ReneSola Power Closes Sale of 10 MW of Solar Projects in Utah

PR Newswire

STAMFORD, Conn., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — ReneSola Ltd. (“ReneSola Power” or the “Company”) (www.renesolapower.com) (NYSE: SOL), a leading fully integrated solar project developer, today announced that it closed the sale of an approximately 10 MW portfolio of solar development projects to Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company (“Greenbacker”). The sale continues a successful track record in North America. This sale will positively contribute to 1Q 2021 results and was not in the original first quarter guidance.

The portfolio consists of three ground-mounted commercial distributed generation sites located in Utah. The projects are so-called “behind the meter” and will sell electricity directly to two off-take parties. The projects are being sold at the “Notice to Proceed” (NTP) stage, and Greenbacker will complete the construction and retain long-term ownership.

Mr. John Ewen, CEO of ReneSola Power North America, commented, “Greenbacker will be an excellent partner in this portfolio, and we are thrilled to close the sale transaction. We look forward to collaborating with them on other opportunities.”

Mr. Yumin Liu, Group Chief Executive Officer of ReneSola Power, commented: “This transaction reconfirms our focus on profitability. As we add the most value from greenfield inception to NTP-ready during the development cycle, we are shifting the mix of sales timing from COD (post-construction) to more at NTP (pre-construction). This capital efficient strategy allows us to focus on growing our quality project pipeline while maintaining healthy margins.”

“It’s extremely rewarding to be part of expanding renewable energy access in Utah,” saidCharles Wheeler, CEO of Greenbacker. “ReneSola Power were a pleasure to partner with, and their extensive experience was a clear benefit in originating these solar projects. We look forward to working with them again on future sustainable energy endeavors.”

About ReneSola Power

ReneSola Power (NYSE: SOL) is a leading global solar project developer and operator. The Company focuses on solar power project development, construction management and project financing services. With local professional teams in more than 10 countries around the world, the business is spread across a number of regions where the solar power project markets are growing rapidly and can sustain that growth due to improved clarity around government policies. The Company’s strategy is to pursue high-margin project development opportunities in these profitable and growing markets; specifically, in the U.S. and Europe, where the Company has a market-leading position in several geographies, including Poland, Hungary, Minnesota and New York.

About Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company

Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company (GREC) is a publicly reporting, non-traded limited liability company that acquires and manages income-generating renewable energy and other energy-related businesses. Our business objective is to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for our investors, consisting of both current income and long-term capital appreciation. We do this by acquiring and financing the construction and operation of income-generating renewable energy and sustainable development projects, primarily within North America. GREC invests in a diversified portfolio of income-producing renewable energy power facilities that sell long-term electricity contracts to off-takers with high credit quality, such as utilities, municipalities, and corporations.

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SOURCE ReneSola Ltd.

Pernod Ricard North America Appoints Lani Montoya as Chief Human Resources Officer

Montoya previously led Global Talent Management and Diversity & Inclusion for Pernod Ricard

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Pernod Ricard North America today announced the appointment of Lani Montoya, a company veteran who has held leadership roles in both the U.S. and Paris, as the Chief Human Resources Officer on its executive team. She will succeed  Paul Holub, who is retiring from his role as Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Services after a 25-year career with Pernod Ricard North America, Corby Spirit and Wine and Hiram Walker & Sons.

Montoya has been with the premium spirits and wine company for 15 years, and most recently led Global Talent Management and Diversity & Inclusion for Pernod Ricard, based in Paris. In that role, she made significant strides towards achieving Pernod Ricard’s goal of Better Balance, as the company aims to become the industry’s most inclusive, diverse and sustainable spirits and wine company. She also played a critical role in the design and rollout of Pernod Ricard’s new HR strategy. Previously, Montoya served as HR Director for the Pernod Ricard Americas Travel Retail division, and as an HR Manager for Malibu-Kahlua International.

“At Pernod Ricard, we are creators of conviviality. That means creating an inclusive environment with employees from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about our brands, our industry and our purpose,” said Montoya. “As a Latin-American woman, I am proud of the diverse and gender balance at Pernod Ricard North America and I am committed to ensuring our company mirrors the diversity of our society.”

Reporting to Pernod Ricard North America Chairman and CEO Ann Mukherjee, Montoya’s responsibilities will include talent acquisition, enhancing employee capabilities and retention, expanding diversity & inclusion programming, and driving ongoing organizational change related to the company’s Transform and Accelerate strategy. Montoya will also be responsible for furthering the company’s Better Balance cornerstone, ensuring that diversity, flexibility and wellness are prioritized in the workplace.

“It is my honor to welcome Lani as the newest member of our executive team,” said Mukherjee. “Lani is the right leader to meet the moment. She shaped the Diversity & Inclusion strategy for our global company, and now she is poised to deliver on the commitment to Better Balance in the North American market. I’d also like to congratulate Paul on his many contributions to our company, and for championing the role that Human Resources can and must play as a strategic partner with other areas of the business.”  

For more information about Pernod Ricard USA, visit: https://www.pernod-ricard-usa.com/.


About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the No. 2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits with consolidated sales of €9,182 million in FY19. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has developed through organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard’s brands are distributed across 160+ markets and by its own salesforce in 73 markets. The Group’s decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of “Créateurs de Convivialité.” As reaffirmed by the Group’s three-year strategic plan, “Transform and Accelerate,” deployed in 2018, Pernod Ricard’s strategy focuses on investing in long-term, profitable growth for all stakeholders. The Group remains true to its three founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and a strong sense of ethics. As illustrated by the 2030 Agenda supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), “We bring good times from a good place.” In recognition of Pernod Ricard’s strong commitment to sustainable development and responsible consumption, it has received a Gold rating from Ecovadis and is ranked No. 1 in the beverage sector in Vigeo Eiris. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nation’s Global Compact LEAD company. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index. For further information, please visit http://www.pernod-ricard.com.

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SOURCE Pernod Ricard USA

X Financial to Report Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Results on April 20, 2021

PR Newswire

SHENZHEN, China, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — X Financial (NYSE: XYF) (the “Company”), a leading technology-driven personal finance company in China, today announced that it will release its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, before the open of U.S. markets on Tuesday, April 20, 2021.

X Financials’ management team will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 (8:00 PM Beijing / Hong Kong Time on the same day).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

United States:

1-888-346-8982

Hong Kong:

852-301-84992

China:

4001-201203

International:

1-412-902-4272

Passcode:

X Financial

Please dial in ten minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call.

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following numbers until April 27, 2021:

United States:

1-877-344-7529

International:

1-412-317-0088

Passcode:

10154438

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at http://ir.xiaoyinggroup.com.

About X Financial

X Financial (NYSE: XYF) (the “Company”) is a leading technology-driven personal finance company in China focused on meeting the huge demand for credit from individuals and small-to-medium-sized enterprise owners. The Company’s proprietary big data-driven risk control system, WinSAFE, builds risk profiles of prospective borrowers using a variety data-driven credit assessment methodology to accurately evaluate a borrower’s value, payment capability, payment attitude and overall creditworthiness. X Financial has established a strategic partnership with ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance Co., Ltd. in multiple areas of its business operations to directly complement its cutting-edge risk management and credit assessment capabilities. ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance Co., Ltd. provides credit insurance on X Financial’s investment products which significantly enhances investor confidence and allows the Company to attract a diversified and low-cost funding base from individuals, enterprises and financial institutions to support its growth. X Financial leverages financial technology to provide convenient, efficient, and secure investment services to a wide range of high-quality borrowers and mass affluent investors which complements traditional financial institutions and helps to promote the development of inclusive finance in China.

For more information, please visit: http://ir.xiaoyinggroup.com.

For more information, please contact:

X Financial
Mr. Frank Fuya Zheng
E-mail: [email protected]

Christensen

In China
Mr. Eric Yuan
Phone: +86-10-5900-1548
E-mail: [email protected]

In US 
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Phone: +1-480-614-3004
Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE X Financial

Exact Sciences schedules first quarter 2021 earnings call

PR Newswire

MADISON, Wis., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Exact Sciences Corp. (Nasdaq: EXAS) today announced that the company plans to release its first quarter 2021 financial results after the close of the U.S. financial markets on May 4, 2021. Following the release, company management will host a webcast and conference call at 5 p.m. EDT to discuss financial results and business progress.


First quarter 2021 webcast & conference call details

    Date:

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

    Time: 

5 p.m. EDT

    Webcast: 

The live webcast can be accessed at www.exactsciences.com

    Telephone: 

Domestic callers, dial 833-235-7650 

International callers, dial +1 647-689-4171

Access code for both domestic and international callers: 5789488

An archive of the webcast will be available at www.exactsciences.com. A replay of the conference call will be available by calling 800-585-8367 domestically or 416-621-4642 internationally. The access code for the replay of the call is 5789488. The webcast, conference call and replay are open to all interested parties.

About Exact Sciences Corp.

A leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, Exact Sciences relentlessly pursues smarter solutions providing the clarity to take life-changing action, earlier. Building on the success of Cologuard and Oncotype DX, Exact Sciences is investing in its product pipeline to take on some of the deadliest cancers and improve patient care. Exact Sciences unites visionary collaborators to help advance the fight against cancer. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.exactsciences.com, follow Exact Sciences on Twitter @ExactSciences, or find Exact Sciences on Facebook.

Contact:

Megan Jones

Exact Sciences Corp.
[email protected] 
608-535-8815

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SOURCE EXACT SCIENCES CORP

O3 Mining Appoints Mélissa Desrochers to the Board of Directors

PR Newswire

TSXV: OIII | OTCQX: OIIIF – O3 Mining

TORONTO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – O3 Mining Inc. (TSXV: OIII) (OTCQX: OIIIF) (“O3 Mining” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Mélissa Desrochers to the board of directors of the Corporation (“Board”).

