Digital Brands Group Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results

Expects to generate internal free cash flow of $500,000 per month starting in October

AUSTIN, Texas, April 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Brands Group, Inc. ("DBG")  (NASDAQ: DBGI), a curated collection of luxury lifestyle, digital-first brands, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and 2022 fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. 

Our fourth quarter and fiscal year 2022 financial results do not include the impact and results from our acquisition of Sundry on December 30, 2022. Our acquisition of Sundry has had a significantly positive impact on our year-to-date results, as we noted on our State of the Union call in March, which includes the expectation to generate $500,000 in internal cash flow per month starting in October.

Results for the Fiscal 2022

• Net revenues for fiscal 2022 increased 84.2% to $14.0 million compared to $7.6 million in 2021
• Gross margin profit increased 218.5% to $6.0 million compared to $1.9 million in a year ago
•  Gross margin was 42.6% versus 24.6% a year ago
• G&A expenses of $16.4 million declined by $400,000 compared to $16.8 million a year ago
• Sales and marketing expenses were $5.0 million compared to $3.8 million a year ago
• Sales and marketing expenses ratio was 35.4% compared to 50.2% a year ago
• Distribution expenses were $612,000 compared to $489.000 million a year ago
• Distribution expenses ratio was 4.4% compared to 6.5% a year ago
• Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $38.0 million, or $49.32 per share, compared to $32.4 million, or $424.15 per share, a year ago
• Net loss included $16.1 million in impairment charges or $20.88 per share. Additionally, there was $9.0 million in interest expense, or $11.69 a share
• Excluding these items, net loss would have been $12.9 million, or a loss of $16.76 per share, compared to a loss of $16.5 million, or a loss of $216.67 per share, a year ago

Results for the Fourth Quarter

• Net revenues were $3.4 in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to $4.0 million a year ago
• The revenue decline was driven (1) a $420,000 decline in our advertising spend as we focused on the launch and cross merchandising of our multi-brand site the Bailey Shop and (2) lack of wholesale revenue from Bailey 44 as we moved that to online only starting in June of last year to focus on an overhaul of the product design and process. We have restarted Bailey 44 wholesale, which will positively impact our third quarter this year
• Gross margin was $642,000 versus $472,000 a year-ago
• Gross margins are not normalized due to the suggestion of our audit firm to reclassify certain G&A expenses into cost of goods sold, which included a true-up for all four quarters into the fourth quarter results
• Due to this reclassification, gross margin was decreased by $1.2 million compared to $1.0 million a year ago
• G&A expenses were $3.1 million versus $2.5 million a year ago
• G&A expenses only increased $646,000, which resulted in a $6.4M increase in revenue
• G&A expenses are not normalized due to the suggestion of our audit firm to reclassify certain G&A expenses into cost of goods sold
• Due to this reclassification, G&A expenses were decreased by $1.2 million compared to $1.0 million a year ago
• Sales & Marketing expenses decreased $420,000 to $1.0 million from $1.4 million a year ago
• Sales and marketing expenses ratio was 7.0% compared to 18.5% a year ago
• Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $15.8 million, or $20.46 per share compared to $9.7 million, or $127.13 per diluted share, a year ago
• Net loss included a non-cash impairment charge of $9.7 million, or $12.56 per share and $3.0 million in interest expense, or $3.84 a share
• Excluding these items, net loss would have been $3.1 million, or $4.06 per share, compared to a net loss of $5.9 million, or a loss of $77.32 per share, a year ago

"Our business is completely different now than it was in 2022.  We lost a year due to the market decline in 2022, which delayed our acquisition of Sundry. We knew this acquisition was the critical step in our path to create a company with scale, positive ebitda and positive cash flow. Now that the Sundry acquisition has happened, we are well on our way to achieving our initial goals," said Hil Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Brands Group.

Davis continued, "In October of last year we had a positive change in our working capital cycle model due to our ability to start factoring our wholesale orders. In October of this year, we expect another more significant positive change to our cash flow, which is the end of our MCA weekly payments. Once we make our last weekly MCA payment, our business will generate over $490,000 in cash flow a month due to these weekly payments now flowing to our balance sheet.  This is a significant swing in our cash flow and will be in addition to our ability to factor our wholesale orders and our expectation of positive ebitda later this year."

Conference Call and Webcast Details Updated

Management will host a conference call on Monday, April 17 at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss the results. The live conference call can be accessed by dialing (866) 605-1828 from the U.S. or internationally. The conference I.D. code is 13738180 or via the web by using the following link: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=6iDznF2B. 

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements included in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting DBG and therefore involve several risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "should," and "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates, however, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. All statements regarding DBG's plans, objectives, projections and expectations relating to DBG's operations or financial performance, and assumptions related thereto are forward-looking statements. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. DBG undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results of operations or financial condition of DBG to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: risks arising from the widespread outbreak of an illness or any other communicable disease, or any other public health crisis, including the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic; the level of consumer demand for apparel and accessories; disruption to DBGs distribution system; the financial strength of DBG's customers; fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials and contracted products; disruption and volatility in the global capital and credit markets; DBG's response to changing fashion trends, evolving consumer preferences and changing patterns of consumer behavior; intense competition from online retailers; manufacturing and product innovation; increasing pressure on margins; DBG's ability to implement its business strategy; DBG's ability to grow its wholesale and direct-to-consumer businesses; retail industry changes and challenges; DBG's and its vendors' ability to maintain the strength and security of information technology systems; the risk that DBG's facilities and systems and those of our third-party service providers may be vulnerable to and unable to anticipate or detect data security breaches and data or financial loss; DBG's ability to properly collect, use, manage and secure consumer and employee data; stability of DBG's manufacturing facilities and foreign suppliers; continued use by DBG's suppliers of ethical business practices; DBG's ability to accurately forecast demand for products; continuity of members of DBG's management; DBG's ability to protect trademarks and other intellectual property rights; possible goodwill and other asset impairment; DBG's ability to execute and integrate acquisitions; changes in tax laws and liabilities; legal, regulatory, political and economic risks; adverse or unexpected weather conditions; DBG's indebtedness and its ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, if needed, could prevent DBG from fulfilling its financial obligations; and climate change and increased focus on sustainability issues. More information on potential factors that could affect DBG's financial results is included from time to time in DBG's public reports filed with the SEC, including DBG's Annual Report on Form 10-K, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Forms 8-K filed or furnished with the SEC.

About Digital Brands Group
We offer a wide variety of apparel through numerous brands on a both direct-to-consumer and wholesale basis. We have created a business model derived from our founding as a digitally native-first vertical brand. Digital native first brands are brands founded as e-commerce driven businesses, where online sales constitute a meaningful percentage of net sales, although they often subsequently also expand into wholesale or direct retail channels., Unlike typical e-commerce brands, as a digitally native vertical brand we control our own distribution, sourcing products directly from our third-party manufacturers and selling directly to the end consumer. We focus on owning the customer's "closet share" by leveraging their data and purchase history to create personalized targeted content and looks for that specific customer cohort. We have strategically expanded into an omnichannel brand offering these styles and content not only on-line but at selected wholesale and retail storefronts. We believe this approach allows us opportunities to successfully drive Lifetime Value ("LTV") while increasing new customer growth. 

Digital Brands Group, Inc. Company Contact
Hil Davis, CEO
Email: invest@digitalbrandsgroup.co
Phone: (800) 593-1047

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SOURCE Digital Brands Group, Inc.