The increase in SG&A expenses in Q2 2020 over the same period in 2019 is mainly attributable to the net effect of:

• an increase of 34% in employee compensation due primarily to an increase in commission expenses offset by amounts claimed from Revenue Canada under the CEWS wage subsidy program,
• an increase of 15% for professional fees, primarily due to an increase in legal fees,
• a decrease of 0.4% in office and general expenses, is due to a decrease in computer and internet expenses,
• travel costs decreased by 82%, due to a decrease in travel abroad,
• depreciation on property and equipment decreased by 79% due to lower amounts of property and equipment being depreciated,
• depreciation on right of use assets decreased by 19% due to lower amounts of right of use assets being depreciated,
• Investment tax credits increased by 328% due to an additional refund of $24,605 from the 2018 tax return filed,
• government grants increased by 228% due to higher levels of activities supported by such grants,
• other expenses decreased by 33%, primarily due to a decrease in cost of freight and shipping.

Separately, share based payments decreased by 14% in Q2 2020 over the same period in 2019 as a result of the vesting structure of the stock option plan including the stock options granted on January 2, 2020.

Research and Development (“R&D”) Costs

The Company incurred ($3,869) of R&D costs, net of government grants, on internal projects in Q2 2020, a decrease of 102% as compared with $212,645 in Q2 2019. The decrease in Q2 2020 is primarily related to an increase in government grants supporting our R&D activities and an amount of $129,201 claimed under the wage subsidy from Revenue Canada under the CEWS program.

In addition to internally funded R&D projects, the Company also incurred R&D expenditures during the execution of client funded projects. These expenses are eligible for Scientific Research and Experimental Development (“SR&ED”) tax credits. SR&ED tax credits on client funded projects are applied against cost of sales and services (see “Cost of Sales” above). 

Net Finance Costs

Finance costs for Q2 2020 totaled $276,928 as compared with $275,418 for Q2 2019, were less than 1%, resulting in a virtually unchanged variance.

Strategic Investments

The adjustment to the fair market value of strategic investments for Q2 2020 resulted in a gain of $5,899,465 compared to a loss in the amount of $339,313 in Q2 2019, representing an increase of 1839% year-over-year. The increase is primarily attributable to the increased market share value in the HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. and Beauce Gold Fields.

Net Comprehensive Loss

The net comprehensive gain for Q2 2020 of $5,228,020 compared to a loss of $2,253,390, in Q2 2019, represents an increase of 332% year-over-year. The increased gain of $7,481,410 in the comprehensive gain in Q2 2020 is primarily attributable to the factors described above, which have been summarized as follows:

1. an increase in product and service-related revenue of $1,214,685 arising in Q2 2020, an increase in cost of sales and services totaling $133,442, primarily due to an increase in subcontracting, direct materials, manufacturing overhead & other, offset by a decrease in employee compensation,
2. an increase in SG&A expenses of $53,613 arising primarily due to an increase in employee compensation, professional fees, offset by a decrease in travel, depreciation on property and equipment, depreciation ROU assets, and other expenses,
3. a decrease in R&D expenses of $216,512 primarily due to an increase in government grants and wage subsidy,
4. an increase in net finance costs of $1,510 primarily due to interest on higher amounts of debt,
5. an increase in fair value adjustment of $6,238,778 primarily due to strategic investments.    

EBITDA

The EBITDA gain in Q2 2020 was $5,610,023 compared with an EBITDA loss of $1,814,832 for Q2 2019, representing an increase of 409% year-over-year. The $7,424,855 increase in the EBITDA gain in Q2 2020 compared with Q2 2019 is due to the increase in comprehensive income of $7,418,410, a decrease in depreciation on property and equipment of $38,927, a decrease in depreciation of right of use assets of $21,171, an increase in amortization of intangible assets of $2,034, and an increase in finance charges of $1,511.

Adjusted EBITDA gain in Q2 2020 was $5,633,661 compared with an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $1,787,248 for Q2 2019. The increase of $7,420,909 in the Adjusted EBITDA gain in Q2 2020 is attributable to an increase in EBITDA gain of $7,424,855, offset by a decrease of $3,946 in share-based payments.

The Modified EBITDA loss in Q2 2020 was $265,804 compared with a Modified EBITDA loss of $1,447,935 for Q2 2019, representing a decrease of 82%. The decrease in the Modified EBITDA loss in Q2 2020 is attributable to the increase as mentioned above in the Adjusted EBITDA of $7,357,909 and an increase in the change of fair value of strategic investments of $6,238,778.

Liquidity

The Company has incurred, in the last several years, operating losses and negative cash flows from operations, resulting in an accumulated deficit of $57,304,682 and a negative working capital of $7,463,370 as at Q2 2020, (December 31, 2019 - $60,237,656 and $10,492,102 respectively). Furthermore, as at Q2 2020, the Company’s current liabilities and expected level of expenses for the next twelve months exceed cash on hand of $1,567,777 (December 31, 2019 - $34,431). The Company has relied upon external financings to fund its operations in the past, primarily through the issuance of equity, debt, and convertible debentures, as well as from investment tax credits.