R&D expense was $2.5 million in the first quarter of 2020, up 2% from $2.4 million in the same period of 2019. The increase was primarily due to employee-related costs from higher headcount, partially offset by a decrease in consulting and professional fees associated with lower machine development costs.
SG&A expense of $6.2 million in the 2020 first quarter was up 14% from $5.4 million in the 2019 first quarter. The increase was primarily related to ExOne’s investment in its global sales and marketing infrastructure.
As a result of the completion of the sale-leaseback transaction, the Company recognized a gain of $1.5 million during the 2020 first quarter.
The Company recorded a tax provision of $0.2 million in the 2020 first quarter compared with a tax benefit of $0.8 million during the prior-year quarter. The 2020 provision resulted from jurisdictional mix and the 2019 benefit resulted from the reversal of previously recorded liabilities for uncertain tax positions following completion of a tax examination.
Net loss for the 2020 first quarter was $3.6 million, or $0.22 loss per share, compared with a $4.5 million net loss, or $0.28 loss per share, in the first quarter of 2019. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”)*, a non-GAAP measure, was a $3.8 million loss in the 2020 first quarter compared with a $3.6 million loss in last year’s first quarter.
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* See the attached table captioned “Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation” for important disclosures regarding the Company’s definition and use of Adjusted EBITDA as well as a reconciliation of net loss (the most directly comparable measure under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”)) to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. The reconciliation includes a gain from the sale-leaseback transaction in the 2020 first quarter. ExOne management believes that, when used in conjunction with other measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, Adjusted EBITDA assists in the understanding of its financial results.
Capitalization – Liquidity to Manage Through Uncertain Times and Support Growth Plans
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of March 31, 2020 were $17.3 million, compared with $6.2 million at December 31, 2019. The increase was driven by the sale-leaseback transaction that closed during the first quarter of 2020, as previously announced. There were no borrowings outstanding on the $10.0 million related party revolving credit facility at March 31, 2020.
Cash used for operating activities during the 2020 first quarter was $4.7 million, compared with $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2019. The increased use of cash was primarily due to timing of working capital utilization, particularly customer deposits.
Cash capital expenditures were approximately $0.3 million in the first quarters of both 2020 and 2019. For the rest of 2020, the Company expects additional cash capital expenditures between $1 million and $2 million.
Outlook – Interest in ExOne Technology Continues, but COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Timing
Mr. Hartner noted, “We remain optimistic about our long-term growth prospects, driven by the continued adoption of additive manufacturing, the breadth of our updated machine portfolio, the diversity of our offerings and broad industry reach, as well as our active pipeline. Further, the less cyclical recurring revenue that is inherent in our business model provides a solid base during an economic downturn. Additionally, we believe that the COVID-19 crisis is causing businesses to accelerate evaluation of 3D printing to resolve their supply chain challenges.”
He concluded, “Despite our optimism and the strength of our current backlog, the magnitude and duration of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will likely affect the timing of our installations and customer order patterns in the near term. Nonetheless, we remain focused on advancing our binder jetting technology and driving profitable growth as the economy recovers.”
Webcast and Conference Call
ExOne will host a conference call and live webcast on Friday, May 8, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. During the conference call and webcast, management will review the financial and operating results for the 2020 first quarter, along with ExOne’s corporate strategies and outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow. The teleconference can be accessed by calling (201) 689-8470. The webcast can be monitored on the Company’s website at www.investor.exone.com.
A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available from 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the day of the teleconference through Friday, May 15, 2020. To listen to a replay of the call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter the conference ID number 13700725, or access the webcast replay via the Company’s website, where a transcript will also be posted once available.
About ExOne
ExOne is the pioneer and global leader in binder jet 3D printing technology. Since 1995, we’ve been on a mission to deliver powerful 3D printers that solve our customers’ toughest problems and enable world-changing innovations. Our 3D printing systems quickly transform powder materials — including metals, ceramics, composites and sand — into precision parts, metalcasting molds and cores, and innovative tooling solutions. Industrial customers use our technology to save time and money, reduce waste, increase their manufacturing flexibility, and deliver designs and products that were once impossible. As home to the world’s leading team of binder jetting experts, ExOne also provides specialized 3D printing services, including on-demand production of mission-critical parts, as well as engineering and design consulting. Learn more about ExOne at www.exone.com or on Twitter at @ExOneCo.
Safe Harbor Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act with respect to the Company’s future financial or business performance, strategies, or expectations. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” as well as similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” and “may.”
The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company assumes no duty to and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance.
In addition to risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, the following factors, among others, could cause results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: the severity and duration of world health events, including the recent COVID-19 outbreak and the related economic repercussions and operational challenges; the Company’s ability to consistently generate operating profits; fluctuations in the Company’s revenues and operating results; the Company’s competitive environment and its competitive position; ExOne’s ability to enhance its current three-dimensional (“3D”) printing machines and technology and to develop and introduce new 3D printing machines; the Company’s ability to qualify more industrial materials in which it can print; demand for ExOne’s products; the availability of skilled personnel; the impact of loss of key management; the impact of market conditions and other factors on the carrying value of long-lived assets; the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; the impact of customer specific terms in machine sale agreements on the period in which the Company recognizes revenue; risks related to global operations including effects of foreign currency and the COVID-19 global pandemic; the adequacy of sources of liquidity; the amount and sufficiency of funds for required capital expenditures, working capital, and debt service; dependency on certain critical suppliers; nature or impact of alliances and strategic investments; reliance on critical information technology systems; the effect of litigation, contingencies and warranty claims; liabilities under laws and regulations protecting the environment; the impact of governmental laws and regulations; operating hazards, war, terrorism and cancellation or unavailability of insurance coverage; the impact of disruption of the Company’s manufacturing facilities or ExOne Adoption Centers; the adequacy of ExOne’s protection of its intellectual property; expectations regarding demand for the Company’s industrial products, operating revenues, operating and maintenance expenses, insurance expenses and deductibles, interest expenses, debt levels, and other matters with regard to outlook; and other factors beyond our control, including the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
