Steel Connect Reports Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Financial Results

NEW YORK--()--Steel Connect, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ: STCN) today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended July 31, 2024.

Results of Operations

Due to the previously disclosed application of pushdown accounting, the Company's consolidated financial statements include a black line division between the two distinct periods to indicate the application of two different bases of accounting, which may not be comparable, between the periods presented. The pre-exchange period through April 30, 2023, is referred to as the "Predecessor" period. The post-exchange period, May 1, 2023, and onward, includes the impact of pushdown accounting and is referred to as the "Successor" period.

As it relates to the results of operations, while the Successor period and the Predecessor period are distinct reporting periods, the effects of the change of control for financial statement purposes did not have a material impact on the comparability of our results of operations between the periods, unless otherwise noted related to the impact from pushdown accounting.

 

Successor

 

Successor

 

Successor

 

 

Predecessor

 

Combined-

 

Three Months Ended July 31,

 

Three Months Ended July 31,

 

Fiscal Year Ended July 31,

 

 

August 1, 2022 to April 30,

 

Period from August 1, 2022 through July 31,

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2023

 

 

(in thousands)

Net revenue

$

45,868

 

 

$

40,804

 

 

$

174,109

 

 

 

$

148,283

 

 

$

189,087

 

Net income

 

6,537

 

 

 

8,149

 

 

 

87,980

 

 

 

 

7,460

 

 

 

15,609

 

Net income attributable to common stockholders

$

6,006

 

 

$

7,612

 

 

$

85,845

 

 

 

$

5,867

 

 

$

13,480

 

Adjusted EBITDA*

$

4,282

 

 

$

10,560

 

 

$

16,374

 

 

 

$

17,146

 

 

$

27,706

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin*

 

9.3

%

 

 

25.9

%

 

 

9.4

%

 

 

 

11.6

%

 

 

14.7

%

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

6,420

 

 

$

8,523

 

 

$

21,848

 

 

 

$

9,000

 

 

$

17,523

 

Additions to property and equipment

 

(1,054

)

 

 

(807

)

 

 

(3,965

)

 

 

 

(1,311

)

 

 

(2,118

)

Free cash flow*

$

5,366

 

 

$

7,716

 

 

$

17,883

 

 

 

$

7,689

 

 

$

15,405

 

* See reconciliations of these non-GAAP measurements to the most directly comparable GAAP measures included in the financial tables. See also "Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measurements" below for the definitions of these non-GAAP measures.

Comparison of the Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year Ended July 31, 2024 and 2023

The financial information and discussion that follows below are for the Company's operations. References herein to the “fiscal year ended July 31, 2023” combine the operational results for the August 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023 Predecessor period and the May 1 to July 31, 2023 Successor period to enhance the comparability of such information to the current fiscal year. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates had an insignificant impact on the results for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, as compared to the same periods in the prior year.

 

Three Months Ended

July 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

Fav (Unfav) ($)

 

% Change

 

 

(unaudited, $ in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenue

$

45,868

 

 

$

40,804

 

 

$

5,064

 

 

12.4

%

 

Cost of revenue

 

(33,214

)

 

 

(29,749

)

 

 

(3,465

)

 

(11.6

)%

 

Gross profit

 

12,654

 

 

 

11,055

 

 

 

1,599

 

 

14.5

%

 

Gross profit margin

 

27.6

%

 

 

27.1

%

 

 

 

 

50

 

bpts

Selling, general and administrative

 

(10,808

)

 

 

(8,523

)

 

 

(2,285

)

 

(26.8

)%

 

Amortization

 

(893

)

 

 

(911

)

 

 

18

 

 

2.0

%

 

Interest expense

 

(257

)

 

 

(265

)

 

 

8

 

 

3.0

%

 

Other gains, net (including interest income)

 

5,753

 

 

 

6,395

 

 

 

(642

)

 

(10.0

)%

 

Total costs and expenses

 

(39,419

)

 

 

(33,053

)

 

 

(6,366

)

 

19.3

%

 

Income before income taxes

 

6,449

 

 

 

7,751

 

