Company to Host Quarterly Conference Call at 8:30 AM ET Today

WALTHAM, Mass., Feb. 16, 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 2021 second quarter ended December 31, 2020.

Fiscal 2021 Second Quarter Highlights
(all comparisons versus the prior-year period unless otherwise noted)

Operating Companies:

  • DME reported total revenue of $14.5 million, an increase of 1% year-over-year
  • DME reported net loss of $2.9 million, compared to net loss of $0.7 million
  • DME reported Adjusted EBITDA of $1.9 million, compared to $3.5 million; $0.3 million of this decrease was from the allocation of personnel expense to DME previously allocated to GEG.
  • Having completed significant investments into the platform, DME management is fully focused on executing on attractive acquisition opportunities.

Investment Management (“IM”):

  • IM reported revenue of $0.8 million, compared to $0.9 million
  • IM reported net loss of $0.3 million, compared to net income of $5 thousand
  • Following the completion of the $31.7 million rights offering by Great Elm Capital Corp (“GECC”) on October 1, 2020, IM is poised to benefit from increased fee revenue as GECC aims to grow its portfolio by successfully deploying the rights offering proceeds.
  • IM established a new fund to invest in SPAC securities, an area which management believes it has expertise in evaluating and assessing investment opportunities.

Corporate Structure Reorganization and Strategic Financing Transaction

  • On December 29, 2020, we completed a reorganization of our corporate structure and executed a strategic financing transaction with J.P. Morgan Broker-Dealer Holdings (“JPM”), wherein JPM invested a total of $37.7 million in Great Elm.
  • JPM purchased $35 million of 9.0% preferred stock from our subsidiary, Forest Investments, Inc. (“Forest”) (formerly Great Elm Capital Group, Inc.).
  • JPM also purchased 20% of the equity of Forest for $2.7 million after distribution of the DME and Investment Management businesses to Great Elm Group.
  • Proceeds from the JPM investment was used to refinance DME’s existing term loan of approximately $24.8 million and provide growth capital; DME also distributed approximately $2.3 million in cash to GEG, inclusive of fees and expenses.
  • The transaction is an important step as we seek to strengthen our relationship with JPM.

Management Commentary

"This was a significant quarter for Great Elm, in that we achieved our strategic goals of providing the DME and Investment Management businesses with the financial capacity to pursue their respective growth opportunities,” Peter A. Reed, Chief Executive Officer, stated. “The financing transaction with JPM is important for our DME business, as it immediately lowers DME’s cost of capital, in addition to creating greater leverage capacity at DME to pursue organic and M&A growth. DME was able to grow revenue during the quarter despite the continued negative impact of COVID-19 on its business. Profitability was depressed during the quarter primarily as a result of legacy revenue reserve issues as well as increased operating costs due to the pandemic. Our team remains focused on improving profitability and resuming a more active acquisition program. In our Investment Management business, we were successful in raising $31.7 million in a rights offering at GECC in October 2020. This business is now well capitalized to pursue attractive opportunities to grow its portfolio and our team is actively focused on such efforts.”

Alignment of Interest

A distinct attribute of Great Elm is the particularly strong alignment of interest shared among shareholders and the employees, its directors, and other insiders of Great Elm. As of December 31, 2020, employees and directors of Great Elm and Great Elm Capital Management, Inc. (“GECM”) collectively own or manage 7.1 million shares, or approximately 27% of Great Elm’s outstanding shares.

Discussion of Financial Results for the Quarter ended December 31, 2020

Great Elm has three operating segments: Durable Medical Equipment, Investment Management, Real Estate with general corporate representing unallocated costs and activity to arrive at consolidated operations.

Durable Medical Equipment

During the three months ended December 31, 2020, Great Elm’s DME operations recognized $14.5 million in total revenue, compared to $14.4 million during the same period last year. While revenue was higher by $1.1 million year-over-year, this increase was offset by higher revenue reserves of $1.0 million during the quarter. The increase in revenue was driven primarily by organic growth in CPAP resupply sales year-over-year, offset by lower sleep studies revenue and lower rental revenues for new equipment set-ups. The demand for sleep studies continues to be softened by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and referrals for new equipment set-ups have declined as they are generally driven by in-house or external sleep studies.

Great Elm’s DME operations reported net loss of $2.9 million for the fiscal 2021 second quarter compared to net loss of $0.7 million in the prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $1.9 million in the fiscal 2021 second quarter, compared to $3.5 million in the prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA was lower due primarily to the higher revenue reserves of $1.0 million discussed above, $0.3 million from the reallocation of GEG corporate personnel to DME and $0.2 million increase in operating expenses related to COVID-19. Additionally, operating expenses were higher compared to the year ago period due to additional expenses incurred to enhance the platform and scalability of the business, and also a reduction in sleep study services, which tend to generate higher margin as compared to equipment sales.

