CALGARY, Alberta, May 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DIRTT Environmental Solutions Ltd. ("DIRTT" or the "Company", "we", "our", "us" or "ours") (TSX:DRT, OTC:DRTTF), a leader in industrialized construction, today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2024. All financial information in this news release is presented in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated. First Quarter 2024 Highlights Revenue of $40.8 million in the first quarter of 2024, up 11% compared to the first quarter of 2023. Gross profit increased to $14.6 million or 35.9% of revenue in the first quarter of 2024 from $8.7 million or 23.7% of revenue in the first quarter of 2023. Net income after tax and net income margin for the first quarter of 2024 of $3.0 million and 7.5%, respectively, compared to a net loss after tax of $11.4 million and a net loss margin of 31.1% in the first quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $2.7 million (6.5% of revenue), compared to negative Adjusted EBITDA of $(3.5) million (-9.6% of revenue) in the first quarter of 2023. Liquidity, comprising unrestricted cash and available borrowings, of $47.5 million at March 31, 2024 compared to $35.0 million at December 31, 2023. On January 9, 2024, the Company announced the completion of a rights offering to our common shareholders and the issuance of 85,714,285 common shares at a price of C$0.35 ($0.26) per whole common share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$30.0 million ($22.4 million) (the "Rights Offering"). On March 22, 2024, the Company completed a substantial issuer bid and tender offer to its debenture holders (the "Issuer Bid"). The Company took up all the Debentures tendered pursuant to the Issuer Bid for aggregate consideration of C$7.0 million ($5.2 million) (comprised of C$6.9 million ($5.1 million) repayment on principal and interest of C$0.1 million ($0.1 million)), resulting in a C$3.9 million ($2.9 million) gain on extinguishment of debt, thereby reducing the principal outstanding of its debentures by C$10.5 million ($7.8 million). On March 22, 2024, the Board of Directors adopted a shareholder rights plan and entered into a support agreement with DIRTT's largest shareholder, 22NW Fund, LP. (1) See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" Management Commentary Benjamin Urban, chief executive officer, remarked "We are pleased that our revenue growth in 2023 has continued into 2024 during our seasonally slowest first quarter, as our clients continue to invest in DIRTT's uniquely flexible and sustainable prefabricated interior construction solutions. We are strengthening our commercial organization and focusing on sustainable revenue growth, and we are grateful to our employees, especially our factory team, our construction partners and others in our DIRTT ecosystem for supporting us in our journey to excellence." Fareeha Khan, chief financial officer, added "The first quarter of 2024 marks our fourth consecutive quarter with positive Adjusted EBITDA. DIRTT's balance sheet has been strengthened through the Rights Offering and Issuer Bid and as DIRTT previously committed, we are focused on continuing to reduce debt from DIRTT's balance sheet. Raw material prices, particularly aluminum, are under pressure and require us to be ready to react. We continue to monitor the markets to ensure we are prepared to weather adverse macroeconomic scenarios." First Quarter 2024 Results First quarter 2024 revenue was $40.8 million, an increase of 11% from the first quarter of 2023. The first quarter of 2024 benefited from higher volumes compared to the same period of 2023. First quarter 2024 gross profit and gross profit margin were $14.6 million and 35.9%, respectively, an increase from $8.7 million and 23.7%, for the same period of 2023. First quarter 2024 Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted Gross Profit Margin (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures") were $15.5 million and 37.9%, respectively, compared to $10.5 million and 28.5% in the prior year's first quarter. The increase in gross profit margin was a result of realization of our improved product mix, improved labor efficiency and better fixed cost leverage. Sales and marketing expenses increased by $0.4 million to $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 from $5.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The increase was driven by a $0.5 million increase in salaries and benefits, a $0.2 million increase in commissions costs and a $0.1 million increase in professional services costs associated with recruiting efforts, offset by a $0.4 million decrease in building and office expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased by $1.3 million to $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 from $5.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily related to a $0.4 million decrease in professional service costs (which included a $0.8 million insurance recovery and $0.5 million costs associated with the Issuer Bid), a $0.4 million decrease in salaries and benefits costs, a $0.3 million decrease in office costs and communications costs, a $0.2 million decrease in public company costs and Board of Directors fees, and a $0.1 million decrease in travel and entertainment costs. These decreases were offset by $0.2 million higher operating costs in our leased office space. Operations support is comprised primarily of project managers, order entry and other professionals that facilitate the integration of our Construction Partner project execution and our manufacturing operations. Operations support expenses decreased by $0.2 million from $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily related to a $0.1 million decrease in salaries and benefits costs and a $0.1 million decrease in professional service costs. Technology and development expenses decreased by $0.2 million to $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily related to a $0.2 million decrease in salaries and benefits