St. Louis, Missouri, USA
May 10, 2023
- Reported revenues increased 104 percent year-over-year to approximately $135 million, including an increase of 80 percentin proprietary revenues.
- Reported gross profit was $9.5 million ($4.3 million when excluding an approximate $5.2 million impact from open mark-to-market timing differences).
- The Company improved its 2023 guidance for Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow.
Benson Hill, Inc. (NYSE: BHIL, the “Company” or “Benson Hill”), a food tech company unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants, today announced operating and financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
“Our first quarter results represent a continuation of the momentum created in 2022,” said Matt Crisp, Chief Executive Officer of Benson Hill. “We are confident this year can represent an inflection point for proprietary revenue growth and margin expansion as we lean into the capabilities of our closed-loop model and realize a greater anticipated contribution from partnership and licensing agreements.”
First Quarter Results Compared to the Same Period of 2022
The following financial results exclude the pending divestiture of the Fresh business announced on January 3, 2023, which is now recorded as discontinued operations. The impact of open mark-to-market timing differences on the profit and loss statement and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures can be found in the accompanying financial tables.
- Revenues were $134.6 million, an increase of $68.5 million, or 103.6 percent. Strong demand from customers and greater availability of proprietary soy ingredients, meal and edible oil products resulted in an 80 percent increase in proprietary revenues to $25.3 million. Non-proprietary revenues increased more than 100 percent from a continuation of favorable soy and yellow pea commodity prices and strong operational execution. Reported revenues include a favorable $6.7 million impact from open mark-to-market timing differences.
- Gross profit was $9.5 million, an increase of $18.5 million. Excluding an approximate $5.2 million favorable impact from open mark-to-market timing differences, gross profit was $4.3 million and gross margins were approximately 3.4 percent. Favorable top line growth, proprietary revenue mix, and contributions from partnership and licensing agreements were partially offset by ongoing inflationary and supply chain pressures.
- Operating expenses were $28.8 million, a decrease of $3.7 million. The majority of the improvement was from actions associated with the Company’s Liquidity Improvement Plan. Approximately $6.1 million of operating expense in the quarter related to non-cash items primarily stock compensation and depreciation.
- Selling, general and administrative expenses were $16.2 million, a decrease of $4.1 million or 20.2 percent.
- R&D expenses were $12.6 million, an increase of $0.3 million or 2.8 percent.
- Inclusive of open mark-to-market timing differences, net loss from continuing operations was $4.8 million, a decrease in loss of $12.6 million or 72.2 percent. Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $10.7 million, or an approximate loss of $16.0 million when excluding the impact from open mark-to-market timing differences.
- Cash, restricted cash, and marketable securities of $131.0 million were on hand as of March 31, 2023.
2023 Outlook
Excludes the Fresh business which is classified as discontinued operations.
Management reaffirmed its guidance for proprietary revenues in the range of $100 million to $110 million, a 40 percent to 50 percent increase over the prior year. Consistent with prior guidance, non-proprietary revenues are expected to decline moderately in favor of proprietary products, which sets the expectation for consolidated revenues to be in the range of $390 million to $430 million.
Consistent with prior guidance, consolidated gross profit is expected to be in the range of $20 million to $30 million driven by anticipated increases in proprietary sales, greater anticipated contribution from partnership and licensing agreements, and favorable soy commodity markets for non-proprietary product sales. This outlook includes assumptions for a continuation of inflationary pressures and challenges in supply chain logistics.
The Company has taken actions to realize an annual run rate cash savings of more than $10 million from its Liquidity Improvement Plan, which is now expected to lower full year operating expenses to $115 million to $120 million. As a result, management has improved its expected net loss from continuing operations to a range of $115 million to $125 million, Adjusted EBITDA loss to a range of $53 million to $58 million, and free cash flow outflow to a range of $110 million to $118 million.