exactEarth Announces Q4 and Year-End Fiscal 2018 Financial Results

• Q4 Revenue Increases 32% Year-Over-Year to $3.8 million
• Revenue Backlog Increases 21% Year-Over-Year to $31.5 million

CAMBRIDGE, ON, Jan. 25, 2019 /CNW/ - exactEarth Ltd. ("the Company"), a leading provider of Satellite AIS ("S-AIS") data services, announces its financial results for the three- and twelve-month periods ended October 31, 2018. All financial figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Q4 and Fiscal 2018 Highlights:

• Q4 2018 revenue was $3.8 million, up 32% compared to $2.9 million in Q4 2017. Fiscal 2018 revenue was $13.0 million, up 1% compared to $12.8 million in Fiscal 2017;
• Subscription-based revenue was 90% of total revenue in Q4 2018 (Q4 2017: 94%) and 87% of total revenue in Fiscal 2018 (Fiscal 2017: 83%);
• Subscription-based revenue increased 27% in Q4 2018 compared to Q4 2017, and 6% in Fiscal 2018 compared to Fiscal 2017;
• Revenue backlog was $31.5 million at year-end, compared to $26.0 million at the end of Fiscal 2017 and $29.3 million at the end of Q3 2018;
• Adjusted EBITDA* was $1.0 million in Q4 2018 compared to ($1.4) million in Q4 2017. Fiscal 2018 Adjusted EBITDA was ($3.2) million compared to ($4.4) million in Fiscal 2017;
• Cash balance was $4.8 million at year-end compared to $8.1 million at the end of Fiscal 2017 and $3.5 million at the end of Q3 2018;
• Increased the number of exactView RT payloads to 51, achieving real-time S-AIS performance with message latency of less than one minute;
• Announced the first commercial and fully-operational AIS payload onboard a radar satellite with the launch and commissioning of the Spanish radar satellite, PAZ;
• Entered into an alliance agreement with IHS Markit (NASDAQ: INFO) to launch AIS Platinum, which offers unprecedented frequency and coverage of vessel movements worldwide;
• Government of Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund ("SIF") committed to an investment of up to $7.2 million over three years to support the development, management and expansion of exactView RT;
• Subsequent to year-end, completed a $13.0 million private placement of convertible debentures to strengthen the balance sheet and support exactView RT growth plans; and
• Subsequent to quarter-end, the final launch of the Iridium NEXT constellation successfully took place with ten more exactView RT payloads onboard.

"Driven by the growing adoption of our real-time S-AIS service, exactView RT, our revenue trend was favourable in 2018, which culminated in Q4 results that generated a significant year-over-year increase in subscription revenue and in our order backlog," said Peter Mabson, President & CEO of exactEarth. "In 2018, we also took positive steps to strengthen our balance sheet and reduce our cash burn. The SIF funding announcement in Q4 and private placement financing completed shortly after Q4 provide the Company with significant financial flexibility and approximately $20.0 million in capital to support operational and growth initiatives. Of note, the SIF payment of $1.2 million in Q4 represented a catch-up from Q2 through the end of the fiscal year, so quarterly SIF payments will be more moderate going forward." 

Mr. Mabson continued: "Looking out to 2019, our agreement with Harris Corp will come into full-effect and we expect to have all 58 payloads in our second-generation constellation fully-operational. We believe we have a significant growth opportunity in front of us and we will continue to leverage the unique real-time capabilities of exactView RT to develop and launch new analytics products and to maintain sales momentum in our core S-AIS market, while further expanding our footprint in the broader maritime information services market." 

Q4 and Fiscal 2018 Financial Review

Total revenue in the three-month period ended October 31, 2018 ("Q4 2018") was $3.8 million compared to $2.9 million in the three-month period ended October 31, 2017 ("Q4 2017"). Total revenue in Fiscal 2018 was $13.0 million compared to $12.8 million in Fiscal 2017.