 

 

(1,302

)

 

(16.8

)%

 

Income tax benefit

 

88

 

 

 

398

 

 

 

(310

)

 

(77.9

)%

 

Net income

$

6,537

 

 

$

8,149

 

 

$

(1,612

)

 

(19.8

)%

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended

July 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

Fav (Unfav) ($)

 

% Change

 

 

(unaudited, $ in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenue

$

174,109

 

 

$

189,087

 

 

$

(14,978

)

 

(7.9

)%

 

Cost of revenue

 

(125,616

)

 

 

(137,780

)

 

 

12,164

 

 

8.8

%

 

Gross profit

 

48,493

 

 

 

51,307

 

 

 

(2,814

)

 

(5.5

)%

 

Gross profit margin

 

27.9

%

 

 

27.1

%

 

 

 

 

80

 

bpts

Selling, general and administrative

 

(37,478

)

 

 

(41,986

)

 

 

4,508

 

 

10.7

%

 

Amortization

 

(3,554

)

 

 

(911

)

 

 

(2,643

)

 

(290.1

)%

 

Interest expense

 

(996

)

 

 

(2,853

)

 

 

1,857

 

 

65.1

%

 

Other gains, net (including interest income)

 

14,492

 

 

 

11,284

 

 

 

3,208

 

 

28.4

%

 

Total costs and expenses

 

(153,152

)

 

 

(172,246

)

 

 

19,094

 

 

11.1

%

 

Income before income taxes

 

20,957

 

 

 

16,841

 

 

 

4,116

 

 

24.4

%

 

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

67,023

 

 

 

(1,232

)

 

 

68,255

 

 

5540.2

%

 

Net income

$

87,980

 

 

$

15,609

 

 

$

72,371

 

 

463.6

%

 

Net Revenue

Net revenue for the fourth quarter increased $5.1 million, or 12.4%, as compared to the same period in the prior year. This increase in net revenue was primarily driven by higher volumes, favorable pricing mix and new program starts associated with clients in the computing and consumer electronics markets.

Net revenue for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024 decreased by approximately $15.0 million, or 7.9%, as compared to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023, primarily driven by lower volumes related to clients in the computing and consumer electronics markets, partially offset by new business revenue from new clients in the consumer electronics market.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue for the fourth quarter increased $3.5 million, or 11.6%, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a $2.5 million increase in materials procured on behalf of clients as a result of higher sales volume for clients in the computing and consumer electronics markets.

Cost of revenue for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024 decreased $12.2 million, or 8.8%, as compared to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023, primarily due to a $12.6 million decrease in materials procured on behalf of clients in the computing and consumer electronics markets.

Gross Profit

The Company's gross profit increased by $1.6 million, or 14.5%, as compared to the same period in the prior year, and the Company's gross margin percentage increased by 50 basis points to 27.6%, as compared to 27.1% for the same period in the prior year, primarily due to higher sales volume and favorable pricing mix for clients in the computing and consumer electronics markets.

The Company's gross profit decreased by $2.8 million, or 5.5%, for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024 as compared to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023 primarily due to lower sales volume discussed above. The gross profit percentage for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024 increased 80 basis points to 27.9% from 27.1% for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023, primarily due to changes in customer sales mix.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses for the fourth quarter increased $2.3 million, or 26.8%, as compared to the same period in the prior year. SG&A expenses for ModusLink Corporation ("Supply Chain") increased by $1.4 million due to partial recovery of previously reserved bad debt in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023 that did not reoccur in the current year quarter and other miscellaneous expenses, none of which are individually significant. Corporate-level activity increased by $0.9 million, primarily driven by an increase in mergers and acquisition related expenses.

SG&A expenses for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024 decreased by approximately $4.5 million or 10.7%, as compared to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023, primarily due to Corporate-level activity. Corporate-level activity decreased by $5.1 million, primarily due to a decrease in legal and other professional fees related to the Exchange Transaction which closed in May 2023. This activity was partially offset by an increase in mergers and acquisitions related expenses during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024.

