Debra Borchardt
MariMed Inc. (MRMD:OTCQX) quarterly revenues for the quarter ending December 31, 2019, increased 50.9% to $5.19 million versus $3.44 million for the same period of 2018. The company attributed the increase to the roll-up up of MariMed’s licensed client businesses in Illinois in the fourth quarter of 2019. Fourth-quarter 2019 revenues were also bolstered from new distribution channels secured for MariMed’s Betty’s Eddies and Kalm Fusion brands. The company did not disclose the net loss for the quarter.
Full Year 2019
For the full year ending in December, total revenues grew to approximately $45.6 million. Core cannabis sales for the fiscal year 2019 were $16.6 million, a 40.0% increase compared with $11.9 million for the fiscal year 2018. The operating loss for 2019, including the GenCanna receivable reserve, was $41.6 million, compared with an operating loss of $5.4 million for the full year 2018. Net loss for the full year 2019 was $81.2 million or $0.39 per share, compared with a net loss of $13.6 million or $0.07 per share for the full year 2018.
Jon Levine, MariMed’s CFO said in a statement, “Due to GenCanna’s recent challenges, we believed it prudent to make these accounting adjustments now to resolve any uncertainty for our stockholders as no further accounting adjustments are expected as a result of GenCanna’s Chapter 11 proceeding. These financial adjustments did not impact our core cannabis business, which continued to grow revenues substantially during the fourth quarter. “
Running On Fumes
At the end of 2019, MariMed had negative working capital of approximately $31.0 million and has incurred negative cash flow from operations of approximately $24.8 million. In early 2020, the company raised approximately $4.4 million as part of an exchange agreement with two institutional stockholders and $935,000 from the issuance of convertible debentures.
In addition to those measures, the company has extended the maturity dates of approximately $19.4 million of promissory notes and is in the process of finalizing the documentation to extend another $3.0 million of promissory notes. MariMed said that it has obtained a commitment from an accredited investor for a $12.0 million loan, secured by the company’s real estate, at a rate of 10% per annum with a one-year term.
Illinois, Massachusetts To The Rescue
Despite the struggles at MariMed, two states could end up saving the day for the company. MariMed said that the Massachusetts operations are expected to contribute to significant revenue growth in 2020 reflecting the shortage of products across the state and the growing demand by consumers. Plus, the company expects to receive approval from the CCC over the next few months to commence adult-use sales at its Middleborough dispensary, pending a final inspection by the agency. The company was able to introduce branded flower company Nature Heritage and infused products called Betty’s Eddies and Kalm Fusion into the Massachusetts market. The company is planning to roll out other exclusive brands such as Tropizen Hot Sauces, Binske and Tikun Olam in 2020.
In the fourth quarter of 2019, MariMed received Illinois state approval and rolled up the ownership of its two previously managed client licensed medical companies, KPG Anna and KPG Harrisburg. On January 1, 2020, adult-use cannabis sales were legalized in Illinois, which has generated an immediate ramp-up in sales to MariMed in the first quarter of 2020. The company began developing a third dispensary in Mount Vernon, Illinois in March 2020 and has subsequently applied for a medical and adult-use cannabis license for this location. The company also intends to open an additional fourth dispensary in the state later in 2020.
Gen Canna Bankruptcy
Even though it had the largest recorded hemp harvest in Kentucky in excess of 6,000 acres, GenCanna filed for voluntary protection under Chapter 11 in order to reorganize and restructure its debt and business operations. As a result, MariMed’s fourth-quarter 2019 financial results included a one-time charge of $30.2 million as a result of a write-off of its investment in GenCanna. GenCanna management expects that its Chapter 11 restructuring will facilitate it emerging as a stronger company with the ability to complete the processing of in excess of 15 million pounds of biomass on hand. This will permit GenCanna to commence marketing of one of the largest inventories of CBD oils and isolates in the industry in the foreseeable future.
Levine added, “Despite GenCanna’s Chapter 11 filing, we believe that it will emerge with a restructured capital and operational structure that will allow GenCanna to restore its position as a leader in the hemp industry. If this occurs, we believe there will be an opportunity for the value of the assets to be recaptured at a later date. We expect to continue our strong relationship with GenCanna and jointly pursue opportunities in the evolving hemp industry.”
Looking Ahead
GenCanna certainly didn’t help MariMed’s earnings, but the company has shored up its finances and is crossing its fingers that Illinois and Massachusetts sales help staunch the bleeding.
Mr. Tim Shaw, MariMed’s COO commented, “Brand recognition of our flower and cannabis-infused products continues to grow as we reach new patients and customers, with Betty’s Eddies being named among the top-selling sublingual and edible products in a national survey conducted by LeafLink, the leading wholesale platform for cannabis products in the United States. Bringing these products to new patients and customers, as well as launching new SKUs under our best-selling brands, will remain one of our key objectives throughout 2020.”
