MP Materials Corp DE

We present Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted Diluted EPS, and Free Cash Flow, which are non-GAAP financial measures that we use to supplement our results presented in accordance with GAAP. These measures may be similar to measures reported by other companies in our industry and are regularly used by securities analysts and investors to measure companies’ financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted Diluted EPS, and Free Cash Flow are not intended to be substitutes for any GAAP financial measures and, as calculated, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of performance or liquidity of other companies within our industry or in other industries.

Adjusted EBITDA

We define Adjusted EBITDA as our GAAP net income or loss before interest expense, net; income tax expense or benefit; and depreciation, depletion and amortization; further adjusted to eliminate the impact of stock-based compensation expense; initial start-up costs; transaction-related and other costs; accretion of asset retirement and environmental obligations; gain or loss on disposals of long-lived assets; gain or loss on early extinguishment of debt; other income or loss; and other items that we do not consider representative of our underlying operations. We present Adjusted EBITDA because it is used by management to evaluate our underlying operating and financial performance and trends. Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain expenses that are required in accordance with GAAP because they are non-recurring, non-cash or are not related to our underlying business performance. This non-GAAP financial measure is intended to supplement our GAAP results and should not be used as a substitute for financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP.

The following table presents a reconciliation of our Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to our net income or loss, which is determined in accordance with GAAP:

(1)Principally included in “Selling, general and administrative” within our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(2)Included in “Start-up costs” within our Consolidated Statements of Operations and excludes any applicable stock-based compensation, which is included in the “Stock-based compensation expense” line above. Relates to certain costs incurred in connection with the commissioning and starting up of our initial separations capability at Mountain Pass and our initial magnet-making capabilities at the Independence Facility prior to the achievement of commercial production. These costs include labor of incremental employees hired in advance to work directly on such commissioning activities, training costs, costs of testing and commissioning the new circuits and processes, and other related costs. Given the nature and scale of the related costs and activities, management does not view these as normal, recurring operating expenses, but rather as non-recurring investments to initially develop our separations and magnet-making capabilities. Therefore, we believe it is useful and necessary for investors to understand our core operating performance in current and future periods by excluding the impact of these start-up costs. To the extent additional start-up costs are incurred in the future to expand our separations and magnet-making capabilities after initial achievement of commercial production (e.g., significantly expanding production capacity at an existing facility or building a new separations or magnet manufacturing facility), such costs would not be considered an adjustment for this non-GAAP financial measure.

(3)Pertains to legal, consulting, and advisory services, and other costs associated with specific transactions, including potential acquisitions, mergers, or other investments. For the year ended December 31, 2024, amount is principally included in “Selling, general and administrative” within our Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, amounts are principally included in “Advanced projects and development” within our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(4)Included in “Other operating costs and expenses” within our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Diluted EPS

We calculate Adjusted Net Income (Loss) as our GAAP net income or loss excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense; initial start-up costs; transaction-related and other costs; gain or loss on disposals of long-lived assets; gain or loss on early extinguishment of debt; and other items that we do not consider representative of our underlying operations; adjusted to give effect to the income tax impact of such adjustments; and the release of valuation allowance. We calculate Adjusted Diluted EPS as our GAAP diluted earnings or loss per share excluding the per share impact, using adjusted diluted weighted-average shares outstanding as the denominator, of stock-based compensation expense; initial start-up costs; transaction-related and other costs; gain or loss on disposals of long-lived assets; gain or loss on early extinguishment of debt; and other items that we do not consider representative of our underlying operations; adjusted to give effect to the income tax impact of such adjustments; and the release of valuation allowance. In addition, when appropriate, we include an adjustment to reverse the impact of applying the if-converted method to our 2026 Notes if necessary to reconcile between GAAP diluted earnings or loss per share and Adjusted Diluted EPS. When applicable, adjusted diluted weighted-average shares outstanding reflect the anti-dilutive impact of our Capped Call Options entered into in connection with the issuance of our 2030 Notes.

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Diluted EPS exclude certain expenses that are required in accordance with GAAP because they are non-recurring, non-cash, or not related to our underlying business performance. To calculate the income tax impact of such adjustments on a year-to-date basis, we utilize an effective tax rate equal to our income tax expense or benefit excluding material discrete costs and benefits, with any impacts of changes in effective tax rate being recognized in the current period. We present Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Diluted EPS because it is used by management to evaluate our underlying operating and financial performance and trends. These non-GAAP financial measures are intended to supplement our GAAP results and should not be used as a substitute for financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP.

The following table presents a reconciliation of our Adjusted Net Income (Loss), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to our net income or loss, which is determined in accordance with GAAP:

(1)Principally included in “Selling, general and administrative” within our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(2)Included in “Start-up costs” within our Consolidated Statements of Operations and excludes any applicable stock-based compensation, which is included in the “Stock-based compensation expense” line above. Relates to certain costs incurred in connection with the commissioning and starting up of our initial separations capability at Mountain Pass and our initial magnet-making capabilities at the Independence Facility prior to the achievement of commercial production. These costs include labor of incremental employees hired in advance to work directly on such commissioning activities, training costs, costs of testing and commissioning the new circuits and processes, and other related costs. Given the nature and scale of the related costs and activities, management does not view these as normal, recurring operating expenses, but rather as non-recurring investments to initially develop our separations and magnet-making capabilities. Therefore, we believe it is useful and necessary for investors to understand our core operating performance in current and future periods by excluding the impact of these start-up costs. To the extent additional start-up costs are incurred in the future to expand our separations and magnet-making capabilities after initial achievement of commercial production (e.g., significantly expanding production capacity at an existing facility or building a new separations or magnet manufacturing facility), such costs would not be considered an adjustment for this non-GAAP financial measure.

