AcuityAds Reports Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Press Releases

AcuityAds Reports Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results

illumin Revenue Up 78.4% YOY and 29.4% sequentially
Generated $29.0 million in Total Revenue
(All monetary figures are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated)

TORONTO and NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AcuityAds Holdings Inc. (TSX:AT) (NASDAQ:ATY) (“AcuityAds” or “Company”), a Journey Advertising technology company that empowers marketers to make smarter decisions about communicating with online consumers, today announced its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.

Third Quarter 2022 Highlights

  • Total revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2022, was $29.0 million, up 2.5% sequentially and 5.5% on a year over year basis as we began to realize the benefits of our recent investments in sales, marketing, and product development. Despite significant macro-economic headwinds, we believe we will see continued benefits from these investments over the ensuing quarters.
  • illumin third quarter revenue rose 78.4% year over year and 29.4% sequentially to $13.2 million, or 46% of total revenue. On a YTD basis, illumin revenue is $31.3 million.
  • illumin self-serve revenue increased 20% sequentially to $1.2 million, while illumin self-serve clients grew 42% sequentially. The significant increase in illumin self-serve clients should bode well for continued growth in this very strategic segment of the business.
  • Third quarter 2022 gross margin was 51.4%, compared to 51.9% for the same period in 2021.
  • Net revenue or gross profit (revenue less media costs) for the three months ended September 30, 2022, was $14.8 million, compared to $14.3 million for the same period in 2021.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $1.6 million for the third quarter of 2022, compared to $4.4 million in the prior year. The decline of Adjusted EBITDA was fully anticipated, as management made the strategic decision to increase our investments in R&D, sales and marketing given the early success of illumin.
  • Q3 2022 net income was $2.8 million, compared to $3.4 million in Q3 2021.
  • During the third quarter of 2022, the Company repurchased 1,811,400 of its common shares at an average price of $3.23 per share for total consideration of $5,859,678. As of November 5, 2022, the Company has repurchased 4,080,880 of its common shares (7.1% of shares outstanding) for total consideration of $12,999,975. 
  • At September 30, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $88.2 million, compared to $102.2 million as of December 31, 2021, reflecting share repurchases during the previous quarters.
  • During the quarter, two significant hires were made. Nadeem Ahmed joined Acuity as Chief Revenue Officer, bringing with him over 25 years of revenue-building experience, including 10 years at Salesforce building their Healthcare and Life Sciences vertical. Tony Vlismas joins as VP of Marketing, having spent most of his career leading and scaling ad-tech companies in senior marketing roles.

“We continued to see excellent traction for illumin during the third quarter, with year over year revenue growth from this Journey Advertising platform of 78.4% and strong sequential revenue growth of 29.4%,” said Tal Hayek, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AcuityAds. “Now standing at 46% of total company revenue, we believe illumin is well on its way to eclipsing our stated goal of comprising over half of total company revenue run rate by year end. The continued rapid growth in illumin adoption is further proof that it is breaking the mold with its incredible simplicity and deep advertiser insights.”

Mr. Hayek continued, “When I evaluate where we are as a company, I know we are creating something revolutionary given the overwhelming positive feedback we are receiving from our clients about illumin. We are constantly monitoring internal customer data and it’s clear both new and existing clients are recognizing the value of this intuitive Journey Advertising platform, which enables them to differentiate themselves and take control of their own advertising journeys. Our results tell the story, with 81% more clients using the platform year over year for the third quarter, while illumin self-serve revenue rose 20% from just the second quarter.”

Elliot Muchnik, AcuityAds’ Chief Financial Officer, commented, “While management remains attuned to the challenging macro-economic environment, we are seeing solid customer demand as customers appreciate the importance of brand strength and we continue to anticipate year-over-year revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2022. We firmly believe that the investments we made in R&D, sales and marketing coming into and during this fiscal year has positioned the Company well for future growth. Should the macro-economic forces be more serious than we anticipated on our business, management will take the appropriate actions to reduce spend and optimize our cost structure.”

The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods ended:

  Three months ended   Nine months ended  
  September 30,   September 30,   September 30,   September 30,  
    2022     2021     2022     2021  
Net income (loss) for the period $ 2,802,622   $ 3,362,127   $ (776,989 ) $ 8,087,580  
Adjustments:        
Finance costs   158,453     263,220     429,557     797,074  
Foreign exchange gain   (5,835,813 )   (1,864,926 )   (7,228,072 )   (2,599,487 )
Depreciation and amortization   1,124,790     1,172,334     3,527,168     3,816,994  
Income taxes   1,378,607         1,432,242     231,600  
Share-based compensation   1,893,845     1,465,706     5,447,830     3,954,217  
Severance expenses   115,832     20,875     398,263     111,633  
Other expenses           79,132      
Total adjustments   (1,164,286 )   1,057,209     4,086,120     6,312,031  
Adjusted EBITDA $ 1,638,336   $ 4,419,336   $ 3,309,131   $ 14,399,611  


Conference Call Details:

Date: Thursday, November 10, 2022
Time: 8:30AM Eastern Time
To register for the conference call webcast and presentation, please visit
https://illumin.com/investors/earnings-call/

Please connect at 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure time for any software download that may be needed to hear the webcast.