Amortization Expense

Amortization expense is related to the recognition of intangible assets in connection with the application of pushdown accounting as a result of the Exchange Transaction, which closed on May 1, 2023. Amortization expense for the fourth quarter remained relatively flat as compared to the same period in the prior year.

Amortization expense for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024 increased $2.6 million or 290.1% as compared to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023. The increase is due to a full years' worth of amortization being recognized for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, as compared to only three months' worth of amortization recognized for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023.

Interest Expense

Total interest expense for the fourth quarter remained relatively flat as compared to the same period in the prior year.

Total interest expense for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024 decreased $1.9 million or 65.1% as compared to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023, primarily due to the cessation of the amortization of the discount on the 7.50% Senior Convertible Note due 2024 (the "SPHG Note") as of May 1, 2023, the date of the Exchange Transaction.

Other Gains, Net (including Interest Income):

Other gains, net for the three months ended July 31, 2024 and 2023 were approximately $5.8 million and $6.4 million. Other gains, net for the three months ended July 31, 2024 included: (1) $3.3 million interest income, primarily earned on money market funds; (2) $1.3 million grant income; and (3) $0.9 million net gains on investments. Other gains, net for the three months ended July 31, 2023 included: (1) $5.1 million realized gains on the disposition of the Aerojet shares received in the Exchange Transaction, and (2) $0.7 million of interest income received on money market funds.

Other gains, net for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024 and the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023 were $14.5 million and $11.3 million, respectively. Other gains, net for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024 included: (1) $13.7 million interest income, primarily earned on money market funds, (2) $1.4 million grant income, and (3) $0.4 million sublease income. This activity was partially offset by (1) $0.6 million net losses on investments and (2) $0.4 million net unrealized loss on the fair value remeasurement of the SPHG Note. Other gains, net for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023 included: (1) $5.1 million realized gains on the disposition of the Aerojet shares received in the Exchange Transaction, (2) $2.3 million gain from proceeds received from the sale of an investment, (3) $1.6 million interest income, primarily earned on money market funds, (4) $1.4 million settlement with a client, and (5) $1.0 million sublease income. This activity was partially offset by $0.5 million unrealized loss on the fair value remeasurement of the SPHG Note.

Income Tax Benefit (Expense)

Income tax benefit for the fourth quarter was $0.1 million, as compared to $0.4 million for the same period in the prior year. The change in income tax benefit for the three months ended July 31, 2024 as compared to the prior year period was primarily due to the mix of earnings from our U.S. and foreign jurisdictions.

Income tax benefit for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024 was approximately $67.0 million, as compared to $1.2 million income tax expense for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023. The favorable change in income tax is due to the Company's release of a portion of its valuation allowance for certain pre-existing Company deferred tax assets. The release resulted in a non-cash adjustment to income tax benefit of $73.4 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, which increased from the income tax benefit of $71.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 due to an increase in taxable income that resulted in more NOLs being utilized before their expiration at fiscal year end.

Net Income

Net income for the fourth quarter decreased $1.6 million, or 19.8%, as compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease in net income is primarily due to unfavorable changes within non-operating expenses, such as the decrease in other gains, net of $0.6 million and $0.3 million unfavorable change in income tax benefit. See above explanations for further details.

Net income for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024 increased $72.4 million, or 463.6%, as compared to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023. The increase in net income is primarily due to the non-cash, significant income tax benefit accounting adjustment booked during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024. See above for further details.

Additions to Property and Equipment (Capital Expenditures)

Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter totaled $1.1 million, or 2.3% of net revenue, as compared to $0.8 million, or 2.0% of net revenue, for the same period in the prior year. Capital expenditures increased to $4.0 million, or 2.3% of net revenue for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, from $2.1 million, or 1.1% of net revenue, for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA decreased $6.3 million, or 59.5%, for the fourth quarter as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to higher operating expenses of $3.6 million and lower realized gains of $3.4 million due to the $5.1 million gain on the disposition of the Aerojet shares received in the Exchange Transaction in the prior year period that did not reoccur in the current year quarter, partially offset by higher gross profit of $1.6 million.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased $11.3 million, or 40.9%, for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, as compared to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023, primarily due to lower realized foreign exchange gains of $3.4 million, lower realized gains of $3.2 million due to the $5.1 million gain on the disposition of the Aerojet shares received in the Exchange Transaction in the prior year period that did not reoccur in the current year, and a $2.8 million decrease in gross profit driven by lower sales volume.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of July 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $248.6 million and ModusLink Corporation ("ModusLink") had readily available borrowing capacity of $11.9 million under its revolving credit facility with Umpqua Bank.

