Paul Block
Analyst · ROTH Capital
Thank you, Geoff. We certainly appreciate you joining us today for the Q3 earnings report. As Geoff previously mentioned, Redneck Riviera Whiskey license termination will offer Eastside $8.1 million in value and will significantly change the balance sheet dynamics. The company will have the opportunity to reduce absolute barrel inventory by 45%, reduce the -- the value of that barrel inventory by 38% and retain approximately 50% of the $8.1 million in cash. This event and the impact it will have on the balance sheet will better position the company for further capital structure improvement and will better support our goal of accelerated and sustainable growth. Now despite the substantial effort we're allocating for the Redneck Riviera closing, management continues to focus on five key objectives that we believe will change the underlying fundamentals of the company. Our overall goal is growth acceleration for the company and rapid value creation for our shareholders. And to this end, the 5 key objectives are neutral cash burn, improved balance sheet, as Geoff mentioned, adequate liquidity and growth capital, accelerated spirits volume with profit and Craft Canning expansion with the highest return. So for the first objective, neutral cash burn rate, the company has set a proxy for this scorecard measure as adjusted EBITDA plus interest expense. Now based on this measure, the 2019 fiscal year cash burn rate was $9.04 million. And the 2020 forecasted burn rate is 45% less at $5.011 million. As Geoff mentioned, we will deliver sequential EBIT improvement by quarter, and this improvement is reflected in a consistent reduction in the 2020 quarterly cash burn rate. So for example, Q1, the company recorded a cash burn rate of $2.169 million; Q2, $1.274 million; Q3, $930,000, and Q4 is forecasted to be less than $536,000, an average of 30% improvement for each quarter of 2020. In addition to the cash burn rate reduction, management is very focused on improving the income statement ratios in a manner that will drive the highest return for each case sold. For example, we're improving gross to net productivity by focusing on price, volume and mix. We are improving costs by reducing material complexity. We are optimizing brand promotional spend by focusing on purchase intent. And finally, we're holding G&A at current levels as gross profit increased. All of these actions and anticipated improvements will be detailed in the forthcoming 2021 company budget. Now turning to our second objective, focusing on the balance sheet improvement, I believe Geoff covered most of the salient points. However, I can say management is very enthusiastic about the possibility to align an optimal balance sheet with an accelerated growth plan. I did want to take a moment to comment further on the working capital and specifically inventory. Once the Redneck Riviera event is complete, our barrel inventory will be reduced from 8,800 barrels to 3,900. The plan is to use approximately a third of the remaining barrels for the Burnside grant, third for our new Eastside Limited Edition brand and a third for sale or depleted-through contract manufacturing. By converting most of the remaining 3,900 barrel inventory into finished products, the opportunity becomes very lucrative for Eastside. For example, 100 barrels can produce 4,000 cases of finished goods that translate to $1 million in revenue and $500,000 in gross profit. So rather than sell a barrel at wholesale, we can achieve 10x the return by selling finished goods. This strategy is new to Eastside and can add significant top line and bottom line profit. We are working diligently on branding, labeling, compliance, product development and pricing, and we anticipate introducing additional premium products for both Burnside and our new Eastside Limited Edition line late Q1, 2021. Turning our attention to the third objective, adequate liquidity, management believes achieving this objective is critical to Eastside's comprehensive success. Once we limit our cash burn rate, we can better manage our cash and improve our liquidity. At some point, we can even imagine, taking advantage of the increasing opportunities in the marketplace with bolt-on acquisitions. And while management continues to focus on organic growth, specifically on Azuñia Tequila and our other spirits brand, the opportunity for accretive external expansion is available and possible, whether internal organic growth or external bolt-on acquisition. Our overall objective continues to be accelerated growth, minimal dilution and appropriate debt level. Recently, we've secured short-term liquidity from Pat Kilkenny and management would like to take this opportunity to thank Pat for making these funds available to the company. Turning to our fourth objective, Spirits portfolio volume with profit. We continue to concentrate on those tenants we've mentioned before. Craft inspired, premium, unique, high-growth and strong pull oriented. We are currently finalizing our 2021 plan for a key spirits brand. For Azuñia Tequila, our biggest opportunity in the Eastside portfolio, we're looking to capitalize on the ever-growing tequila market. We'll expand a Azuñia distribution from west to east and focused on Azuñia Black, the brand's premium flagship product. In addition, as the on-premise business returns, we will focus on making Azuñia the tequila drink of choice. For Burnside Bourbon, we're focused on the relaunch of our premium 10-year Buckman Reserve. We're introducing new Buckman barrel strength reserve. We're developing a new ultra-premium Buckman black double barrel reserve. Our goal for Burnside is expansion outside of Portland, Oregon, and targeting bourbon aficionados in key markets throughout the country. For Portland Potato Vodka, one of our fastest growing brands, we are highlighting the premium nature of the product with a new more premium 750 mL bottle and a new 1 liter version for on-premise. Pristine water from Mount Hood, 4x distilled and the personality of Portland, will reinforce this unique vodka experience for all our consumers. For the Eastside Limited Edition line of premium spirits, we utilize the current barrel inventory and offer products like single malt sherry cask, small batch rye, 10-year rum, and aged gin, all at consumer price points ranging from $80 to $400 per bottle. Turning to our fifth objective, Craft Canning and Bottling expansion with high return, we'll continue to capitalize on the opportunity to extend the canning business in the areas of the highest return. While Craft Canning is not our strategic priority, it is a growing high margin, high return opportunity. Todd Garrett recently resigned as the CEO of the Craft Canning division, and we've been fortunate to replace him with a seasoned manufacturing industry executive, Michael [Carstedt]. Michael has extensive experience in change leadership, scaling manufacturing, rapid growth management and implementing ERP. Eastside team is very enthusiastic about the change and excited about the new leadership. Our immediate plan of action for Craft is to announce a price increase for 2021 that will offset the rising cost of cans and further maintain margins. So as a summary of my comments today, I wanted to share management's objectives for the upcoming Q4. First, we want to achieve the cash burn rate below $532,000, which we define as EBITDA plus interest expense. We want to have sequential gross profit improvement over the Q3 results that we've reported today. We want to close the Redneck Riviera deal and secure the $8.1 million, on a complete, a detailed 2021 budget based by month, by brand, by SKU. We want to recommend the capital structure that will drive company growth and achieve the value that we anticipate. We want to complete the new packaging and new products for launch in Q1, as I previously mentioned. So despite the COVID pandemic, we believe the tide continues to rise for spirits consumption and Craft Canning. As we continue to bring leadership, strategy and strong tactical execution to the Eastside company, we believe we can capture a disproportionate share of market and continue to accelerate top line growth. I think you will agree this is a new Eastside and a new opportunity to create value for all our shareholders and stakeholders. As always, we appreciate your continued support and your continued interest in Eastside. Thank you all for joining. And at this time, we will open it up to questions for all of our participants.