Akerna Corp. Reports Quarter Ended September 2020 Results

Total software ARR up 44%, software revenue up 40%, revenue up 16%, compared to the quarter ended September 2019.

PR Newswire

DENVER, Nov. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Akerna (Nasdaq: KERN), an enterprise software, leading compliance technology provider and developer of the cannabis industry’s first seed-to-sale enterprise resource planning (ERP) software technology (MJ Platform®), today announced financial results for its quarter ended September 30, 2020.

“I’m thrilled to report we achieved 40% year over year software revenue growth in this quarter and have increased our total SaaS ARR by 44% over this same time last year,” said Jessica Billingsley, CEO of Akerna. “Looking forward, we are entering a period of massive market expansion.  Five new states have approved cannabis via ballot measure in the recent election potentially representing approximately $18M in new TAM for our software and services offerings, and many more states and countries have legislative initiatives proposed over the coming months. Our scaled ecosystem is uniquely positioned to capture these opportunities, with the most robust cannabis technology suite available.”

September Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights

  • Software revenue was $3.2 million, an increase of 40% year over year
  • Total revenue was $3.7 million, an increase of 16% year over year
  • Gross Profit was $2.0 million, an increase of 9% year over year
  • Net Loss was $4.7 million compared to a net loss of $2.3 million for the period ended September 30, 2019
  • Adjusted EBITDA was ($3.0 million), compared to ($2.2 million) for the period ended September 30, 2019
    • See “Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below
  • Cash was $14.3 million as of September 30, 2020

September Quarter 2020 Key Metrics

  • Total SaaS ARR of $14.1 million, up 44% year over year
  • Average new MJ Platform order up 94% year over year
  • MJ Platform transaction volume up 181% year over year
  • Retail order volume up 68% year over year
  • Retail order value up 127% year over year
  • New Bookings ARR of $1.2 million

September Quarter 2020 Operational Highlights

  • Close the acquisition of Ample Organics
  • Signed an agreement with Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. to provide CBD and Hemp retailers that use Akerna’s Point of Sale products with a credit card payment processing solution
  • Launched MJ Retail, a first-of-its-kind proprietary software technology designed to provide merchants and consumers with a flexible and mobile-friendly experience offering a clean and lightweight Point of Sale solution that connects to the Akerna eco-system and which can leverage our Priority payments partnership
  • Announced the release of MJ Analytics, a next generation cannabis data analytics platform made possible through a partnership with the Business Intelligence firm Domo
  • Akerna consulting clients won 100% of the medical cannabis dispensary licenses awarded in Iowa
  • Closed a $12 million follow on offering

Conference Call Details

The Company will host a conference call Thursday November 12, 2020 at 8:30am ET to discuss its financial results and business highlights.  A question and answer session will follow prepared remarks. 

To participate in the conference call, please dial 877-407-3982 (domestic) or 201-493-6780 (international). Participants should request the Akerna Corp. Earnings Call or provide confirmation code 13713080.  Please dial into the call at least five minutes before the scheduled start time.

A replay of the call will be available through November 26, 2020, at (844) 512-2921 (domestic) or (412) 317-6671 (international). The passcode for the call and replay is 13713080.

About Akerna

Akerna is a global regulatory compliance technology company. Akerna’s service offerings include MJ Platform®, Leaf Data Systems®, solo sciences tech platform and Ample Organics. Since its establishment in 2010, Akerna has tracked more than $20 billion in cannabis sales. Akerna is based in Denver. For more information, please visit www.akerna.com and follow us on Twitter @AkernaCorp.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements regarding our belief that recently passed ballot measures potentially represent approximately $18M in new TAM for our software and services offerings, having a scaled ecosystem gives us more opportunities to leverage these new markets and management’s conference call in relation to our quarterly results. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other important factors, many of which are outside Akerna’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others that may affect actual results or outcomes, include (i) Akerna’s ability to maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees, (ii) changes in applicable laws or regulations, (iii) changes in the market place due to the coronavirus pandemic or other market factors, (iv) and other risks and uncertainties disclosed from time to time in Akerna’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including those under “Risk Factors” therein.  You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All information herein speaks only as of the date hereof, in the case of information about Akerna, or the date of such information, in the case of information from persons other than Akerna. Akerna undertakes no duty to update or revise the information contained herein. Forecasts and estimates regarding Akerna’s industry and end markets are based on sources believed to be reliable; however, there can be no assurance these forecasts and estimates will prove accurate in whole or in part.

Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

In addition to our results determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we believe the following non-GAAP measures are useful in evaluating our operating performance. We use the following non-GAAP financial information to evaluate our ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. We believe that non-GAAP financial information, when taken collectively, may be helpful to investors because it provides consistency and comparability with past financial performance. However, non-GAAP financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only, has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP.

Investors are cautioned that there are material limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures as an analytical tool. Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate similarly titled non-GAAP measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our non-GAAP financial measures as tools for comparison.  We attempt compensate for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP items excluded from these non-GAAP financial measures.

Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.


Adjusted EBITDA

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA, when considered with the financial statements determined in accordance with GAAP, is helpful to investors in understanding our performance and allows for comparison of our performance and credit strength to our peers. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered alternatives to net loss as determined in accordance with GAAP as indicators of our performance or liquidity.

We define EBITDA as net loss before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and change in fair value of convertible notes. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA further adjusted to exclude the effects of the following items for the reasons set forth below:

  • Stock-based compensation expense, because this represents a non-cash charge and our mix of cash and share-based compensation may differ from other companies, which effects the comparability of results of operations and liquidity;
  • Cost incurred in connection with business combinations that are required to be expensed as incurred in accordance with GAAP, because business combination related costs are specific to the complexity and size of the underlying transactions as well as the frequency of our acquisition activity these costs are not reflective of our ongoing operations
  • Costs incurred in connection with debt issuance when we elect the fair value option to account for the debt instrument because if we had not elected the fair value option such costs would be recognized as an adjustment to the effective interest and excluded from EBITDA
  • Restructuring costs because we believe these costs are not representative of operating performance; and
  • Equity in earnings (losses) of investees because our share of the operations of investees is not representative of our own operating performance and may not be monetized for a number of years.


Related Non-GAAP Expense Measures

We reference in our earnings call certain non-GAAP expense measures, including non-GAAP Operating Expenses, non-GAAP Operating Expenses excluding Ample, non-GAAP Product Development Expense, non-GAAP Sales and Marketing Expenses, non-GAAP Sales and Marketing Expenses excluding Ample, non-GAAP General and Administrative Expenses and non-GAAP General and Administrative Expenses excluding Ample. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered with the financial statements determined in accordance with GAAP, are helpful to management and investors in understanding our performance quarter over quarter and to the comparable quarter in our prior fiscal year by excluding the same items we exclude from EBITDA to derive Adjusted EBITDA, as set forth above (stock-based compensation expense, costs incurred with business combinations, costs incurred in connection with debt issuance, and restructuring costs) for the same reasons stated above–  principally, that these expenses are not, in management’s opinion, easily comparable across reporting periods, are not reflective of ongoing operations and/or are not representative of our operating performance—and excluding the operational results of Ample, which we acquired in July 2020.   

We define non-GAAP Operating Expenses, non-GAAP Product Development Expense,  non-GAAP Total Sales and Marketing Expenses and non-GAAP General and Administrative Expenses as, in each case, the corresponding GAAP financial measure (Operating Expenses, Product Development Expense, Sales and Marketing Expenses and General and Administrative Expenses) excluding that portion of stock-based compensation expense, costs incurred with business combinations, costs incurred in connection with debt issuance, and restructuring costs that is attributable to that specific GAAP financial measure.

We define non-GAAP Operating Expenses excluding Ample, non-GAAP Product Development Expense excluding Ample,  non-GAAP Total Sales and Marketing Expenses excluding Ample and non-GAAP General and Administrative Expenses excluding Ample as, in each case, the relevant non-GAAP expense measure as calculated above with the additional exclusion of expenses contained in the expense measure attributable to our recently acquire subsidiary Ample Organics Inc.    