As of July 31, 2024, total debt outstanding was $12.9 million, which was the fair value of the SPHG Note due September 1, 2024. The SPHG Note matured on September 1, 2024 and the Company paid off the outstanding principal and accrued interest for the SPHG Note upon its maturity.

About Steel Connect, Inc.

Steel Connect, Inc. is a holding company whose wholly-owned subsidiary, ModusLink Corporation, serves the supply chain management market.

ModusLink is an end-to-end global supply chain solutions and e-commerce provider serving clients in markets such as consumer electronics, telecommunications, computing and storage, software and content, consumer packaged goods, medical devices, retail and luxury, and connected devices. ModusLink designs and executes critical elements in its clients' global supply chains to improve speed to market, product customization, flexibility, cost, quality and service. These benefits are delivered through a combination of industry expertise, innovative service solutions, and integrated operations, proven business processes, an expansive global footprint and world-class technology. ModusLink also produces and licenses an entitlement management solution powered by its enterprise-class Poetic software, which offers a complete solution for activation, provisioning, entitlement subscription, and data collection from physical goods (connected products) and digital products. ModusLink has an integrated network of strategically located facilities in various countries, including numerous sites throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

– Financial Tables Follow –

Steel Connect, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

 

 

Successor

 

July 31, 2024

 

July 31, 2023

ASSETS

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

248,614

 

$

121,372

Accounts receivable, trade, net

 

33,443

 

 

28,616

Inventories, net

 

6,733

 

 

8,569

Funds held for clients

 

2,576

 

 

2,031

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

4,462

 

 

158,686

Total current assets

 

295,828

 

 

319,274

Property and equipment, net

 

5,536

 

 

3,698

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

20,748

 

 

27,098

Investments

 

41,376

 

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

31,036

 

 

34,589

Goodwill

 

19,703

 

 

22,785

Deferred tax asset

 

68,315

 

 

317

Other assets

 

3,086

 

 

3,420

Total assets

$

485,628

 

$

411,181

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES, CONTINGENTLY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

25,219

 

$

26,514

Accrued expenses

 

21,659

 

 

26,774

Funds held for clients

 

2,532

 

 

1,949

Current lease obligations

 

8,319

 

 

7,973

Convertible note payable

 

12,903

 

 

Other current liabilities

 

4,423

 

 

4,544

Total current liabilities

 

75,055

 

 

67,754

Convertible note payable

 

 

 

12,461

Long-term lease obligations

 

12,740

 

 

19,161

Other long-term liabilities

 

5,913

 

 

5,442

Total long-term liabilities

 

18,653

 

 

37,064

Total liabilities

 

93,708

 

 

104,818

 

 

 

 

Contingently redeemable preferred stock

 

 

 

Series C contingently redeemable preferred stock

 

35,006

 

 

35,006

Series E contingently redeemable preferred stock

 

202,733

 

 

202733

Total contingently redeemable preferred stock

 

237,739

 

 

237,739

 

 

 

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

154,181

 

 

68,624

Total liabilities, contingently redeemable preferred stock and stockholders' equity

$

485,628

 

$

411,181

Steel Connect, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

Unaudited

 

 

 

 

Unaudited

 

 

 

Successor

 

Successor

 

Successor

 

 

Predecessor

 

Combined-

 

Three Months Ended July 31,

 

Three Months Ended July 31,

 

Fiscal Year Ended July 31,

 

 

August 1, 2022 to April 30,

 

Period from August 1, 2022 through July 31,

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenue

$

45,868

 

