Li-Cycle Reports Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

TORONTO --Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (NYSE: LICY) ("Li-Cycle" or the “Company"), an industry leader in lithium-ion battery resource recovery and the leading lithium-ion battery recycler in North America, today announced financial results for its second quarter ended April 30, 2022. Revenues increased to $8.7 million from $0.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2021.

“We continued to successfully implement our Spoke & Hub network strategy, with significant operational, commercial, and financial achievements this quarter. The Arizona Spoke is now on-line, doubling our current Spoke capacity and a testament to our modular construction approach. We believe this approach is replicable and scalable for our future Spokes. Additionally, we made continued contracting and execution strides at the Rochester Hub, which remains on target for commissioning in 2023," said Ajay Kochhar, Li-Cycle President and Chief Executive Officer.

"Strategically, we are positioning Li-Cycle as a leading and preferred recycler and supplier of critical battery materials, capitalizing on the significant secular growth trends. We executed long-term in-take and off-take commercial agreements with Glencore plc, a leading battery metals provider, and LG Chem, Inc. (“LG Chem”) and LG Energy Solution, Inc. (“LGES” and, together with LG Chem, “LG”), leading global electric battery manufacturers. This collaborative approach provides customers with a global and vertically integrated solution, which we believe places Li-Cycle at the center of the battery supply chain loop in North America and Europe,” added Kochhar. “Finally, these strategic commercial partnership arrangements were combined with total investment of $250 million in Li-Cycle, further enhancing our balance sheet and enabling additional financial flexibility."

Second Quarter Financial Results

Revenues for the quarter ended April 30, 2022 increased to $8.7 million, compared to $0.3 million in the same quarter last year, driven by increases in product sales volume and metal-based prices.

Operating expenses for the quarter increased to $30.0 million, compared to $5.6 million during the same period last year, reflecting the ongoing expansion of operations in North America and the early build out in Europe. This increase was primarily related to personnel costs for operational, corporate, commercial, and engineering resources as well as professional fees and administrative costs in support of becoming a public company. In addition, higher costs from raw materials and supplies are attributable to increased black mass production.

Net loss for the quarter was approximately $20.7 million, compared to a net loss of approximately $7.8 million in the prior-year period. This loss included $2.9 million of fair value gains on financial instruments.

Adjusted EBITDA¹ loss for the quarter was $19.5 million, compared to $5.1 million for the prior-year period. This was largely driven by the increase in the operating expenses as discussed above, directly related to the growth and expansion of the business. In addition, non-cash stock-based compensation increased to $4.5 million as compared to $0.3 million in 2021.

New Battery Supply Commercial Partnerships

Li-Cycle recently achieved significant commercial milestones, entering into long-term agreements with two leading global strategic partners in the battery material supply chain, thereby closing the loop for key lithium-ion battery materials. Both LG and Glencore designated Li-Cycle as a preferred lithium-ion battery recycling partner. These new partnerships complement Li-Cycle’s existing commercial agreements with Traxys North America Inc. and others.

The Glencore agreements are global in a nature, with a focus primarily on North America and Europe. Glencore will supply battery feedstock for Li-Cycle’s Spokes, as well as both black mass and sulfuric acid for Li-Cycle’s Hubs. Glencore also will provide off-take and marketing of Li-Cycle’s battery-grade end products and certain by-products produced at the Company’s Spokes & Hubs.

The LG agreements are focused on North America. LGES will provide Li-Cycle’s Spokes with nickel-bearing lithium-ion battery scrap and other lithium-ion battery recycling material. Additionally, Li-Cycle will supply LG with nickel sulphate to be produced at Li-Cycle’s Rochester Hub, once operational.

Funding Update and Balance Sheet Position

Li-Cycle ended its second quarter with $509.3 million cash on hand. The Company further enhanced its balance sheet with additional investment proceeds of $250 million, received upon completion of the commercial agreements in May and June 2022 from LG and Glencore, respectively. Including the investment proceeds, the Company’s pro-forma cash balance is approximately $760 million.

As a result, the Company has sufficient liquidity for capital and operating needs to fund its current pipeline of projects in development.

About Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

Li-Cycle (NYSE: LICY) is on a mission to leverage its innovative Spoke & Hub Technologies™ to provide a customer-centric, end-of-life solution for lithium-ion batteries, while creating a secondary supply of critical battery materials. Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are increasingly powering our world in automotive, energy storage, consumer electronics, and other industrial and household applications. The world needs improved technology and supply chain innovations to better manage battery manufacturing waste and end-of-life batteries and to meet the rapidly growing demand for critical and scarce battery-grade raw materials through a closed-loop solution. For more information, visit https://li-cycle.com/.