(3)Pertains to legal, consulting, and advisory services, and other costs associated with specific transactions, including potential acquisitions, mergers, or other investments. For the year ended December 31, 2024, amount is principally included in “Selling, general and administrative” within our Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, amounts are principally included in “Advanced projects and development” within our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(4)Included in “Other operating costs and expenses” within our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(5)Tax impact of adjustments is calculated using an adjusted effective tax rate, which excludes the impact of discrete tax costs and benefits, to each adjustment. The adjusted effective tax rates were 31.3%, 25.9% and 16.3% for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. See Note 12, “Income Taxes,” in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the effective tax rate.

The following table presents a reconciliation of our Adjusted Diluted EPS, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to our diluted earnings or loss per share, which is determined in accordance with GAAP:

(1)Tax impact of adjustments is calculated using an adjusted effective tax rate, which excludes the impact of discrete tax costs and benefits, to each adjustment. The adjusted effective tax rates were 31.3%, 25.9% and 16.3% for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. See Note 12, “Income Taxes,” in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the effective tax rate.

(2)For the year ended December 31, 2024, since the 2026 Notes were dilutive for purposes of computing GAAP diluted loss per share but antidilutive for purposes of computing Adjusted Diluted EPS, within this reconciliation, we have included this adjustment to reverse the impact of applying the if-converted method to the 2026 Notes in the computation of GAAP diluted loss per share.

(3)For the year ended December 31, 2024, since the 2026 Notes were dilutive for purposes of computing GAAP diluted loss per share but antidilutive for purposes of computing Adjusted Diluted EPS, the adjusted diluted weighted-average shares outstanding exclude the potentially dilutive securities associated with the 2026 Notes.

(4)For the year ended December 31, 2023, the 2026 Notes were antidilutive for GAAP purposes. For purposes of calculating Adjusted Diluted EPS, we have added back the assumed conversion of the 2026 Notes since they would not be antidilutive when using Adjusted Net Income (Loss) as the numerator in the calculation of Adjusted Diluted EPS.

Free Cash Flow

We calculate Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by or used in operating activities less additions to property, plant and equipment, net of proceeds from government awards used for construction. We believe Free Cash Flow is useful for comparing our ability to generate cash with that of our peers. The presentation of Free Cash Flow is not meant to be considered in isolation or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities and does not necessarily indicate whether cash flows will be sufficient to fund cash needs.

The following table presents a reconciliation of our Free Cash Flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to our net cash provided by operating activities, which is determined in accordance with GAAP:

(1)Amounts for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, are net of $0.1 million, $2.8 million and $5.1 million, respectively, in proceeds from government awards used for construction.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP requires our management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amount of revenue and operating expenses, assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We consider an accounting judgment, estimate or assumption to be critical when (i) the estimate or assumption is complex in nature or requires a high degree of judgment and (ii) the use of different judgments, estimates and assumptions could have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies,” in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Our critical accounting estimates are described below.

Inventories

Raw materials, mined ore stockpiles, work in process, and finished goods are carried at weighted average cost. Supplies are carried at moving average cost. All inventories are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value, which represents the estimated selling price of the product during the ordinary course of business based on current market conditions less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Costs of completion include labor, utilities, reagents, maintenance, and allocated production overhead costs.

We evaluate the carrying amount of inventory each reporting period, considering recent and expected market prices, slow-moving items, obsolescence, excess inventory levels, and other factors and recognize related write-downs if it is determined that the inventory is impaired. In addition, our estimate of costs of completion is impacted by forecasted production levels, which are particularly sensitive while our midstream operations are at subscale production levels. Although considerable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our forecasts of future product demand, market conditions, or other cost assumptions, any significant unanticipated unfavorable changes in market price, demand, or expected usage could have a significant negative impact on the value of our inventory and our results of operations. Until such time that we achieve our anticipated throughput, we may continue to incur write-downs of our separated product inventories. See Note 4, “Inventories,” in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

Revenue

We recognize revenue from sales of rare earth products produced at Mountain Pass. We recognize revenue at the point in time control of the products transfers to the customer and our performance obligation is typically satisfied when we deliver products to the agreed-upon shipping point. The transaction price for our rare earth concentrate products is typically based on a preliminary market price per MT, with an adjustment for the ultimate market price of the product realized by Shenghe upon sales to their customers. At the end of each reporting period, we estimate forms of variable consideration, including an assessment on constraining such variable consideration, based on historical experience, current market prices and currency exchange rates, and other factors that can be reasonably anticipated. Historically, the differences between our estimates of variable consideration and actual consideration have not been material to any reporting period.

Asset Retirement Obligations (“ARO”)

We recognize ARO for estimated costs of legally and contractually required closure, dismantlement, and reclamation activities associated with Mountain Pass. ARO are initially recognized at their estimated fair value in the period in which the obligation is incurred. In determining fair value, management makes estimates based on the expected timing of reclamation activities; cash flows to perform activities, which involves utilizing an assumption for future inflation; amount and uncertainty associated with the cash flows, including adjustments for a market risk premium; and discounts such amounts using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate. Although we base our estimates on historical experience and reevaluate our estimated timing and cash flows regularly, since the majority of the cash flows to settle our ARO occur decades in the future, it is inherently difficult to accurately predict the ultimate cash flows used to settle such obligations. As a result, these estimates and assumptions are subjective and can vary over time. See Note 8, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations,” in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently adopted and issued accounting pronouncements are described in Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies,” in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.