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WILDBRAIN REPORTS Q1 2025 RESULTS

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Q1 2025 Highlights

Revenue was $111.0 million, compared to $105.5 million in Q1 2024.Net loss was $10.6 million, compared with net loss of $15.5 million in Q1 2024.Adjusted EBITDA1 was $15.3 million, compared to $18.9 million in Q1 2024.Cash provided by operating activities was $25.8 million, compared to cash used in operating activities of $3.0 million in Q1 2024.Free Cash Flow1 was positive $4.8 million, compared to negative $25.4 million in Q1 2024.

TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2024 /CNW/ – WildBrain Ltd. (“WildBrain” or the “Company”) (TSX: WILD), a global leader in kids’ and family entertainment, today reported its first quarter (“Q1 2025”) results for the period ended September 30, 2024.

Josh Scherba, WildBrain President and CEO, said: “We started Fiscal Year 2025 with strong growth in Global Licensing, led by our iconic brands—Peanuts, Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies. The work we’ve been doing to simplify our business and focus on our key brands, especially building new fandom and engagement for Strawberry and Teletubbies, is showing greenshoots in our results as consumers reengage with these beloved brands. In our production business, the pipeline continues to build, and that activity will fuel earnings growth later in this fiscal year, and more importantly, in Fiscal Year 2026 and beyond. We are harnessing momentum across our business and are well positioned to deliver growth in both revenue and profitability this fiscal year.”

Nick Gawne, WildBrain CFO, added: “As we announced in July, we are pleased to have successfully refinanced our debt, extended our maturity and repaid the convertible debentures. The strength in Global Licensing this quarter highlighted our strategy focusing on key franchises, and we continue to execute on our priorities of simplifying our business, reducing leverage over time and prioritizing on our high-growth areas of the business while managing our operating efficiency.”

Fiscal Year 2025 Outlook

The Company reaffirms its previously announced outlook for Fiscal Year 2025. We expect:

Revenue growth of approximately 10 to 15%, andAdjusted EBITDA growth of approximately 5 to 10%.

Q1 2025 Financial Highlights

Financial Highlights

(in millions of Cdn$)

Three Months Ended

September 30,

2024

2023

Revenue

$111.0

$105.5

Gross Margin

$52.7

$51.8

Gross Margin (%)

47 %

49 %

Adjusted EBITDA attributable to WildBrain

$15.3

$18.9

Net Income (Loss) attributable to WildBrain  

$(10.6)

$(15.5)

Basic Earnings (Loss) per Share

$(0.05)

$(0.08)

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

$25.8

$(3.0)

Free Cash Flow

$4.8

$(25.4)

In Q1 2025, revenue increased 5% to $111.0 million, compared to $105.5 million in Q1 2024.

Content Creation and Audience Engagement revenue decreased 14% to $40.8 million in Q1 2025, compared to $47.2 million in Q1 2024. Production revenue was lower year-over-year as a result of fewer productions in the studios as compared to the prior year as well as timing of live action productions. Audience Engagement partially offset the drop in Content Creation revenues with growth in music licensing and YouTube network revenues.

Global Licensing revenue increased 27% to $62.9 million in Q1 2025, compared to $49.5 million in Q1 2024. Revenue in the quarter was driven by strong growth in Peanuts, growth within our global licensing agency, WildBrain CPLG, as well as strong growth in WildBrain’s owned brands, Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies.

Gross margin for Q1 2025 was 47%, compared to gross margin of 49% in Q1 2024. Gross margin for Q4 2024 was $52.7 million, an increase of $0.9 million, compared to $51.8 million for Q1 2024. 

Cash provided by operating activities in Q1 2025 was $25.8 million, compared to $3.0 million cash used in operating activities in Q1 2024. Free Cash Flow was positive $4.8 million in Q1 2025, compared with Free Cash Flow of negative $25.4 million in Q1 2024.

Adjusted EBITDA declined 19% to $15.3 million in Q1 2025, compared with $18.9 million in Q1 2024. Higher gross margin dollars were offset by higher SG&A, reflecting the recovery of a previously reserved bad debt of $2.8 million in Q1 2024.

Q1 2025 net loss was $10.6 million compared to net loss of $15.5 million in Q1 2024. The change was primarily driven by higher gross margin dollars, offset by higher SG&A and higher interest costs.

1.

Free Cash Flow, Gross Margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA attributable to WildBrain are non-GAAP financial measures – see below for further details.