Ms. Desrochers is an experienced consultant with a background in strategic communications and stakeholder engagement for major and complex projects within the mining industry. She studied communications, indigenous affairs, management and holds a Graduate degree in Project Management from the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue. She is currently a Public Affairs, Communications and Stakeholders Engagement Consultant for a Québec company. Her previous work experience includes Director of Government Relations and External Communication for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, Communications and Community Relations Manager for Canadian Malartic Mine, and formerly co-owning a communications firm for several years in which she worked closely with stakeholders from the natural resources sector. Ms. Desrochers is also fluent in French and English.

Mr. José Vizquerra, O3 Mining’s President and Chief Executive Officer commented: “On behalf of the Board and the Corporation, we are pleased to welcome Mélissa Desrochers to O3 Mining. Mélissa brings a diverse set of expertise in communications, government relations, and Indigenous and Non-indigenous community relations, which will enhance our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts and complement our existing board members“.

About O3 Mining Inc.

O3 Mining Inc., an Osisko Group company, is a gold explorer and mine developer ready to produce from its highly prospective gold camps in Québec, Canada. O3 Mining benefits from the support, previous mine-building success, and expertise of the Osisko team as it grows towards being a gold producer with several multi-million ounce deposits in Québec.

O3 Mining is well-capitalized and owns a 100% interest in all its properties (137,000 hectares) in Québec. O3 Mining trades on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: OIII) and OTC Markets (OTCQX: OIIIF). The company is focused on delivering superior returns to its shareholders and long-term benefits to its stakeholders. Further information can be found on our website at https://o3mining.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

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SOURCE O3 Mining Inc.

GBT Completed Prototype Design of its Long-Range Radio Mobile System

SAN DIEGO, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GBT Technologies Inc. ( OTC PINK: GTCH ) (“GBT” or the “Company”), completed its prototype design of its long range radio mobile system. The prototype mobile unit will be a high-performance radio transceiver system that is designed for data and voice applications. It is expected to enable data and voice communication for long range applications targeting telemedicine support for the Company’s qTerm vital device including audio.

The design of the prototype mobile unit includes a transceiver targeted for systems to operate under licensed/unlicensed radio frequency bands, enabling ultra-long-range applications. The unit is designed to communicate in the HF (High Frequencies) frequencies bands to establish connection with a base unit transceiver through repeater unit(s) to reach ultra-long range. High clarity, signal reliability and security is expected to be achieved through the implementation of advanced circuitry within the system’s components. The design includes embedded software to manage the data and audio communication including data transfer to a backend server to process data. The design also provided for the mobile unit’s design, size and interface, taking into consideration performance and mobility. The operation of the mobile unit is expected to be done via an LCD touch screen providing user’s friendly interface and ease of use. Upon getting team’s FCC certification, an extensive mobile unit’s testing will start. GBT plans to test the entire system within a large city limits and national ranges.

“We are glad to announce that we completed the design of our prototype long range radio mobile unit. The prototype mobile unit is a key component since it is targeted to be portable aiming to bring modern life services around the globe. The design contemplates an acceptable physical size to be carried coupled with a high-power energy source and long range capability. As the system is targeted to work with the qTerm vital device, the design contemplates users being able to send vital information to professional health authorities for quick review and recommendations. In addition, the design has incorporated a voice communication will be available to discuss further steps and actions. We believe that in our days and age everyone should have access to modern amenities and the key is global communication. For us, the most important contribution of such system is the capability to save lives by enabling health and emergency services anywhere on earth” stated Danny Rittman, the Company’s CTO.

There is no guarantee that the Company will be successful in researching, developing or implementing this system. In order to successfully implement this concept, the Company will need to raise adequate capital to support its research and, if successfully researched, developed and granted regulatory approval, the Company would need to enter into a strategic relationship with a third party that has experience in manufacturing, selling and distributing this product. There is no guarantee that the Company will be successful in any or all of these critical steps.

Mobile unit prototype: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36d838e9-eb3a-423e-8b1a-058c420549a8 

About Us

GBT Technologies, Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) (“GBT”) (http://gbtti.com) is a development stage company which considers itself a native of Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Enabled Mobile Technology Platforms used to increase IC performance. GBT has assembled a team with extensive technology expertise and is building an intellectual property portfolio consisting of many patents. GBT’s mission, to license the technology and IP to synergetic partners in the areas of hardware and software. Once commercialized, it is GBT’s goal to have a suite of products including smart microchips, AI, encryption, Blockchain, IC design, mobile security applications, database management protocols, with tracking and supporting cloud software (without the need for GPS). GBT envisions this system as a creation of a global mesh network using advanced nodes and super performing new generation IC technology. The core of the system will be its advanced microchip technology; technology that can be installed in any mobile or fixed device worldwide. GBT’s vision is to produce this system as a low cost, secure, private-mesh-network between any and all enabled devices. Thus, providing shared processing, advanced mobile database management and sharing while using these enhanced mobile features as an alternative to traditional carrier services.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements”.  Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website ( http://www.sec.gov).  In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, governmental and public policy changes, the Company’s ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, if at all, the Company’s successful development of its products and the integration into its existing products and the commercial acceptance of the Company’s products.  The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date of this press release and these views could change.  However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.  These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.

Contact:

Dr. Danny Rittman, CTO
[email protected] 



New Frontier Health Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2020 Financial Results

New Frontier Health Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2020 Financial Results

BEIJING–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
New Frontier Health Corporation (“NFH” or “the Company”) (NYSE: NFH), operator of the premium healthcare services provider United Family Healthcare (“UFH”), today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

Financial and Operating Highlights1

All comparisons made on both a year-over-year (“yoy”) and quarter-on-quarter (“qoq”) basis. 2

For the Quarter Ended December 31, 2020:

  • Revenue increased by 2.2% yoy to RMB654.0 million from RMB639.7 million and increased by 4.4% from the prior quarter, as patient volume recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic onset.
  • Net loss decreased to RMB101.4 million from RMB251.6 million in the prior year period and increased from RMB69.8 million in the prior quarter. The yoy decrease was mainly due to the RMB148.4 million decrease in transaction costs related to the Company’s business combination, increased patient volume and strong revenue growth month-over-month in the fourth quarter of 2020, ongoing implementation of cost-saving initiatives, and overall cost reductions as a result of government policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which offset an increase in finance costs related to the Company’s senior secured credit facility that it entered into in connection with the closing of the business combination (the “Senior Secured Term Loan”). The qoq increase was mainly attributable to an increase in promotion and marketing expenses from a series of promotional activities held in the fourth quarter of 2020 and an increase in exchange loss due to the appreciation of RMB as compared to the U.S. Dollar in the fourth quarter of 2020.
  • Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption)3 increased by 252.1% yoy to RMB90.5 million from RMB25.7 million and increased by 0.6% from the prior quarter. The increase was primarily due to revenue recovery and the implementation of permanent and temporary cost savings initiatives, as well as revenue ramp-up from expansion assets.
  • Tier 1 Operating Assets: revenue increased by 0.8% yoy to RMB465.7 million from RMB462.2 million and increased by 4.4% qoq. Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) increased by 15.3% yoy to RMB124.0 million from RMB107.6 million. The yoy increases in revenue and Adjusted EBITDA were primarily attributable to recovery of patient volume across various specialties and ongoing implementation of permanent and temporary cost controls.
  • Tier 2 Operating and Other Assets: revenue decreased by 14.3% yoy to RMB82.2 million from RMB95.9 million, primarily as a result of decreased patient volume due to lower birth rates in 2020 and lower overall pediatric patient volume. Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) increased to RMB4.3 million from RMB0.6 million due to continued implementation of permanent and temporary cost controls.
  • Expansion Assets: revenue increased by 30.0% yoy to RMB106.2 million from RMB81.6 million due to strong growth of the new hospitals in Guangzhou and Pudong, Shanghai. Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) improved by 72.5% yoy to RMB(10.2) million from RMB(37.0) million due to the ongoing ramp-up of expansion assets.

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2020:

  • Revenue decreased by 7.7% to RMB2,260.5 million from RMB2,449.2 million due to an overall decrease in patient volume and the number of procedures performed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020.
  • Net loss decreased to RMB419.1 million from RMB458.7 million, mainly due to the RMB 157.0 million decrease in transaction costs from the business combination, implementation of permanent and temporary cost-saving initiatives, and cost reductions as a benefit of government policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which offset an increase in finance costs relating to the Senior Secured Term Loan.
  • Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) increased by 16.1% to RMB166.7 million from RMB143.6 million, mainly due to the implementation of cost controls and ramp up of expansion assets in Guangzhou and Pudong, Shanghai.
  • Tier 1 Operating Assets: revenue decreased by 11.9% to RMB1,596.1 million from RMB1,810.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) decreased by 19.9% to RMB371.5 million from RMB463.8 million due to a decline in patient volume as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Tier 2 Operating and Other Assets: revenue decreased by 15.6% to RMB302.9 million from RMB358.8 million due to a decrease in patient volume as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) improved to RMB0.3 million from RMB(0.2) million due to the ongoing implementation of cost-savings initiatives.
  • Expansion asset revenue increased by 29.3% to RMB361.5 million from RMB279.6 million due to the continued ramp-up of expansion assets. Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) improved by 47.2% yoy to RMB(85.2) million from RMB(161.4) million as a result of the strong revenue growth of the new hospitals in Guangzhou and Pudong, Shanghai.
  • Outpatient visits decreased by 17.3% yoy to 522,969 from 632,664 and increased by 1.2% qoq.
  • Inpatient admissions decreased by 19.5% yoy to 8,699 from 10,805 and increased by 7.4% qoq.
  • Bed utilization rate* decreased to 33.3% yoy from 38.3% due to lower inpatient admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • ASP: outpatient ASP increased by 11.0% yoy and inpatient ASP increased by 15.0% yoy as a result of an increase in the number of higher acuity services provided at our facilities, as less urgent services were postponed due to the pandemic.

