Neo Performance Materials Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

TORONTO, Nov. 14, 2024 /CNW/ - Neo Performance Materials Inc. ("Neo") (TSX: NEO) released its third quarter 2024 financial results. The financial statements and management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") of these results can be viewed on Neo's website at www.neomaterials.com/investors/ and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Key Takeaways

1.	Increased Adjusted EBITDA^(1): Neo reports strong financial results of $19.6 million of Adjusted EBITDA^(1)for Q3 2024 and $43.7 million of Adjusted EBITDA^(1)for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.  Year-over-year Adjusted EBITDA^(1)increased for both Magnequench and Rare Metals by 23% and 30%, respectively.
2.	Construction Nearing Completion on European Sintered Magnet Facility: Neo's sintered magnet facility in Europe is on track, with construction completed on the core manufacturing building and all critical equipment ordered.  In August 2024, Neo secured a major contract with a European automotive supplier, covering 35% of the plant's peak capacity, with production slated for the second half of 2026.
3.	Credit Facility Secured for Sintered Magnets Facility in Europe: In November 2024, Neo secured a $50 million credit facility from Export Development Canada, with a five-year term to support final construction, equipment purchases and commissioning of the facility.
4.	Business Simplification through Divestment: In line with Neo's strategy to focus on high-margin, downstream business areas, Neo has announced it has entered into agreements to divest three facilities (two of which are in China), which are expected to generate over $30 million in aggregate cash proceeds, and to reduce earnings volatility and inventory.
5.	Grand Opening of Auto Catalyst Plant: In September 2024, Neo celebrated the opening of NAMCO, its new auto catalyst plant in Asia.  On-time and on-budget, the facility has requalified the majority of its product portfolio and is on track to finalize the remaining products in the coming months.
6.	Strategic Review Progressing: Neo's financial advisors are advancing the Special Committee-led strategic review process, and Neo continues to take steps to optimize its business, including the divestment of non-core assets and the improvement of operational performance.
7.	Growth Outlook: Neo increased its previous outlook for fiscal 2024, from $45-$50 million of Adjusted EBITDA^(1), to $52-$55 million.

Q3 2024 Highlights

(unless otherwise noted, all financial amounts in this news release are expressed in United States dollars)

• Neo's Q3 2024 revenue was $111.3 million, compared to Q3 2023 revenue of $136.9 million.
• Operating income for Q3 2024 was $11.2 million, compared to Q3 2023 of $7.0 million. On a year-to-date basis, 2024 operating income was $22.9 million, compared to $16.6 million in 2023.
• Adjusted Net Income⁽¹⁾ for Q3 2024 was $1.1 million, or $0.03 per share, compared to Q3 2023 Adjusted Net Income⁽¹⁾ of $4.0 million or $0.09 per share.
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ for Q3 2024 was $19.6 million, compared to Q3 2023 of $13.2 million. On a year-to-date basis, 2024 Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ was $43.7 million, compared to $34.1 million in 2023.
• On a year-to-date basis, 2024 Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ margin as a percentage of revenue increased to 12.8% from 7.7%, an improvement of 510 basis points from the prior year. Despite lower rare earth prices negatively impacting revenue, Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ was unaffected because of Neo's positioning as a value-added downstream business with much of the commodity inputs tied to pass-through agreements.
• Neo had $64.9 million in cash and $45.1 million in gross debt on its balance sheet as of September 30, 2024. Neo invested $52.2 million in capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, including sustaining capital expenditures of $3.1 million.
• Neo distributed $9.3 million in dividends to Neo's shareholders and repurchased for cancellation $2.3 million of common shares in the first nine months of the year.
• A quarterly dividend of Cdn$0.10 per common share was declared on November 13, 2024, for shareholders of record on December 17, 2024, with a payment date of December 27, 2024.

"Neo is pleased to report another solid quarter, with Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ up approximately 50% year-over-year to $19.6 million and 30% year-to-date. This performance, driven by growth in our Magnequench and Rare Metals business units, reaffirms our business strategy and approach," said Rahim Suleman, Neo's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our focus on high-margin, downstream opportunities and strategic simplification of the business is generating tangible results for shareholders."

