standing relationships give 
Travelzoo members access to irresistible deals.

Certain statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, expectations, prospects and intentions, markets in which we participate and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts. When used in this press release, the words “expect”, “predict”, “project”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “seek” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including changes in our plans, objectives, expectations, prospects and intentions and other factors discussed in our filings with the 
SEC. We cannot guarantee any future levels of activity, performance or achievements. 
Travelzoo undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

Travelzoo, Top 20, and 
Jack’s Flight Club are registered trademarks of 
Travelzoo.

Travelzoo
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

  Three months ended   Six months ended
  June 30,   June 30,
  2021   2020   2021   2020
Revenues $ 19,079     $ 7,004     $ 33,363     $ 27,331  
Cost of revenues 2,522     2,141     5,540     4,844  
Gross profit 16,557     4,863     27,823     22,487  
Operating expenses:              
Sales and marketing 7,340     4,288     14,130     17,382  
Product development 685     566     1,368     1,994  
General and administrative 5,056     6,642     9,616     12,164  
Impairment of intangible asset and goodwill             2,920  
Total operating expenses 13,081     11,496     25,114     34,460  
Operating income (loss) 3,476     (6,633 )   2,709     (11,973 )
Other income (loss), net 684     (179 )   518     (185 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 4,160     (6,812 )   3,227     (12,158 )
Income tax expense (benefit) 1,136     (1,309 )   1,878     (1,826 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations 3,024     (5,503 )   1,349     (10,332 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations,
net of tax
29     (795 )   14     (3,714 )
Net income (loss) 3,053     (6,298 )   1,363     (14,046 )
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest 39     (108 )   (9 )   (1,247 )
Net income (loss) attributable to 
Travelzoo
$ 3,014     $ (6,190 )   $ 1,372     $ (12,799 )
               
Net income (loss) attributable to Travelzoo—continuing operations $ 2,985     $ (5,395 )   $ 1,358     $ (9,085 )
Net income (loss) attributable to Travelzoo—discontinued operations $ 29     $ (795 )   $ 14     $ (3,714 )
               
Income (Loss) per share—basic              
Continuing operations $ 0.26     $ (0.48 )   $ 0.12     $ (0.80 )
Discontinued operations $     $ (0.07 )   $     $ (0.33 )
Net income (loss) per share —basic $ 0.26     $ (0.55 )   $ 0.12     $ (1.13 )
               
Income (Loss) per share—diluted              
Continuing operations $ 0.22     $ (0.48 )   $ 0.10     $ (0.80 )
Discontinued operations $     $ (0.07 )   $     $ (0.33 )
Net income (loss) per share—diluted $ 0.22     $ (0.55 )   $ 0.10     $ (1.13 )
Shares used in per share calculation from continuing operations—basic 11,488     11,310     11,440     11,375  
Shares used in per share calculation from discontinued operations—basic 11,488     11,310     11,440     11,375  
Shares used in per share calculation from continuing operations—diluted 13,408     11,310     13,248     11,375  
Shares used in per share calculation from discontinued operations—diluted 13,408     11,310     13,248     11,375  
                       

Travelzoo
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

  June 30,
2021
  December 31,
2020
Assets      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 80,962     $ 63,061  
Accounts receivable, net 9,905     4,519  
Prepaid income taxes 1,616     931  
Deposits 105     137  
Prepaid expenses and other 3,253     1,166  
Assets from discontinued operations 84     230  
Total current assets 95,925     70,044  
Deposits and other 1,552     745  
Deferred tax assets 3,647     5,067  
Restricted cash 1,164     1,178  
Operating lease right-of-use assets 8,559     8,541  
Property and equipment, net 1,034     1,347  
Intangible assets, net 3,975     4,534  
Goodwill 10,944     10,944  
Total assets $ 126,800     $ 102,400  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable $ 8,503     $ 6,996  
Merchant payables 82,236     57,104  
Accrued expenses and other 8,222     8,649  
Deferred revenue 2,213     2,688  
Operating lease liabilities 3,751     3,587  
PPP notes payable (current portion) 3,156     2,849  
Income tax payable 98     326  
Liabilities from discontinued operations 482     671  
Total current liabilities 108,661     82,870  
PPP notes payables     814  
Deferred tax liabilities 38     357  
Long-term operating lease liabilities 10,353     10,774  
Other long-term liabilities 2,146     1,085  
Total liabilities 121,198     95,900  
Non-controlling interest 4,600     4,609  
Common stock 115     114  
Treasury stock (at cost) (1,583 )    
Additional paid-in capital 4,988     6,239  
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) 969     (403 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,487 )   (4,059 )
Total stockholders’ equity 1,002     1,891  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 126,800     $ 102,400  
               