None of these non-GAAP expense measures should not be considered alternatives to the corresponding GAAP financial measures as determined in accordance with GAAP as indicators of our performance or liquidity.  Please review the tables provided below, for a reconciliation of each of these non-GAAP expense measures to the corresponding GAAP financial measure.

 


AKERNA CORP.


 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets


(unaudited)


September 30,


June 30,


2020


2020


Assets

Current assets: 

Cash

$

14,257,858

$

24,155,828

Restricted cash

500,000

500,000

Accounts receivable, net

2,799,225

1,861,534

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

1,475,613

1,215,341

Total current assets

19,032,696

27,732,703

Non-current assets:

Fixed assets, net

1,395,690

131,095

Investment, net

244,774

246,308

Capitalized software, net

3,389,646

2,629,304

Intangible assets, net

10,730,021

7,493,975

Goodwill

46,500,030

20,254,309

Other non-current assets

41,925

41,925

Total Assets

$

81,334,782

$

58,529,619


Liabilities and Equity

Current liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$

5,998,001

$

4,861,928

Contingent consideration payable

817,000

389,000

Deferred revenue 

1,170,625

368,685

Current portion of long-term debt

10,146,001

6,135,364

Total current liabilities

18,131,627

11,754,977

Long-term debt, less current portion

5,481,599

10,200,236

Total liabilities

23,613,226

21,955,213

Equity:

Preferred stock, par value $0.0001; 4,999,999 shares authorized, none are issued and outstanding
   at September 30, 2020 and 5,000,000 shares authorized and none are issued and outstanding
   at June 30, 2020

Special voting preferred stock, par value $0.0001; 1 share authorized, issued and outstanding at
   September 30, 2020 with $1.00 preference in liquidation and none authorized, issued and
   outstanding at June 30, 2020

20,405,219

Common stock, par value $0.0001; 75,000,000 shares authorized, 14,685,932 issued and
   outstanding at September 30, 2020, and 13,258,707 shares issued and outstanding at June 30,
   2020

1,464

1,321

Additional paid-in capital

83,164,840

72,906,924

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

(7,000)

63,000

Accumulated deficit

(45,842,967)

(41,101,091)

Total stockholders’ equity

$

57,721,556

$

31,870,154

Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiary

4,704,252

Total equity

57,721,556

36,574,406

Total liabilities and equity 

$

81,334,782

$

58,529,619

 


AKERNA CORP.


 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations


(unaudited)


For the Three Months
Ended


September 30,


2020


2019

Revenues

Software

$

3,154,442

$

2,254,480

Consulting

331,080

831,363

Other

228,482

107,047

Total revenues

3,714,004

3,192,890

Cost of revenues

1,739,937

1,379,701

Gross profit

1,974,067

1,813,189

Operating expenses

Product development

1,758,826

610,902

Sales and marketing

2,097,502

1,841,514

General and administrative

2,470,187

1,742,301

Depreciation and amortization

1,171,022

17,899

Total operating expenses

7,497,537

4,212,616

Loss from operations

(5,523,470)

(2,399,427)

Other income (expense)

Interest (expense), net

(3,687)

73,382

Change in fair value of Convertible Notes

778,000

Other

(287)

Total other income (expense)

774,313

73,095

Net loss before income tax expense

(4,749,157)

(2,326,332)

Equity in losses of investee

(1,534)

Net loss

(4,750,691)

(2,326,332)

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiary 

8,815

Net loss attributable to Akerna shareholders

$

(4,741,876)

$

(2,326,332)

Basic and diluted weighted average common stock outstanding

14,058,412

10,879,112

Basic and diluted net loss per common share

$

(0.34)

$

(0.21)

 


AKERNA CORP.