 

$

40,804

 

 

$

174,109

 

 

 

$

148,283

 

 

$

189,087

 

Cost of revenue

 

33,214

 

 

 

29,749

 

 

 

125,616

 

 

 

 

108,031

 

 

 

137,780

 

Gross profit

 

12,654

 

 

 

11,055

 

 

 

48,493

 

 

 

 

40,252

 

 

 

51,307

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

10,808

 

 

 

8,523

 

 

 

37,478

 

 

 

 

33,463

 

 

 

41,986

 

Amortization

 

893

 

 

 

911

 

 

 

3,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

911

 

Total operating expenses

 

11,701

 

 

 

9,434

 

 

 

41,032

 

 

 

 

33,463

 

 

 

42,897

 

Operating income

 

953

 

 

 

1,621

 

 

 

7,461

 

 

 

 

6,789

 

 

 

8,410

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

3,342

 

 

 

707

 

 

 

13,716

 

 

 

 

928

 

 

 

1,635

 

Interest expense

 

(257

)

 

 

(265

)

 

 

(996

)

 

 

 

(2,588

)

 

 

(2,853

)

Other gains, net

 

2,411

 

 

 

5,688

 

 

 

776

 

 

 

 

3,961

 

 

 

9,649

 

Total other income

 

5,496

 

 

 

6,130

 

 

 

13,496

 

 

 

 

2,301

 

 

 

8,431

 

Income before income taxes

 

6,449

 

 

 

7,751

 

 

 

20,957

 

 

 

 

9,090

 

 

 

16,841

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(88

)

 

 

(398

)

 

 

(67,023

)

 

 

 

1,630

 

 

 

1,232

 

Net income

 

6,537

 

 

 

8,149

 

 

 

87,980

 

 

 

 

7,460

 

 

 

15,609

 

Less: Preferred dividends on redeemable preferred stock

 

(531

)

 

 

(537

)

 

 

(2,135

)

 

 

 

(1,593

)

 

 

(2,129

)

Net income attributable to common stockholders

$

6,006

 

 

$

7,612

 

 

$

85,845

 

 

 

$

5,867

 

 

$

13,480

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share - basic

$

0.23

 

 

$

0.29

 

 

$

3.30

 

 

 

$

0.91

 

 

$

0.52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share - diluted

$

0.23

 

 

$

0.29

 

 

$

3.11

 

 

 

$

0.89

 

 

$

0.52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of common units outstanding - basic

 

6,239

 

 

 

6,177

 

 

 

6,218

 

 

 

 

6,449

 

 

 

6,027

 

Weighted-average number of common units outstanding - diluted

 

26,120

 

 

 

27,960

 

 

 

28,589

 

 

 

 

8,417

 

 

 

25,894

 

Steel Connect, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

 

 

Successor

 

 

Predecessor

 

Fiscal Year Ended July 31,

 

May 1 to July
31,

 

 

August 1, 2022
to April 30,

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

 

2023

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

87,980

 

 

$

8,149

 

 

 

$

7,460

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

1,826

 

 

 

456

 

 

 

 

1,427

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

3,554

 

 

 

911

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36

 

Accretion of debt discount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,688

 

Share-based compensation

 

632

 

 

 

236

 

 

 

 

529

 

Deferred taxes

 

(68,470

)

 

 

(250

)

 

 

 

 

Non-cash lease expense

 

9,193

 

 

 

2,208

 

 

 

 

6,760

 

Bad debt (recovery) expense

 

(46

)

 

 

(297

)

 

 

 

1,136

 

Other gains, net

 

661

 

 

 

(5,687

)

 

 

 

(3,962

)

Non-cash impact of application of pushdown accounting

 

 

 

 

8,079

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

(5,089

)

 

 

8,409

 

 

 

 

2,933

 

Inventories, net

 

1,608

 

 

 

(1,567

)

 

 

 

1,440

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(416

)

 

 

905

 

 

 

 

(1,237

)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

(2,477

)

 

 

(1,690

)

 

 

 

(3,886

)

Refundable and accrued income taxes, net

 