* Bed utilization is calculated based on the weighted average maximum bed capacity of the year.

Mr. Antony Leung, Chairman of NFH said, “2020 was challenging for both us and others around the world. We quickly implemented a comprehensive and active response to combat difficulties related to the pandemic in an effort to protect our employees and our patients. Thanks to the tremendous strength and determination of our entire team, we managed to navigate the pandemic in a swift, smooth manner. As the volumes for our outpatient visits and inpatient admissions continued to grow quarter-over-quarter in the fourth quarter of 2020, we were able to achieve some revenue recovery as well as improved profitability. In addition, as the number of people seeking higher acuity services increased, both inpatient and outpatient ASP increased by double digits.”

Ms. Roberta Lipson, Chief Executive Officer of NFH and founder of UFH, commented, “As daily life in China has mostly returned to normal, travel restrictions continue to ease, and international borders open on a controlled basis, we believe this bodes well for our ongoing recovery trends. To reach a younger target audience, we delivered a live talk show on TMall, one of China’s largest e-commerce platforms during the 11.11 festival. In the two-hour live broadcast, more than two million viewers tuned in from across the country. We are also proud of several major developments in the recent months. During the fourth quarter, we completed most of the construction on our new Women’s and Children’s Hospital (DTU) in the northwest corner of Beijing, which began soft opening in late March 2021. The hospital will be the first Level III accredited specialty hospital in the UFH network with a capacity of more than 200 beds. To offer our patients access to a wider variety of medical specialty talent, we have also signed an agreement for close cooperation between our Qingdao United Family Hospital (“QDU”) and doctors at Shandong University Qilu Hospital (QILU). In addition, in December, Shanghai United Family Hospital (“PXU”) launched its Health Management Center, which offers a full range of preventative checks with individualized follow-up health management services. Looking ahead, we remain encouraged by our expansion initiatives and will continue to execute our operational and strategic plans.”

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2020 Results

For management purposes, the Company is organized into business units based on the category and stage of development of the Company’s healthcare facilities and geographic locations. There are three reportable operating segments, as follows:

(a) Tier 1 Operating Assets: the existing general healthcare facilities located in tier 1 cities in China, such as Beijing United Family Hospital (“BJU”), Shanghai United Family Hospital (“PXU”), and their associated clinics.

(b) Tier 2 Operating and Other Assets: the existing general healthcare facilities located in tier 2 cities in China, such as Tianjin United Family Hospital (“TJU”), Qingdao United Family Hospital (“QDU”), and other assets, such as a Beijing United Family Rehabilitation Hospital (“Rehab”) and other clinic assets.

(c) Expansion Assets: the facilities recently opened or about to open, including Shanghai Xincheng United Family Hospital (“PDU”), Guangzhou United Family Hospital (“GZU”), and Beijing Jingbei Women and Children’s United Family Hospital (“DTU”).

 

Revenue (RMB mm)

4Q19

4Q20

Y-o-y Change

%

Q-o-q

Change %

 

Fiscal Year

2019

   

Fiscal Year

2020

   

Y-o-y

Change %

Tier 1 Operating Assets (1)

462.2

 

 

465.7

 

 

0.8

%

 

 

4.4

%

 

 

1,810.7

   

1,596.1

   

(11.9

%)

Tier 2 Operating and Other Assets (2)

95.9

 

 

82.2

 

 

(14.3

%)

 

 

3.2

%

 

 

358.8

   

302.9

   

(15.6

%)

Operating Assets(3)

558.1

 

 

547.9

 

 

(1.8

%)

 

 

4.2

%

 

 

2169.6

   

1,899.1

   

(12.5

%)

Expansion Assets(4)

81.6

 

 

106.2

 

 

30.0

%

 

 

5.4

%

 

 

279.6

   

361.5

   

29.3

%

Total

639.7

 

 

654.0

 

 

2.2

%

 

 

4.4

%

 

 

2,449.2

   

2,260.5

   

(7.7

%)

  1. Tier 1 Operating Assets:For the fourth quarter of 2020, revenue from UFH’s tier 1 facilities and their associated clinics increased by 0.8% yoy due to steady growth in various specialties, such as family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, and orthopedics; however, Tier 1 Operating Assets were also impacted by lower obstetrics revenue due to lower birth rates in 2020 and lower revenue from pediatrics yoy. Both BJU and PXU, as well as their associated clinics, achieved revenue growth qoq as a result of growth in various specialties, as previously noted. For fiscal 2020, revenue from UFH’s tier 1 facilities and their associated clinics decreased by 11.9% yoy due to an overall decline in patient volume for the year as a result of COVID-19.
  2. Tier 2 Operating and Other Assets: For the fourth quarter of 2020,revenue from UFH’s tier 2 facilities and other assets, as a group, decreased by 14.3% yoy and increased by 3.2% qoq due to the decrease in patient volume and demand for obstetrics and pediatric procedures as compared to the prior year, as well as the gradual recovery of patient volume and increase in demand for non-emergency medical services as compared to the prior quarter. For fiscal 2020, revenue from UFH’s tier 2 facilities and other assets, as a group, decreased by 15.6% yoy due to a decline in patient volume as a result of COVID-19 and a decrease in demand for pediatric and obstetric services as compared to the prior year.
  3. Total Operating Assets: For the fourth quarter of 2020 and fiscal 2020, revenue from UFH’s operating assets, as a group, decreased by 1.8% and 12.5% yoy, respectively, due to the overall decrease in patient volume and decreased demand for certain non-emergency services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the fourth quarter of 2020, revenue from UFH’s operating assets, as a group, increased by 4.2% qoq due to the recovery of patient volume and an increase in demand for such non-emergency medical services at the end of the year.
  4. Expansion Assets:As a result of increased brand recognition and new patient uptick at UFH’s GZU and PDU facilities, revenue for UFH’s expansion assets, as a group, increased to RMB106.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 from RMB81.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 and RMB361.5 million in fiscal 2020 from RMB279.6 million in fiscal 2019. In the fourth quarter of 2020, GZU recorded revenue growth of 35.4% yoy and PDU 24.6% yoy. In addition, since opening in the fourth quarter of 2018, both GZU and PDU have developed higher acuity services, such as surgery and orthopedics, which contributed significantly to revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2020 and a qoq increase of 5.4%.
Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption)(RMB mm)

4Q19

 

   

4Q20

 

   

Y-o-Y Change

%

   

Q-o-q

Change %

 

   

Fiscal Year

2019

Fiscal Year

2020

 

Y-o-y

Change %

Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption)

   

 

   

 

 

   

 

Tier 1 Operating Assets(1)

107.6

 

   

124.0

 

   

15.3

%

   

(1.6

%)

 

   

463.8

 

371.5

 

 

(19.9

%)

Tier 2 Operating and Other Assets(2)

0.6

 

   

4.3

 

   

662.7

%

   

9.9

%

 

   

(0.2

)

0.3

 

 

216.8

%

Operating Assets(3)

108.1

 

   

128.3

 

   

18.7

%

   

(1.3

%)

 

   

463.5

 

371.8

 

 

(19.8

%)

Expansion Assets(4)

(37.0

)

   

(10.2

)

   

72.5

%

   

21.1

%

 

   

(161.4

)

(85.2

)

 

47.2

%

Unallocated Cost

(45.4

)

   

(27.6

)

   

39.0

%

   

(1.9

%)

 

   

(158.5

)

(119.9

)

 

24.4

%

Total Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption)(5)

25.7

 

   

90.5

 

   

252.1

%

   

0.6

%

 

   

143.6

 

166.7

 

 

16.1

%

  1. Tier 1 Operating Assets:BJU, PXU, and their associated clinics achieved Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) of RMB124.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, an increase of 15.3% yoy due to revenue recovery and cost control. Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) of tier 1 facilities and their associated clinics decreased by 19.9% yoy due to a decline in patient volume as a result of COVID-19.
  2. Tier 2 Operating and Other Assets:TJU, Rehab, and QDU achieved Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) of RMB4.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to RMB0.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, primarily attributable to the implementation of cost control measures.
  3. Total Operating Assets: UFH’s operating assets, as a group, achieved Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) increase of 18.7% yoy to RMB128.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, a decrease of 1.3% qoq, primarily due to strong revenue recovery and implementation of cost control measures.
  4. Expansion Assets:Expansion assets, as a group, experienced an increase in Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) to RMB(10.2) million in the fourth quarter of 2020, an improvement from RMB(37.0) million in the fourth quarter of 2019, due to strong revenue growth. Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) for GZU reached breakeven for eight consecutive months, beginning in May 2020.
  5. Total Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) for the fourth quarter of 2020 was RMB90.5 million compared to RMB25.7 million in the prior year period, primarily due to revenue recovery, strong ramp-up of expansion assets, and implementation of cost control measures. Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) of UFH’s tier 1 facilities and their associated clinics decreased by 19.9% yoy due to a decline in revenue as a result of COVID-19.