A recording of the conference call webcast will be available after the call by visiting the Company’s website at https://illumin.com/investors/.

Non-IFRS Measures

This press release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures. These measures are not recognized measures under IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management’s perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. We use non-IFRS measures including “revenue less media costs”, “revenue less media costs margin”, “Adjusted EBITDA” and “Adjusted Net Income (Loss)” (as well as other measures discussed elsewhere in this press release).

The term “revenue less media costs margin” refers to the amount that “revenue less media costs” represents as a percentage of total revenue for a given period, while the term “revenue less media costs” refers to the net amount of revenue after deducting direct media costs. Revenue less media costs is used for internal management purposes as an indicator of the performance of the Company’s solution in balancing the goals of delivering excellent results to advertisers while meeting the Company’s margin objectives and, accordingly the Company believes it is useful supplemental information.

“Adjusted EBITDA” refers to net income (loss) after adjusting for finance costs, impairment loss, fair value gain, income taxes, foreign exchange gain (loss), depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, acquisition and related integration costs, severance expenses and adjustments to the carrying value of investment tax credits receivable. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful supplemental information as it provides an indication of the results generated by the Company’s main business activities before taking into consideration how those activities are financed and taxed and also prior to taking into consideration depreciation of property and equipment and certain other items listed above. It is a key measure used by the Company’s management and board of directors to understand and evaluate the Company’s operating performance, to prepare annual budgets and to help develop operating plans.

“Adjusted Net Income (Loss)” refers to net income (loss) after adjusting for non-cash items such as impairment loss, fair value gain, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, and foreign exchange gain/loss. The Company believes that Adjusted Net Income (Loss) is useful supplemental information as it provides an indication of the results generated by the Company’s main business activities on a cash basis. It is another key measure used by the Company’s management and board of directors to understand and evaluate the Company’s operating performance, to prepare annual budgets and to help develop operating plans.

These non-IFRS measures are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. We believe that securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers, and that these non-IFRS measures in particular are relevant to their analysis of the Company.

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

This press release contains our unaudited condensed interim consolidated statements of financial position, of income (loss) and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. These statements should be read in conjunction with our unaudited interim financial statements which contain certain explanatory notes, and our accompanying management discussion and analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, in each case as filed on sedar.com

About AcuityAds:
AcuityAds is a leading technology company that provides marketers a one-stop solution for omnichannel digital advertising with best-of-category return on advertising spend. Its journey automation technology, illumin™, offers planning, buying and real-time intelligence from one platform. With proprietary Artificial Intelligence, illumin™ brings unique digital advertising capabilities to close the gap between planning and execution. The Company brings an integrated ecosystem of privacy-protected data, inventory, brand safety and fraud prevention partners, offering trusted solutions with proven, above-benchmark outcomes for the most demanding marketers.

AcuityAds is headquartered in Toronto with offices throughout Canada, the U.S., Europe and Latin America. For more information, visit https://illumin.com.

Disclaimer in regards to Forward-looking statements

Certain statements included herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements may relate to the Company’s future financial outlook, financial position, anticipated events, results, success of its work from home policies, the Company’s strategy with respect to the illumin platform, or the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business and operations. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Also, given the evolving circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult to predict how significant the adverse impact of the pandemic will be on the global and domestic economy, the business, operations and financial position of the Company’s clients and the business, operations, and financial position of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause the Company’s actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company’s Annual Information Form dated March 10, 20221 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the "AIF") and the Company’s Management Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended September 30, 2022 dated November 10, 2022 (the “MD&A”). A copy of the AIF, MD&A and the Company’s other publicly filed documents can be accessed under the Company’s profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com. In addition, the effects of COVID-19, including the duration, spread and severity of the pandemic, create additional risks and uncertainties for the Company. In particular, the impact of the virus and government authorities’ and public health officials’ responses thereto may affect: the Company’s actual results, performance, prospects, or opportunities; domestic and global credit and capital markets and its ability to access capital on favourable terms, or at all; and the health and safety of its employees. The Company cautions that the list of risk factors and uncertainties described in the AIF and the MD&A are not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect its results. Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information.

Except as required by law, AcuityAds does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect, in particular, new information or future events.