(134

)

 

 

(214

)

 

 

 

(829

)

Other assets and liabilities

 

(6,974

)

 

 

(11,125

)

 

 

 

(4,495

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

21,848

 

 

 

8,523

 

 

 

 

9,000

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to property and equipment

 

(3,965

)

 

 

(807

)

 

 

 

(1,311

)

Proceeds from the disposition of property and equipment

 

9

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

166

 

Proceeds from the sale of securities

 

157,915

 

 

 

53,644

 

 

 

 

1,881

 

Purchases of investments

 

(45,377

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

 

108,582

 

 

 

52,838

 

 

 

 

736

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series C redeemable preferred stock dividend payments

 

(2,135

)

 

 

(537

)

 

 

 

(1,593

)

Payment of deferred financing costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(149

)

Repayments on capital lease obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(38

)

Repayments on debt

 

 

 

 

(1,000

)

 

 

 

(1,000

)

Payments for fractional shares resulting from the Reverse/Forward stock split

 

 

 

 

(2,288

)

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(2,135

)

 

 

(3,825

)

 

 

 

(2,780

)

Net effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

(508

)

 

 

(29

)

 

 

 

895

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

127,787

 

 

 

57,507

 

 

 

 

7,851

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

 

123,403

 

 

 

65,896

 

 

 

 

58,045

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$

251,190

 

 

$

123,403

 

 

 

$

65,896

 

Steel Connect, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Segment Data

(in thousands)

 

 

Successor

 

Successor

 

Successor

 

 

Predecessor

 

Combined-

 

Three Months Ended July 31,

 

Three Months Ended July 31,

 

Fiscal Year Ended July 31,

 

 

August 1, 2022 to April 30,

 

Period from August 1, 2022 through July 31,

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2023

 

Net revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supply Chain

$

45,868

 

 

$

40,804

 

 

$

174,109

 

 

 

$

148,283

 

 

$

189,087

 

Total segment net revenue

$

45,868

 

 

$

40,804

 

 

$

174,109

 

 

 

$

148,283

 

 

$

189,087

 

Operating income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supply Chain

 

3,551

 

 

 

3,328

 

 

 

13,739

 

 

 

 

16,488

 

 

 

19,816

 

Corporate-level activity

 

(2,598

)

 

 

(1,707

)

 

 

(6,278

)

 

 

 

(9,699

)

 

 

(11,406

)

Total operating income

 

953

 

 

 

1,621

 

 

 

7,461

 

 

 

 

6,789

 

 

 

8,410

 

Total other income

 

5,496

 

 

 

6,130

 

 

 

13,496

 

 

 

 

2,301

 

 

 

8,431

 

Income before income taxes

$

6,449

 

 

$

7,751

 

 

$

20,957

 

 

 

$

9,090

 

 

$

16,841

 

Steel Connect, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to GAAP Measures

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliations:

 

 

Successor

 

Successor

 

Successor

 

 

Predecessor

 

Combined-

 

Three Months Ended July 31,

 

Three Months Ended July 31,

 

Fiscal Year Ended July 31,

 

 

August 1, 2022 to April 30,

 

Period from August 1, 2022 through July 31,

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2023

 

Net income

$

6,537

 

 

$

8,149

 

 

$

87,980

 

 

 

$

7,460

 

 

$

15,609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

(3,342

)

 

 

(707

)

 

 

(13,716

)

 

 

 

(928

)

 

 

(1,635

)

Interest expense

 

257

 

 

 

265

 

 

 

996

 

 

 

 

2,588

 

 

 

2,853

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(88

)

 

 

(398

)

 

 

(67,023

)

 

 

 

1,630

 

 

 

1,232

 

Depreciation

 

502

 

 

 

456

 

 

 

1,826

 

 

 

 

1,427

 

 

 

1,883

 

Amortization

 

893

 

 

 

911

 

 

 

3,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

911

 

EBITDA

 

4,759

 

 

 

8,676

 

 

 

13,617

 

 

 

 

12,177

 

 

 

20,853

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strategic consulting and other related professional fees