Q1 2025 Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call on November 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results.

To immediately join the call by phone on that date without operator assistance, please use the following URL to receive a toll-free automated instant call back connecting you into the conference:

https://link.meetingpanel.com/?id=11401

Alternatively, you may dial direct to be entered into the call by an operator, referencing conference ID 11401 at +1 888-510-2154 in North America or +1 437-900-0527 internationally.

If dialing in, please allow 10 minutes to be connected to the conference call.

Replay will be available after the call on +1 (888) 660-6345 or +1 (289) 819-1450, under passcode 11401#, until November 15, 2024.

The audio and transcript will also be archived on our website approximately three business days following the event.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations: Kathleen Persaud – VP, Investor Relations, WildBrain
kathleen.persaud@wildbrain.com
+1 212-405-6089

Media: Shaun Smith – Sr. Director, Global Communications & Public Relations, WildBrain
shaun.smith@wildbrain.com
+1 416-977-7230

About WildBrain

At WildBrain we inspire imaginations through the wonder of storytelling. As a leader in 360° franchise management, we are experts in content creation, audience engagement and global licensing, cultivating and growing love for our own and partner brands around the world. With approximately 14,000 half-hours of kids’ and family content  in our library—one of the world’s most extensive—we are home to such treasured franchises as Peanuts, Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Inspector Gadget and Degrassi. WildBrain’s mission is to create exceptional entertainment experiences that captivate and delight fans both young and young at heart.

Our studios produce such award-winning series as The Snoopy Show; Snoopy in Space; Camp Snoopy; Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City; Sonic Prime; Chip and Potato; Teletubbies Let’s Go! and many more. Enjoyed in more than 150 countries on over 500 platforms, our content is everywhere kids and families view entertainment, including YouTube, where our network has garnered over 1.5 trillion minutes of watch time. Our television group owns and operates some of Canada’s most-loved family entertainment channels. WildBrain CPLG, our leading consumer-products and location-based entertainment agency, represents our owned and partner properties in every major territory worldwide. 

WildBrain is headquartered in Canada with offices worldwide and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: WILD). Visit us at wildbrain.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects WildBrain’s current assumptions and expectations regarding future events as at the time they are made. The words “will”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”, “intends” and similar expressions are often intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond WildBrain’s control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: changes in general economic, business and political conditions. WildBrain undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Non-IFRS Measures

In addition to the results reported in accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, the Company uses various non-GAAP financial measures, which are not recognized under IFRS, as supplemental indicators of our operating performance and financial position. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance the user’s understanding of our historical and current financial performance and our prospects for the future. Management believes that these measures provide useful information in that they exclude amounts that are not indicative of our core operating results and ongoing operations and provide a consistent basis for comparison between periods. The following discussion explains the Company’s use of certain non-GAAP financial measures, which are Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the Shareholders of the Company, Gross Margin and Free Cash Flow.

Investors are cautioned that these non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as an alternative measure to net income or loss, or other measures as determined in accordance with GAAP, or as an indicator of the Company’s financial performance or a measure of liquidity and cash flows.

“Adjusted EBITDA” means earnings (loss) before net finance costs, income taxes, amortization of property & equipment and right-of-use and intangible assets, amortization of acquired and library content, equity-settled share-based compensation expense, changes in fair value of embedded derivatives, gain/loss on foreign exchange, reorganization, development and other expenses, impairment of certain investments in film and television programs/acquired and library content/P&E/intangible assets/goodwill, and also includes adjustments for other identified charges, as specified in the accompanying tables. Adjusted EBITDA is not an earnings measure recognized by GAAP and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP; accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Management believes that certain lenders, investors and analysts use Adjusted EBITDA to measure a company’s ability to service debt and meet other payment obligations, and as a common valuation measurement in the media and entertainment industry. Further, certain of our debt covenants use Adjusted EBITDA in the calculation. The most comparable GAAP measure is earnings before income taxes.

“Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the Shareholders of the Company” means Adjusted EBITDA excluding the portion of Adjusted EBITDA attributable to non-controlling interests.

“Gross Margin” means revenue less direct production costs and expense of film and television produced. Gross Margin is not an earnings measure recognized by GAAP and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP; accordingly, Gross Margin may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Management believes Gross Margin is a useful measure of profitability before considering operating and other expenses and can be used to assess the Company’s ability to generate positive net earnings and cash flows. The most comparable GAAP measure is gross profit.