Travelzoo
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

  Three months ended   Six months ended
  June 30,   June 30,
  2021   2020   2021   2020
Cash flows from operating activities:              
Net income (loss) $ 3,053     $ (6,298 )   $ 1,363     $ (14,046 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:              
Depreciation and amortization 476     667     960     1,218  
Stock-based compensation 934     4,031     1,816     4,054  
Deferred income tax 599     (1,152 )   1,140     (1,761 )
Impairment of intangible assets and goodwill             2,920  
Gain on notes payable settlement     (1,500 )       (1,500 )
Loss on long-lived assets             437  
Loss on equity investment in WeGo     141         336  
Gain on PPP notes payable forgiveness (429 )       (429 )    
Net foreign currency effects (103 )   225     (255 )   (456 )
Provision (reversal) of loss on accounts receivable and other reserves (417 )   986     (871 )   2,427  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:              
Accounts receivable (2,552 )   3,674     (4,781 )   6,183  
Prepaid income taxes (168 )       (713 )   989  
Prepaid expenses and other (418 )   558     (2,775 )   1,420  
Accounts payable (312 )   1,602     1,415     2,149  
Merchant payables 11,973     15,100     25,185     8,160  
Accrued expenses and other 321     (2,084 )   (320 )   (1,380 )
Income tax payable (102 )   266     (228 )   (67 )
Other liabilities (80 )   263     332     2,340  
Net cash provided by operating activities 12,775     16,479     21,839     13,423  
Cash flows from investing activities:              
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired             (679 )
Other investment     (430 )       (430 )
Purchases of property and equipment (77 )   (72 )   (84 )   (203 )
Net cash used in investing activities (77 )   (502 )   (84 )   (1,312 )
Cash flows from financing activities:              
Repurchase of common stock         (1,583 )   (1,205 )
Payment of promissory notes     (6,800 )       (7,800 )
Proceeds from notes payable     3,663         3,663  
Exercise of stock options and taxes paid for net share settlement (3,066 )       (3,066 )    
Net cash used in financing activities (3,066 )   (3,137 )   (4,649 )   (5,342 )
Effect of exchange rate on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 427     (239 )   697     (511 )
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 10,059     12,601     17,803     6,258  
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 72,129     14,367     64,385     20,710  
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 82,188     $ 26,968     $ 82,188     $ 26,968  
                               

Travelzoo
Segment Information from Continuing Operations
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

Three months ended June 30, 2021 Travelzoo
North

America
  Travelzoo
Europe
  Jack’s Flight
Club
  Elimination   Consolidated
Revenue from unaffiliated customers $ 13,650     $ 4,569     $ 860     $       $ 19,079  
Intersegment revenue 335     (335 )              
Total net revenues 13,985     4,234     860           19,079  
Operating income (loss) $ 3,533     $ (227 )   $ 170     $       $ 3,476  
                   
Three months ended June 30, 2020 Travelzoo
North

America
  Travelzoo
Europe
  Jack’s Flight
Club
  Elimination   Consolidated
Revenue from unaffiliated customers $ 4,254     $ 1,805     $ 945     $       $ 7,004  
Intersegment revenue (52 )   52                
Total net revenues 4,202     1,857     945           7,004  
Operating loss $ (4,702 )   $ (1,683 )   $ (248 )   $       $ (6,633 )

 

Six months ended
June 30, 2021
Travelzoo
North

America
  Travelzoo
Europe
  Jack’s Flight
Club
  Elimination   Consolidated
Revenue from unaffiliated customers $ 23,478     $ 8,138     $ 1,747     $     $ 33,363  
Intersegment revenue 326     (326 )            
Total net revenues 23,804     7,812     1,747         33,363  
Operating income (loss) $ 3,572     $ (923 )   $ 60     $     $ 2,709  
                   
Six months ended
June 30, 2020
Travelzoo
North

America
  Travelzoo
Europe
  Jack’s Flight
Club
  Elimination   Consolidated
Revenue from unaffiliated customers $ 16,803     $ 8,908     $ 1,628     $ (8 )   $ 27,331  
Intersegment revenue 96     (104 )       8      
Total net revenues 16,899     8,804     1,628         27,331  
Operating loss $ (5,678 )   $ (3,024 )   $ (3,263 )   $ (8 )   $ (11,973 )


Travelzoo
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Information
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

  Three months ended   Six months ended
  June 30,   June 30,
  2021   2020   2021   2020
GAAP operating expense $ 13,081     $ 11,496     $ 25,114     $ 34,460  
Non-GAAP adjustments:              
Impairment of intangible and goodwill (A)             2,920  
Amortization of intangibles (B) 275     396     559     611  
Stock option expenses (C) 934     4,031     1,816     4,054  
Severance-related expenses (D) 175     67     398     284  
Non-GAAP operating expense 11,697     7,002     22,341     26,591  
               
GAAP operating income (loss) 3,476     (6,633 )   2,709     (11,973 )
Non-GAAP adjustments (A through D) 1,384     4,494     2,773     7,869  
Non-GAAP operating income (loss) 4,861     (2,139 )   5,482     (4,104 )

Investor Relations:
Almira Pusch
ir@travelzoo.com

Source: Travelzoo