BALLERUP, Denmark, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LiqTech International, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIQT) ("LiqTech"), a clean technology company that manufactures and markets highly specialized filtration technologies, today reported third quarter 2021 financial results for the period ended September 30, 2021.
Third Quarter 2021 Highlights
- Third quarter revenue of $4.1 million.
- Net loss of $2.9 million.
- Strong ending cash balance of $20.7 million.
- Received first order from Chevron (CVX) for new offshore deep-sea drilling application.
- Signed key agreements for new China manufacturing facility and began equipment procurement.
- Received first orders for new non-marine applications.
Highlights Subsequent to Third Quarter
- Received first Middle East oil & gas order from Baker Hughes (BKR).
- Received first oil & gas order from India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
Management Commentary
Third quarter results were lower than expectations due to continuing supply chain disruptions that have impacted our ability to deliver all of the planned shipments. We expect these supply chain issues to remain with us through at least the next quarter. However, we continue to see improving trends in virtually all of our end markets and we are booking new orders for new applications. We expect to end the year with a good backlog as we enter 2022.
LiqTech CEO, Sune Mathiesen, commented, "I am very pleased with the traction we are gaining in diversifying our business and growing our order book, particularly within the oil and gas industry, where we have recently booked orders from several industry leaders such as Baker Hughes, Chevron and ONGC. The first orders from these important industry leaders confirm our progress. We believe that we will see further revenue growth in our oil & gas business in the coming months."
"While the past 18 months have been very challenging, we have taken this time to increase our investments in developing new product applications for the oil & gas and black carbon marine emission reduction markets. We expect these markets will be significant contributors to our business in 2022 and beyond. Further, we are seeing a recovery in our marine scrubber business, with increased inquiries and new orders. We see further opportunities if the IMO agrees to an open loop scrubber ban currently being discussed at its MEPC Committee session. Finally, we are successfully executing on our China joint venture manufacturing facility, where we remain on schedule to be operational in the second half of 2022."
"As we look to the future, we have better visibility and greater confidence in our order book and pipeline of potential orders. As a result, we believe the timing is now appropriate to provide guidance for the remainder of 2021 and 2022. Due to the previously highlighted supply chain issues, we anticipate fourth quarter 2021 revenues of $6 million to $8 million. However, we will end the year with a good backlog and expect ramping revenue growth starting in the first quarter of 2022. For the full year 2022, we see revenues of $50 million to $80 million," Mathiesen continued. "The upside scenario assumes the IMO will ban open loop scrubbers at port and that certain large orders in our oil and gas pipeline will be released sooner than currently expected."
Q3 2021 Financial Results
Revenue for the third quarter of 2021 was $4.1 million compared to $3.5 million in the third quarter of 2020, representing an increase of $0.6 million, or 17%. The increase in revenue was mainly driven by an increase in sales of diesel particulate filters and membranes. Revenue from our marine scrubber business continued to be negatively impacted by the pandemic. The Company has experienced some supply chain disruptions, particularly in its ability to obtain pumps and electronic parts, which has hindered our ability to complete and deliver certain systems. These impacts are expected to persist at least into the fourth quarter.
Gross profit for the third quarter of 2021 was $0.2 million, reflecting a gross profit margin of 4.7%, compared to $(0.3) million for the third quarter of 2020, or a negative 8.7% gross profit margin. The overall impact on gross profit was due primarily to higher sales volume compared to last year. Gross profit for the third quarter of 2020 was also negatively impacted by costs related to the planned closure of the production facility in North America, including write-off of inventory components, increased scrap cost for production machinery and other related costs.
Total operating expense for the third quarter of 2021 was $2.8 million compared to $2.5 million for the third quarter of 2020, an increase of 11% compared to the prior period. Operating expense was higher due to strategic decisions to increase selling and engineering investments to drive revenue growth.
Net other expense for the third quarter of 2021 was negative $(0.3) million compared to a negative $(1.1) million in the third quarter of 2020. The negative result in the third quarter of 2021 was mainly due to amortization discount and interest expense on the Convertible Note, offset by a reduction in the foreign currency transaction loss due to a more favorable DKK/USD exchange rate.
Net loss for the third quarter of 2021 was $(2.9) million compared to $(3.9) million for the third quarter of 2020, resulting primarily from the higher revenue and gross profit and the positive impact from foreign currency transactions.
Cash on hand and restricted cash at September 30, 2021 was $20.7 million compared to $13.3 million at December 31, 2020. Cash used in operating activities was negative $(4.4) million, mainly due to the net loss for the period adjusted for non-cash activities of $2.8 million, offset by favorable changes in working capital of $1.2 million.
Marine Scrubber Market
We continue to see improving market conditions for scrubber systems as the price spread between high and low sulfur fuels (HSFO and LSFO), the key economic driver supporting investments in marine scrubbers to meet the IMO 2020 low sulfur emissions mandate, remains above $100 per metric ton. In recent weeks, the spread has widened further, as reports of shortages of VLSFO permeate the market.
The IMO is presently discussing a harmonization of scrubber discharge regulations at their MEPC 77 committee session that ends November 12. The potential regulatory harmonization by the IMO follows myriad local open loop scrubber discharge bans around the world.