“Free Cash Flow” means operating cash flow less distributions to non-controlling interests, changes in interim production financing, cash interest paid on our long-term debt, bank indebtedness, and lease liabilities, and principal repayments on our lease liabilities. Free Cash Flow does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP; accordingly, Free Cash Flow may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Management believes Free Cash Flow is a useful measure of the Company’s ability to repay debt, finance strategic business acquisitions and investments, pay dividends, and repurchase shares. The most comparable GAAP measure is cash from operating activities.

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SOURCE WildBrain Ltd.

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How the Top 10% of CTOs Drive Meaningful Business Growth

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Only a shocking 10% of CTOs will drive value for their organizations, according to a recent Forester prediction. By understanding how the top 10% of CTOs have reshaped their role, this article discusses how aspiring trailblazers can shift their perspectives and priorities to join the elite ranks of tech leaders.

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Forrester experts have made a prediction that should be a resounding wake-up call for tech leaders: only 10% of CTOs will actually drive business growth. For the other 90%, the risk is clear—CTOs who fail to demonstrate their value will quickly be replaced by ones who can.

Elite tech leaders serve as thought leaders and pioneers within their own field. As such, the top 10% of CTOs today focus on claiming competitive advantages through the use of emerging technologies. – Inkit CEO Michael McCarthy

What exactly defines this new breed of tech leader, and what are these elite CTOs doing differently to drive growth? Here are the three essential practices that differentiate the good from the great CTOs today.

They Focus on Scale

Successful CTOs align their strategies with overall business goals, using automation and integrated technologies to scale other departments. By implementing centralized tools that standardize data, unify analytics, and automate tedious processes like lead scoring, follow-ups, relationship management, and contract management, elite CTOs are empowering RevOps, sales, and marketing teams to optimize every step of the sales funnel, reach more potential leads, and close deals faster.

However, for the top 10% of CTOs, successfully driving growth is not a solo endeavor. They know that leadership buy-in determines future outcomes for any digital transformation initiative.

They Work Closely with Other CxOs

According to Gartner, by co-leading initiatives with their fellow CxOs, CTOs are twice as likely to meet or exceed expected ROIs for digital technology investments. This involves creating cross-department teams that share responsibilities for technology rollouts, pool resources, and lend vertical-specific knowledge to ensure the most efficient and valuable outcomes. Co-leadership structured engagements also have the potential to uncover new areas for improvement and enhance organizational collaboration and culture.

While working with CxOs unlocks new opportunities within these non-tech domains, elite tech leaders serve as thought leaders and pioneers within their own field. As such, the top 10% of CTOs today focus on claiming competitive advantages through the use of emerging technologies.

If There’s New Tech, They’re Already Using It

Another prediction from the Forrester report indicates that enterprise AI initiatives will boost productivity and creative problem-solving by 50% in 2024. Similarly, Generative AI has become a popular tool to simplify user interfaces and serve as a digital assistant within complicated tools. CTOs are hurrying to adopt AI before their competitors, and businesses today are quick to announce their implementation of next-gen technologies that claim to improve their products with new, dazzling features—but the top 10% of CTOs have assessed these new technologies well before the rest.

Document generation (i.e., DocGen) and digital signatures are another technology on the radar for many top CTOs. Regarded as a vital tool for automating digital workflows, DocGen empowers organizations to create, share, sign, and retain documents at scale. DocGen tools also help CTOs to automatically meet compliance requirements for security, data privacy, and retention policies across the entire organization with minimal training required.

Finally, for CTOs in retail, finance, cryptocurrency, and logistics, blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) technology allow for secure, autonomous machine-to-machine transactions that reduce operational complexity and open new avenues for innovation in smart automation.

Join the Elite CTOs Driving Business Growth

Top CTOs drive growth by strategically aligning advanced technologies with business goals through cross-functional teamwork. By evaluating emerging technologies like Generative AI, document generation, automation, and more, the top 10% of CTOs are successfully accelerating the pace of growth, innovation, and collaboration for their organizations.

About Inkit

Inkit is the only Secure Document Generation (SDG) software that allows users to generate, sign, and retain documents in total privacy. Scale your workflows using our DocGen automation solution to create documents and forms using custom templates and data sources with our API. Elevate the security of your legally-binding documents with digital signatures. Protect agreements with advanced encryption and authenticity certificates to streamline processes and ensure peace of mind. Get the privacy and automation your team needs to optimize records management and compliance. Create disappearing documents that automatically expire based on predesignated parameters. Connect seamlessly with your favorite apps to generate Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, PDF, and HTML documents. Experience an all-inclusive solution for ultimate file control and security. Inkit is privately owned and headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, with offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.

