Great Elm Group Reports Fiscal 2022 First Quarter Financial Results

Company to Host Conference Call at 9:00 a.m. ET on November 12, 2021


WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Great Elm Group, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our,” “GEG,” or “Great Elm”) (NASDAQ: GEG), a diversified holding company, today announced financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended September 30, 2021.

Fiscal 2022 First Quarter Operating and Financial Highlights
(all comparisons versus the prior-year period unless otherwise noted)

Consolidated:

  • Consolidated revenue for the first quarter was $16.5 million, compared to $15.4 million.
  • Consolidated net income from continuing operations for the first quarter was $0.1 million, compared to net loss from continuing operations of $3.8 million.
  • Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter ended September 30, 2021 was $4.3 million, compared to $1.9 million.
  • Made a strategic minority investment in the Sharp Alpha Fund I, LP, a private fund that is investing in early-stage companies seeking to address the growing sports betting market.
  • As of September 30, 2021, we had approximately $952 million of net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards for federal income tax purposes.

Operating Companies:

  • Durable Medical Equipment (DME) grew total revenue for the first quarter by 6.5% to $15.6 million, compared to $14.6 million; driven by strong resupply sales despite challenging pandemic related conditions.
  • DME reported net income for the first quarter was $2.1 million, compared to a net loss of 0.5 million.
  • DME reported Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was of $5.1 million, compared to $2.8 million.
  • On August 31, 2021, acquired the power mobility assets of MedOne Healthcare LLC (MedOne), a high service power mobility provider in Arizona. The acquisition enhances DME’s power mobility solutions and expands its referral network.

Investment Management (IM):

  • IM increased revenue for the first quarter to $1.0 million, compared to $0.8 million.
  • IM reported a net loss for the first quarter of $0.1 million, compared to net loss of $1.5 million.
  • IM reported Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was $0.1 million, compared to $0.2 million.
  • On September 20, 2021, Great Elm Capital Corp. (GECC) acquired a majority ownership interest in Lenders Funding, LLC (Lenders Funding), a private funding and risk sharing source for factors and asset-based lenders.

Management Commentary

Peter A. Reed, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We reported an excellent period in DME despite the challenges of a relatively slow return to normal operations following the pandemic conditions over the past year. DME completed the acquisition of MedOne during the period, which marks the second completed acquisition during calendar 2021. We also have good momentum in IM, growing assets under management during the period and completing the acquisition by GECC of a majority ownership stake in Lenders Funding, which purchases participations in factoring and asset-based lending transactions. We are building upon our strategy at GECC of creating a portfolio of specialty finance solutions with the ability to service the liquidity needs of small businesses at varying stages of their development and are pleased with our pipeline of further growth opportunities in this space.”

Alignment of Interest

A distinct attribute of Great Elm is the particularly strong alignment of interest among shareholders and the employees, directors, and other insiders of Great Elm. As of September 30, 2021, Great Elm’s employees and directors (including funds under their management) collectively own or manage approximately 30% of GEG’s total outstanding shares.

Financial Review

Discussion of Financial Results by Segment for the Fiscal Quarter ended September 30, 2021

Great Elm is a holding company with two operating segments: Operating Companies and Investment Management, with General Corporate representing unallocated costs and activity to arrive at consolidated operations.

Operating Companies

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, DME reported $15.6 million in total revenue, compared to $14.6 million during the same period in the prior year. The increase in revenues was due to organic growth in resupply sales and the impact of acquisitions.

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, DME reported net income of $2.1 million, compared to net loss of $0.5 million for the same period in the prior year. Net income increased largely due to $2.3 million in employee retention credits claimed under the CARES Act in the current quarter.

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, DME Adjusted EBITDA, was $5.1 million, compared to $2.8 million in the prior-year period.

Investment Management

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, IM reported total revenue of $1.0 million, compared to $0.8 million during the same period in the prior year. Revenue for the quarter was slightly higher due to increases in the average assets on which such fees are calculated.

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, IM recognized a net loss of $0.1 million, compared to a net loss of $1.5 million during the same period in the prior year, which was driven primarily by unrealized losses on our investment in GECC in the prior period due to COVID-19-related volatility.

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, IM Adjusted EBITDA was $0.1 million, compared to $0.2 million during the same period in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was impacted primarily by increased employee-related costs and professional fees related to investment management growth initiatives.

General Corporate

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, General Corporate recognized $0.2 million in revenue compared to $0.1 million in revenue during the same period in the prior year. Revenue increased slightly as a result of Forest management fees which commenced in December 2020 in connection with our holding company reorganization.

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, General Corporate recognized a net loss from continuing operations of $1.8 million, compared to $1.8 million during the same period in the prior year.