The Company believes that trends in the marine scrubber market continue to favor increased adoption of closed loop scrubbers that employ the Company's filtration technology. This transition to closed loop systems could accelerate with a potential global port ban of open loop systems, providing LiqTech the additional opportunity to supply conversion filtration systems for some 4,000 vessels that have already installed open loop or hybrid scrubber systems. In addition to 4,000 vessels that would need to be converted, research analysts continue to estimate that an additional 4,000 to 6,000 ships will yet be retrofitted with exhaust gas scrubber systems.
Black Carbon / NOx Reduction Marine Market
As previously noted, the Company's optimism in the rapidly developing black carbon emission reduction market for ocean-going and inland marine vessels led us to take a decision to move forward with plans to develop a new manufacturing facility in China. The facility will manufacture both black carbon and NOx reduction products and will also function as a service center for the Company's marine scrubber products.
Tightening legislation in the marine industry has created an enormous market opportunity to utilize our extensive experience in diesel particulate filters (DPF) to also reduce black carbon emissions. China is taking the lead in reducing their black carbon emissions but we also see new mandates in several European countries and expect that the IMO could likely implement global black carbon emissions reduction regulation.
The Company recently signed a lease agreement for its new China manufacturing facility in the city of Taicang, some 50 km northwest of Shanghai. The investment agreement with the Chinese authorities has also been signed. We have started installation of the required infrastructure for the facility and have begun procurement of major equipment required for the manufacture of our black carbon and NOx reduction products. We remain on track to be operational in the second half of 2022.
Oil & Gas Market
The Company has recently received orders for several oil and gas projects from industry leaders such as Baker Hughes, Chevron and ONGC. These orders span global geographies and feature applications in produced water treatment and deep-sea oil drilling.
The order from Baker Hughes for the Middle East is a significant milestone for the company, as we not only enter a very large market, it also marks the Company's first entry into a "build, own and operate" model, where we can generate income from both the sale and operation of our water filtration systems. We are currently discussing several additional orders for the Middle East, as tightening regulation for environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions to address local water scarcity and oil production challenges continues.
Management Expectations
Fourth Quarter 2021
- Revenue of $6 to $8 million
- Gross profit of 15% to 20%
The Company is experiencing increasing demand for its products and solutions following the negative impacts from the pandemic that extended well into 2021. The improvement in the overall market environment is being partly offset by supply chain disruptions, particularly affecting our ability to obtain pumps and electronic parts. These disruptions have impacted third quarter deliveries and will impact fourth quarter deliveries as well.
Full Year 2022
- Revenue of $50 to $80 million
- Gross margin of 30% to 35%
The Company is expecting continued revenue growth in its oil & gas business, coupled with continued progress in our marine scrubber business. Taken together, these end markets are expected to contribute more than 50% of 2022 revenue. Additional revenue growth is expected from other component products and systems sales, including OEM membranes, DPF filters, engineered plastic parts and land-based water treatment systems. The Company is expecting limited near-term revenues from the development of the black carbon marine emission reduction market in 2022. However, a significant ramp in revenues is expected in the following years after production begins in our new China manufacturing facility.
Conference Call Details
Date and Time: Thursday, November 11, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. ET
Call-in Information: Interested parties can access the conference call by dialing (833) 535-2206 or (412) 902-6741.
Webcast: Interested parties can access the conference call via a live webcast, which is available in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://www.liqtech.com/investor-relations/ or at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2364/43519.
Slide Presentation: There will be a slide presentation accompanying today's event. The Company's slide presentation for the call will be available on the Investor Relations page at https://www.liqtech.com/investor-relations/.
Replay: A teleconference replay of the call will be available until November 18, 2021 at (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088, confirmation #10161459.
About LiqTech International Inc.
LiqTech International, Inc., a Nevada corporation, is a clean technology company that provides state-of-the-art ceramic silicon carbide filtration technologies for gas and liquid purification. LiqTech's silicon carbide membranes are designed to be used in the most challenging water purification applications and its silicon carbide filters are used to control diesel exhaust soot emissions. Using nanotechnology, LiqTech develops products using its proprietary silicon carbide technology, resulting in a wide range of component membranes, membrane systems and filters for both microfiltration and ultrafiltration applications. By incorporating LiqTech's SiC liquid membrane technology with the Company´s extensive systems design experience and capabilities, LiqTech offers unique, turnkey solutions for the most difficult water purification applications.
For more information, please visit www.liqtech.com
Follow LiqTech on Linkedln: http://www.linkedin.com/company/liqtech-international
Follow LiqTech on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LiqTech
Forward–Looking Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Although the forward-looking statements in this release reflect the good faith judgment of management, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in the reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected or projected. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release.
We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release.