Order bookings in Q4 and Fiscal 2018 were $5.4 million and $16.9 million compared to $3.0 million and $17.3 million in Q4 and Fiscal 2017, respectively. Order bookings will fluctuate on a quarter-to-quarter basis reflecting the timing to complete new customer agreements. Revenue backlog at October 31, 2018 increased to $31.5 million compared to $29.3 million at the end of Q4 2018 and $26.0 million at the end of Fiscal 2017.

Subscription Services revenue in Q4 2018 was $3.4 million, up 27% compared to $2.7 million in Q4 2017. Subscription Services revenue for Fiscal 2018 was $11.3 million, up 6% compared to $10.6 million in Fiscal 2017. Excluding $0.09 million of non-cash revenue in the Fiscal 2018 period that resulted from the trade of AIS subscription data for data processing services and the $0.62 million in Fiscal 2017 non-cash revenue associated with an Asset Transfer Agreement (whereby we provided in-kind datasets, not licensed for commercial use to Communitech, in exchange for title to the EV-9 satellite), Subscription Services revenue increased by $1.2 million, or 12%, in Fiscal 2018.

Subscription Services revenue in Q4 2018 represented 90% of total revenue (Fiscal 2018: 87%) compared to 94% in Q4 2017 (Fiscal 2017: 83%). Subscription Services revenue from commercial customers rose 35% in Q4 2018 and, excluding non-cash revenue, rose 15% in Fiscal 2018 compared to the same periods last year. Excluding the non-cash Subscription Services revenue generated in Fiscal 2017, Subscription Services revenue from government customers would have risen 19% and 9%, respectively, for the three- and twelve-month periods ended October 31, 2018.

Data Products revenue in Q4 2018 was $0.26 million compared to $0.13 million in Q4 2017. Data Products revenue for Fiscal 2018 was $0.97 million compared to $0.99 million in Fiscal 2017. Data Products revenue is generated from on-demand customer requests, which results in some variability in quarter-to-quarter revenue levels.

Other Products & Services revenue in Q4 2018 was $0.11 million compared to $0.04 million in Q4 2017. Other Products & Services revenue for Fiscal 2018 was $0.69 million compared to $1.2 million in Fiscal 2017. The decrease is primarily due to the timing of delivery of services related to the Company's ongoing small-vessel opportunities.

Gross Margin in Q4 2018 was 60% compared to 30% in Q4 2017. Gross Margin stayed relatively flat for Fiscal 2018 at 33%. Q4 2018 Gross Margin improved year-over-year due to higher revenue and lower cost of revenue. Cost of revenue decreased due to $1.2 million of SIF funding received from the Canadian government to offset costs related to the development and roll-out of exactView RT, the Company's real-time S-AIS service. The SIF funding reflected the period from February 13, 2018 through September 30, 2018. Additional SIF funding payments are expected in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 fiscal years. Detailed information regarding the SIF funding can be found on the Company's website in a press release dated October 19, 2018.   

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expense in Q4 2018 was $0.97 million compared to $1.9 million in Q4 2017. SG&A for Fiscal 2018 was $6.3 million, compared to $7.0 million in Fiscal 2017. SG&A expense decreased year-over-year due to reversal of bad debt, reduced Restricted Share Unit, Deferred Share Unit and stock option expense, decreased spending on conference, travel and consulting and moving expenses, partially offset by increased selling expenses and professional fees.

Product development and research and development ("R&D") expense in Q4 2018 was $0.18 million compared to $0.36 million in Q4 2017. Product development and R&D expense for Fiscal 2018 was $1.4 million, compared to $1.7 million in Fiscal 2017. The Company's product development and R&D activities are currently focused primarily on the development of web-based functionality, data processing capabilities and analytics-based product offerings.

Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2018 was $1.0 million compared to ($1.4) million in Q4 2017. Adjusted EBITDA for Fiscal 2018 was ($3.2) million, compared to ($4.4) million in Fiscal 2017. The year-over-year improvement in Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2018 and Fiscal 2018 was due to higher revenue, the $1.2 million in SIF funding which offset certain cost of revenue expenses, lower SG&A expense and lower product development and R&D expense. (Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure and is defined below)

Net loss for Q4 2018 was ($10.3) million, or ($0.48) per share, compared to ($29.0) million, or ($1.34) per share, in Q4 2017. Net loss for Fiscal 2018 was ($16.2) million, or ($0.75) per share, compared to ($33.8) million, or ($1.57) per share, in Fiscal 2017. Net loss for Q4 and Fiscal 2018 included a non-cash $10.9 million, or $0.50 per share, impairment charge, while the net loss for Q4 and Fiscal 2017 included a non-cash $26.9 million, or $1.24 per share, impairment charge. More information on the impairment charges can be found in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"), which is on the exactEarth website (www.exactearth.com) and the Sedar website (www.sedar.com).

Excluding the impairment charges in 2018 and 2017, the Company would have generated a net loss of ($5.3) million in Fiscal 2018 and a net loss of ($6.9) million in Fiscal 2017. The year-over-year improvement is due primarily to increased revenue, the SIF contribution which offset Cost of Revenue and lower expenses for SG&A, product development and R&D, and depreciation and amortization.

exactEarth generated $0.2 million of cash in operations in Q4 2018 compared with $1.6 million of cash used in operations in Q4 2017. For Fiscal 2018, exactEarth used $3.0 million of cash in operations, compared to $7.7 million of cash used in operations in Fiscal 2017. The Company's cash balance at October 31, 2018 was $4.8 million compared to $3.5 million at the end of Q3 2018 and $8.1 million at October 31, 2017.

As at October 31, 2018, the Company had 21,626,288 shares outstanding on a non-diluted basis. 

Subsequent Event

On December 13, 2018, the Company completed an offering of Convertible Debentures at a price of $1,000 per Convertible Debenture for gross proceeds of $13.0 million. The Convertible Debenture Financing represented the culmination of an extensive review of strategic alternatives by the Special Committee of the Board of Directors, which will provide the Company with a solid financial foundation from which to pursue its growth opportunities. Each Convertible Debenture is convertible into 2,000 Common Shares of the Company, being an effective conversion price of $0.50 per share at the option of the holder (subject to customary adjustments from time to time), at any time prior to the fifth anniversary of the closing date. The proceeds from the Convertible Debenture Financing will be used to fund the Company's ongoing working capital needs in support of business operations and for growing the customer base for exactView RT, which is the only real-time S-AIS service on the market today. For additional information on this financing, see the Company's press releases dated December 4, 2018, and December 13, 2018, and/or refer to note 21 (Subsequent events) in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which can be found on the Company's website and the SEDAR website.

*Non-IFRS Measures

We measure Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"), plus offering related expenses, unrealized foreign exchange losses, share-based compensation costs, restructuring costs and impairment losses, less unrealized foreign exchange gains and gains from insurance settlements. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful supplemental information as it provides an indication of the income generated by our main business activities before taking into consideration how they are financed or taxed and exclude the impact of items that are considered by management to be outside of the Company's ongoing operating results. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to net income (loss) determined in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of our performance or to cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities as a measure of liquidity and cash flows.

We define Subscription Revenue as the dollar sum of fully executed contracts for our products and/or services to our customers that are subscription-based, typically sold with a one-year period of service and recognized in our "Subscription Services" segmented revenue.

Adjusted EBITDA (000's)

	Three months ended				Year ended
	October 31, 2018		October 31, 2017		October 31, 2018		October 31, 2017
Net loss	$	(10,322)	$	(28,966)	$	(16,223)	$	(33,834)
Interest income		(5)		(20)		(38)		(79)
Interest expense		14		29		72		131
Income tax expense		30		8		152		24
Depreciation and amortization		451		916		1,699		3,791
EBITDA	$	(9,832)	$	(28,033)	$	(14,338)	$	(29,967)
Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss		72		(432)		(53)		(376)
Share-based compensation		(168)		173		298		624
Impairment losses		10,885		26,886		10,885		26,886
Restructuring costs		-		(12)		(2)		(99)
Other Income		-		-		-		(1,455)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	957	$	(1,418)	$	(3,210)	$	(4,387)