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, General Corporate recognized ($1.0) million in Adjusted EBITDA, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of ($1.1) million during the same period in the prior year. Great Elm made significant progress on reducing its corporate overhead, driven by lower audit fees due to a change in auditors in the prior fiscal year and other decreases in professional service expense.

Fiscal 2022 First Quarter Conference Call & Webcast Information

When:Friday, November 12, 2021, 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET)
  
Call:All interested parties are invited to participate in the conference call by dialing +1 (844) 559-0750; international callers should dial +1 (647) 689-5386. Participants should enter the Conference ID 6687507 when asked.
  
Webcast:The conference call will be webcast simultaneously and can be accessed at the following link: Great Elm Group First Quarter 2022 Webcast. For a copy of the slide presentation accompanying the conference call, please visit: https://www.greatelmgroup.com/events-and-presentations.

About Great Elm Group, Inc.

Great Elm Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEG) is a publicly-traded holding company that is building a business across two operating verticals: operating companies and investment management. Great Elm Group, Inc.’s website can be found at www.greatelmgroup.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Statements in this press release that are “forward-looking” statements, including statements regarding revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, expected growth, profitability, acquisition opportunities and outlook involve risks and uncertainties that may individually or collectively impact the matters described herein. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made and represent Great Elm’s assumptions and expectations in light of currently available information. These statements involve risks, variables and uncertainties, and Great Elm’s actual performance results may differ from those projected, and any such differences may be material. For information on certain factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from Great Elm’s expectations, please see Great Elm’s filings with the SEC, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Additional information relating to Great Elm’s financial position and results of operations is also contained in Great Elm’s annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC and available for download at its website www.greatelmgroup.com or at the SEC website www.sec.gov.

Please note that previously reported amounts below have been recast to 1) reflect the operations of our real estate business as discontinued operations; 2) reflect the full retrospective adoption of ASU 2020-06, Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity; and 3) conform with current segment organization.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The SEC has adopted rules to regulate the use in filings with the SEC, and in public disclosures, of financial measures that are not in accordance with US GAAP, such as adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”). Adjusted EBITDA is derived from methodologies other than in accordance with US GAAP. Great Elm believes that Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure for investors to use in evaluating Great Elm’s businesses. In addition, Great Elm’s management reviews Adjusted EBITDA as they evaluate acquisition opportunities.

Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it either in isolation from, or as a substitute for, analyzing Great Elm’s results as reported under US GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures reported by Great Elm may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts reported by other companies.

Included in the financial tables below is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable US GAAP financial measure, net income.

Media & Investor Contact:

Investor Relations
investorrelations@greatelmcap.com

Adam Prior
The Equity Group Inc.
+1 (212) 836-9606
aprior@equityny.com

Great Elm Group, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

Dollar amounts in thousands (except per share data)

ASSETS September 30, 2021  June 30, 2021 
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents $21,791  $24,382 
Accounts receivable  5,544   6,518 
Related party receivables  1,895   1,665 
Investments, at fair value (cost $44,647 and $45,326, respectively)  24,008   24,044 
Inventories  1,071   1,066 
Prepaid and other current assets  5,169   3,791 
Assets of consolidated funds        
Investments, at fair value (cost $26,955 and $26,814, respectively)  26,541   26,490 
Prepaid expenses and other assets  574   578 
Total current assets  86,593   88,534 
Property and equipment, net  885   981 
Equipment held for rental, net  7,230   7,391 
Identifiable intangible assets, net  8,509   8,928 
Goodwill  52,463   50,536 
Right of use assets  5,184   5,241 
Other assets  256   258 
Total assets $161,120  $161,869 
LIABILITIES, NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable $5,108  $5,521 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities  5,534   6,955 
Deferred revenue  3,279   4,438 
Current portion of lease liabilities  2,171   1,920 
Current portion of capitalized equipment financing  2,927   1,974 
Liabilities of consolidated funds- accrued expenses and other  11,940   12,197 
Total current liabilities  30,959   33,005 
Lease liabilities, net of current portion  3,281   3,596 
Convertible notes (face value $34,346, including $16,231 held by related parties)  33,362   33,333 
Equipment financing debt, net of current portion  42   67 
Redeemable preferred stock of subsidiaries (held by related parties, face value $37,018)  35,584   35,529 
Other liabilities  1,254   915 
Total liabilities  104,482   106,445 
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 20)        
Contingently redeemable non-controlling interest  2,844   2,639 
Stockholders' equity        
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 authorized and zero outstanding  -   - 
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 350,000,000 shares authorized and 26,692,033 shares issued and 26,093,185 outstanding at September 30, 2021; and 26,613,913 shares issued and 25,948,100 outstanding at June 30, 2021  26   26 
Additional paid-in-capital  3,308,194   3,307,613 
Accumulated deficit  (3,264,603)  (3,264,403)
Total Great Elm Group, Inc. stockholders' equity  43,617   43,236 
Non-controlling interests  10,177   9,549 
Total stockholders' equity  53,794   52,785 
Total liabilities, non-controlling interest and stockholders' equity $161,120  $161,869 