LIQTECH INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES |
||||
As of |
As of |
|||
September 30, |
December 31, |
|||
2021 |
2020 |
|||
(Unaudited) |
||||
Current Assets: |
||||
Cash and restricted cash |
$ 20,692,339 |
$ 13,264,449 |
||
Accounts receivable, net |
2,233,586 |
3,129,109 |
||
Inventories, net |
5,117,362 |
5,522,038 |
||
Contract assets |
1,939,107 |
2,708,136 |
||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
686,112 |
1,031,194 |
||
Total Current Assets |
30,668,506 |
25,654,926 |
||
Long-term Assets: |
||||
Property and equipment, net |
9,345,299 |
10,321,511 |
||
Operating lease right-of-use assets |
7,246,422 |
4,947,734 |
||
Deposits and other assets |
517,847 |
545,673 |
||
Intangible assets, net |
370,012 |
480,060 |
||
Goodwill |
245,467 |
260,233 |
||
Total Long-Term Assets |
17,725,047 |
16,555,211 |
||
Total Assets |
$ 48,393,553 |
$ 42,210,137 |
||
LIQTECH INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES |
||||
As of |
As of |
|||
September 30, |
December 31, |
|||
2021 |
2020 |
|||
(Unaudited) |
||||
Current Liabilities: |
||||
Accounts payable |
$ 2,023,985 |
$ 2,332,151 |
||
Accrued expenses |
4,363,370 |
4,908,961 |
||
Current portion of finance lease obligation |
379,726 |
394,839 |
||
Current portion of operating lease obligations |
781,235 |
1,026,235 |
||
Current portion of convertible note payable |
5,880,000 |
- |
||
Contract liabilities |
908,172 |
1,152,748 |
||
Total Current Liabilities |
14,336,488 |
9,814,934 |
||
Convertible note payable, net of current portion |
8,415,538 |
- |
||
Deferred tax liability |
245,262 |
305,167 |
||
Other liabilities, net of current portion |
564,621 |
- |
||
Finance lease obligation, net of current portion |
2,650,139 |
3,112,496 |
||
Operating lease liability, net of current portion |
6,485,282 |
4,159,225 |
||
Total Long-Term Liabilities |
18,360,842 |
7,576,888 |
||
Total Liabilities |
32,697,330 |
17,391,822 |
||
Stockholders' Equity: |
||||
Common stock; par value $0,001, 25,000,000 shares authorized |
21,285 |
21,655 |
||
Additional paid-in capital |
70,784,780 |
69,897,698 |
||
Accumulated deficit |
(50,516,461) |
(42,054,968) |
||
Other comprehensive loss |
(4,593,381) |
(3,046,070) |
||
Total Stockholders' Equity |
15,696,223 |
24,818,315 |
||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity |
$ 48,393,553 |
$ 42,210,137 |
LIQTECH INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES |
||||||||
For the Three Months Ended |
For the Nine Months Ended |
|||||||
September 30, |
September 30, |
|||||||
2021 |
2020 |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||
Revenue |
$ 4,142,954 |
$ 3,543,730 |
$ 12,157,394 |
$ 18,467,057 |
||||
Cost of Goods Sold |
3,946,732 |
3,852,210 |
11,525,847 |
15,641,998 |
||||
Gross Profit |
196,222 |
(308,480) |
631,547 |
2,825,059 |
||||
Operating Expenses: |
||||||||
Selling expenses |
1,205,849 |
741,738 |
3,417,933 |
2,024,485 |
||||
General and administrative expenses |
1,102,772 |
1,526,327 |
3,824,574 |
4,585,857 |
||||
Research and development expenses |
497,823 |
256,239 |
1,370,059 |
883,752 |
||||
Total Operating Expense |
2,806,444 |
2,524,304 |
8,612,566 |
7,494,094 |
||||
Loss from Operations |
(2,610,222) |
(2,832,784) |
(7,981,019) |
(4,669,035) |
||||
Other Income (Expense) |
||||||||
Interest and other income |
- |
8,164 |
- |
12,901 |
||||
Gain on modification of earn-out liability |
- |
301,573 |
- |
301,573 |
||||
Interest expense |
(235,318) |
(41,388) |
(491,335) |
(102,926) |
||||
Amortization discount on convertible note |
(292,129) |
- |
(543,933) |
- |
||||
Fair value adjustment warrants |
- |
(664,350) |
- |
(901,250) |
||||
Gain (Loss) on currency transactions |
218,030 |
(660,747) |
506,018 |
(821,681) |
||||
Gain on sale of fixed assets |
(8) |
- |
1,126 |
- |
||||
Total Other Income (Expense) |
(309,425) |
(1,056,748) |
(528,124) |
(1,511,383) |
||||
Loss Before Income Taxes |
(2,919,647) |
(3,889,532) |
(8,509,143) |
(6,180,418) |
||||
Income Tax Benefit |
(15,691) |
(16,113) |
(47,650) |
(46,687) |
||||
Net Loss |
$ (2,903,956) |
$ (3,873,419) |
$ (8,461,493) |
$ (6,133,731) |
||||
Basic and diluted Loss Per Share |
$ (0.13) |
$ (0.18) |
$ (0.39) |
$ (0.29) |
||||
Basic and Diliuted Weighted Average Common |
21,540,688 |
21,653,514 |
21,661,945 |
21,059,251 |
SOURCE LiqTech International, Inc.
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