 

 

 

 

1,427

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,616

 

 

 

6,043

 

Executive severance and employee retention

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(150

)

 

 

(150

)

Restructuring and restructuring-related expense

 

30

 

 

 

(62

)

 

 

163

 

 

 

 

97

 

 

 

35

 

Share-based compensation

 

173

 

 

 

236

 

 

 

632

 

 

 

 

529

 

 

 

765

 

Loss (gain) on sale of long-lived assets

 

9

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

(128

)

 

 

(129

)

Unrealized foreign exchange losses, net

 

207

 

 

 

742

 

 

 

1,042

 

 

 

 

3,562

 

 

 

4,304

 

Other non-cash gains, net

 

(896

)

 

 

(458

)

 

 

910

 

 

 

 

(3,557

)

 

 

(4,015

)

Adjusted EBITDA

$

4,282

 

 

$

10,560

 

 

$

16,374

 

 

 

$

17,146

 

 

$

27,706

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenue

$

45,868

 

 

$

40,804

 

 

$

174,109

 

 

 

$

148,283

 

 

$

189,087

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

9.3

%

 

 

25.9

%

 

 

9.4

%

 

 

 

11.6

%

 

 

14.7

%

Free Cash Flow Reconciliation:

 

 

Successor

 

Successor

 

Successor

 

 

Predecessor

 

Combined-

 

Three Months Ended July 31,

 

Three Months Ended July 31,

 

Fiscal Year Ended July 31,

 

 

August 1, 2022 to April 30,

 

Period from August 1, 2022 through July 31,

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2023

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

6,420

 

 

$

8,523

 

 

$

21,848

 

 

 

$

9,000

 

 

$

17,523

 

Additions to property and equipment

 

(1,054

)

 

 

(807

)

 

 

(3,965

)

 

 

 

(1,311

)

 

 

(2,118

)

Free cash flow

$

5,366

 

 

$

7,716

 

 

$

17,883

 

 

 

$

7,689

 

 

$

15,405

 

Net Debt Reconciliation:

 

 

Successor

 

July 31,
2024

 

July 31,
2023

Total debt, net

$

12,903

 

 

$

12,461

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

(248,614

)

 

 

(121,372

)

Net debt

$

(235,711

)

 

$

(108,911

)

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measurements

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the Company uses EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and Net Debt, all of which are non-GAAP financial measures, to assess its performance. EBITDA represents earnings before interest income, interest expense, income tax (benefit) expense, depreciation and amortization of intangible assets. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income excluding net charges related to interest income, interest expense, income tax (benefit) expense, depreciation, amortization, strategic consulting and other related professional fees, executive severance and employee retention, restructuring and restructuring-related expense, share-based compensation, loss (gain) on sale of long-lived assets, unrealized foreign exchange losses, net, and other non-cash gains, net. The Company defines Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities less additions to property and equipment, and defines Net Debt as the sum of total debt, excluding reductions for unamortized discounts and issuance costs, less cash and cash equivalents.

We believe that providing these non-GAAP measurements to investors is useful, as these measures provide important supplemental information of our performance to investors and permit investors and management to evaluate the operating performance of our business. These measures provide useful supplemental information to management and investors regarding our operating results as they exclude certain items whose fluctuation from period-to-period do not necessarily correspond to changes in the operating results of our business. We use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in internal forecasts and models when establishing internal operating budgets, supplementing the financial results and forecasts reported to our Board of Directors, determining a component of certain incentive compensation for executive officers and other key employees based on operating performance, determining compliance with certain covenants in the Company's credit facilities, and evaluating short-term and long-term operating trends in our core business. We use Free Cash Flow to conduct and evaluate our business because, although it is similar to cash flow from operations, we believe it is a useful measure of cash flows since purchases of property and equipment are a necessary component of ongoing operations, and similar to the use of Net Debt, assists management with its capital planning and financing considerations.

