Lightning eMotors Inc (ZEVY)

[WeTheMarket]

LIGHTNING EMOTORS REPORTS FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2022
March 13, 2023
Link to Press Release https://ir.lightningemotors.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/99/lightning-emotors-reports-financial-results-for-fourth
Link to Investor Presentation https://d1io3yog0oux5.cloudfront.net/_343b5216473e93e51420c85104f692ec/lightningemotors/db/1111/9837/earnings_presentation/Q4+2022+Earnings+Presentation+vFinal.pdf

Highlights
- Produced a record 128 units during the quarter, up from 104 in the prior quarter
- Sales of 31 zero-emission vehicles and powertrains were limited by supplier quality issues for certain batteries, and demand shifting to 2023 as a result of incentive timing
- New Class 4 platform built on GM chassis ready for volume production in Q2 2023
- Received Buy America and Altoona testing certification
- New strategic focus on Class 4 and above takes advantage of the convergence of new incentives with Lightning’s experience, competitive advantage, and recent investments

LOVELAND, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lightning eMotors, a leading provider of zero-emission powertrains and medium-duty and specialty commercial electric vehicles for fleets, today announced consolidated results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022.

“Our record vehicle production in the fourth quarter capped a year in which we dramatically grew our manufacturing capacity and efficiency, managed through supply chain challenges, introduced new vehicle platforms, and established associations with strong OEM partners,” said Tim Reeser, CEO of Lightning eMotors. “For the year we generated record revenue and made critical investments in key electric vehicle and powertrain technologies. In the fourth quarter our revenue was constrained due to a major supplier quality issue with Romeo batteries. Although all of our new platforms use Proterra or CATL batteries today, we had a significant number of builds and shipments scheduled for Q4 2022 and Q1 2023 of a legacy platform that still used Romeo batteries, and all of those shipments had to be held back due to the Romeo quality issues. In addition, we saw some of our demand push out to the second half of this year as customers aligned their purchase timing with the new EPA, FTA, and IRA incentive programs that were announced last year.”

Reeser continued, “The dynamics of the commercial EV landscape have changed over the course of the last six months. Specifically, government policy and incentives are driving demand toward our Class 4 (14,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rated) school bus, shuttle bus, and box truck vehicles. Since our inception, we have offered the widest variety of vehicle weight classes and applications of any EV OEM, but these new policy changes provide clear guidance on where to focus our offerings. The Class 4 and larger shuttle bus, school bus, and work truck vehicles have been core to our portfolio from our inception, and we have invested heavily in the last 3 years in these platforms and markets. We believe we have a clear competitive advantage in these markets due to the maturity of our products, relationships with customers, dealers, and specialty vehicle partners, and our energy, service and support infrastructure. Within these segments, we are completing the transition from our early-generation Ford chassis with Romeo batteries to a new, improved platform with a GM chassis and Proterra batteries. In the future we expect our Class 4-6 offerings will also be built on our purpose-built Lightning eChassis. These product and market transitions impacted our Q4 results and are expected to drag on the first half of 2023 revenue, but we are excited that we have market-leading products ready to go, in market segments that are hitting major inflection points in 2023, propelled by new incentives and the maturity of our product offerings. We expect our new vehicle lineup to leverage our competitive advantages and the high barriers to entry in the commercial EV market to generate strong revenue growth in these attractive market segments.”

Fourth Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Fourth quarter production was 128 units, up from 38 units in Q4 2021. Revenue was $4.3 million, compared to $4.2 million for the prior-year quarter.

Fourth quarter net loss was $8.6 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to net income of $22.2 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, during the fourth quarter of last year.

Fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA loss was $19.9 million, compared to a loss of $15.9 million during the same period in the prior year. Fourth quarter adjusted net loss was $24.0 million, compared to a loss of $20.0 million during the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net loss are non-GAAP measures. See explanatory language and reconciliation to the GAAP measures below.

Full Year 2022 Financial Results

Full year 2022 production was 381 units, up from 156 units in 2021. Revenue was $24.4 million, up 16% from $21.0 million in 2021.

Guidance

Based on current demand and supply conditions, the Company expects:

- 2023 revenue to be in the range of $35 million to $50 million
- 2023 vehicle and powertrain sales to be in the range of 300 to 400 units
- 2023 vehicle and powertrain production to be in the range of 400 to 450 units

Exchange Agreement

Additionally, on March 10, 2023, the Company entered into privately negotiated exchange agreements with certain holders (the “Noteholders”) of its unsecured 7.5% convertible senior notes due in 2024 (the “Convertible Notes”) to exchange $10.5 million aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes for approximately 18.75 million newly issued shares of its common stock.

The Company expects to complete the exchanges by March 15, 2023, subject to customary closing conditions. After the closing, $59.9 million aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes will remain outstanding.

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. acted as exclusive financial advisor to the Company in connection with the exchanges.

Tim Reeser, CEO of Lightning eMotors, stated, “We are pleased to take another important step to strengthen our balance sheet by reducing the total amount of our outstanding debt and continuing to lower our interest expense.”

The exchanges are being made pursuant to an exemption from registration provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation, or sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Company management will host a conference call on Monday, March 13, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the Company's financial results.

Interested investors and other parties can listen to a webcast of the live conference call and access the Company’s fourth quarter update presentation by logging onto the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at ir.lightningemotors.com.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing [phone] (domestic) or [phone] (international).

About Lightning eMotors

Lightning eMotors (NYSE: ZEV) has been providing specialized and sustainable fleet solutions since 2009, deploying complete zero-emission-vehicle solutions for commercial fleets since 2018 – including Class 3 cargo and passenger vans, ambulances, Class 4 and 5 cargo vans and shuttle buses, Class 4 Type A school buses, Class 6 work trucks, Class 7 city buses, and motor coaches. The Lightning eMotors team designs, engineers, customizes, and manufactures zero-emission vehicles to support the wide array of fleet customer needs with a full suite of control software, telematics, analytics, and charging solutions to simplify the buying and ownership experience and maximize uptime and energy efficiency. To learn more, visit our website at lightningemotors.com.