Key Operating Metrics

 

4Q2019

 

4Q2020

 

 

Y-o-Y Change %

 

Q-o-q Change %

Outpatient

Volume

 

Inpatient

Admission

 

Outpatient

Volume

 

Inpatient

Admission

 

 

Outpatient

Volume

 

Inpatient

Admission

 

Outpatient

Volume

 

Inpatient

Admission

Tier 1 Operating Assets

120,131

 

1,850

 

 

109,605

 

1,409

 

 

(8.8

%)

 

(23.8

%)

 

 

0.0

%

 

9.0

%

Tier 2 Operating and Other Assets

23,038

 

616

 

 

21,343

 

489

 

 

(7.4

%)

 

(20.6

%)

 

 

0.5

%

 

14.3

%

Operating Assets(1)

143,169

 

2,466

 

 

130,948

 

1,898

 

 

(8.5

%)

 

(23.0

%)

 

 

0.1

%

 

10.3

%

Expansion Assets(2)

20,267

 

446

 

 

23,884

 

476

 

 

17.8

%

 

6.7

%

 

 

8.2

%

 

(2.7

%)

Total UFH

163,436

 

2,912

 

 

154,832

 

2,374

 

 

(5.3

%)

 

(18.5

%)

 

 

1.2

%

 

7.4

%

2019

 

2020

 

Y-o-Y Growth %

Outpatient

Volume

 

Inpatient

Admission

 

Outpatient

Volume

 

Inpatient

Admission

 

Outpatient

Volume

 

Inpatient

Admission

Tier 1 Operating Assets(1)

473,471

 

 

6,924

 

 

372,355

 

 

5,150

 

 

(21.4

%)

 

 

(25.6

%)

Tier 2 Operating and Other Assets(1)

87,511

 

 

2,374

 

 

73,577

 

 

1,818

 

 

(15.9

%)

 

 

(23.4

%)

Operating Assets Subtotal

560,982

 

 

9,298

 

 

445,932

 

 

6,968

 

 

(20.5

%)

 

 

(25.1

%)

Expansion Assets(2)

71,682

 

 

1,507

 

 

77,037

 

 

1,731

 

 

7.5

%

 

 

14.9

%

Total

632,664

 

 

10,805

 

 

522,969

 

 

8,699

 

 

(17.3

%)

 

 

(19.5

%)

  1. Operating Assets (Tier 1 and Tier 2):The yoy decline of both inpatient and outpatient volume for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2020 was primarily due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as patients postponed or cancelled non-emergency medical services. Following the downgrade of the emergency response to Beijing’s second wave of COVID-19 cases in June, outpatient volumes began to recover gradually in August. By September, total outpatient volume of operating assets had recovered to the same level as the same month in the prior year. Inpatient volume continued to be affected as the Company was encouraged to delay non-emergency and elective procedures. The yoy decline in inpatient admission was attributable to 1) lower admissions in obstetrics department due to nation-wide low birth rates in 2020, and 2) lower admissions in the pediatrics department throughout UFH’s facilities, as schools remained closed and enhanced personal hygiene and protective measures for school children were implemented. However, the Company continued to see strong yoy growth in other departments, such as family medicine, dental, internal medicine, surgery, and orthopaedics.
  2. Expansion Assets:Both PDU and GZU had significant yoy growth in both outpatient and inpatient volumes for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2020. The increases were primarily as a result of increased patient demand due to increased brand recognition and higher demand for OBGYN, internal medicine, and other specialties. Since opening in the fourth quarter of 2018, both PDU and GZU have developed higher acuity and complex specialties, including internal medicine, emergency services, and orthopedics, and have begun to offer more complex surgeries such as breast cancer surgery, complicated endoscopic gastrointestinal surgery, intestinal massive tumor removal, kidney surgery, thyroid cancer surgery, and knee and shoulder joint arthroscopies.

FINANCIAL RESULTS

Unaudited Fourth Quarter of 2020 Results

Revenue increased by 2.2% yoy to RMB654.0 million ($100.2 million) from RMB639.7 million and increased by 4.4% from the prior quarter, as patient volume continued to recover since the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in February.

  • Tier 1 Operating Assets: revenue decreased by 0.8% to RMB465.7 million from RMB462.2 million. Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) decreased by 15.3% to RMB124.0 million from RMB107.6 million due to a decline in patient volume as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Tier 2 Operating and Other Assets: revenue decreased by 14.3% to RMB82.2 million from RMB95.9 million due to a decrease in patient volume as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) improved to RMB4.3 million from RMB0.6 million due to implementation of cost savings initiatives.
  • Expansion asset revenue increased by 30.0% to RMB106.2 million from RMB81.6 million due to the continued ramp-up of expansion assets. Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) improved by 72.5% yoy to RMB(10.2) million from RMB(37.0) million as a result of the strong revenue growth of the new hospitals in Guangzhou and Pudong, Shanghai.

Operating expenses were RMB623.2 million ($95.5 million) in the fourth quarter, representing a decrease of 24.1% yoy from RMB820.7 million and an increase of 5.4% qoq.

  • Salaries, wages and benefits expenses decreased 22.7% yoy to RMB298.5 million from RMB386.1 million and increased by 1.2% qoq. The yoy decrease was primarily due to the RMB14.0 million decrease in transaction bonuses, which were paid in connection with the business combination, the implementation of cost-saving initiatives, which include voluntary pay reductions at headquarters, utilization of employee leave, and reduction in social insurance and benefits expenses as a result of government policies during the pandemic. The qoq increase was primarily due to new hires as service needs increased at facilities such as BJU, DTU, TJU, and GZU due to expansion of such facilities and the continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Supplies and purchased medical services expenses increased 14.2% yoy to RMB127.5 million from RMB111.6 million and increased by 11.9% qoq, mainly due to the enhancement of vaccination services and increased use of medical supplies as a result of the increase in number of patients treated and the Company’s expansion to provide more complex and sophisticated services.
  • Depreciation and amortization expenses increased 16.7% yoy to RMB105.8 million from RMB90.6 million and increased by 0.6% qoq, due to fair value appreciation of plant and equipment as well as contracts with insurers related to the business combination.
  • Lease and rental expenses decreased 90.6% yoy to RMB0.3 million from RMB3.5 million and decreased by 52.7% qoq, primarily due to a reduction in monthly lease payments as a result of government policies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Impairment of trade receivables increased 14.9% yoy to RMB4.6 million from RMB4.0 million and increased by 724.1% qoq from RMB0.6 million, primarily due to the increase in trade receivables as a result of revenue growth.
  • Other operating expenses decreased 61.5% yoy to RMB86.6 million from RMB224.9 million, mainly due to the RMB 134.4 million decrease in transaction costs incurred in connection with the business combination and the implementation of cost-saving initiatives. Other operating expenses increased by 14.0% qoq, or RMB10.6 million, primarily attributable to an increase in promotion and marketing expenses due to a series of promotional activities put in place in the fourth quarter.

As a result of the above, income from operationsin the fourth quarter of 2020 was RMB30.8 million ($4.7 million) compared to loss from operations of RMB181.0 million in the prior year period. Loss before income taxes in the fourth quarter of 2020 was RMB83.0 million ($12.7 million), compared to RMB244.8 million in the prior year period. Net lossin the fourth quarter of 2020 was RMB101.4 million ($15.5 million), compared to RMB251.6 million in the prior year period. Decreased losses in the fourth quarter yoy mainly resulted from a significant decrease in transaction costs by RMB148.4 million, increased patient volume and strong revenue growth month-over-month in the fourth quarter of 2020, cost-saving initiatives, and cost reductions as a benefit of government policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which offset an increase in finance costs due to the Company’s Senior Secured Term Loan.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had RMB640.4 million ($98.2 million) in cash and cash equivalents. Cash generated from operating activities for the fourth quarter were RMB67.1 million ($10.3 million), cash used for investing activities were RMB104.2 million ($16.0 million), and cash used for financing activities were RMB57.8 million ($8.9 million), which were used for capital lease payments and repayment of the Senior Secured Term Loan.

Full Year 2020 Results

Revenues decreased by 7.7% to RMB2,260.5 million ($346.4 million) from RMB2,449.2 million.

  • Tier 1 Operating Assets: revenue decreased by 11.9% yoy to RMB1,596.1 million from RMB1,810.7 million, and Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) decreased by 19.9% yoy to RMB371.5 million from RMB463.8 million primarily due to decreased patient volume as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Tier 2 Operating and Other Assets: revenue decreased by 15.6% yoy to RMB302.9 million from RMB358.8 million, and Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) increased to RMB0.3 million from RMB(0.2) million, primarily as a result of the implementation of cost control measures, with tier 2 operating and other assets approaching break-even as a group.
  • Expansion Assets: revenue increased by 29.3% yoy to RMB361.5 million from RMB279.6 million, and Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) improved to RMB(85.2) million from RMB(161.4) million, achieving significant progress and remaining on track with strong ramp-up expectations.

Operating expenses were RMB2,338.9 million ($358.5 million) in fiscal 2020, representing a decrease of 12.2% yoy from RMB2,665.0 million in fiscal 2019.

  • Salaries, wages and benefits expenses decreased 16.8% yoy to RMB1,186.7 million from RMB1,425.7 million. As a percentage of revenue, salaries, wages and benefits expenses were 52.5% in 2020 compared to 58.2% in 2019. This was primarily due to the implementation of cost-saving initiatives, including voluntary pay reductions at headquarters, utilization of employee leave, and a reduction in social insurance and benefits expenses, as a result of government policies during the pandemic, despite increased service needs as evidenced by the significant revenue growth resulting from the ramp-up of new facilities such as PXU, GZU, and PDU.
  • Supplies and purchased medical services expenses increased 5.0% yoy to RMB420.4 million from RMB400.2 million due to expansion of postpartum and vaccination related services, increased purchases of personal protective equipment, and implementation of new infection control measures at the Company’s facilities during the pandemic.
  • Depreciation and amortization expenses increased 23.5% yoy to RMB425.2 million from RMB344.4 million due to fair value appreciation of plant and equipment, contracts with insurers related to the business combination, and the depreciation of the new, expanded PXU facility.
  • Lease and rental expenses decreased 82.0% yoy to RMB2.5 million from RMB13.9 million, mainly due to a reduction in lease payments as a result of government policies implemented during the pandemic.
  • Impairment of trade receivables increased 4.8% yoy to RMB7.4 million from RMB7.0 million due to the increase in trade receivables.
  • Other operating expenses decreased 37.4% yoy to RMB296.8 million from RMB473.8 million mainly, due to cost-saving initiatives and a decrease in transaction costs by RMB143.0 million.