We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures assist in providing an enhanced understanding of our underlying operational measures to manage our core businesses, to evaluate performance compared to prior periods and the marketplace, and to establish operational goals. Further, we believe that these non-GAAP financial adjustments are useful to investors because they allow investors to evaluate the effectiveness of the methodology and information used by management in our financial and operational decision-making. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures may not be computed in the same manner as similarly titled measures used by other companies

Some of the limitations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA include:

  • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
  • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debt;
  • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our tax expense or the cash requirements to pay our taxes;
  • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect historical capital expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
  • although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and
  • other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.

In addition, Net Debt assumes the Company's cash and cash equivalents can be used to reduce outstanding debt without restriction, while Free Cash Flow has limitations due to the fact that it does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures and excludes the Company's remaining investing activities and financing activities, including the requirement for principal payments on the Company's outstanding indebtedness.

See reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures included in the financial tables of this release.

Net Operating Loss Carryforwards

The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Protective Amendment”) includes provisions designed to protect the tax benefits of the Company's net operating loss carryforwards by preventing certain transfers of our securities that could result in an "ownership change" (as defined under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code). The Protective Amendment generally restricts any direct or indirect transfer if the effect would be to (i) increase the direct, indirect or constructive ownership of any stockholder from less than 4.99 percent to 4.99 percent or more of the shares of common stock then outstanding or (ii) increase the direct, indirect or constructive ownership of any stockholder owning or deemed to own 4.99 percent or more of the shares of common stock then outstanding. Pursuant to the Protective Amendment, any direct or indirect transfer attempted in violation of the Protective Amendment would be void as of the date of the prohibited transfer as to the purported transferee (or, in the case of an indirect transfer, the ownership of the direct owner of the shares would terminate simultaneously with the transfer), and the purported transferee (or in the case of any indirect transfer, the direct owner) would not be recognized as the owner of the shares owned in violation of the Protective Amendment (the "excess stock") for any purpose, including for purposes of voting and receiving dividends or other distributions in respect of such shares, or in the case of options, receiving shares in respect of their exercise. For further discussion of the Protective Amendment, please see the Company's filings with the SEC.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this release that are not historical facts are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements" for the purpose of the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, those with respect to the Company's goals, plans, expectations and strategies set forth herein are forward-looking statements. The following important factors and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: changes in the Company’s relationships with significant clients; fluctuations in demand for our products and services; the Company’s ability to achieve and sustain operating profitability; demand variability from clients without minimum purchase requirements; general economic conditions and public health crises; intense competition in the Company’s business; risks relating to impairment, misappropriation, theft and credit-related issues with respect to funds held for the Company’s clients; our ability to maintain adequate inventory levels; our ability to raise or access capital in the future; the investment of our assets in cash and cash equivalents and investment securities; difficulties increasing operating efficiencies and effecting cost savings; loss of essential employees or an inability to recruit and retain personnel; the Company's ability to execute on its business strategy and to achieve anticipated synergies and benefits from business acquisitions; risks inherent with conducting international operations, including the Company’s operations in Mainland China; the risk of damage, misappropriation or loss of the physical or intellectual property of the Company’s clients; increased competition and technological changes in the markets in which the Company competes; disruptions in or breaches of the Company’s technology systems; failure to settle disputes and litigation on terms favorable to the Company; the Company's ability to preserve and monetize its net operating losses; changes in tax rates, laws or regulations; failure to maintain compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements; potential conflicts of interest arising from the interests of the members of the Company’s board of directors in Steel Holdings and its affiliates; risks related to the Reverse/Forward Stock Split; potential restrictions imposed by its indebtedness; and potential adverse effects from changes in interest rates. For a detailed discussion of cautionary statements and risks that may affect the Company's future results of operations and financial results, please refer to the Company's filings with the SEC, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on November 6, 2024. These filings are available on the Company's Investor Relations website under the "SEC Filings" tab.

All forward-looking statements are necessarily only estimates of future results, and there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations, and, therefore, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contacts

Investor Relations
Jennifer Golembeske
914-461-1276
investorrelations@steelconnectinc.com

Contacts

Investor Relations
Jennifer Golembeske
914-461-1276
investorrelations@steelconnectinc.com