costs. During the quarter, the Company incurred $0.1 million in reorganization costs, which related primarily to movement of inventory from the Rock Hill Facility. The Company recognized a gain on extinguishment of debt of C$3.9 million ($2.9 million) following the Issuer Bid which commenced on February 15, 2024 and expired on March 22, 2024. At the expiration of the Issuer Bid, C$4.7 million ($3.5 million) aggregate principal amount of DIRTT's then issued and outstanding 6.00% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures due January 31, 2026 (the "January Debentures") and C$5.8 million ($4.3 million) aggregate principal amount of DIRTT's then issued and outstanding 6.25% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures due December 31, 2026 (the "December Debentures", and collectively with the January Debentures, the "Debentures") were validly deposited and not withdrawn, representing approximately 11.66% of the January Debentures and 16.50% of the December Debentures issued and outstanding at that time. The Company took up all the Debentures tendered pursuant to the Issuer Bid for aggregate consideration of C$7.0 million ($5.2 million) (comprised of C$6.9 million ($5.1 million) repayment on principal and interest of C$0.1 million ($0.1 million)). In accordance with GAAP, it was determined that the C$6.9 million ($5.1 million) repayment on principal triggered an extinguishment of debt. The gain on extinguishment of C$3.9 million ($2.9 million) of debt was calculated as the difference between the repayment and the net carrying value of the extinguished principal less unamortized issuance costs of C$0.4 million ($0.2 million). Net income after tax and net income margin for the quarter was $3.0 million and 7.5% compared to a $11.4 million net loss after tax and net loss margin of 31.1% for the same period of 2023. The $14.5 million increase in net income is primarily the result of $6.0 million higher gross profit margin, a $3.9 million decrease in operating expenses, which includes a $0.9 million decrease in reorganization expenses offset by a $0.5 million impairment charge related to the Rock Hill Facility closure, a $2.9 million increase in gain on extinguishment of debt, a $1.2 million increase in foreign exchange gain, a $0.5 million increase in interest income, and a $0.1 million decrease in interest expense, offset by a $0.1 million decrease in government subsidies. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin (see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures") for the quarter were $2.7 million and 6.5%, respectively, an improvement of $6.2 million from $(3.5) million loss and (9.6)% of revenue for the prior year's first quarter. Improvements in Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter were due to the above noted reasons. Outlook As we continue into 2024, internal indicators and external economic indicators show a positive trajectory for the US economy. Real GDP Growth in the third and fourth quarters of 2023 was above trend. Consumer spending, employment, and construction activity continue to improve from the post-COVID period. However, we are highly cognizant of two risks facing our business in the year ahead. Firstly, the commercial office market has yet to bottom or return to expansionary activity. As a business with a small overall market penetration, we are focused on cost control and process efficiencies to position ourselves to gain market share. Secondly, we are closely monitoring our input costs amid the likelihood that the US Federal Reserve will not return headline CPI to a 2% annualized rate. Additionally, a recent proposal by President Biden to triple tariffs on Chinese aluminum to 22.5% as well as to sanction Russian aluminum on the London Metal Exchange have created price inflation in our primary material input. If the increase in aluminum prices persists, we will have to consider the effect on our business, including consideration of increasing prices in response. Even as we face these risks, we have positioned DIRTT over the past year to better withstand adverse economic conditions. Our gross profit margin in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023 improved from 23.7% to 35.9%. Our Adjusted Gross Profit Margins have improved from 28.5% to 37.9% year-over-year. Furthermore, our operating expenses decreased by 21% compared to the first quarter of 2023. All these efforts yielded Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 6.5% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to (9.6)% in the first quarter of 2023. With the Rights Offering completed in the first quarter of 2024, we have improved our cash balance from $8.1 million at March 31, 2023 to $39.0 million as of March 31, 2024. We have also deleveraged our balance sheet through the Issuer Bid, pursuant to which we repurchased C$10.5 million ($7.8 million) principal amount of our Debentures in March 2024. As we continue to ramp up into our seasonally stronger quarters, we are preparing to preserve our Adjusted Gross Profit Margins and delivering on-time and in-full to our valued customers. We will continue to invest in our commercial business and pursue opportunities and partnerships to support our revenue growth. Conference Call and Webcast Details A conference call and webcast for the investment community is scheduled for May 9, 2024 at 08:00 a.m. MDT (10:00 a.m. EDT). The call and webcast will be hosted by Benjamin Urban, chief executive officer, and Fareeha Khan, chief financial officer. The call is being webcast live on the Company's website at dirtt.com/investors. Alternatively, click here to listen to the live webcast. The webcast is listen-only. A webcast replay of the call will be available on DIRTT's website. Statement of Operations(Unaudited - Stated in thousands of U.S. dollars) For the Three Months Ended March 31,     2024     2023   Product revenue   39,039       35,476   Service revenue   1,808       1,232   Total revenue   40,847       36,708               Product cost of sales   24,992       27,423