"Recent asset dispositions anticipated to generate over $30 million in cash will streamline our portfolio and are anticipated to reduce our business volatility," continued Mr. Suleman.  "With our new NAMCO facility now operational and our European magnet project advancing, we are well-positioned to gain market share in higher-margin downstream businesses.  Our progress over the past year sets a strong foundation for continued value creation and sustainable growth."

SOLID FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE DESPITE INDUSTRY HEADWINDS

• In Q3 2024, Magnequench achieved its highest quarterly volume of the year, driven by strong traction motor sales and spot demand in bonded powder.
  • Magnequench is well-positioned in the traction motor market, offering the only heavy rare earth free magnet for traction motor platforms. Neo's future growth looks promising with the addition of a new sintered magnet facility currently under construction in Europe.
• Neo's Chemical & Oxides ("C&O") business unit experienced weaker performance, largely driven by lower rare earth prices that impacted the rare earth separation business. To address this and reduce volatility, Neo has strategically shifted focus to Europe by entering into agreements to divest its two rare earth separation facilities in China.
  • This move aligns with Neo's broader strategy to focus on higher-margin, downstream applications. C&O's asset base, post-divestiture, will be comprised of its European separation business and the newly built NAMCO facility for global auto catalyst customers, while still maintaining specialty heavy rare earth sales to international customers.
• Neo's Rare Metals business unit saw impressive growth in Q3 2024, which significantly contributed to Neo's overall performance.
  • A major factor in this strong showing was exceptional pricing for hafnium, which bolstered revenue and Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ over the past several quarters. Neo expects hafnium pricing to normalize gradually but remains well-positioned to satisfy global demands for critical metals, including hafnium, niobium, gallium and tantalum.

SINTERED MAGNET FACILITY CONSTRUCTION ON-TIME AND ON-BUDGET

• Neo is expanding its European footprint with the construction of a sintered magnet facility in Estonia. This project is set to drive Neo's growth by positioning the Company as a leading magnet supplier in Europe while supporting sustainable and secure local supply chains for critical materials. The project remains on-schedule and on-budget.
  • The plant is strategically located near Neo's rare earth separation facility and is designed to support demand for clean energy technologies, including electric vehicle traction motors and wind turbines.
  • Neo has taken a phased investment approach, with Phase 1 providing an initial capacity of 2,000 tonnes per year, with the potential to expand to 5,000 tonnes per year.
  • Neo estimates that Phase 1 of the new sintered magnet facility in Europe will cost $75.0 million before the European Union grant. Neo has spent $32.7 million in the first nine months of 2024 and $41.7 million in capital expenditures since the project began.
  • In August 2024, Neo received its first major contract for this facility from a Tier 1 European automotive supplier, with production expected to start in the second half of 2026.
  • In November 2024, Neo secured a $50.0 million credit facility from Export Development Canada ("EDC"), with a five-year term to support final construction, equipment purchases and commissioning of the facility.

IMPROVED OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE

• Operational improvements in Neo's Magnequench operating facilities in Asia, including a 20% reduction in conversion costs, have also strengthened margins, enhancing the business' financial performance.
• The NAMCO facility reached significant operational milestones in 2024, with its official grand opening in September.
  • Equipped with advanced infrastructure, transportation, wastewater treatment systems, and automated manufacturing layouts, NAMCO is strategically positioned to support more stringent emission standards across hybrid and internal combustion vehicle platforms.
  • The facility has already requalified the majority of its product portfolio and remains on track to requalify the pending products over the coming months.
• The NAMCO capital project has also been delivered below budget, with estimated total capital expenditures of approximately $70.0 million — $5.0 million below budget.
  • Neo has invested $47.8 million in the NAMCO project to date, including $14.2 million in 2024, with remaining expenditures expected by early 2025.
  • For this project, Neo has a $75.0 million credit facility from EDC, of which $50.0 million has been drawn to date.

