18% increase in revenue to $65.0 million year-over-year 33% increase in Adjusted EBITDA1 to $11.7 million year-over-year Adjusted gross margin1 of 30.9% MONTRÉAL, May 6, 2024 /CNW/ - 5N Plus Inc. (TSX:VNP) ("5N+" or "the Company"), a leading global producer of specialty semiconductors and performance materials, today announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 ("Q1 2024") ended March 31, 2024. All amounts in this press release are expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated. "After a very successful 2023, we are pleased to have continued the momentum through the first quarter of 2024 delivering on our key metrics, while also remaining active regarding short- to medium-term organic growth opportunities. To illustrate, during the quarter, we signed $135 million in multi-year contracts for AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH – a record in a single quarter – in the space solar power sector for deliveries beyond 2025. We expect further contracts to be signed in the near term, namely on the terrestrial renewable energy side, and as opportunities for our customers continue to expand. "As a trusted North American supplier and recognized leader with significant expertise and with strong demand in key end markets, we expect further potential upside through 2024. Our strategic focus continues to be on our commercial excellence and on completing our plans to increase capacity to serve high-value, high-growth end markets. By leveraging our competitive advantages and strong customer relationships, we remain well-on track to achieve our annual Adjusted EBITDA targets and to maintain strong margins," said Gervais Jacques, President and CEO of 5N+. Q1 2024 Highlights Revenue in Q1 2024 increased by 18% to $65.0 million, compared to $55.3 million in Q1 2023, primarily driven by strong growth from terrestrial renewable energy and space solar power sectors under Specialty Semiconductors, more than mitigating the decrease under Performance Materials. Net earnings in Q1 2024 were $2.5 million, compared to $1.5 million in Q1 2023. Adjusted EBITDA in Q1 2024 increased by 33% to $11.7 million, representing 18.1% of revenue compared to $8.8 million or 15.9% of revenue in Q1 2023. Adjusted gross margin in Q1 2024 was 30.9%, compared to 29.8% in Q1 2023. Backlog1 represented 288 days of annualized revenue as at March 31, 2024, 4 days lower than the previous quarter and 18 days lower than the same period last year, primarily due to the timing of contract signings and renewals. Net debt1 was $84.2 million as at March 31, 2024, compared to $73.8 million as at December 31, 2023, reflecting an increase in working capital1 and planned capital expenditures under Specialty Semiconductors, whereas net debt to EBITDA ratio1 remained stable at 1.81x as at March 31, 2024, compared to 1.69x as at December 31, 2023. ________________________________________________ 1 These measures are not recognized measures under IFRS and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. See Non-IFRS Measures for more information. Other Developments Subsequent to quarter end, 5N+ announced that it was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense for $14.4 million, subject to certain conditions and the achievement of pre-set milestones over a four-year term; the grant will go towards supporting the Company's production facility in St. George, Utah, which manufactures germanium substrates used in solar cells for defense and commercial satellites. Subsequent to quarter end, Microbion Corporation ("Microbion"), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company in which 5N+ has an equity stake, published results for its family of drug products, including Phase 1b results for its bismuth-based active pharmaceutical ingredient pravibismane, currently under development. Outlook In Specialty Semiconductors, 5N+ continues to benefit from its unique position as the leading global supplier of ultra-high purity semiconductor compounds outside China, with long-term partnerships with key customers. Growing demand remains the rule, particularly in terrestrial renewable energy and space solar power. 5N+ is well-positioned to capitalize on future opportunities in these high-growth sectors, as well as other markets, including sensing and medical imaging. Management expects growth in the Performance Materials segment to be primarily derived from health and pharmaceutical products, which provide high profitability and predictable cashflows. Additional long-term opportunities are expected to stem from product expansion and development initiatives, including through partnerships. Management is maintaining its previously disclosed Adjusted EBITDA guidance range between $45 million and $50 million for FY 2024 and between $50 million and $55 million for FY 2025. Conference Call 5N+ will host a conference call on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 8:00 am Eastern Time to discuss the first quarter results for fiscal 2024. All interested parties are invited to participate in the live broadcast on the Company's website at www.5nplus.com. To participate in the conference call: Toronto area: 289-819-1350 Toll‐Free: 1-800-836-8184 Enter access code: 53296 A replay of the conference call will be available two hours after the event and until May 14, 2024. To access the recording, please dial 1-888-660-6345 and enter access code 53296. Virtual-only Annual Meeting of Shareholders 5N+ will also hold its annual general meeting of shareholders on May 9, 2024 in virtual format only Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Webcast: https://meetnow.global/M7PYRGL About 5N+ 5N+ is a leading global producer of specialty semiconductors and performance materials. The Company's ultra‐pure materials often form the core element of its customers' products. These customers rely on 5N+'s products to enable performance and sustainability in their own products. 5N+ deploys a range of proprietary and proven technologies to develop and manufacture its products. The Company's products enable various applications in several key industries, including renewable energy, security, space, pharmaceutical, medical imaging and industrial. Headquartered in Montréal, Quebec, 5N+ operates R&D, manufacturing and commercial centers in strategically located facilities around the world including Europe, North America and Asia. Forward‐Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may be forward‐looking within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward‐looking statements are based on a number of estimates and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable when made, including that 5N+ will be able to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers and other business partners, that 5N+ will continue to operate its business in the normal course, that 5N+ will be able to implement its growth strategy, that 5N+ will be able to successfully and timely complete the realization of its backlog, that 5N+ will not suffer any supply chain challenges or any material disruption in the supply of raw materials on competitive terms, that 5N+ will be able to generate new sales, produce, deliver, and sell its expected product volumes at the expected prices and control its costs, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. However, there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward‐looking statements. A description of the risks affecting the Company's business and activities appears under the heading "Risk and Uncertainties" of the Company's 2023 MD&A dated February 27, 2024, available on www.sedarplus.ca. Forward‐looking statements can generally be identified by the use of terms such as "may", "should", "would", "believe", "expect", the negative of these ...