Goodness Growth Holdings Announces First Quarter 2024 Results

– Q1 2024 revenue of $21.1 million excluding discontinued operations and NY increased 44.5% year-over-year –

– Submitted a substantial legal filing on May 2nd in the ongoing litigation with Verano –

– Company announces launch of Hi*AF and Boundary Waters branded beverages –

MINNEAPOLIS, May 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Goodness Growth Holdings, Inc. (“Goodness Growth” or the “Company”) (CSE: GDNS; OTCQX: GDNSF), a cannabis company committed to providing safe access, quality products and great value to its customers, today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2024. Key financial results are presented below in summary form with supporting commentary and discussion from management of certain key operating metrics which the Company uses to judge its performance. All currency figures referenced herein are denominated in U.S. dollars.

Summary of Key Financial Metrics      
  Three Months Ended
  March 31,
US $ in millions 2024 2023 Variance
GAAP Revenue $24.1 $19.1 26.2%
Revenue (excluding discontinued operations & NY) $21.1 $14.6 44.5%
GAAP Gross Profit $12.2 $9.5 28.6%
Gross Profit Margin 50.8% 49.9% 90 bps
SG&A Expenses $7.1 $7.2 -1.5%
SG&A Expenses (% of Sales) 29.3% 37.5% 880 bps
Operating Income (Loss) $4.8 $0.4 1191.6%
Operating Income Margin 19.8% 1.9% 1,780 bps
EBITDA* $6.8 $1.4 370.5%
EBITDA Margin 28.2% 7.6% 2,060 bps
* 1Q24 EBITDA includes a $1.3 million gain on Grown Rogue warrants which are marked to market at each period end
       

Management Commentary

Chief Executive Officer Josh Rosen commented, “Our first quarter results reflect a continuation of the trends we observed during the fourth quarter, with continued improvements in operating and financial performance driven by the commencement of adult-use sales in Maryland in July 2023. In 2024, our teams remain focused on executing the key tenets of our CREAM & Fire strategy. As it relates to our divestiture process in New York, we continue to make progress with Ace Venture Enterprises and are also anticipating receiving approval to sell wholesale into the adult-use market shortly. With a short-term extension completed last week, we are also close to finalizing a longer-term extension with our senior secured lender, which has been supported by our progress with the New York divestiture and improved operating performance; that said our overall credit metrics have significant room for improvement and we continue to feel the pain of what we believe was the wrongful termination of our merger agreement with Verano.”

Amber Shimpa, President and CEO of Vireo Health of Minnesota, commented, “Our operational key performance indicators continued to show strong improvements during the first quarter, and we continue to demonstrate market outperformance in Maryland’s adult-use market. This past April 20th holiday we were also pleased to build upon the success of our Hi*AF brand of vapes in Maryland with the launch our new Hi*AF and Boundary Waters branded cannabis beverages in our home market in Minnesota. We believe these new product introductions will help drive brand awareness ahead of the launch of adult-use sales in 2025, and we are looking forward to sharing additional details regarding our plans to prepare for Minnesota’s adult-use launch later this year.”

Core Market KPIs1      
       
  Three Months Ended
US $ in millions March 31,
  2024 2023 Variance
Total Flower Harvested (lbs) 2,295 1,720 33.4%
% “A” Flower2 50.6% 47.9% 270 bps
Total Retail Revenue $17.8 $13.1 36.2%
Same Store Sales Growth 36.2%
Minnesota 2.4%
Maryland 190.8%
Total Wholesale Revenue $3.4 $1.6 114.4%
1Core Markets refer to the Company’s operations in Maryland and Minnesota.
2“A Flower” refers to produced biomass that meet the Company’s highest internal standards for flower quality, size, and appearance.
 

Other Events

On April 1, 2024, the Company announced that it has executed a binding term sheet with ACE Venture Enterprises, Inc. (“Ace”), whereby Ace will acquire Goodness Growth Holdings subsidiary, Vireo Health of New York, pending regulatory approval. Terms of the transaction include a purchase price between $3.0 and $5.0 million for Vireo Health of New York’s licenses, inventory and assets, an investment of $20.0 million from Ace for the development of the Johnstown, NY cannabis cultivation and manufacturing campus, and Ace’s assumption of the Johnstown lease agreement with Innovative Industrial Properties. The parties also committed to a collaborative advisory agreement that retains Goodness Growth’s management and compliance oversight in return for an approximate 15 percent share of net profits.

On May 1, 2024, the Company announced several leadership and corporate updates related to the day-to-day management of its business. Josh Rosen, who had served as Interim CEO since February of 2023, was appointed as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The Company also provided updates regarding additional recent key personnel hires, details regarding a temporary extension of its credit agreement with its senior secured lender until June 14, 2024, and its planned name change to Vireo during the second quarter of 2024.