Investment Management

During the three months ended December 31, 2020, Great Elm’s Investment Management business recognized total investment management revenue of $0.8 million, compared to $0.9 million during the same period in the prior year. Revenue was slightly lower due to reduced assets under management in our managed portfolios as compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Great Elm recognized a net loss of $0.3 million compared to net income of $5 thousand during the same period in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was $41 thousand in the fiscal 2021 second quarter, compared to $0.3 million during the same period in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was impacted by additional staffing costs as this segment intends to continue to focus on attractive acquisition opportunities, particularly in the specialty finance sector which has generated results that have exceeded internal expectations.

Real Estate

During the three months ended December 31, 2020, Great Elm’s real estate business recognized $1.3 million in rental revenue, $71 thousand in net income and Adjusted EBITDA of $1.1 million. During the same period last year, Great Elm recognized $1.3 million in rental revenue, $60 thousand in net income and Adjusted EBITDA of $1.1 million.

Our revenues, costs and expenses have generally remained consistent year over year, as real estate rental revenue consists of rents received from the two Class A office buildings in Fort Meyers, Florida. Great Elm continues to manage the Fort Myers investment to monetize significant net operating loss carryforwards.

General Corporate

During the three months ended December 31, 2020, Great Elm recognized $45 thousand in revenue compared to $57 thousand in revenue during the same period in the prior year. Revenue increased slightly as a result of increased management fees earned from DME.

Great Elm recognized $2.2 million in net income vs. net loss of $1.4 million during the same period in the prior year. The increase in net income was driven primarily by net unrealized gains on Great Elm’s investment in GECC and higher dividend income due to a larger investment in GECC following stock distributions received and our participation in the GECC rights offering in October 2020. Great Elm recognized $(0.9) million in Adjusted EBITDA compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $(1.6) million during the prior year period. Great Elm made significant progress on reducing its corporate overhead, driven largely by a reduction in audit cost and the reallocation of certain personnel expenses to DME. Great Elm intends to continue to focus on reducing its corporate overhead.

Fiscal 2021 Second Quarter Conference Call & Webcast Information

When:Tuesday, February 16, 2021, 8:30 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 5379083 when asked.
  
Webcast:The conference call will be webcast simultaneously and can be accessed at the following link: Great Elm Group Second Quarter 2021 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: investment management and operating companies. 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.

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.

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

Media & Investor Contact:
Investor Relations
+1 (617) 375-3006
investorrelations@greatelmcap.com

Jeehae Linford
The Equity Group Inc.
+1 (212) 836-9615
jlinford@equityny.com


Great Elm Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
Dollar amounts in thousands (except per share data)

ASSETS December 31, 2020  June 30, 2020 
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents $32,894  $40,519 
Restricted cash  934   846 
Accounts receivable  7,597   7,991 
Related party receivables  1,379   1,059 
Investments, at fair value (cost $40,448 and $30,279, respectively)  19,532   8,705 
Inventories  967   1,470 
Prepaid and other current assets  1,134   738 
Assets of Consolidated Fund        
Investments, at fair value (cost $3,351)  3,417   - 
Prepaid and other current assets  11   - 
Total current assets  67,865   61,328 
Real estate assets, net  52,576   53,188 
Property and equipment, net  1,132   1,410 
Equipment held for rental, net  7,020   7,483 
Identifiable intangible assets, net  14,031   15,129 
Goodwill  50,010   50,010 
Right of use assets  5,015   5,392 
Other assets  1,730   1,505 
Total assets $199,379  $195,445 
LIABILITIES, NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable $5,159  $5,007 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities  4,040   3,565 
Deferred revenue  5,372   5,652 
Current portion of lease liabilities  1,518   1,617 
Current portion of long term debt  2,413   6,221 
Current portion of related party notes payable  76   1,418 
Current portion of equipment financing debt  1,755   2,034 
Liabilities of Consolidated Fund        
Accrued expenses and other liabilities  357   - 
Total current liabilities  20,690   25,514 
Lease liabilities, net of current portion  3,767   4,060 
Long term debt, net of current portion  51,948   52,781 
Related party notes payable, net of current portion  2,996   26,485 
Convertible notes (face value $31,280 and $30,521,respectively, including $13,607 and $13,277, respectively, held by related parties)  18,584   17,444 
Equipment financing debt, net of current portion  122   196 
Redeemable preferred stock of subsidiaries (held by related parties, face value $37,018)  35,412   - 
Other liabilities  655   395 
Total liabilities  134,174   126,875 
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 16)        
Contingently redeemable non-controlling interest  2,567   3,890 
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 26,423,677 shares issued and 25,690,768 outstanding at December 31, 2020; and 26,217,380 shares issued and 25,529,534 outstanding at June 30, 2020  26   26 
Additional paid-in-capital  3,318,831   3,318,117 
Accumulated deficit  (3,261,454)  (3,257,349)
Total Great Elm Group, Inc. stockholders' equity  57,403   60,794 
Non-controlling interests  5,235   3,886 
Total stockholders' equity  62,638   64,680 
Total liabilities, non-controlling interest and stockholders' equity $199,379  $195,445 