Great Elm Group, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

Dollar amounts in thousands (except per share data)

  For the three months ended September 30, 
  2021  2020 
Revenues:        
Durable medical equipment sales and services revenue $10,076  $9,213 
Durable medical equipment rental income  5,479   5,397 
Investment management revenues  983   773 
Total revenues  16,538   15,383 
         
Operating costs and expenses:        
Cost of durable medical equipment sold and services  4,060   4,207 
Cost of durable medical equipment rentals1  1,850   1,915 
Durable medical equipment other operating expenses2  6,253   7,680 
Investment management expenses  1,187   726 
Depreciation and amortization  562   591 
Selling, general and administrative3  1,573   1,413 
Expenses of consolidated funds  52   - 
Total operating costs and expenses  15,537   16,532 
Operating income (loss)  1,001   (1,149)
Dividends and interest income  653   529 
Net realized and unrealized loss on investment  (14)  (1,902)
Net realized and unrealized loss on investments of consolidated funds  (189)  - 
Interest expense  (1,362)  (1,145)
Other income, net  16   (2)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income taxes  105   (3,669)
Income tax benefit (expense)  1   (99)
Income (loss) from continuing operations  106   (3,768)
Discontinued operations:        
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax  -   67 
Net income (loss) $106  $(3,701)
Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest, continuing operations  306   (120)
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest, discontinued operations  -   13 
Net loss attributable to Great Elm Group, Inc. $(200) $(3,594)
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share from:        
Continuing operations $(0.01) $(0.14)
Discontinued operations  -   0.00 
Net loss $(0.01) $(0.14)
Weighted average shares outstanding        
Basic  25,982   25,576 
Diluted  25,982   25,576 
         
(1) Includes depreciation expense of:  1,688   1,748 
(2) Net of CARES Act Stimulus of:  2,321   - 
(3) Net of CARES Act Stimulus of:  84   - 


Great Elm Group, Inc.
Reconciliation from EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA - Quarterly
Dollar amounts in thousands (except per share data)

 For the three months ended September 30, 2021
  
$ in thousandsDurable Medical
Equipment
 Investment
Management
 Corporate Consolidated
        
EBITDA:       
Income (loss) from continuing operations - GAAP$ 2,082   $ (140) $ (1,836) $ 106 
Interest expense 1,287   24   1,269   2,581 
Interest income from preferred stock -   -   (1,218)  (1,218)
Depreciation & amortization 2,142   109   -   2,251 
Tax expense -   -   (1)  (1)
EBITDA  5,511     (7)   (1,786)   3,717  
Adjusted EBITDA       
Non-cash compensation -   396   372   768 
Change in contingent consideration (163)  -   -   (163)
Dividend income -   (554)  (99)  (653)
(Gains) / losses on investments -   305   (102)  203 
Other (income) expense (560)  -   544   (16)
Transaction and integration costs (2) 219   -   184   403 
DME management and monitoring fees 130   -   (130)  - 
Adjusted EBITDA$ 5,137   $ 140   $ (1,017) $ 4,260  


 For the three months ended September 30, 2020
  
$ in thousandsDurable Medical
Equipment
 Investment
Management
(1)
 Corporate (1) Consolidated
        
EBITDA:       
Income (loss) from continuing operations - GAAP$ (458) $ (1,485) $ (1,825) $ (3,768)
Interest expense 709   26   409   1,144 
Interest income from preferred stock -   -   -   - 
Depreciation & amortization 2,211   128   -   2,339 
Tax expense -   -   99   99 
EBITDA  2,462     (1,331)   (1,317)   (186)
Adjusted EBITDA       
Non-cash compensation -   194   235   429 
Change in contingent consideration -   -   -   - 
Dividend income -   (524)  -   (524)
(Gains) / losses on investments -   1,902   -   1,902 
Other (income) expense 3   -   -   3 
Transaction and integration costs (2) 139   -   32   171 
Pharmacy closure 54   -   -   54 
DME management and monitoring fees 116   -   (91)  25 
Adjusted EBITDA$ 2,774  $ 241  $ (1,141) $ 1,874 

(1) Previously reported non-operating activity including dividend income and unrealized gains/losses related to managed investments has been reclassified from General Corporate to Investment Management to conform with current segment organization.
(2) Transaction and integration related costs include costs to acquire and integrate acquired businesses.