On May 2, 2024, the Company announced that it filed an application with the Supreme Court of British Columbia for summary determination in its ongoing litigation with Verano Holdings, Inc. (“Verano”). Goodness Growth is seeking damages of US $860.9 million from Verano, as well as other costs and legal fees, based on Verano’s breach of contract and of its duty of good faith and honest performance. While the Company’s filing of its application for summary determination reflects its belief that Verano’s defense against its claims of unlawful conduct is without merit, Goodness Growth can make no assurances regarding the expected timeframe to resolve this litigation, or its ability to recover damages from Verano.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of March 31, 2024, total current assets were $147.2 million, including cash on hand of $12.6 million. Total current liabilities were $184.2 million, including $88.4 million in liabilities held for sale related to the Company’s businesses in the State of New York. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had a total of 234,937,843 shares outstanding on the treasury method basis.

Launch of Hi*AF & Boundary Waters Branded Beverages

On April 20, 2024, the Company launched its new lines of Hi*AF and Boundary Waters low-dose hemp-derived THC beverages in its home market of Minnesota. The Company’s launch of beverages represents the culmination of months of work to establish a position in a growing sales channel within Minnesota with potential for expansion across the United States.

Amber Shimpa commented, “In a very short timeframe, Minnesota has established a robust market for low-dose THC product consumption both onsite in many bars, restaurants, and breweries, as well as at retail points of sale throughout the State. We have had a front row seat to this evolution and believe beverages represent an important sales channel that will drive greater adoption of cannabis consumption with new consumers as the industry continues to mature. Our beverages strategy reflects a capital light, low risk entry into this market with low-dose hemp-derived THC beverage products, and provides an attractive marketing opportunity to seed our brands ahead of the launch of adult-use sales in 2025.”

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Goodness Growth management will host a conference call with research analysts today, May 7, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. CT) to discuss its financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2024. Interested parties may attend the conference call by dialing 1-800-715-9871 (Toll-Free) (US and Canada) or 1-646-307-1963 (Toll) (International) and referencing conference ID number 3718174.

A live audio webcast of this event will also be available in the Events & Presentations section of the Company’s Investor Relations website and via the following link:
https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/586704075.

About Vireo & Goodness Growth

Vireo (Goodness Growth) was founded as a pioneer in medical cannabis in 2014 and sustained with an entrepreneurial drive that fuels our ongoing commitment to serve and delight our key stakeholders, most notably our customers, our employees, our shareholders, our industry collaborators, and the communities in which we live and operate. We work every day to get better and our team prioritizes 1) empowering and supporting strong local market leaders and 2) strategic, prudent capital and human resource allocation. For more information, please visit www.vireohealth.com.

Additional Information

Additional information relating to the Company’s first quarter 2024 results will be available on EDGAR and SEDAR later today. Goodness Growth refers to certain non-GAAP financial measures such as Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) in circumstances in which the Company believes that doing so provides additional perspective and insights when analyzing the core operating performance of the business. These measures do not have any standardized meaning and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Please see the Supplemental Information and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures at the end of this news release for more detailed information regarding non-GAAP financial measures.

Contact Information

Investor Inquiries:
Sam Gibbons
Investor Relations
[email protected]
(612) 314-8995
Media Inquiries:
Amanda Hutcheson
Senior Manager, Communications
[email protected]
(919) 815-1476
   

Forward-Looking Statement Disclosure

This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities legislation. To the extent any forward-looking information in this press release constitutes “financial outlooks” within the meaning of applicable United States or Canadian securities laws, this information is being provided as preliminary financial results; the reader is cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose and the reader should not place undue reliance on such financial outlooks. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “should,” “believe,” “estimate,” “would,” “looking forward,” “may,” “continue,” “expect,” “expected,” “will,” “likely,” “subject to,” “transformation,” and “pending,” variations of such words and phrases, or any statements or clauses containing verbs in any future tense. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Forward-looking information includes both known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this press release. Financial outlooks, as with forward-looking information generally, are, without limitation, based on the assumptions and subject to various risks as set out herein and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities Exchange Commission. Our actual financial position and results of operations may differ materially from management’s current expectations and, as a result, our revenue, EBITDA, and cash on hand may differ materially from the values provided in this press release. Forward-looking information is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management, believed but not certain to be reasonable, in light of management’s experience and perception of trends, current conditions, and expected developments, as well as other factors relevant in the circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions, the current and future regulatory environment, and the availability of licenses, approvals and permits.

Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, the reader should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks related to the timing and content of adult-use legislation in markets where the Company currently operates; current and future market conditions, including the market price of the subordinate voting shares of the Company; risks related to epidemics and pandemics; federal, state, local, and foreign government laws, rules, and regulations, including federal and state laws and regulations in the United States relating to cannabis operations in the United States and any changes to such laws or regulations; operational, regulatory and other risks; execution of business strategy; management of growth; difficulties inherent in forecasting future events; conflicts of interest; risks inherent in an agricultural business; risks inherent in a manufacturing business; liquidity and the ability of the Company to raise additional financing to continue as a going concern; the Company’s ability to meet the demand for flower in Minnesota; risk of failure in the lawsuit with Verano and the cost of that litigation; our ability to dispose of our assets held for sale at an acceptable price or at all; and risk factors set out in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which is available on EDGAR with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Supplemental Information

The financial information reported in this news release is based on unaudited financial statements for the first fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024, and March 31, 2023. All financial information contained in this news release is qualified in its entirety with reference to such financial statements. To the extent that the financial information contained in this news release is inconsistent with the information contained in the Company’s audited financial statements, the financial information contained in this news release shall be deemed to be modified or superseded by the Company’s audited financial statements. The making of a modifying or superseding statement shall not be deemed an admission for any purposes that the modified or superseded statement, when made, constituted a misrepresentation for purposes of applicable securities laws. 

           
GOODNESS GROWTH HOLDINGS, INC.          
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF 3/31/2024 AND 12/31/2023
(Amounts Expressed in United States Dollars, Unaudited and Condensed)
  March 31,   December 31,
  2024    2023 
Assets          
Current assets:          
Cash $ 12,603,903     $ 15,964,665  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $254,961 and $453,860, respectively   2,753,673       3,086,640  
Income tax receivable   12,102,916       12,278,119  
Inventory   19,357,250       19,285,870  
Prepayments and other current assets   1,046,127       1,336,234  
Notes receivable, current   3,750,000       3,750,000  
Warrants held   3,265,231       1,937,352  
Assets Held for Sale   92,297,445       91,213,271  
Total current assets   147,176,545       148,852,151  
Property and equipment, net   23,541,445       23,291,183  
Operating lease, right-of-use asset   11,118,882       2,018,163  
Intangible assets, net   8,513,765       8,718,577  
Deposits   533,745       383,645  
Total assets $ 190,884,382     $ 183,263,719  
Liabilities          
Current liabilities          
Accounts Payable and Accrued liabilities $ 7,970,158     $ 7,674,389  
Long-Term debt, current portion   60,896,288       60,220,535  
Right of use liability   882,457       890,013  
Uncertain tax liability   26,116,000       22,356,000  
Liabilities held for sale   88,373,080       88,326,323  
Total current liabilities   184,237,983       179,467,260  
Right-of-use liability   19,635,409       10,543,934  
Other long-term liabilities   176,257       155,917  
Convertible debt, net   9,410,053       9,140,257  
Total liabilities $ 213,459,702       199,307,368  
Stockholders’ equity (deficiency)          
Subordinate Voting Shares ($- par value, unlimited shares authorized; 111,041,230 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024 and 110,007,030 at December 31, 2023)          
Multiple Voting Shares ($- par value, unlimited shares authorized; 320,851 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024 and 331,193 at December 31, 2023)          
Super Voting Shares ($- par value; unlimited shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023)          
Additional Paid in Capital   187,564,192       187,384,403  
Accumulated deficit   (210,139,512 )     (203,428,052 )
Total stockholders’ equity (deficiency) $ (22,575,320 )   $ (16,043,649 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficiency) $ 190,884,382     $ 183,263,719  
           

 

GOODNESS GROWTH HOLDINGS, INC.            
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS      
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2024 AND 2023      
(Amounts Expressed in United States Dollars, Unaudited and Condensed)      
       Three Months Ended
    March 31,
       2024      2023
Revenue   $ 24,087,315     $ 19,088,423  
Cost of sales            
Product costs     12,146,888       9,578,211  
Inventory valuation adjustments     (304,000 )     (10,000 )
Gross profit     12,244,427       9,520,212  
Operating expenses:            
Selling, general and administrative     7,051,613       7,156,835  
Stock-based compensation expenses     179,789       1,675,594  
Depreciation     73,547       159,511  
Amortization     180,034       159,766  
Total operating expenses     7,484,983       9,151,706  
             