Media Contact

Patrick Lethert, Inkit, 1 8008995773, patrick@inkit.com, https://www.inkit.com

LinkedIn

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SOURCE Inkit

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LG Energy Solution to Supply Next-Generation 4695 Cylindrical Batteries to Rivian

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Supply agreement will last over five years and total 67GWh.4695 cells, offering a long range and high safety, will be produced in the U.S.Batteries will power Rivian’s R2 model for the North American market.

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220) today announced that LG Energy Solution Arizona, a fully owned subsidiary of LG Energy Solution, has signed a supply agreement with Rivian, a U.S.-based automotive manufacturer.

Under the agreement, LG Energy Solution will provide Rivian with its advanced 4695 cylindrical batteries for over five years, totaling 67GWh.

With a diameter of 46mm and height of 95mm, the next-generation 4695 cylindrical battery is recognized for offering both a long range and high safety. It features over six times the capacity of the existing 2170 cylindrical batteries. Its larger size enables higher energy density, improved space efficiency, and enhanced safety, which is attracting industry-wide attention.

Within the first year of production, the batteries will be eventually manufactured at LG Energy Solution’s stand-alone plant in Arizona, and delivered to Rivian’s facility in Normal, Illinois, for use in the R2 model for the North American market.

LG Energy Solution has been advancing its cylindrical battery technology over the past 20 years, supported by its extensive manufacturing experience and broad patent portfolio.

The supply agreement with Rivian is expected to further strengthen LG Energy Solution’s presence in the U.S. market and its plans to actively respond to the IRA by developing and supplying competitive battery cells in a timely manner while expanding into new markets.

Given the strong interest from automakers in its 46-series cylindrical batteries, LG Energy Solution also expects to extend its leadership in this growing sector.

“Due to the dynamic nature of the current EV market, an increasing number of global automakers are demonstrating a strong preference for a diverse range of battery form factors,” said David Kim, CEO of LG Energy Solution. “This large-scale order from Rivian for 4695 batteries marks a key milestone for LG Energy Solution in expanding its client base within the cylindrical battery segment.”

About LG Energy Solution

LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220), a split-off from LG Chem, is a leading global manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. With 30 years of experience in revolutionary battery technology and extensive research and development (R&D), the company is the top battery-related patent holder in the world with over 58,000 patents. Its robust global network, which spans North America, Europe, and Asia, includes battery manufacturing facilities established through joint ventures with major automakers. Committed to building sustainable battery ecosystem, LG Energy Solution aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its value chain by 2050, while embodying the value of shared growth and promoting diverse and inclusive corporate culture. To learn more about LG Energy Solution’s ideas and innovations, visit https://news.lgensol.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lg-energy-solution-to-supply-next-generation-4695-cylindrical-batteries-to-rivian-302299455.html

SOURCE LG Energy Solution

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PayrollOrg’s Chapter Leadership Summit to Equip Payroll Chapter Leaders with Tools for Success

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LAS VEGAS, Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — PayrollOrg (PAYO) will provide local chapter leaders with the essential tools and guidance they need to ensure the ongoing success of their chapters at the Chapter Leadership Summit, November 7 – 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Supporting our chapter leaders is crucial to the growth and sustainability of local chapters,” said Dan Maddux, executive director of PayrollOrg. “The Chapter Leadership Summit is designed to not only provide practical tools and strategies but also foster a strong network of motivated leaders who can inspire their teams and communities.”

Participants will have the unique opportunity to connect with fellow leaders, exchange ideas, and develop strategies to motivate their chapter members. Tailored educational sessions will offer specialized training on critical topics such as fiscal responsibility, general chapter operations, and event planning. These sessions will be led by guest speakers with expertise in chapter management and leadership development.

The conference will be held at MEET Las Vegas in downtown Las Vegas. Visit PAYO online to view the full conference agenda. The event is sponsored by Wisely by ADP.

PayrollOrg is the leader in payroll education, publications, and training. Visit PAYO online at www.payroll.org.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/payrollorgs-chapter-leadership-summit-to-equip-payroll-chapter-leaders-with-tools-for-success-302299403.html

SOURCE PayrollOrg

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