26% year-over-year increase in revenue to $74.6 million 24% year-over-year increase in Adjusted EBITDA1 to $13.5 million Adjusted gross margin percentage1 of 31.3% Backlog1 reached $245.0 million, representing 300 days of annualized revenue, as at June 30, 2024 MONTREAL, Aug. 5, 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 second quarter of fiscal 2024 ended June 30, 2024 ("Q2 2024"). All amounts in this press release are expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated. For the second quarter and first half of 2024, we generated impressive year-over-year revenue and Adjusted EBITDA growth as well as solid margins and a near-record backlog, propelled by the strategic sectors we serve, with terrestrial renewable energy and space solar power consistently remaining the standouts. Our strong performance and continued momentum reflect the execution of our strategy aimed at securing additional volume in Specialty Semiconductors, achieving strong pricing and maintaining a favourable overall product mix across our segments. "I would like to recognize the 5N+ team for successfully delivering on our strategic priorities, thereby further solidifying our position as the trusted supplier of advanced materials globally. The renewal of our longstanding agreement for the supply of specialized semiconductor materials to First Solar, Inc. ("First Solar") in Q2 2024 for the manufacturing of PV solar modules, with increased volume and favourable terms, illustrates this well. We are also executing our expansion projects on plan, building our capacity in tandem with contracted demand and to capture future opportunities," said Gervais Jacques, President and CEO of 5N+.  Q2 2024 Highlights Revenue in Q2 2024 increased by 26% to $74.6 million, compared to $59.1 million in Q2 2023, primarily driven by strong growth under Specialty Semiconductors. Adjusted EBITDA in Q2 2024 increased by 24% to $13.5 million, compared to $10.8 million in Q2 2023, driven by higher volume from the terrestrial renewable energy and space solar power sectors, and better prices over inflation. Adjusted gross margin increased by 20% to reach $23.4 million in Q2 2024, favourably impacted by the same factors as above. Adjusted gross margin as a percentage of sales was 31.3%, compared to 32.9% in Q2 2023, impacted by a less favourable product mix under Performance Materials. Net earnings in Q2 2024 were $4.8 million, compared to $10.1 million in Q2 2023 which was positively impacted by a non-recurrent litigation and restructuring income. Backlog stood at $245.0 million, representing 300 days of annualized revenue as at June 30, 2024, 12 days higher than the previous quarter and 11 days higher than the same period last year, primarily due to the timing of contract signings and renewals. Net debt1 was $91.1 million as at June 30, 2024, compared to $73.8 million as at December 31, 2023, reflecting an increase in working capital1 and planned capital expenditures in the first half of 2024 under Specialty Semiconductors. The Company's net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio1 stood at 2.15x as at June 30, 2024. Other Q2 2024 Developments During Q2 2024, 5N+ announced the successful renewal and extension of its supply agreement with its longstanding customer First Solar, thereby increasing its supply of specialized semiconductor materials to First Solar for the manufacturing of thin-film photovoltaic solar modules. The renewed agreement, under favourable commercial terms, represents a 50% increase in volume over the next two calendar years compared to the previous agreement. As part of the renewed agreement, 5N+ and First Solar also continue to collaborate on the development and supply of other renewable energy products to support the growth and improvement of thin-film technology. Also in Q2 2024, the Company 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, in support of the Company's germanium substrates production facility in St. George, Utah. 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. Based on its performance year-to-date, Management expects to achieve the higher end of its previously disclosed Adjusted EBITDA guidance range of between $45 million and $50 million for 2024. Its Adjusted EBITDA guidance range for 2025 of between $50 million and $55 million remains unchanged. Conference Call 5N+ will host a conference call on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 8:00 am Eastern Time to discuss Q2 2024 financial results. 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: 10386 A replay of the conference call will be available two hours after the event and until August 13, 2024. To access the recording, please dial 1-888-660-6345 and enter access code 10386. 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, and note 10 of the unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023 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 terms, variations of them or any similar terms. No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward‐looking statements in this press release will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that 5N+ will derive therefrom. In particular, no assurance can be given as to the future financial performance of 5N+. The forward‐looking statements contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof and the Company has no obligation to publicly update such forward‐looking information to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. The reader is warned against placing undue reliance on these forward‐looking statements. 5N PLUS INC. INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS For the three and six-month periods ended June 30 (in thousands of United States dollars, except per share information) (unaudited) Three months Six months 2024 2023 2024 2023 $ $ $ $ Revenue 74,580 59,075 139,599 114,362 Cost of sales 54,385 42,765 102,405