GlobeNewswire Inc | Mar 9, 2021 04:05PM EST

March 09, 2021

MAYNARD, Mass., March 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: AQB) (AquaBounty or the Company), a land-based aquaculture company utilizing technology to enhance productivity and sustainability, today announced the Companys financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.

Fourth Quarter 2020 and Subsequent Key Highlights

-- Selected Innovasea, a global leader in advanced aquatic solutions for aquaculture, as the Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) technology solutions provider for its planned 10,000 metric ton farm (Farm 3). -- Fortified balance sheet with $192.3 million in gross proceeds from the closing of underwritten public offerings of common stock in December 2020 and February 2021, providing the financing to fund the expected cost of Farm 3. -- Appointed packaged food industry veteran Dr. Ricardo Alvarez to the Companys Board of Directors, bringing with him 25 years of operational and board experience to advise on AquaBountys commercialization initiatives.

Management Commentary

The fourth quarter of 2020 was focused on operational execution, as we prepare for the harvest of our AquAdvantage salmon as market conditions permit. We also took steps to strengthen our balance sheet ahead of the construction of our planned 10,000 metric ton farm, said Sylvia Wulf, Chief Executive Officer of AquaBounty. Our recent public offerings provide the financing to fund the expected cost of Farm 3, which is critical to secure in advance of breaking ground on construction. We are continuing to evaluate debt financing options in support for Farm 3 as well, which could further extend our operational runway as we move forward with construction and commercialization.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on market demand required the Company to address the inventory levels of the conventional salmon at our Indiana farm, which began to exceed capacity in December. We needed to make room at the farm for our growing biomass of AquAdvantage salmon. As a result, we decided to harvest and begin donating our conventional salmon to local food charities. This provides us with both the chance to give back to our local community and the opportunity to refine our harvesting, processing and transportation processes on a continuous weekly cycle in preparation for the first commercial harvests of AquAdvantage salmon.

Our 2021 outlook on the industry remains optimistic, as we expect to see increasing overall demand among consumers, and a resurgent food service industry as restaurants begin to reopen this year. We expect our 2021 sales of AquAdvantage salmon to begin modestly and grow stronger as we enter the second half of the year. In anticipation, we have already begun to send out initial AquAdvantage product samples for customer feedback. We will closely monitor the results of our survey on pricing, freshness, quality and sustainable, antibiotic-free domestic production as we ramp our short-term sales initiatives.

During the fourth quarter, we were delighted to partner with Innovasea as our RAS technology provider for Farm 3. Innovasea is a U.S.-based company familiar with U.S. markets and regulations and they have been designing and building energy efficient, sustainable recirculating aquaculture systems for more than 25 years. We are rapidly moving forward with them on the development, design and engineering for our first 10,000 metric ton farm.

We have also continued our rigorous site selection process for Farm 3 and expect to make a final decision in the coming weeks once we have concluded our due diligence. We then expect to move forward with the purchase of the property and the commencement of the permitting process.

2020 was a decisive year for AquaBounty, and we believe we have positioned the Company for an even more pivotal 2021. With our fortified balance sheet, the impending first-ever commercial harvest of AquAdvantage salmon and the planned construction of our next farm, we look forward to sharing our upcoming milestone achievements with our valued shareholders, concluded Wulf.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Summary

-- Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2020 was $50,197, as compared to $46,367 in revenue in the same year-ago quarter. Revenue was impacted by the continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on demand in the food service industry, which has prompted AquaBounty to temporarily place a hold on commercial harvests of AquAdvantage salmon until the expected conclusion of the conventional salmon donation program in April. -- Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2020 were $6.1 million, as compared to $3.5 million in the same year-ago quarter. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to an increase in production costs as the biomass of fish in our farms grew from 161 metric tons to over 603 metric tons. In addition, the Company recorded an inventory reserve of $1.5 million related to the donation program for the conventional salmon. -- Net loss in the fourth quarter of 2020 was $6.1 million, as compared to $3.4 million in the same year-ago quarter. -- Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $96.2million as of December 31, 2020, compared with $2.8million at December 31, 2019. In December, the Company fortified its balance sheet with $65.2 million in gross proceeds from a public offering of common stock.

About AquaBounty

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQB) is a leader in the field of land-based aquaculture and the use of technology for improving its productivity and sustainability. The Companys objective is to ensure the availability of high-quality seafood to meet global consumer demand, while addressing critical production constraints in the most popular farmed species.

The Companys AquAdvantage fish program is based upon a single, specific molecular modification in fish that results in more rapid growth in early development. With aquaculture facilities located in Prince Edward Island, Canada, and Indiana, USA, AquaBounty is raising its disease-free, antibiotic-free salmon in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems, offering a reduced carbon footprint and no risk of pollution of marine ecosystems as compared to traditional sea-cage farming. For more information, please visit www.aquabounty.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that involve significant risks and uncertainties about AquaBounty, including but not limited to statements with respect to the completion, timing, size, and use of proceeds of the underwritten offering of common stock. AquaBounty may use words such as expect, anticipate, project, intend, plan, aim, believe, seek, estimate, can, focus, will, and may and similar expressions to identify such forward-looking statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are risks relating to, among other things, whether or not AquaBounty will be able to raise additional capital, market and other conditions, AquaBountys business and financial condition, and the impact of general economic, public health, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by AquaBounty, see disclosures contained in AquaBountys public filings with the SEC, including the Risk Factors in the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and prospectus supplement for this offering. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included in this press release and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and AquaBounty undertakes no obligation to update such statements as a result of new information, except as required by law.