CONTINUED BUSINESS SIMPLIFICATION

• In August 2024, Neo announced that it has entered into agreements to sell an 86% equity interest in its Jiangyin-based rare earth separation facility (JAMR) and a full divestment of its Zibo facility (ZAMR).
  • These divestitures target a streamlined operational focus and are anticipated to return cash to Neo, reduce working capital needs, and minimize earnings volatility driven by rare earth price fluctuations.
  • The JAMR sale includes a five-year distribution agreement, allowing Neo to maintain access to key high-purity products for its downstream customers while freeing resources from the highly regulated and competitive rare earth separation business in China.
• In August 2024, Neo announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its 80% equity stake in its gallium trichloride production facility located in Quapaw, Oklahoma.
  • The sale aligns with Neo's strategy to refine its global operating footprint by focusing on high-value downstream applications.
  • The transaction is expected to include a seven-year supply agreement with the buyer for ongoing gallium recycling support from its Peterborough, Ontario facility.
• Neo anticipates that each of these translations will close in Q4 2024.

STRATEGIC REVIEW

• Neo continues to progress its previously announced Special Committee-led strategic review process, which includes the consideration of strategic alternatives and opportunities to maximize shareholder value. The Strategic Committee retained Barclays Capital Inc. and Paradigm Capital Inc. as independent financial advisors who are advancing the strategic review process. Neo's financial advisors are advancing the strategic review process, and Neo continues to take steps to optimize its business, including the divestment of non-core assets, and the improvement of operational performance, significant customer wins, and progress of major capital projects, both on-time and on-budget. Through these initiatives and Neo's continuing focus on value-maximizing alternatives, Neo is advancing the strategic review process.
• There can be no assurance that the strategic review process will result in any transaction or other alternative, nor any assurance as to its outcome or timing. There is no timetable for completion of this process.

2024 OUTLOOK

• Neo previously communicated a fiscal year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA^(I) outlook of $45-$50 million. With the outperformance in Rare Metals during the third quarter of 2024, Neo raises its fiscal year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA^(I) outlook to a range of $52-$55 million, an approximate 40% to 48% increase over the prior year.
• For fiscal year 2025, Neo previously communicated a double-digit percentage Adjusted EBITDA^(I) growth compared to the original guidance for fiscal year 2024. Notwithstanding the three divestitures anticipated to close by the end of 2024, Neo anticipates fiscal year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA^(I) outlook in the range of $53-$58 million.

CONFERENCE CALL ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2024 AT 10 AM EASTERN

Management will host a teleconference call on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the third quarter 2024 results.  Interested parties may access the teleconference by calling [phone] (local) or [phone] (toll free long distance) or by visiting https://app.webinar.net/v32pRWbDxgQ. A recording of the teleconference may be accessed by calling [phone] (local) or [phone] (toll free long distance), and entering pass code 40961# until December 14, 2024.