Great Elm Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
Dollar amounts in thousands (except per share data)

 For the three months
ended December 31,
  For the six months
ended December 31,
 
 2020  2019  2020  2019 
Revenues:               
Durable medical equipment sales and services revenue$9,544  $9,047  $18,757  $16,792 
Durable medical equipment rental income 4,999   5,344   10,396   10,830 
Investment management revenues 760   889   1,533   1,756 
Real estate rental income 1,276   1,271   2,548   2,544 
Total revenues 16,579   16,551   33,234   31,922 
                
Operating costs and expenses:               
Cost of durable medical equipment sold and services 4,703   3,689   8,910   7,152 
Cost of durable medical equipment rentals1 1,621   2,185   3,536   4,450 
Durable medical equipment other operating expenses 8,070   7,679   15,750   14,528 
Investment management expenses 916   664   1,642   1,355 
Real estate expenses 127   126   252   250 
Depreciation and amortization 1,021   1,130   2,042   2,197 
Selling, general and administrative 1,315   1,348   2,728   3,134 
Expenses of Consolidated Fund -   -   -   - 
Total operating costs and expenses 17,773   16,821   34,860   33,066 
Operating loss (1,194)  (270)  (1,626)  (1,144)
Dividends and interest income 1,325   603   1,854   1,117 
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment in GECC 2,560   (826)  658   (1,809)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments of Consolidated Fund 58   -   58   - 
Interest expense (1,911)  (1,633)  (3,868)  (3,329)
Loss on extinguishment of debt (1,866)  -   (1,866)  - 
Other (expense) income, net 32   -   30   3 
Loss, before income taxes (996)  (2,126)  (4,760)  (5,162)
Income tax benefit (expense) 50   99   (49)  (143)
Net loss$(946) $(2,027) $(4,809) $(5,305)
Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interest (597)  (186)  (704)  (375)
Net loss attributable to Great Elm Group, Inc.$(349) $(1,841) $(4,105) $(4,930)
Net loss attributable to shareholders per share               
Basic$(0.01) $(0.07) $(0.16) $(0.19)
Diluted (0.01)  (0.07)  (0.16)  (0.19)
Weighted average shares outstanding               
Basic 25,678   25,402   25,626   25,387 
Diluted 25,678   25,402   25,626   25,387 
                
1 Includes depreciation expense of: 1,457   1,962   3,205   4,013 

 

          
 For the three months ended December 31, 2020
$ in thousandsDurable Medical
Equipment
 Investment
Management
1
 Real Estate Corporate Consolidated
          
EBITDA:         
Net income (loss) - GAAP$ (2,878) $ (308) $ 71  $ 2,169  $ (946)
Interest expense 687   25   647   552   1,911 
Depreciation & amortization 1,919   127   431   1   2,478 
Tax benefit -   -   -   (50)  (50)
EBITDA (272)  (156)  1,149   2,672   3,393 
Adjusted EBITDA         
Stock based compensation -   197   -   88   285 
GECC dividend income -   -   -   (1,322)  (1,322)
GECC unrealized (gains) / losses -   -   -   (2,560)  (2,560)
Other (income) expense (33)  -   -   1   (32)
Transaction and integration costs 2 214   -   -   229   443 
Extinguishment of debt 1,866   -   -   -   1,866 
Severance 47   -   -   -   47 
DME management and monitoring fees 62   -   -   (45)  17 
Adjusted EBITDA$1,884  $41  $1,149  $(937) $2,137 
          
          
 For the three months ended December 31, 2019
$ in thousandsDurable Medical
Equipment
 Investment
Management
1
 Real Estate Corporate Consolidated
          
EBITDA:         
Net income (loss) - GAAP$ (676) $ 5  $ 60  $ (1,416) $ (2,027)
Interest expense 937   41   655   -   1,633 
Depreciation & amortization 2,483   179   430   1   3,093 
Tax benefit -   -   -   (99)  (99)
EBITDA 2,744   225   1,145   (1,514)  2,600 
Adjusted EBITDA         
Stock based compensation -   98   -   110   208 
Contingent consideration 2 -   -   -   (940)  (940)
GECC dividend income -   -   -   (588)  (588)
GECC unrealized (gains) / losses -   -   -   826   826 
Other (income) expense -   -   -   -   - 
Transaction and integration costs 2 586   -   -   515   1,101 
Severance -   -   -   -   - 
Pharmacy buildout 120   -   -   -   120 
DME management and monitoring fees 82   -   -   (57)  25 
Adjusted EBITDA$3,532  $323  $1,145  $(1,648) $3,352 

  

(1)Prior year non-GAAP adjustments have been updated to conform to current year presentation by removing adjustments associated with the adoption of ASC 606 Contracts with Customers.
  
(2)Transaction and integration related costs include costs to acquire and integrate acquired businesses. This also represents change in contingent consideration liability since the initial valuation at the acquisition date.