Stand Out Order Intake and Growing Order Backlog in Third Quarter

OTTAWA, ONTARIO – April 19, 2021 – Thermal Energy International Inc. (“Thermal Energy or the “Company”) (TSXV: TMG), has announced its financial results for the third quarter ended February 28, 2021. All figures are in Canadian dollars

 

Third-quarter financial highlights

• Revenue: $11.6 million year-to-date, $3.7 million for the quarter
• EBITDA: $975 thousand year-to-date, $172 thousand for the quarter
• Net income: $329 thousand year-to-date, net loss of $34 thousand for the quarter
• Cash and working capital balances remain strong at $4.4 million and $4.2 million respectively
• Order intake continues to track well ahead of last year up 87% year-to-date and 171% for the quarter 
• Order backlog: $6.1 million up 79% from the previous year 

 
“I am very proud of these latest financial results given the ongoing challenges we, like many global businesses, continue to cope with as a result of COVID-19,” said William Crossland, CEO of Thermal Energy.

“Year-to-date revenue from our BEI and GEM product categories continues to track well ahead of last year, but revenue from turnkey Heat Recovery projects was once again temporarily impacted in the third quarter when some key markets reintroduced stricter COVID-19 mitigation measures.

“Such measures impact our high revenue turnkey Heat Recovery projects, because of the customers’ preference for onsite engineering, design, and installation. However, the growing global demand to reduce carbon emissions and build-back-better, together with our diverse range of proprietary energy efficiency solutions and geographically varied global presence, has enabled us to consistently secure a growing level of orders despite the temporary and varied COVID-19 restrictions in some of our key markets.

“Despite COVID-19 we have still generated positive year-to-date EBITDA and net income of $975 thousand and $329 thousand respectively.  

“Orders received during the quarter have also more than doubled compared to the same period last year. Overall, our order intake continues to track significantly ahead of 2020 levels with quarterly and year to date order intake are up 171% and 87% respectively. This has resulted in an order backlog at quarter end that is 79% more than this time last year.

“We also continue to have a very strong financial position with cash and working capital balances of $4.4 million and $4.2 million respectively, indicating we are in a strong position to continue growing the business.

“A large amount of our growth is the result of harnessing our established network of large multinational customers and applying our client-specific expertise across multiple global sites. By way of example, GEM orders totaled $386,000 received recently around quarter end from a leading multinational cereal company marks $1 million in orders received to date from this customer. Thermal Energy has developed six projects with the manufacturer over the last 12 months alone, which highlights the importance and success of this key growth strategy.

“As noted, with a worldwide Build-Back-Better approach driving unprecedented demand for carbon emission reduction and fueling the growth in our order intake, the Company is well-positioned to continue to provide our customers with the solutions and support they need.”

Summary Financial Results

For further details, visit Thermal Energy’s Third Quarter Fiscal 2021 Financial Overview and Commentary here: www.thermalenergy.com/financial-reports.html 

Third Quarter and Fiscal 2021 Financial Review

Quarterly revenue of $3.7 million delivered a gross profit of $1.6 million. This resulted in a gross margin of 44%, compared to 42% for the same quarter prior year. Operating expenses incurred for the quarter-end amounted to $1.6 million. This decrease was mainly due to the cost savings achieved through cost control measures and the government wage subsidies of $247 thousand recognized as a reduction to operating expenses in Q3 2021. A net loss of $34 thousand was incurred for the quarter ended February 28, 2021 and EBITDA was $172 thousand.

Nine-month year-to-date revenue was $11.6 million, representing a 38% decrease compared to last year. While GEM and BEI revenue was ahead of last year, revenue from turnkey heat recovery systems has been negatively impacted by temporary COVID-19 restrictions and mitigation measures and the resulting inability to visit customer sites. The increased gross margin of 47% this year, compared to 40% last year, is due to the change in product mix. Operating expenses decreased $1.4 million, mainly due to $868 thousand in government wage subsidies and support programs as well as other temporary cost saving measures. Despite the COVID-19 related reduction in revenue, the Company still generated positive EBITDA and net income of $975 thousand and $329 thousand respectively.

Working capital increased by $1.3 million to $4.2 million at February 28, 2021, compared to $2.9 million at May 31, 2020. The increase in working capital is partially attributed to the receipt of a $1 million COVID-19 related working capital loan during the first quarter, with a current interest rate of 3.45%, as well as the Company’s positive operating cash flow before working capital changes. The Company’s cash position remains strong at $4.4 million as of February 28, 2021, compared to $4.8 million at May 31, 2020.

Business Outlook and Order Summary

The Company ended the quarter with an order backlog of $6.1 million, compared to $3.4 million for the same quarter in previous year, order intake continues to be strong. Orders received during the third quarter this year are more than double the orders received during the same time last year, and during the nine months of this fiscal year we received 87% more orders than the same period last year.

The Company defines its order backlog as the value of projects for which purchase orders have been received, but that have not yet been fully reflected as revenue in the Company’s published quarterly financial statements.
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A selection of recent orders includes:

1. $500,000 equipment order for a Heat Recovery biogas application from a leading global brewer in Russia, announced April 15, 2021
2. $1,180,000 heat recovery project with a major US dairy group to reduce site’s natural gas usage by 13% as well cut its annual CO2 emissions by over 730 tonnes, announced March 17, 2021
3. $1,000,000 heat recovery system for a multinational brewery, announced February 24, 2021.
4. $770,000 heat recovery equipment order for a North American Hospital, announced January 19, 2021
5. $1,530,000 heat recovery equipment and extension order for a large publicly funded European healthcare provider as announced October 27, 2020
6. $115,689 GEM™ steam traps order for a gas processing plant in United Arab Emirates to help the site continue to reduce its maintenance requirement
7. $129,531 site survey and failed steam trap GEM™ replacement​ project for a​ multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company
8. $236,000 GEM™ steam trap order from a major fruit products processor
9. $386,000 order for low maintenance GEM™ steam traps from a major grain and cereal processor
10. $262,000 GEM™ steam trap order from a multi-national pharmaceutical company

Full financial results including Management’s Discussion and Analysis and accompanying notes to the financial results are available on www.SEDAR.com and ​ www.thermalenergy.com/financial-reports.html.
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