NON-IFRS MEASURES

This news release refers to certain non-IFRS financial measures and ratios such as "Adjusted Net Income", "EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA", and "Adjusted EBITDA Margin". These measures and ratios are not recognized measures under IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures and ratios are provided as additional information to complement IFRS financial measures by providing further understanding of Neo's results of operations from management's perspective. Neo's definitions of non-IFRS measures used in this news release may not be the same as the definitions for such measures used by other companies in their reporting.  Non-IFRS measures and ratios have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of Neo's financial information reported under IFRS.  Neo uses non-IFRS financial measures and ratios to provide investors with supplemental measures of its base-line operating performance and to eliminate items that have less bearing on operating performance or operating conditions and thus highlight trends in its core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures.  Neo believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS financial measures and ratios in the evaluation of issuers.  Neo's management also uses non-IFRS financial measures to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period. For definitions of how Neo defines such financial measures and ratios, please see the "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" section of Neo's management's discussion and analysis filing for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, available on Neo's web site at www.neomaterials.com and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIRD QUARTER 2024 CONSOLIDATED PERFORMANCE
($000s, except volume and per share information)		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2024		2023		2024		2023
Volume
Magnequench		1,366		1,389		3,769		3,413
C&O		1,605		2,137		5,287		6,174
Rare Metals		81		79		256		259
Corporate / Eliminations		(16)		(20)		(56)		—
Total Volume		3,036		3,585		9,256		9,846
Revenue
Magnequench		$          45,573		$         54,414		$       133,149		$       158,908
C&O		27,920		57,812		102,911		180,377
Rare Metals		38,578		25,976		107,765		104,877
Corporate / Eliminations		(790)		(1,285)		(2,900)		(1,285)
Consolidated Revenue		$        111,281		$       136,917		$       340,925		$       442,877
Operating Income (Loss)
Magnequench		$            2,465		$           2,911		$           8,106		$           4,943
C&O		(975)		6,068		(2,881)		1,466
Rare Metals		15,852		2,749		33,225		25,267
Corporate / Eliminations		(6,166)		(4,769)		(15,502)		(15,039)
Consolidated Operating Income		$          11,176		$           6,959		$         22,948		$         16,637
Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") ^(1)
Magnequench		$            6,424		$           6,042		$         18,704		$         15,199
C&O		1,301		7,737		3,572		6,088
Rare Metals		16,355		3,293		34,379		26,407
Corporate / Eliminations		(4,525)		(3,912)		(12,948)		(13,572)
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA^(1)		$          19,555		$         13,160		$         43,707		$         34,122
Net (Loss) Income		$          (2,711)		$           3,109		$            (979)		$         (7,262)
Earnings (Loss) per share attributable to equity holders of Neo
Basic		$            (0.06)		$             0.07		$           (0.02)		$           (0.16)
Diluted		$            (0.06)		$             0.07		$           (0.02)		$           (0.16)
Cash spent on property, plant and equipment and intangible assets		$          25,527		$           7,752		$         52,183		$         17,404
Cash taxes paid		$            5,529		$           3,288		$         18,832		$         11,321
Dividends paid to shareholders		$            3,057		$           3,339		$           9,268		$         10,061
Dividends paid to non-controlling interest		$            7,967		$                —		$           7,967		$                —
Repurchase of common shares under Normal Course Issuer Bid		$                 —		$         15,482		$           2,250		$         16,684
					September 30			December 31
						2024		2023
Cash and cash equivalents						$         64,944		$         86,895
Restricted cash						$                —		$           3,357
Current & long-term debt						$         45,070		$         25,331

____________________________

⁽¹⁾Neo reports non-IFRS measures such as "Adjusted Net Income", "Adjusted Earnings per Share", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA Margin" and "EBITDA". Please see information on this and other non-IFRS measures in the "Non-IFRS Measures" section of this news release and in the MD&A, available on Neo's website at ^{www.neomaterials.com} and on SEDAR+ at ^{www.sedarplus.ca}

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

($000s)		September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current
Cash and cash equivalents		$                          64,944		$                           86,895
Restricted cash		—		3,357
Accounts receivable		67,777		67,643
Inventories		138,824		197,453
Income taxes receivable		2,405		744
Assets held for sale		47,809		—
Other current assets		32,933		22,542
Total current assets		354,692		378,634
Property, plant and equipment		164,026		118,918
Intangible assets		35,427		38,511
Goodwill		65,735		65,160
Investments		15,403		17,955
Deferred tax assets		3,120		6,760
Other non-current assets		1,062		1,066
Total non-current assets		284,773		248,370
Total assets		$                         639,465		$                         627,004
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current
Accounts payable and other accrued charges		$                           63,134		$                           71,984
Income taxes payable		6,311		9,207
Provisions		558		823
Lease obligations		1,394		1,664
Derivative liability		41,905		36,294
Current portion of long-term debt		5,181		2,230
Liabilities directly associated with the assets held for sale		17,355		—
Other current liabilities		921		692
Total current liabilities		136,759		122,894
Long-term debt		39,889		23,101
Employee benefits		124		108
Derivative liability		1,402		1,082
Provisions		19,241		26,197
Deferred tax liabilities		11,254		14,294
Lease obligations		3,704		2,425
Other non-current liabilities		1,335		1,592
Total non-current liabilities		76,949		68,799
Total liabilities		213,708		191,693
Non-controlling interest		3,238		3,164
Equity attributable to equity holders of Neo Performance Materials Inc.		422,519		432,147
Total equity		425,757		435,311
Total liabilities and equity		$                         639,465		$                         627,004

See accompanying notes to this table in Neo's Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, available on Neo's website at www.neomaterials.com and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Comparison of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023:

($000s)		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2024		2023		2024		2023
Revenue		$         111,281		$         136,917		$        340,925		$        442,877
Cost of sales
Cost excluding depreciation and amortization		75,851		106,255		248,849		355,465
Depreciation and amortization		2,107		2,674		6,041		7,210
Gross profit		33,323		27,988		86,035		80,202
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative		15,707		13,688		44,954		44,670
Share-based compensation		909		1,024		2,289		1,792
Depreciation and amortization		1,791		1,794		5,395		5,374
Research and development		3,474		4,523		9,976		11,729
Impairment of assets		266		—		473		—
		22,147		21,029		63,087		63,565
Operating income		11,176		6,959		22,948		16,637
Other (expense) income		(696)		1,011		2,897		362
Finance (costs) income, net		(10,695)		648		(13,607)		(7,449)
Foreign exchange gain (loss)		1,235		(190)		(31)		(1,432)
Income from operations before income taxes and equity loss of associates		1,020		8,428		12,207		8,118
Income tax expense		(2,991)		(4,124)		(10,374)		(11,722)
(Loss) income from operations before equity loss of associates		(1,971)		4,304		1,833		(3,604)
Equity loss of associates (net of income tax)		(740)		(1,195)		(2,812)		(3,658)
Net (loss) income		$           (2,711)		$             3,109		$              (979)		$           (7,262)
Attributable to:
Equity holders of Neo Performance Materials Inc.		$           (2,627)		$             3,069		$              (895)		$           (7,075)
Non-controlling interest		(84)		40		(84)		(187)
		$           (2,711)		$             3,109		$              (979)		$           (7,262)
(Loss) earnings per share attributable to equity holders of Neo Performance Materials Inc.:
Basic		$             (0.06)		$               0.07		$             (0.02)		$             (0.16)
Diluted		$             (0.06)		$               0.07		$             (0.02)		$             (0.16)

See Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, available on Neo's website at www.neomaterials.com and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca

RECONCILIATIONS OF NET (LOSS) INCOME TO EBITDA, ADJUSTED EBITDA AND FREE CASH FLOW

($000s)		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2024		2023		2024		2023
Net (loss) income		$      (2,711)		$        3,109		$        (979)		$    (7,262)
Add back (deduct):
Finance costs (income), net		10,695		(648)		13,607		7,449
Income tax expense		2,991		4,124		10,374		11,722
Depreciation and amortization included in cost of sales		2,107		2,674		6,041		7,210
Depreciation and amortization included in operating expenses		1,791		1,794		5,395		5,374
EBITDA		14,873		11,053		34,438		24,493
Adjustments to EBITDA:
Other expense (income)^(1)		696		(1,011)		(2,897)		(362)
Foreign exchange (gain) loss ^(2)		(1,235)		190		31		1,432
Equity loss of associates		740		1,195		2,812		3,658
Share-based compensation ^(3)		909		1,024		2,289		1,792
Fair value adjustments to inventory acquired		—		423		—		995
Project startup & transition costs ^(4)		2,228		286		5,483		913
Transaction and other costs ^(5)		1,078		—		1,078		1,201
Impairment of assets ^(6)		266		—		473		—
Adjusted EBITDA^(I)		$     19,555		$     13,160		$    43,707		$    34,122
Adjusted EBITDA Margins ^(7)		17.6 %		9.6 %		12.8 %		7.7 %
Less:
Capital expenditures ^(8)		$     21,339		$        7,793		$    57,387		$    19,629
Free Cash Flow ^(7)		$      (1,784)		$        5,367		$  (13,680)		$    14,493
Free Cash Flow Conversion^(9)		(9.1 %)		40.8 %		(31.3 %)		42.5 %