For further information, please contact:

Daniel Gordon
Investor Relations Manager
AcuityAds Holdings Inc.
416-218-9888 ext. 5313
investors@acuityads.com
Babak Pedram
Investor Relations –
Canada
Virtus Advisory Group Inc.
416-644-5081
bpedram@virtusadvisory.com
David Hanover
Investor Relations – U.S.
KCSA Strategic Communications
212-896-1220
dhanover@kcsa.com

AcuityAds Holdings Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(Expressed in Canadian dollars)
(Unaudited)

    September 30,
2022
$
  December 31,
2021
$
         
Assets        
         
Current assets        
Cash and cash equivalents   88,231,834   102,208,807
Accounts receivable   28,448,325   30,972,608
Prepaid expenses and other   3,172,384   3,278,624
         
    119,852,543   136,460,039
Non-current assets        
Deferred tax asset   81,803   81,803
Other assets   360,836  
Property and equipment   6,950,092   5,369,619
Intangible assets   4,557,717   3,044,278
Goodwill   4,869,841   4,869,841
         
    136,672,832   149,825,580
         
Liabilities        
         
Current liabilities        
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   20,204,928   24,853,497
Income tax payable   558,690   910,165
Borrowings   4,800,272   2,946,150
Lease obligations   1,866,511   2,058,161
         
    27,430,401   30,767,973
Non-current liabilities        
Borrowings   214,590   3,852,891
Lease obligations   4,362,910   2,148,708
         
    32,007,901   36,769,572
         
Shareholders’ equity   104,664,931   113,056,008
         
    136,672,832   149,825,580
         


AcuityAds Holdings Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(Expressed in Canadian dollars)
(Unaudited)

  Three months ended
September 30,
2022
$
  Three months ended
September 30,
2021
$
  Nine months ended
September 30,
2022
$
  Nine months ended
September 30,
2021
$
 
         
Revenue        
Managed services 20,424,781   19,320,662   54,337,640   65,197,665  
Self-service 8,522,515   8,164,158   26,690,889   20,026,969  
         
  28,947,296   27,484,820   81,028,529   85,224,634  
         
Media costs 14,102,830   13,232,069   39,601,460   40,798,761  
         
Gross profit 14,844,466   14,252,751   41,427,069   44,425,873  
         
Operating expenses        
Sales and marketing 5,904,181   5,260,944   16,745,908   14,982,171  
Technology 4,243,954   2,581,090   11,764,959   9,716,514  
General and administrative 3,173,827   2,012,256   10,084,466   5,439,210  
Share-based compensation 1,893,845   1,465,706   5,447,830   3,954,217  
Depreciation and amortization 1,124,790   1,172,334   3,527,168   3,816,994  
         
  16,340,597   12,492,330   47,570,331   37,909,106  
         
Income (loss) from operations (1,496,131 ) 1,760,421   (6,143,262 ) 6,516,767  
         
Finance costs 158,453   263,220   429,557   797,074  
Foreign exchange gain (5,835,813 ) (1,864,926 ) (7,228,072 ) (2,599,487 )
         
  (5,677,360 ) (1,601,706 ) (6,798,515 ) (1,802,413 )
         
Net income before income taxes 4,181,229   3,362,127   655,253   8,319,180  
         
Income taxes 1,378,607     1,432,242   231,600  
         
Net income (loss) for the period 2,802,622   3,362,127   (776,989 ) 8,087,580  
         
Basic net income (loss) per share 0.05   0.06   (0.01 ) 0.14  
Diluted net income (loss) per share 0.05   0.05   (0.01 ) 0.14  
         
Exchange (gain) loss on translating foreign operations (224,097 ) (331,401 ) 10,238   671,363  
         
Comprehensive income (loss) for the period 3,026,719   3,693,528   (787,227 ) 7,416,217  

AcuityAds Holdings Inc.
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Expressed in Canadian dollars)
(Unaudited)
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021

    2022
$
    2021
$
 
         
Cash provided by (used in)        
         
Operating activities        
Net income (loss) for the period   (776,989 )   8,087,580  
         
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows        
Depreciation and amortization   3,527,168     3,816,994  
Finance costs   429,557     797,074  
Share-based compensation   5,447,830     3,954,217  
Foreign exchange gain   (7,228,072 )   (2,599,487 )
Change in non-cash operating working capital        
Accounts receivable   2,637,300     7,333,843  
Prepaid expenses and other   106,237     (1,209,249 )
Other assets   (360,836 )    
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   (4,296,278 )   (3,390,866 )
Income tax payable   (351,475 )    
Interest paid, net   (328,332 )   (695,976 )
         
    (1,193,890 )   16,094,130  
         
Investing activities        
Additions to property and equipment   (161,646 )   (779,828 )
Additions to intangible assets   (2,650,031 )   (964,636 )
         
    (2,811,677 )   (1,744,464 )
         
Financing activities        
Repayment of term loans principal   (1,679,881 )   (1,818,053 )
Proceeds from international loans   1,135,985     852,486  
Repayment of international loans   (1,406,950 )   (1,410,960 )
Addition to leases       358,644  
Repayment of leases   (1,535,249 )   (2,345,510 )
Net proceeds from equity financing       63,955,491  
Repurchase of shares for cancellation   (12,999,975 )    
Proceeds from the exercise of warrants       61,723  
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options   374,037     1,056,189  
         
    (16,112,033 )   60,710,010  
         
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (20,117,600 )   75,059,676  
         
Impact of foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents   6,140,627     2,599,487  
         
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period   102,208,807     22,638,300  
         
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period   88,231,834     100,297,463  
         
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions        
Additions to property and equipment under leases   3,809,403     447,869  
         

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