As a result of the above,loss from operations decreased 63.7% yoy to RMB78.4 million ($12.0 million) in fiscal 2020, compared to RMB215.8 million in fiscal 2019. Loss before income taxes in fiscal 2020 was RMB391.4 million ($60.0 million), compared to RMB396.5 million in fiscal 2019. Net lossin fiscal 2020 was RMB419.1 million ($64.2 million), compared to RMB458.7 million in fiscal 2019. Decreased losses in the fiscal 2020 mainly resulted from a decrease in transaction costs by RMB157.0 million, implementation of cost-saving initiatives, and other cost reductions as a benefit of government policies implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite increased finance costs and depreciation and amortization expenses from the business combination.

 

RECONCILIATON OF NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

(RMB mm)

 

 

S/P Combined

(non-IFRS)

 

Successor

 

S/P Combined

(non-IFRS)

 

Successor

For the

three months

ended

December 31,

2019

For the

three months

ended

December 31,

2020

For the year

ended

December 31,

2019

For the year

ended

December 31,

2020

 

Net loss

(251.6

)

(101.4

)

(458.7

)

(419.1

)

Less: Finance income

(1.2

)

(1.1

)

(2.9

)

(2.7

)

Add: Finance costs

59.1

 

64.0

 

162.2

 

263.8

 

Add: Foreign exchange (gain)/loss

(6.9

)

36.5

 

15.8

 

49.4

 

Less: Gain on disposal of a subsidiary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3.6

)

Add: Other expense, net

12.8

 

14.4

 

5.6

 

6.1

 

Add: Income tax expense

6.8

 

18.4

 

62.2

 

27.7

 

Operating (loss)/income

(181.0

)

30.8

 

(215.8

)

(78.4

)

Add: Share-based compensation

13.4

 

0.1

 

45.0

 

0.7

 

Add: Depreciation and amortization

90.6

 

105.8

 

344.4

 

425.2

 

Add: Discontinued monitoring fee payable to Fosun Pharma and TPG

1.1

 

 

3.8

 

 

Add: Transaction related costs

152.0

 

3.6

 

164.6

 

7.6

 

Add: Relocation costs of PXU

3.3

 

 

6.4

 

 

Add: Severance costs

 

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

 

13.2

 

Add: Other unallocated costs

 

 

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

79.4

 

141.0

 

348.7

 

368.4

 

Less: Lease expense adjustments as a result of IFRS 16 adoption

 

(53.7

)

 

(50.5

)

 

(205.1

)

 

(201.7

)

Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption)

 

25.7

 

 

90.5

 

 

143.6

 

 

166.7

 

 

 

For the three months ended December 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

Operating

assets Tier 1

 

Operating

assets – Tier 2

and other

assets

 

Expansion

assets

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment results

 

145.5

 

 

6.7

 

 

11.5

 

 

163.7

 

Less: Segment lease expense adjustment as a result of adoption of IFRS 16

 

(23.2

)

 

(5.1

)

 

(22.2

)

 

(50.5

)

Add: Severance costs

 

0.1

 

 

0.1

 

 

0.5

 

 

0.7

 

Add: Intersegment costs

 

1.6

 

 

2.6

 

 

 

 

4.2

 

Elimination

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4.2

)

Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 Adoption)

 

124.0

 

 

4.3

 

 

(10.2

)

 

113.9

 

Less: Unallocated costs – others

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(23.4

)

Total Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 Adoption)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

90.5

 

Add: Lease expense adjustment as a result of adoption of IFRS 16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50.5

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

141.0

 

Less: Share-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(0.1

)

Less: Depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(105.8

)

Less: Transaction related costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3.6

)

Less: Severance costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(0.7

)

Operating income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30.8

 

Add: Finance income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.1

 

Less: Finance costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(64.0

)

Less: Foreign exchange loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(36.5

)

Less: Other expenses, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(14.4

)

Less: Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(18.4

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(101.4

)

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

DTU Building Construction Completed and on Target for Grand Opening

During the fourth quarter, the majority of construction was completed on our new Women’s and Children’s Hospital (DTU) in the northwest corner of Beijing. The new facility recently opened in late March 2021 and has over 25,000 square meters of space, while being conveniently located near Beijing’s Olympic Village with direct access to major thoroughfares. The hospital will be the first Level III accredited specialty hospital in the UFH network. With capacity of more than 200 beds, the hospital is expected to provide outpatient clinic services, 24/7 pediatric emergency services, inpatient care, and neonatal intensive care services (NICU). The pediatric medical team will provide comprehensive well and sick care in addition to sub-specialty services, including Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Orthopedics, Oral Health, Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT), Ophthalmology. The OBGYN medical team, led by Dr. Lai Ailuan, will offer a full range of both gynecological and obstetric services, including specialization in various women’s health areas.

BJU Building 1 Lease Expiration

The lease on Building 1 of the BJU campus started in 1995 and was renewed in 2016. The renewal expired on December 31, 2020, and an extension agreement has not yet been reached. Plans are underway to potentially end this arrangement and to relocate certain existing operations to BJU’s clinics and other UFH facilities in Beijing. A majority of the clinics will be relocated to Building 2, in addition to newly leased, street-front commercial space adjacent to the hospital. Patient maternity rooms in Building 1 due to the relocation will be supplemented by a space in the new United Family Datun Women and Children’s Facility, which began soft opening at the end of March 2021.

Preliminary Non-binding “Going Private” Proposal

On February 10, 2021, the Company announced that its board of directors (the “Board”) received a preliminary non-binding proposal letter (the “Proposal Letter”), dated February 9, 2021, from New Frontier Public Holding Ltd. (“NFPH”), Carnival Investments Limited, a company affiliated with Leung Kam Chung (the “Chairman”), Roberta Lipson and her affiliates (collectively, the “CEO”), Max Rising International Limited, a company affiliated with Carl Wu (the “President”), Ying Zeng (the “COO”), Vivo Capital Fund IX (Cayman), L.P.(“Vivo”), NF SPAC Holding Limited and Sun Hing Associates Limited (together with NF SPAC Holding Limited, “Nan Fung”), Brave Peak Limited (“Shimao”), Aspex Master Fund (“Aspex”), Smart Scene Investment Limited (“Hysan”), and LY Holding Co., Limited (“Tingyi Group” and, together with NFPH Holding, the Chairman, the CEO, the President, the COO, Vivo, Nan Fung, Shimao, Aspex and Hysan (the “Buyer Group”), to acquire all outstanding ordinary shares (the “Shares”) of the Company not already beneficially owned by members of the Buyer Group or their affiliates in a going-private transaction for US$12.00 per share in cash (the “Proposed Transaction”). The Proposed Transaction, if completed, would result in the Company becoming a privately held company and delisting its ordinary shares from the New York Stock Exchange.

On February 10, 2021, the Company further announced that the Company received a clarification from representatives of the Buyer Group indicating that the Buyer Group intends to, at a later time and in connection with the Proposed Transaction, also propose to acquire all outstanding warrants to purchase ordinary shares of the Company not already beneficially owned by members of the Buyer Group or their affiliates.

On March 18, 2021, the Company announced that the Board has formed a special committee to review and evaluate the previously mentioned preliminary non-binding “going private” proposal.

BUSINESS OUTLOOK

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic affects NFH’s long-term results remains uncertain, and the Company is closely monitoring its impact. There remain significant uncertainties of COVID-19’s future impact, the extent of which will depend on a number of factors, including the duration and severity of COVID-19, the potential for new waves in China, the development and progress of distribution of COVID-19 vaccine and other medical treatment, the actions taken by government authorities, particularly to contain the outbreak, and economic stimulation to improve business conditions, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), almost all of which are beyond the Company’s control.

CONFERENCE CALL

A conference call and webcast to discuss New Frontier Healthcare’s financial results and guidance will be held at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Thursday, April 8, 2021 (or Thursday, April 8, 2021, at 8:00 pm Beijing Time). Interested parties may listen to the conference call by dialing numbers below:

United States: 1-877-407-0789

International: 1-201-689-8562

China Domestic: 86 400 120 2840

Hong Kong: 800 965 561

Conference ID: 13718229

The replay will be accessible through April 15, 2021, by dialing the following numbers:

United States: 1-844-512-2921

International: 1-412-317-6671

Conference ID: 13718229

The webcast will be available on the Company’s investor relations website at www.nfh.com.cn and will be archived on the site shortly after the call has concluded. A presentation to accompany the call will also be available for download on the website.

About New Frontier Health Corporation

New Frontier Health Corporation (NYSE: NFH) is the operator of United Family Healthcare (UFH), a leading private healthcare provider offering comprehensive premium healthcare services in China through a network of private hospitals and affiliated ambulatory clinics. UFH currently has nine hospitals in operation or under construction in all four tier 1 cities and selected tier 2 cities. Additional information may be found at www.nfh.com.cn.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this release are “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, UFH’s preparedness to address the outbreak; UFH’s ability to manage patient inflows; UFH’s ability to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within its facilities; UFH’s ability to grow its business manage its growth; the benefits and synergies of the Business Combination, including anticipated cost savings, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the markets in which the Company operates; and the Company’s ability to complete the “going private” transaction. Such forward-looking statements are based on available current market material and management’s expectations, beliefs and forecasts concerning future events impacting NFH. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside NFH’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of such risks, please refer to NFH’s Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2020 and Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC. NFH undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Non-IFRS Measures

The discussion and analysis includes certain measures, including Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) and Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA, which have not been prepared in accordance with IFRS. This measure does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. This measure should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS. We use this measure to evaluate our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is helpful in comparing our performance over various reporting periods on a consistent basis by removing from operating results the impact of items that do not reflect core operating performance, and in identifying underlying operating results and trends.

Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) is calculated as net loss plus (i) depreciation and amortization, (ii) finance costs/(income), (iii) other gains or losses, (iv) other expenses (such as share based compensation), (v) provision for income taxes, as further adjusted for (vi) certain monitoring fees paid to certain shareholders prior to the Business Combination, (vii) lease expense adjustments as a result of adoption of IFRS 16, (viii) transaction related costs (such as insurance amortization), and (ix) severance costs as a result of the restructuring process mainly in corporate headquarters since the second quarter of 2020. UFH adopted IFRS 16 on January 1, 2019, and recognized lease liabilities and corresponding “right-of-use” assets for all applicable leases, and recognized interest expense accrued on the outstanding balance of the lease liabilities and depreciation of right-of-use assets. As a result, the adoption of IFRS 16 caused depreciation and amortization and finance costs to increase in 2019, and excluded all applicable lease expenses in Adjusted EBITDA. For ease of comparison to prior periods, the Company eliminated the impact of IFRS 16 on Adjusted EBITDA.

Please see the table captioned “Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Financial Measures.”

Exchange Rate Information

The translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars for purposes of convenience were made at a rate of RMB6.5250 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on December 31, 2020.

 

NEW FRONTIER HEALTH CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(All amounts in thousands)

 

Predecessor

Successor

 

 

Period from

October 1

to December

18, 2019

 

Period from 1

January 1 to

December 18,

2019

(Audited)

 

Period from

December 19

to December 31,

2019

(Audited)

 

For the

three months ended

December 31, 2020

 

For the year ended

December 31, 2020

RMB

 

RMB

RMB

 

RMB

US$

RMB

US$

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

559,705

 

 

2,369,167

 

80,035

 

 

654,047

 

100,237

 

2,260,505

 

 

346,438

 

Operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries, wages and benefits

(306,871

)

 

(1,346,478

)

(79,215

)

 

(298,507

)

(45,748

)

(1,186,715

)

 

(181,872

)

Supplies and purchased medical services

(93,364

)

 

(381,954

)

 

(18,241

)

 

(127,505

)

(19,541

)

 

(420,393

)

 

(64,428

)

Depreciation and amortization expense

(75,713

)

 

(329,453

)

 

(14,931

)

 

(105,750

)

(16,207

)

 

(425,160

)

 

(65,159

)

Lease and rental expenses

(2,765

)

 

(13,167

)

(739

)

 

(329

)

(50

)

(2,508

)

 

(384

)

Bad debt expense

(3,452

)

 

(6,512

)

(528

)

 

(4,574

)

(701

)

(7,378

)

 

(1,131

)

Other operating expenses

(59,098

)

 

(308,005

)

(165,776

)

 

(86,572

)

(13,268

)

(296,757

)

 

(45,480

)

Expense total

(541,263

)

 

(2,385,569

)

(279,430

)

 

(623,237

)

(95,515

)

(2,338,911

)

 

(358,454

)

 

Operating loss

18,442

 

 

(16,402

)

(199,395

)

 

30,810

 

4,722

 

(78,406

)

 

(12,016

)

Finance income

387

 

 

2,127

 

779

 

 

1,141

 

175

 

2,727

 

 

418

 

Finance costs

(29,588

)

 

(132,730

)

(29,503

)

 

(63,957

)

(9,802

)

(263,810

)

 

(40,431

)

Foreign currency gain (loss)

9,575

 

 

(13,120

)

(2,641

)

 

(36,516

)

(5,596

)

(49,389

)

 

(7,569

)

Gain on disposal of a subsidiary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,558

 

 

545

 

Other income (expense), net

(7,049

)

 

171

 

(5,798

)

 

(14,436

)

(2,212

)

(6,097

)

 

(934

)

Loss before income taxes

(8,233

)

 

(159,954

)

(236,558

)

 

(82,958

)

(12,713

)

(391,417

)

 

(59,987

)

Income tax (expense)/benefit

(13,027

)

 

(68,424

)

6,261

 

 

(18,427

)

(2,824

)

(27,708

)

 

(4,246

)

Loss for the period

(21,260

)

 

(228,378

)

(230,297

)

 

(101,385

)

(15,537

)

(419,125

)

 

(64,233

)

 

Attributable to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limited partners/equity holders of the parent

(15,659

)

 

(200,441

)

(228,905

)

 

(94,734

)

(14,518

)

(392,841

)

 

(60,205

)

Non-controlling interests

(5,601

)

 

(27,937

)

(1,392

)

 

(6,651

)

(1,019

)

(26,284

)

 

(4,028

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per share attributed to equity holders of the parent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

 

 

(1.74

)

 

(0.72

)

 

(0.11

)

 

(2.99

)

 

(0.46

)

Diluted

 

 

 

 

(1.74

)

 

(0.72

)

 

(0.11

)

 

(2.99

)

 

(0.46

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Items to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods (net of tax):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currency translation differences

(7,959

)

 

7,934

 

1,909

 

 

24,515

 

3,757

 

36,480

 

 

5,591

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

(7,959

)

 

7,934

 

1,909

 

 

24,515

 

3,757

 

36,480

 

 

5,591

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss for the period

(29,219

)

 

(220,444

)

(228,388

)

 

(76,870

)

(11,780

)

(382,645

)

 

(58,642

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss attributable to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limited partners/equity holders of the parent

(23,618

)

 

(192,507

)

(226,996

)

 

(70,219

)

(10,761

)

(356,361

)

 

(54,614

)

Non-controlling interests

(5,601

)

 

(27,937

)

(1,392

)

 

(6,651

)

(1,019

)

(26,284

)

 

(4,028

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW FRONTIER HEALTH CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(All amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

2019

(Audited)

   

2020

 

RMB

   

RMB

   

US$

 

Non-current assets

       

 

Property and equipment

1,962,781

 

   

2,014,904

 

   

308,798

 

 

 

Goodwill

6,056,253

 

   

6,088,472

 

   

933,099

 

 

 

Intangible assets

2,584,893

 

   

2,526,777

 

   

387,246

 

 

 

Right-of-use assets

1,773,007

 

   

1,651,748

 

 

   

253,141

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets

59,001

 

   

46,785

 

 

   

7,170

 

 

 

Restricted cash

350

 

   

350

 

 

   

54

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in an associate

 

 

   

1,000

 

 

   

153

 

 

 

Other non-current assets

106,121

 

   

73,021

 

 

   

11,191

 

 

 

Total non-current assets

12,542,406

 

 

   

12,403,057

 

 

   

1,900,852

 

 

 

Current assets

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Inventories

56,592

 

   

92,268

 

 

   

14,141

 

 

 

Trade receivable

215,376

 

   

218,971

 

 

   

33,559

 

 

 

Due from related parties

66,923

 

   

10,129

 

 

   

1,552

 

 

 

Prepayments and other current assets

38,323

 

   

53,509

 

 

   

8,201

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted cash

376,715

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

1,353,300

 

   

640,429

 

 

   

98,150

 

 

 

Total current assets

2,107,229

 

 

   

1,015,306

 

 

   

155,603

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

14,649,635

 

 

   

13,418,363

 

 

   

2,056,455

 

 

 

Current liabilities

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Trade payables

99,082

 

   

89,056

 

 

   

13,648

 

 

 

Contract liabilities

270,196

 

   

350,146

 

 

   

53,662

 

 

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

882,158

 

   

425,940

 

 

   

65,278

 

 

 

Due to related parties

4,045

 

   

6,104

 

 

   

935

 

 

 

Tax payable

15,278

 

   

1,260

 

 

   

193

 

 

 

Long-term borrowings

400,325

 

   

6,027

 

 

   

924

 

 

 

Lease liabilities

90,521

 

   

89,181

 

 

   

13,668

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

1,761,605

 

 

   

967,714

 

 

   

148,308

 

 

 

NET CURRENT ASSETS

345,624

 

 

   

47,592

 

 

   

7,295

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

12,888,030

 

 

   

12,450,649

 

 

   

1,908,147

 

 

 

Non-current liabilities

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term borrowings

2,060,933

 

   

2,054,649

 

 

   

314,889

 

 

 

Contract liabilities

67,873

 

   

68,577

 

 

   

10,510

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities

681,715

 

   

665,962

 

 

   

102,063

 

 

 

Lease liabilities

1,661,182

 

   

1,595,570

 

 

   

244,532

 

 

 

Other long-term liabilities

9,358

 

   

9,016

 

 

   

1,382

 

 

 

Total non-current liabilities

4,481,061

 

 

   

4,393,774

 

 

   

673,376

 

 

 

Net assets

8,406,969

 

 

   

8,056,875

 

 

   

1,234,771

 

 

 

EQUITY

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity attributable to the equity holders of the Company

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ordinary shares

91

 

 

   

91

 

 

   

14

 

 

 

Capital surplus

8,430,405

 

 

   

8,462,956

 

 

   

1,297,005

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation reserves

6,302

 

 

   

42,782

 

 

   

6,557

 

 

 

Accumulated deficit

(265,618

)

 

   

(658,459

)

 

   

(100,913

)

 

 

8,171,180

 

 

   

7,847,370

 

 

   

1,202,663

 

 

 

Non-controlling interests

235,789

 

 

   

209,505

 

 

   

32,108

 

 

 

Total equity

8,406,969

 

 

   

8,056,875

 

 

   

1,234,771

 

 

NEW FRONTIER HEALTH CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(All amounts in thousands)

 

 

Predecessor

 

Successor

Period from

October 1

To December

18, 2019

 

 

Period from

January 1 to

December 18,

2019

(Audited)

 

Period from

December 19

to December

31, 2019

(Audited)

For the

three months ended

December 31, 2020

 

For the year ended

December 31, 2020

Cash generated from (used for):

RMB

 

RMB

 

RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

US$

Operating activities

36,222

 

 

316,639

 

 

(80,432

)

67,126

 

10,288

 

265,215

 

40,646

 

Investing activities

(49,347

)

 

(341,771

)

 

(45,671

)

(104,155

)

(15,962

)

(319,689

)

(48,994

)

Financing activities

(17,727

)

 

(189,961

)

 

(9,702

)

(57,831

)

(8,863

)

(631,234

)

(96,741

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(30,852

)

 

(215,093

)

 

(135,805

)

(94,860

)

(14,537

)

(685,708

)

(105,089

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

___________________________________

1 All comparisons made on a year-over-year (“yoy”) basis unless otherwise indicated. As a result of the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standard (“IFRS”) 16, effective January 1, 2019, related lease expenses have been reflected in depreciation and amortization expenses and finance costs. The financial statements have been translated into United States dollars for convenience purposes at a rate of RMB6.5250 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on December 31, 2020 set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board.