About exactEarth Ltd.

exactEarth is a leading provider of global maritime vessel data for ship tracking and maritime situational awareness solutions. Since its establishment in 2009, exactEarth has pioneered a powerful new method of maritime surveillance called Satellite AIS ("S-AIS") and has delivered to its clients a view of maritime behaviours across all regions of the world's oceans unrestricted by terrestrial limitations. exactEarth has deployed an operational data processing supply chain involving a constellation of satellites, receiving ground stations, patented decoding algorithms and advanced "big data" processing and distribution facilities. This ground-breaking system provides a comprehensive picture of the location of AIS equipped maritime vessels throughout the world and allows exactEarth to deliver data and information services characterized by high performance, reliability, security and simplicity to large international markets. For more information, visit exactearth.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that, to the extent they are not recitations of historical fact, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding exactEarth's future plans, our ability to continue as a going concern, objectives or economic performance, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, including statements regarding, among other things, expectations of our exactView RT offering relative to competitors, timing of the achievement of real-time global vessel tracking via our second-generation constellation, timing expectations with respect to launch of satellites, expectations of the exactView RT capabilities driving growth, growth opportunities for the Company in the maritime information services market, the outcome of the election of directors and the outcome of a strategic review process. exactEarth uses words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by exactEarth in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors exactEarth believes are appropriate under the relevant circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to exactEarth's expectations and predictions is subject to any number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties. Many factors could cause exactEarth's actual results, historical financial statements, or future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors include, without limitation: uncertainty in the global economic environment; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; delays in the purchasing decisions of exactEarth's customers; the competition exactEarth faces in its industry and/or marketplace; the further delayed launch of satellites; the reduced scope of significant existing contracts; and the possibility of technical, logistical or planning issues in connection with the deployment of exactEarth's products or services.

exactEarth™ Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)
			As at October  31,		As at October 31,
			2018		2017
			$		$
ASSETS
Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		4,774		8,117
	Short-term investments		49		-
	Trade accounts receivable		3,491		3,171
	Unbilled revenue		911		613
	Prepaid expenses and other assets		654		1,266
Total current assets			9,879		13,167
	Property, plant and equipment		4,009		12,576
	Intangible assets		1,720		5,405
	Other long-term assets		16		-
Total assets			15,624		31,148
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		4,780		3,722
	Deferred revenue		2,412		2,252
	Restructuring provision		-		388
	Loans payable - current		459		567
	Long-term incentive plan liability - current		11		166
Total current liabilities			7,662		7,095
	Government loans payable		498		662
	Long-term incentive plan liability		162		343
	Other long-term liabilities		95		45
Total liabilities			8,417		8,145
Shareholders' equity
	Share capital		123,794		123,781
	Contributed surplus		1,451		1,070
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(11)		(44)
	Deficit		(118,027)		(101,804)
Total shareholders' equity			7,207		23,003
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity			15,624		31,148

exactEarth™ Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands of Canadian dollars except for per share figures)
			Three months ended				Year ended
			October 31,		October 31,		October 31,		October 31,
			2018		2017		2018		2017
			$		$		$		$
	Revenue		3,769		2,852		12,955		12,833
	Cost of revenue		1,497		1,998		8,633		8,618
	Gross profit		2,272		854		4,322		4,215
Operating expenses
	Selling, general and administrative		966		1,924		6,255		7,004
	Product development and research and development		180		364		1,418		1,692
	Depreciation and amortization		451		916		1,699		3,791
	Impairment losses		10,885		26,886		10,885		26,886
Loss from operations			(10,210)		(29,236)		(15,935)		(35,158)
Other expenses (income)
	Other income		-		-		-		(1,455)
	Other expense		(12)		-		49		197
	Restructuring expense (recovery)		-		(12)		(2)		(99)
	Foreign exchange loss (gain)		85		(275)		55		(43)
	Interest income		(5)		(20)		(38)		(79)
	Interest expense		14		29		72		131
Total other expenses (income)			82		(278)		136		(1,348)
	Income tax expense		30		8		152		24
Net loss			(10,322)		(28,966)		(16,223)		(33,834)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
	Item that may be subsequently reclassified to net loss:
	Foreign currency translation, net of income tax expense of nil		46		(69)		33		(89)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)			46		(69)		33		(89)
Comprehensive loss			(10,276)		(29,035)		(16,190)		(33,923)
Loss per share
	Basic and diluted loss per share		(0.48)		(1.34)		(0.75)		(1.57)