Gain (loss) from operations     4,759,444       368,506  
             
Other income (expense):            
Impairment of long-lived assets            
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets     (120,856 )      
Gain (loss) on sale of property and equipment            
Interest expenses, net     (8,722,637 )     (7,134,789 )
Other income (expenses)     1,317,589       22,313  
Other income (expenses), net     (7,525,904 )     (7,112,476 )
             
Loss before income taxes     (2,766,460 )     (6,743,970 )
             
Current income tax expenses     (3,945,000 )     (1,725,000 )
Deferred income tax recoveries           63,000  
Net loss and comprehensive loss     (6,711,460 )     (8,405,970 )
Net loss per share – basic and diluted   $ (0.05 )   $ (0.07 )
Weighted average shares used in computation of net loss per share – basic & diluted     143,126,330       128,126,330  
             

 

GOODNESS GROWTH HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2024 AND 2023
(Amounts Expressed in United States Dollars, Unaudited and Condensed)
    March 31,
       2024      2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES              
Net loss   $ (6,711,460 )   $ (8,405,970 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:             
Inventory valuation adjustments     (304,000 )     (10,000 )
Depreciation     73,547       159,511  
Depreciation capitalized into inventory     560,180       734,087  
Non-cash operating lease expense     103,564       206,290  
Amortization of intangible assets     180,034       159,766  
Amortization of intangible assets capitalized into inventory     24,778        
Stock-based payments     179,789       1,675,594  
Warrants held     (1,327,879 )      
Interest Expense     2,015,889       1,398,848  
Impairment of long-lived assets            
Deferred income tax           (63,000 )
Accretion     52,815       394,573  
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets     120,856        
Change in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts Receivable     348,817       24,448  
Prepaid expenses     290,106       513,902  
Inventory     299,252       (1,230,547 )
Income taxes     175,203       1,807,364  
Uncertain tax position liabilities     3,760,000        
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     174,340       (1,141,057 )
Changes in operating lease liabilities     (168,746 )      
Change in assets and liabilities held for sale     (1,037,417 )     (18,767 )
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities     (1,190,332 )     (3,794,958 )
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES              
PP&E Additions     (899,264 )     (197,827 )
Deposits     (150,100 )     (522,375 )
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities     (1,049,364 )     (720,202 )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES              
Debt principal payments     (1,050,000 )      
Lease principal payments     (71,066 )     (288,574 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     (1,121,066 )     (288,574 )
Net change in cash     (3,360,762 )     (4,803,734 )
Cash, beginning of period     15,964,665       15,149,333  
Cash, end of period   $ 12,603,903     $ 10,345,599  
             

  

 
GOODNESS GROWTH HOLDINGS, INC.
STATE-BY-STATE REVENUE PERFORMANCE
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2024 AND 2023
 
    Three Months Ended            
    March 31,            
       2024      2023      $ Change      % Change 
Retail:                            
MN   $ 10,977,089     $ 10,718,916     $ 258,173     2 %
NY     1,821,269       2,361,942       (540,673 )   (23 )%
NM           1,052,316       (1,052,316 )   (100 )%
MD     6,801,082       2,338,625       4,462,457     191 %
Total Retail   $ 19,599,440     $ 16,471,799     $ 3,127,641     19 %
                         
Wholesale:                            
MD     3,353,661       1,563,875       1,789,786     114 %
NY     1,134,214       1,052,749       81,465     8 %
Total Wholesale   $ 4,487,875     $ 2,616,624     $ 1,871,251     72 %
                         
Total Revenue   $ 24,087,315     $ 19,088,423     $ 4,998,892     26 %
NY and NM Revenue   $ (2,955,483 )   $ (4,467,007 )   $ 1,511,524     (34 )%
Total Revenue excluding NY and NM   $ 21,131,832     $ 14,621,416     $ 6,510,416     45 %
                         

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Goodness Growth management occasionally elects to provide certain non-GAAP financial measures such as Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA). EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and does not have a standardized definition under GAAP. The following information provides reconciliations of the supplemental non-GAAP financial measures, presented herein to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company has provided the non-GAAP financial measures, which are not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP, as supplemental information and in addition to the financial measures that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. These supplemental non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the GAAP financial measures presented.

             
Reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA1            
             
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,
       2024      2023
Net income (loss)   $ (6,711,460 )   $ (8,405,970 )
Interest expense, net     8,722,637       7,134,789  
Income taxes     3,945,000       1,662,000  
Depreciation & Amortization     253,581       319,277  
Depreciation included in cost of goods sold     584,958       734,087  
EBITDA (non-GAAP)   $ 6,794,716     $ 1,444,183  
11Q24 EBITDA includes a $1.3 million gain on Grown Rogue warrants which are marked to market at each period end
             

 


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