 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows


(unaudited)


For the Three Months
Ended


September 30,


2020


2019

Cash flows from operating activities

Net loss

$

(4,750,691)

$

(2,326,332)

Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

Equity in losses of investment

1,534

Bad debt

12,450

252,809

Stock-based compensation expense

681,419

161,165

Depreciation and amortization

1,171,022

17,899

Foreign currency loss

4,901

Change in fair value of convertible notes

(778,000)

Change in fair value of contingent consideration 

(389,000)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

(9,298)

(1,508,217)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

(74,023)

(292,272)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(296,802)

274,566

Deferred revenue

245,329

278,208

Net cash used in operating activities

(4,181,159)

(3,142,174)

Cash flows from investing activities

Developed software additions

(624,863)

(519,739)

FF&E additions

(12,203)

Cash paid for business combination, net of cash acquired

(5,067,740)

Net cash used in investing activities

(5,704,806)

(519,739)

Cash flows from financing activities

Cash paid for deferred stock offering costs

(12,668)

Cash received in connection with exercise of warrants

4,242,454

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

(12,668)

4,242,454

  Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash

663

Net change in cash and restricted cash

(9,897,970)

580,541

Cash and restricted cash – beginning of period

24,655,828

22,367,289

Cash and restricted cash – end of period

$

14,757,858

$

22,947,830

 


AKERNA CORP.



Non-GAAP Measures


For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019


Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation
and Amortization and Adjusted EBITDA 


2020


2019

Net loss

$

(4,750,691)

$

(2,326,332)

Adjustments:

Interest (income) expense and change in fair value of convertible notes

(774,313)

(73,382)

Depreciation and amortization

1,171,022

17,899

EBITDA

$

(4,353,982)

$

(2,381,815)

Stock-based compensation expense

681,419

161,165

Business combination and merger related costs

951,865

Debt issuance costs related to fair value option debt instruments

43,167

Restructuring charges

68,190

Changes in fair value of contingent consideration

(389,000)

Equity in losses of investee

1,534

 Adjusted EBITDA

$

(2,996,807)

$

(2,220,650)

 


Non-GAAP Operating Expense


2020


2019

Operating expenses                                                                                       

$ 7,497,537

$ 4,212,616

Adjustments:

Depreciation and amortization

1,171,022

17,899

Stock-based compensation expense

663,708

148,652

Business combination and merger related costs

951,865

Debt issuance costs

43,167

Restructuring charges

68,190

Changes in fair value of contingent consideration

(389,000)

Non-GAAP operating expenses

4,988,585

4,046,065

Ample Organics total operating expense

1,319,850

Total operating expenses non-GAAP excluding Ample

$ 3,668,735

$ 4,046,065

 


Non-GAAP Product Development Expense


2020


2019

 Product development expenses

$     1,758,826

$   610,902

 Adjustments:

 Stock-based compensation expense

183,214

45,046

 Non-GAAP product development expenses

1,575,612

565,856

Ample Organics product development expense

592,740

Total product development expenses non-GAAP excluding Ample               

$        982,872

$   565,856

 


AKERNA CORP.


Non-GAAP Measures


For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 


Non-GAAP Sales and Marketing Expense


2020


2019

 Sales and marketing expenses

$     2,097,502

$1,841,514

 Adjustments:

 Stock-based compensation expense

134,435

62,064

 Non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses

1,963,067

1,779,450

Ample Organics sales and marketing expenses

396,572

Total sales and marketing expenses non-GAAP excluding Ample

$     1,566,495

$1,779,450

 


Non-GAAP General and Administrative Expense


2020


2019

 General and administrative expenses

$     2,470,187

$   1,742,301

 Adjustments:

 Stock-based compensation expense

346,059

41,542

 Business combination and merger related costs

951,865

 Debt issuance costs

43,167

 Restructuring charges

68,190

 Changes in fair value of contingent consideration

(389,000)

 Non-GAAP General and administrative expenses

1,449,906

1,700,759

 Ample Organics general and administrative expenses

330,538

Total general and administrative non-GAAP excluding Ample

$     1,119,368

$   1,700,759

 

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SOURCE Akerna