Established a relationship with an OEM in North America with the intent to eventually supply powders for their 3D printing needs. This augments our relationship with Aubert & Duval, while at the same time de-risking our dependence on them,

retired the $3MM convertible debenture in full,

bought back approximately 1.2 Million shares under the existing Normal Course Issuer Bid,

increased Company’s investment in HPQ, who has subsequently also experienced a significant increase in market capitalization,

further benefited from early conversions of warrants maturing in 2021 of over $3MM. 

The Company has booked a significant backlog of signed contracts (in excess of $28MM; 2019 Revenues approx. $5MM) which, when taking the eagerly awaited US Navy contract into account, will increase to over $38MM. This provides a solid cornerstone upon which PyroGenesis can:

1. continue to build on the recent successes with the Company’s DROSRITE™ offering,
   
   
2. Leverage off of the recent successes with the Company’s torch offerings to (i) the iron ore pelletization industry, and (ii) a tunneling client,
   
   
3. Accelerate activities with Aubert & Duval in the Additive Manufacturing sector as well as HPQ in the Mining and Metallurgical sector, both of which did not progress as fast as management would have liked in 2019. Significant attention will be placed on both these activities in 2020.

Specifically, with Aubert & Duval the goal will be to complete the integration of the cutting-edge advances PyroGenesis has made to the powder production process.

With respect to HPQ, the goal would be to accelerate the game changing PUREVAP™ family of processes which we are developing for HPQ, namely:

• The PUREVAP™ “Quartz Reduction Reactors” (QRR), an innovative process (patent pending), which will permit the one step transformation of quartz (SiO2) into high purity silicon (Si) at reduced costs, energy input, and carbon footprint that will propagate its considerable renewable energy potential; and
• The PUREVAP™ Nano Silicon Reactor (NSiR), a new proprietary process that use PUREVAP™ QRR silicon (Si) as feedstock, to make spherical silicon nano powders and nanowires;

Looking forward, the Company has, as of December 31st, 2019, approximately $10MM of in-the-money warrants and options expiring in 2020 and 2021. The Company also has over $50MM in tax loss carryforwards (roughly evenly distributed between federal and provincial obligations) which is not reflected as an asset on the balance sheet. 

Financial Summary

Revenues

PyroGenesis recorded revenue of $2,128,454 in the second quarter of 2020, representing an increase of 133% compared with $913,769 recorded in the second quarter of 2019.

Revenues recorded in the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 were generated primarily from:

1. DROSRITE™ related sales of $1,319,904 (3 months) and $1,794,336 (6 months),
2. PUREVAP™ related sales of $25,093 (3 months) and $43,058 (6 months),
3. torch related sales of $617,077 (3 months) and $705,022 (6 months),
4. support services related to PAWDS-Marine systems supplied to the US Navy $37,143 (3 months) and $61,039 (6 months).

Cost of Sales and Services and Gross Margins

Cost of sales and services before amortization of intangible assets was $855,049 in Q2 2020, representing an increase of 18% compared with $723,641 in Q2 2019, primarily due to an increase in subcontracting and direct material expenses offset by a reduction in employee compensation in Q2 2020.

In Q2 2020, employee compensation decreased to 103,957 (Q2 2019 - $414,873) and subcontracting, direct materials and manufacturing overhead increased to $813,201 (Q2 2019 - $335,240). The gross margin for Q2 2020 was $1,268,592 or 59.5% of revenue compared to a gross margin of $185,349 or 20.3% of revenue for Q2 2019. As a result of the type of contracts being executed, the nature of the project activity, as well as the composition of the cost of sales and services, as the mix between labour, materials and subcontracts may be significantly different. Of note, the Company in Q2 2020 applied for an amount of $648,125 in wage subsidy from Revenue Canada under the CEWS program. From this amount, $92,028 was applied to employee compensation under cost of sales and services.

Investment tax credits recorded against cost of sales are related to projects that qualify for tax credits from the provincial government of Quebec. Qualifying tax credits decreased to $18,758 in Q2 2020, compared with $29,061 in Q2 2019. This represents a decrease of 35% year-over-year. In total, the Company earned refundable investment tax credits of $17,332 in Q2 2020. The Company continues to make investments in research and development projects involving strategic partners and government bodies.

The amortization of intangible assets of $6,813 in Q2 2020 and $4,779 for Q2 2019 relates to patents and deferred development costs. Of note, these expenses are non-cash items and will be amortized over the duration of the patent lives.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Included within Selling, General and Administrative expenses (“SG&A”) are costs associated with corporate administration, business development, project proposals, operations administration, investor relations and employee training.

SG&A expenses for Q2 2020 excluding the costs associated with share-based compensation (a non-cash item in which options vest principally over a four-year period), were $1,641,338 representing an increase of 4% compared with $1,583,779 reported for Q2 2019.