2 The Company acquired Healthy Harmony in a business combination that closed on December 18, 2019 (the “Closing Date”). Healthy Harmony was determined to be the accounting “Predecessor” while the Company succeeded to all of the business and operations of Healthy Harmony and was considered the combined Company (the “Successor”. The financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2020, presented herein are those of the combined Company. The Company’s financial statement presentation in 2019 is further distinguished as follows: the Successor period is from December 19, 2019 to December 31, 2019 (“2019 Successor Period”) and the Predecessor periods are from January 1, 2019 to December 18, 2019 (“2019 Predecessor Period”), and from October 1, 2019 to December 18, 2019 (“2019 Q4 Predecessor Period” or “Prior Year Period”). Management believes reviewing the Company’s operating results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019 by combining the results of the 2019 Q4 Predecessor Period and 2019 Successor Period (the “2019 Q4 S/P Combined”), and combining the results of the 2019 Predecessor Period and 2019 Successor Period (the “2019 S/P Combined”) respectively, is more useful.

3 Adjusted EBITDA (before IFRS 16 adoption) is a non-IFRS performance measure. See “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with IFRS.

Investors

Arthur, Yue Chen

Tel: +86-150-0500-3258

Email: [email protected]

ICR, LLC

William Zima

Tel: +1-203-682-8200

Email: [email protected]

Media

Wenjing Liu

Tel: +86-186-1151-5796

Email: [email protected]

KEYWORDS: China Asia Pacific

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Hospitals Practice Management Other Health Managed Care General Health

MEDIA:

NanoString Highlights Spatial Biology Research from the 2021 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Conference

NanoString Highlights Spatial Biology Research from the 2021 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Conference

GeoMx Breast Cancer Consortium (GBCC) Provides Early Spatial Insights into Tumors, the Tumor Microenvironment, and the Host Immune Response

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
NanoString Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSTG), a leading provider of life science tools for discovery and translational research, today announced the highlights of spatial biology abstracts that will be presented at the 2021 meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), which will be held virtually from April 10 – 15, 2021.

The GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP) enables researchers to characterize tissue morphology to rapidly and quantitatively profile RNA and proteins. To date, NanoString and its collaborators have presented DSP data in dozens of abstracts at major scientific meetings and more than 45 peer-reviewed publications, demonstrating DSP’s utility to address a wide range of biological questions in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and frozen tissues. At AACR 2021, eight abstracts that used GeoMx DSP will be presented during the poster session on Saturday, April 10.

Four of the eight abstracts will be presented by investigators from the GeoMx Breast Cancer Consortium (GBCC), an international network of breast cancer researchers. Their goal is to apply innovative approaches and decipher the spatial context of breast cancer to develop a comprehensive atlas and database of novel biomarkers for the disease.

GBCC Abstracts

Poster 2718: Digital spatial profiling in HER2 positive breast cancer: The road to precision medicine

In this work, the GeoMx DSP was used to profile 71 protein targets and gene expression profiling was done using NanoString’s nCounter PanCancer IO360 assay for primary and metastatic tissues from human epidermal growth factor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC) patients. A detailed characterization of carefully chosen immune cold, warm and hot regions of interest (ROI) in the tumor and tumor immune microenvironment of (HER2+) of these samples established that primary tumors had a higher number of immune cells than the metastatic sites. These findings, therefore, suggest that immunotherapy in early-stage BC could be more effective than in advanced BC.

Poster 2701: Molecular profiling to assess the immune response to neoadjuvant SABR in early breast cancer

NanoString’s Human PanCancer immune profiling panel was used to assess the impact of localized radiotherapy to elicit an immune response in primary breast carcinomas before lumpectomy. They analyzed 25 patient samples for low-risk primary breast carcinomas from the SIGNAL 2.0 clinical trial using the GeoMx DSP platform, pre, and post stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Significant differences were found in the gene expression patterns in the immune microenvironment gene expression patterns and cellular composition after radiotherapy, demonstrating that SBRT treatment indeed evokes an immune response, increasing the innate immune response.

Poster 2698: Spatial gene expression profiling in breast cancer

Transcriptome profiling was performed for a cohort of breast cancer lumpectomies using the Cancer Transcriptomic Atlas (CTA) assay on the GeoMx DSP platform. Analysis of 60 patient samples revealed region-specific heterogeneity in unifocal and multifocal cancer tumors. This study demonstrates and establishes the importance of interactions between immune and tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment and the need to develop a strategy to stratify patients to available targeted therapies.

Poster 2726: Characterization of immune microenvironment and heterogeneity in breast cancer subtypes

In this work, the immune microenvironment of Luminal A, Luminal B, Basal, and HER2 tumor subtypes in a cohort of early breast cancer patients was studied using protein biomarkers. The markers were delineated in a spatial context using the GeoMx DSP. Characterization of the immune microenvironment subtypes provided evidence for potential clinical use for GeoMx DSP in diagnosing and better stratifying breast cancer patients based on spatial heterogeneity in tumor and tumor microenvironment.

Other spatial abstracts

Poster 339: Resistance to trastuzumab is associated with alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in the stroma of patients with HER2+ breast cancer

GeoMx DSP was used to identify biomarkers for resistance to trastuzumab in HER2+ breast cancer. Fifty-eight protein targets were analyzed in three different regions of interest (tumor [PanCK+], leukocyte [CD45+/CD68-], and macrophage [CD68+]) in a cohort of 151 breast cancer patients that received trastuzumab. The study uncovered a-SMA as a potential biomarker to augment the predictive value of the current standard of care HER2 assay and justifies its further validation in the light of the many new HER2 targeted therapies.

Poster 705: SARS-CoV-2 infection of the human heart governs intracardiac innate immune response

Spatial profiling of human post-mortem cardiac samples of SARS-CoV-2 infected myocardium was carried out using NanoString’s Whole Transcriptome Analysis (1,864 genes) panel, along with a matching proteome panel on the GeoMx digital spatial profiler. The purpose of their investigation was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac toxicity, a severe cause of morbidity and mortality in patients on DOX therapy. The study showed interesting gender-specific differential gene expression patterns in the myocardium between SARS-CoV-2 infected and control regions of interest. Signatures of enhanced innate and acquired immune signaling, apoptosis and autophagy, chromatin remodeling, reduced DNA repair, and reduced oxidoreductase activity were all observed in regions of infection. Additionally, DOX-induced increase in the expression of TMPSS2 and cathepsins A, B, and F, clearly indicated enhanced SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in the myocardium, thus placing cancer patients on DOX therapy at increased risk of cardiac damage.

Poster 2731: Cell-type deconvolution of African American breast tumors reveals spatial heterogeneity of the immune microenvironment

Researchers at the University of Chicago carried out spatial gene expression analysis within localized segments of TNBC tumors from a cohort of self-reported African American patients in the Chicago Multi-Ethnic Breast Cancer Study (ChiMEC). Regions of interest for spatial characterization of tumor and tumor microenvironment using the GeoMx DSP Cancer Transcriptome Atlas assay were manually selected based on the specific morphologies. The 1,825 genes interrogated in the CTA assay provided a granular understanding of the immune landscape’s heterogeneity within tumors.

Poster 2771: Comprehensive analysis of immuno oncology markers in the tumor microenvironment of solid tumor samples using GeoMxTM digital spatial profiler (DSP) and MultiOmyxTM hyperplexed immunofluorescence (IF)

This study describes a multi-faceted highly multiplexed tissue analysis of critical Immuno oncology (IO) protein markers in a pan-cancer cohort of up to 35 FFPE samples originating from breast, head, and neck, prostate, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), endometrial and colorectal indications using NanoString human IO panel on GeoMx DSP in combination with a complementary MultiOmyx™ Hyperplexed Immunofluorescence (IF) assay. The spatial and quantitative data outputs from DSP nCounter system and cell classification information from the MultiOmyx assay provided the researchers an ability not only to characterize the immunophenotypes but also to visualize the spatial distribution of tumor-infiltrating immune cells at a single-cell resolution within the TME.

Spotlight Theaters at AACR

NanoString will be hosting two spotlight theaters during AACR 2021. The first spotlight theater presentation is April 11 from 1:00-2:00 pm EDT, featuring Joseph Beechem, Ph.D., senior vice president of R&D and chief scientific officer for NanoString, with an overview of the latest developments in spatial biology, True spatial genomics: Measuring the transcriptome in regions, cell and sub-cellular compartments. Dr. Beechem will explain spatial technologies’ evolution and their applications from multi-cell to single-cell and subcellular resolution, using the GeoMx DSP and the company’s Spatial Molecular Imager.

The second NanoString spotlight theater is Tuesday, April 13, from 11:00-12:00 pm EDT, and is entitled: New Approaches for Cellular Therapies: Technology Symposium Featuring the GeoMx DSP and nCounter® CAR-T Characterization. This panel will include three speakers, Dr. Ryan Golden, Resident Physician in Clinical Pathology, Carl June Lab, University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Marco Ruella, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; and Ghamdan Al-Eryani, Ph.D. Student, Tumor Progression Group from the Garvan Institute. Each speaker will discuss new approaches to CAR-T characterization using the spatially-resolved and bulk RNA analysis, from understanding resistance in CART immunotherapy in lymphoma to TCR diversity in melanoma.