Company Contact:AquaBounty TechnologiesDave ConleyCorporate Communications(613) 294-3078

Investor Relations:Greg Falesnik or Luke ZimmermanMZ Group - MZ North America(949) 259-4987AQB@mzgroup.us

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of December31, 2020 2019 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 95,751,160 $ 2,798,744 Other receivables 46,678 55,198 Inventory 1,525,377 1,232,049 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 358,692 391,162 Total current assets 97,681,907 4,477,153 Property, plant and equipment, net 26,930,338 25,065,836 Right of use assets, net 341,997 399,477 Definite lived intangible assets, net 143,885 157,588 Indefinite lived intangible assets 101,661 101,661 Restricted cash 500,000 ? Other assets 76,715 32,024 Total assets $ 125,776,503 $ 30,233,739 Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,760,103 $ 1,462,809 Other current liabilities 62,483 62,286 Current debt 259,939 163,155 Total current liabilities 2,082,525 1,688,250 Long-term lease obligations 290,327 352,808 Long-term debt 8,528,490 4,432,052 Total liabilities 10,901,342 6,473,110 Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $0.001 par value, 80,000,000 shares authorized;55,497,133 (2019: 21,635,365) shares 55,497 21,635 outstandingAdditional paid-in capital 263,629,116 156,241,363 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (267,258 ) (360,160 )Accumulated deficit (148,542,194 ) (132,142,209 )Total stockholders' equity 114,875,161 23,760,629 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 125,776,503 $ 30,233,739

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

Years ended December31, 2020 2019 2018 Revenues Product revenues $ 127,663 $ 186,738 $ 84,518 Costs and expenses Production costs 6,680,012 3,573,858 2,626,353 Sales and marketing 533,428 709,023 297,687 Research and development 2,364,610 2,359,441 3,458,564 General and administrative 6,797,443 6,723,060 4,067,710 Total costs and expenses 16,375,493 13,365,382 10,450,314 Operating loss (16,247,830 ) (13,178,644 ) (10,365,796 ) Other income (expense) Interest expense (152,367 ) (62,988 ) (22,257 )Other income (expense), net 212 13,990 5,994 Total other income (152,155 ) (48,998 ) (16,263 )(expense) Net loss $ (16,399,985 ) $ (13,227,642 ) $ (10,382,059 ) Other comprehensive income (loss):Foreign currency 92,902 214,026 (360,302 )translation gain (loss)Total other comprehensive 92,902 214,026 (360,302 )income (loss) Comprehensive loss $ (16,307,083 ) $ (13,013,616 ) $ (10,742,361 ) Earnings per share Net loss $ (16,399,985 ) $ (13,227,642 ) $ (10,382,059 )Deemed dividend $ ? $ ? $ (1,822,873 )Net loss attributable to $ (16,399,985 ) $ (13,227,642 ) $ (12,204,932 )common shareholders Basic and diluted net lossper share attributable to $ (0.45 ) $ (0.66 ) $ (0.94 )common shareholdersWeighted average number ofcommon shares - basic and 36,347,398 20,078,017 13,028,760 diluted

AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years ended December31, 2020 2019 2018 Operating activities Net loss $ (16,399,985 ) $ (13,227,642 ) $ (10,382,059 )Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash used inoperating activities: Depreciation and 1,494,596 1,285,902 843,387 amortizationShare-based compensation 436,691 872,177 263,396 Gain on sale of equipment (1,816 ) (12,133 ) (13,233 )Loss on asset held for sale ? 149,800 ? Impairment loss ? 103,116 ? Other non-cash charges 46,155 ? (1,364 )Changes in operating assets ? and liabilities:Other receivables 9,229 65,002 56,212 Inventory (282,260 ) (1,154,222 ) 93,956 Prepaid expenses and other (83,850 ) 59,942 289,868 assetsAccounts payable and 492,419 609,311 (966,928 )accrued liabilitiesNet cash used in operating (14,288,821 ) (11,248,747 ) (9,816,765 )activities Investing activities Purchase of property, plant (3,975,135 ) (2,316,809 ) (4,009,736 )and equipmentDeposits on equipment (349,847 ) (160,675 ) (95,001 )purchasesProceeds from sale of 99,816 15,848 23,233 equipmentProceeds from legal 1,014,008 ? ? settlement, netOther investing activities (27,253 ) ? ? Net cash used in investing (3,238,411 ) (2,461,636 ) (4,081,504 )activities Financing activities Proceeds from issuance of 4,221,130 900,767 771,858 debtPayment of debt issuance (91,620 ) ? ? costsRepayment of term debt (70,826 ) (85,802 ) (55,615 )Proceeds from the issuance 104,625,615 12,395,348 10,616,046 of common stock, netProceeds from exercise ofstock options and warrants, 2,318,709 272,417 5,116,533 netNet cash provided by 111,003,008 13,482,730 16,448,822 financing activities Effect of exchange ratechanges on cash, cash (23,360 ) 23,840 (54,279 )equivalents and restrictedcashNet change in cash, cashequivalents and restricted 93,452,416 (203,813 ) 2,496,274 cashCash, cash equivalents andrestricted cash at 2,798,744 3,002,557 506,283 beginning of periodCash, cash equivalents andrestricted cash at end of $ 96,251,160 $ 2,798,744 $ 3,002,557 period Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information andnon-cash transactions: Interest paid in cash $ 114,893 $ 62,988 $ 22,257 Property and equipmentincluded in accounts $ 23,600 $ 210,270 $ 193,378 payable and accruedliabilitiesAcquisition of equipment $ ? $ ? $ 74,068 under debt arrangement