exactEarth™ Ltd.
Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)
unaudited
			Three months ended				Year ended
			October 31,		October 31,		October 31,		October 31,
			2018		2017		2018		2017
			$		$		$		$
	Net loss		(10,322)		(28,966)		(16,223)		(33,834)
Add (deduct) items not involving cash
	Non-monetary transaction		15		-		-		(618)
	Non-cash interest		14		27		72		126
	Depreciation and amortization		451		928		1,699		3,791
	Impairment losses		10,885		26,886		10,885		26,886
	Loss on disposal of assets		-		-		-		3
	Gain on insurance settlement		-		-		-		(1,455)
	Operating grant recognized on SIF loan		(1,154)		-		(1,154)		-
	Technology demonstration program recovery		-		(99)		(202)		(381)
	Long-term incentive plan expense		(230)		1		43		245
	Stock-based compensation		62		90		255		380
	Restructuring reserve - revaluation		-		-		(2)		(99)
	Net change in non-cash working capital balances		480		(356)		1,806		(2,347)
Other operating cash flows
	Technology demonstration program funding received		-		99		407		817
	Settlement of restricted share units		-		-		(238)		(112)
	Restructuring provision - payment of salary continuance		-		(174)		(386)		(1,109)
Cash flows used in operations			201		(1,564)		(3,038)		(7,707)
Investing activities
	Acquisition of property, plant and equipment		(290)		(344)		(1,455)		(780)
	Reimbursement of acquisition costs of property, plant and equipment		63		-		315		396
	Insurance recovery		-		-		-		3,500
	Acquisition of intangible assets		-		58		(28)		(121)
Cash flows (used in) from investing activities			(227)		(286)		(1,168)		2,995
Financing activities
	Government loan repayment		(123)		(82)		(533)		(451)
	Government loan advances		1,425		-		1,425		-
	Long-term debt repayment		-		(88)		(145)		(350)
	Purchase of short-term investments		(49)		-		(49)		-
Cash flows used in financing activities			1,253		(170)		698		(801)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			94		80		165		(50)
Net decrease in cash			1,321		(1,940)		(3,343)		(5,563)
Cash, beginning of the period			3,453		10,057		8,117		13,680
Cash, end of the period			4,774		8,117		4,774		8,117
Supplemental cash flow information
	Interest received		5		20		38		79
	Income taxes paid		30		8		152		24

exactEarth™ Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)
For the year ended October 31, 2018		Total		Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Share Capital		Contributed Surplus
		$		$		$		$		$
Balance at October 31, 2017		23,003		(101,804)		(44)		123,781		1,070
	Stock-based compensation expense	255		-		-		-		255
	Restricted share unit expense and transfer	139		-		-		-		139
	Issuance of common shares	-		-		-		13		(13)
	Comprehensive income (loss)	(16,190)		(16,223)		33		-		-
Balance at  October 31, 2018		7,207		(118,027)		(11)		123,794		1,451
For the year ended October 31, 2017
Balance at October 31, 2016		56,543		(67,970)		45		123,769		699
	Stock-based compensation expense	380		-		-		-		380
	Issuance of common shares	3		-		-		12		(9)
	Comprehensive loss	(33,923)		(33,834)		(89)		-		-
Balance at  October 31, 2017		23,003		(101,804)		(44)		123,781		1,070

SOURCE exactEarth Ltd.

Contact information: INVESTORS: Dave Mason, Investor Relations, Tel: [phone], [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.exactearth.com/