NanoString has launched a Technology Access Program (TAP) for the recently announced single and subcellular Spatial Molecular Imager to complement the existing TAP program for GeoMx. Under the program, customers can submit tissue samples to NanoString for analysis using the spatial profiling platforms and receive a complete data package. Researchers interested in participating in NanoString’s Technology Access Program should contact the company at [email protected].

About NanoString Technologies, Inc.

NanoString Technologies is a leading provider of life science tools for discovery and translational research. The company’s nCounter® Analysis System is used in life sciences research and has been cited in more than 4,000 peer-reviewed publications. The nCounter Analysis System offers a cost-effective way to easily profile the expression of hundreds of genes, proteins, miRNAs, or copy number variations, simultaneously with high sensitivity and precision, facilitating a wide variety of basic research and translational medicine applications, including biomarker discovery and validation. The company’s GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiler enables highly-multiplexed spatial profiling of RNA and protein targets in a variety of sample types, including FFPE tissue sections.

For more information, please visit www.nanostring.com.

NanoString, NanoString Technologies, the NanoString logo, GeoMx, and nCounter are trademarks or registered trademarks of NanoString Technologies, Inc. in various jurisdictions.

Doug Farrell, NanoString

Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

[email protected]

Phone: 206-602-1768

KEYWORDS: Washington United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Oncology Health Genetics Other Science Research Science Biotechnology

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Roxgold Produces 35,308 Ounces at Yaramoko in First Quarter

Roxgold Produces 35,308 Ounces at Yaramoko in First Quarter

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Roxgold Inc. (“Roxgold” or the “Company”) (TSX: ROXG) (OTCQX: ROGFF) is pleased to announce its preliminary production results for the first quarter of 2021 (“Q1 2021”) from the Company’s Yaramoko Mine Complex located in Burkina Faso (“Yaramoko”). All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Quarterly Highlights:

  • Produced 35,308 ounces of gold at an average head grade of 8.0 grams per tonne gold (“g/t Au”) in Q1 2021.
  • Reported quarterly plant throughput of 1,419 tonnes per day (“tpd”) for a total of 127,667 tonnes.
  • Mined a record 153,256 tonnes from underground in the quarter as operations have adjusted to COVID protocols
  • Continued management and mitigation of COVID-19 to minimize impacts on operations with reduced personnel due to travel restrictions and protection protocols.
  • Partnered with Franco-Nevada Corporation for the sale of the re-acquired 1.2% NSR on Séguéla with the inclusion of a 3 year buy-back clause for the repurchase of up to 50% of the royalty at a pro rata rate of the AUM$20 million sale price. The sale was cash neutral to Roxgold, while maintaining maximum interest in the project, as Roxgold exercised its right to pre-empt a proposed acquisition of the legacy royalty by an international royalty company.
  • Delivered into last gold hedging contract from the original Yaramoko project finance facility – Company is now completely hedge free
  • Announced the discovery of the Sunbird prospect at Séguéla, with the first phase of 17 holes returning consistent near surface mineralization with high grade cores characteristic of the developing north-south structure that is host to the high-grade deposits Koula and Ancien.
  • Extended Koula mineralized envelope underground drilling a further 120m down-plunge from the previous deepest drilling. Roxgold has now delineated high grade mineralization extending approximately 300m down plunge from the base of the PEA pit shell, with results including 26.5 g/t Au over 16m in hole SGRD1084 and 18.5 g/t Au over 15m in hole SGRD1088.
  • Tested additional mineralization corridors at Boussoura, in southern Burkina Faso, announcing the new VC2 prospect, located less than 500m to the west of Fofora Main, with results including 14m at 3.6g/t Au from 44m in BSR-20-RC-FFR-134, 5m at 17.0 g/t Au from 59m in BSR-20-RC-FFR142 and 23m at 2.0g/t Au from 41m in BSR-20-RC-FFR-14.

“Roxgold has continued its long track record of operating excellence with a strong operating quarter at our Yaramoko Mine Complex, whilst our development and exploration teams have continued to have remarkable success advancing and growing our Séguéla Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire towards a construction decision later this year,” commented John Dorward, President and CEO. “Yaramoko achieved quarterly production of 35,308 ounces, placing the company well on track towards achieving our annual production guidance target of 120,000 to 130,000 ounces. The processing plant continues to outperform, averaging throughput of 1,419 tonnes per day, while underground mining operations reported a record of 153,256 tonnes of ore mined as our teams on the ground have managed to manage and mitigate the operational challenges related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic while ensuring a safe and secure working environment for our employees, contractors and local communities.”

Q1 2021 Preliminary Production Metrics

 

 

Q1 2021

Ore mined

tonnes

153,256

Ore processed

tonnes

127,667

Ore processed

tpd

1,419

Head grade

g/t

8.0

Recovery

%

97.9

Gold ounces produced

oz

35,308

Gold ounces sold

oz

33,962

Gold sales

$000

$60,624

Average realized selling price

$/oz

$1,785

Operating Summary

The Yaramoko Mine Complex produced 35,308 ounces in Q1 2021, based on processing 127,667 tonnes at an average head grade of 8.0 g/t and mill recoveries of 97.9%. The processing plant availability was 96.8% in the quarter, averaging a throughout rate of 1,419 tpd, which exceeded nameplate capacity by approximately 29%. In the quarter, the processing plant was supplemented with 28,202 tonnes of low-grade stockpile at an average grade of 3.1 g/t processed.

High mining rates were maintained as operations have adjusted for COVID protocols and procedures at site, with a total of 153,256 tonnes of ore mined at an average grade of 6.9 g/t, with the 55 Zone accounting for 64% of mined ore and 36% coming from Bagassi South. Decline development in the 55 Zone has now reached the 4618 level, which is approximately 700 meters below surface.

Roxgold reported quarterly gold sales of 33,962 ounces at an average realized gold price of $1,785/oz. Gold ounces sold were lower than production due to the timing of gold shipments at the end of the quarter.

Corporate Update

The Company finished the quarter with approximately US$59 million of cash and gold doré on hand and in a net cash position of approximately US$25 million. Roxgold continued to focus on reinvesting in its value accretive projects with over $15 million spent on advancing the Feasibility Study and early works at Séguéla, as well as exploration drilling at Séguéla, Boussoura and Yaramoko. The Company has an additional US$20 million as a revolving credit facility that remains unutilised at the end of the quarter.

During the quarter, the Company completed its hedge program (related to the initial financing to develop Yaramoko) and has no additional hedging in place.

2021 Guidance

Based upon Q1 production results, Roxgold is slightly ahead of expectations and remains on track to deliver between 120,000 and 130,000 ounces of production from Yaramoko absent any significant deterioration in operating conditions. The production and cost guidance assumes no material operational impacts due to COVID-19.

Upcoming Catalysts

Event

Est. Timing

Feasibility Study for Séguéla

Q2 2021

Ongoing expansion and satellite target drill programs at Séguéla

Q2 2021

Boussoura exploration results

Q2 2021

District exploration drill results at Yaramoko

Q2 2021

Séguéla construction decision

mid-2021

Initial resource at Boussoura

H2 2021

Commissioning of Séguéla Gold Project

H2 2022

Qualified Persons

Paul Criddle, FAusIMM, Chief Operating Officer for Roxgold Inc., a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, verified and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release.

About Roxgold

Roxgold is a Canadian-based gold mining company with assets located in West Africa. The Company owns and operates the high-grade Yaramoko Mine Complex located on the Houndé greenstone belt in Burkina Faso and is advancing the development and exploration of the Séguéla Gold Project located in Côte d’Ivoire. Roxgold trades on the TSX under the symbol ROXG and as ROGFF on OTCQX.

This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: economic statements related to the PEA, such as future projected production, capital costs and operating costs, statements with respect to Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resource estimates, recovery rates, timing of future studies including the feasibility study, environmental assessments and development plans. These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management’s expectations. In certain cases, forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as “anticipates”, “believes”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “may”, “shall”, “will”, or “would”. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the PEA, the estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, the realization of resource estimates and reserve estimates, any potential upgrades of existing resource estimates, gold metal prices, the timing and amount of future exploration and development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs, the availability of necessary financing and materials to continue to explore and develop the Company’s properties in the short and long-term, the progress of exploration and development activities, the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include: delays resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in market conditions, unsuccessful exploration results, possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, changes in the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, inaccurate reserve and resource estimates, changes in the price of gold, unanticipated changes in key management personnel and general economic conditions. Mining exploration and development is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements, including the factors included in the Company’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2019. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Roxgold Inc.

Graeme Jennings, CFA

Vice President, Investor Relations

416-203-6401

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: Africa Burkina Faso North America Canada

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Natural Resources Other Natural Resources Mining/Minerals

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Lattice Semiconductor Schedules First Quarter 2021 Results Conference Call

Lattice Semiconductor Schedules First Quarter 2021 Results Conference Call

HILLSBORO, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Lattice Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: LSCC), the low power programmable leader, announced that it will hold its first quarter 2021 conference call on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. Jim Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Sherri Luther, Chief Financial Officer, will discuss Lattice Semiconductor’s financial results and business outlook.

The dial-in number for the live audio call beginning on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time is 1-888-684-5603 or 1-918-398-4852 with conference identification number 2619109. A live webcast of the conference call will also be available on the investor relations section of www.latticesemi.com.

About Lattice Semiconductor

Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC) is the low power programmable leader. We solve customer problems across the network, from the Edge to the Cloud, in the growing communications, computing, industrial, automotive, and consumer markets. Our technology, long-standing relationships, and commitment to world-class support let our customers quickly and easily unleash their innovation to create a smart, secure, and connected world.

For more information about Lattice, please visit www.latticesemi.com. You can also follow us via LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, WeChat, Weibo, or Youku.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Bob Nelson

Lattice Semiconductor Corporation

408-826-6339

[email protected]

INVESTOR CONTACT:

Rick Muscha

Lattice Semiconductor Corporation

408-826-6000

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Oregon

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Hardware Semiconductor Other Technology

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