Notes:
(1)	Represents other expense (income) resulting from non-operational related activities, including provisions for damages for outstanding legal claims related to historic volumes.  In addition, other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 includes the reversal of a special reserve to cover for potential liabilities related to employee safety incidents or workplace accidents at the ZAMR facility.  This reserve was released when Neo shut down this operation. These items are not indicative of Neo's ongoing activities.
(2)	Represents unrealized and realized foreign exchange losses that include non-cash adjustments in translating foreign denominated monetary assets and liabilities.
(3)	Represents share-based compensation expense in respect of the long-term incentive plans (the "LTIP") which was adopted on May 9, 2018 as well as the Omnibus long-term incentive plan (the "Omnibus LTIP"), which was originally approved by shareholders on June 29, 2021 and amended and approved by shareholders on June 19, 2024.  No further grants were made under the LTIP once the Omnibus LTIP was adopted.  There are no RSUs and PSUs outstanding under the LTIP and no further grants will be made under the LTIP.
(4)	Represents start-up costs (primarily pre-operational staffing costs) at Neo's new European sintered magnet facility, as well as transition cost during qualification and start-up of the NAMCO facility and winding down of the ZAMR facility.  Neo has removed these charges to provide comparability with historic periods.
(5)	Represents costs related to a comprehensive strategic review of Neo's current operation strategy and capital structure.  These costs primarily consist of professional fees for legal advisors, bankers, and other specialists engaged in evaluating and advising on strategic alternatives aimed at enhancing shareholder value.  Neo has removed these charges to provide comparability with historic periods.
(6)	For the three months ended September 30, 2024, an impairment charge of $0.3 million was recorded as a result of the classification of the JAMR and ZAMR disposal group as held for sale.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, an impairment charge of $0.6 million was recorded as a result of the shutdown of the light rare earth separation business in ZAMR; an impairment charge of $0.3 million as a result of the classification of the JAMR and ZAMR disposal group as held for sale; and a reversal of an asset impairment of $0.4 million previously recorded in Neo's Rare Metals hafnium business.
(7)	Neo reports non-IFRS measures such as "Adjusted Net Income", "Adjusted Earnings per Share", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA Margin", "Free Cash Flow" and "Free Cash Flow Conversion". Please see information on this and other non-IFRS measures in the "Non-IFRS Measures" section of this news release and in the MD&A, available on Neo's website www.neomaterials.com and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
(8)	Includes cash and non-cash capital expenditures of $21.2 million and $54.1 million, respectively, and right-of-use assets of $0.1 million and $3.3 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the amount was comprised of cash and non-cash capital expenditures of $7.8 million and $17.4 million, respectively, and right-of-use assets of $nil million and $2.2 million, respectively.
(9)	Calculated as Free Cash Flow divided by Adjusted EBITDA^(I).

RECONCILIATIONS OF NET (LOSS) INCOME TO ADJUSTED NET INCOME (LOSS)

($000s)		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2024		2023		2024		2023
Net (loss) income		$           (2,711)		$             3,109		$              (979)		$           (7,262)
Adjustments to net (loss) income:
Foreign exchange (gain) loss ^(1)		(1,235)		190		31		1,432
Impairment of assets ^(2)		266		—		473		—
Share-based compensation ^(3)		909		1,024		2,289		1,792
Project start-up & transition cost ^(4)		2,228		286		5,483		913
Other items included in other expense (income) ^(5)		891		(897)		(1,999)		(278)
Fair value adjustments to inventory acquired		—		423		—		995
Transaction and other costs ^(6)		1,078		—		1,078		1,201
Tax impact of the above items		(287)		(122)		407		(669)
Adjusted net income (loss)		$             1,139		$             4,013		$             6,783		$           (1,876)
Attributable to:
Equity holders of Neo		$             1,223		$             3,973		$             6,867		$           (1,689)
Non-controlling interest		$                (84)		$                   40		$                (84)		$              (187)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		41,751,560		44,517,503		41,778,174		44,967,960
Diluted		42,465,913		45,019,400		42,459,386		44,967,960
Adjusted income (loss) per share ^(7) attributable to equity holders of Neo:
Basic		$               0.03		$               0.09		$               0.16		$             (0.04)
Diluted		$               0.03		$               0.09		$               0.16		$             (0.04)

Notes:
(1)	Represents unrealized and realized foreign exchange losses that include non-cash adjustments in translating foreign denominated monetary assets and liabilities.
(2)	For the three months ended September 30, 2024, an impairment charge of $0.3 million was recorded as a result of the classification of the JAMR and ZAMR disposal group as held for sale.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, an impairment charge of $0.6 million was recorded as a result of the shutdown of the light rare earth separation business in ZAMR; an impairment charge of $0.3 million as a result of the classification of the JAMR and ZAMR disposal group as held for sale; and a reversal of an asset impairment of $0.4 million previously recorded in Neo's Rare Metals hafnium business.
(3)	Represents share-based compensation expense in respect of the LTIP which was adopted on May 9, 2018 as well as the Omnibus LTIP, which was originally approved by shareholders on June 29, 2021 and amended and approved by shareholders on June 19, 2024.  No further grants were made under the LTIP once the Omnibus LTIP was adopted.  There are no RSUs and PSUs outstanding under the LTIP and no further grants will be made under the LTIP.
(4)	Represents start-up costs (primarily pre-operational staffing costs) at Neo's new European sintered magnet facility, as well as transition cost during qualification and start-up of the NAMCO facility and winding down of the ZAMR facility.  Neo has removed these charges to provide comparability with historic periods.
(5)	Represents other expense (income) resulting from non-operational related activities, including provisions for damages for outstanding legal claims related to historic volumes.  In addition, other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 includes the reversal of a special reserve to cover for potential liabilities related to employee safety incidents or workplace accidents at the ZAMR facility.  This reserve was released when Neo shut down this operation.   These items are not indicative of Neo's ongoing activities.
(6)	Represents costs related to a comprehensive strategic review of Neo's current operation strategy and capital structure.  These costs primarily consist of professional fees for legal advisors, bankers, and other specialists engaged in evaluating and advising on strategic alternatives aimed at enhancing shareholder value.  Neo has removed these charges to provide comparability with historic periods.
(7)	Neo reports non-IFRS measures such as "Adjusted Net Income", "Adjusted Earnings per Share", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA Margin", "Free Cash Flow" and "Free Cash Flow Conversion". Please see information on this and other non-IFRS measures in the "Non-IFRS Measures" section of this news release and in the MD&A, available on Neo's website www.neomaterials.com and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Neo Performance Materials

Neo manufactures the building blocks of many modern technologies that enhance efficiency and sustainability.  Neo's advanced industrial materials - magnetic powders and magnets, specialty chemicals, metals, and alloys - are critical to the performance of many everyday products and emerging technologies. Neo's products help to deliver the technologies of tomorrow to consumers today.  Neo's business is organized into three segments: Magnequench, Chemicals & Oxides, and Rare Metals. Neo is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; with corporate offices in Greenwood Village, Colorado, United States; Singapore; and Beijing, China. Neo has a global platform that includes 9 manufacturing facilities located in China, the United States, Germany, Canada, Estonia, Thailand and the United Kingdom, as well as one dedicated research and development centre in Singapore.  For more information, please visit www.neomaterials.com.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada. Forward-looking information may relate to future events or the future performance of Neo. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, with respect to Neo's objectives and goals, as well as statements with respect to its beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, and intentions, are forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements in this discussion include, but are not limited to, the following: expectations regarding certain of Neo's future results and information, including, among other things, revenue, expenses, sales growth, capital expenditures, and operations; statements with respect to current and future market trends that may directly or indirectly impact sales and revenue of Neo, including but not limited to the price of rare earth elements; expected use of cash balances; continuation of prudent management of working capital; source of funds for ongoing business requirements and capital investments; expectations regarding sufficiency of the allowance for uncollectible accounts and inventory provisions; analysis regarding sensitivity of the business to changes in exchange rates; impact of recently adopted accounting pronouncements; risk factors relating to intellectual property protection and intellectual property litigation; risk factors relating to national or international economies, geopolitical risk and other risks present in the jurisdictions in which Neo, its customers, its suppliers, and/or its logistics partners operate, and; expectations concerning any remediation efforts to Neo's design of its internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Neo believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. For more information on Neo, investors should review Neo's continuous disclosure filings that are available under Neo's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

SOURCE Neo Performance Materials, Inc.

Information Contacts: Irina Kuznetsova, Director, Investor Relations, [phone], ext 7334, Email: [email protected]; George Gretes, Communications & Media, [phone], ext 7331, Email: [email protected], Website: www.neomaterials.com