Ceres Announces Fiscal First Quarter 2013 Financial Results
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Ceres doubles the number of mills in Brazil from last season.
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Mill groups and suppliers represent ~30% of sugarcane crush in
Brazil.
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Plantings largely completed for the 2012-2013 sweet sorghum season.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Energy crop company Ceres, Inc. (Nasdaq: CERE) today announced financial
results for the quarter ended November 30, 2012 and provided an update
on its business in Brazil, its largest immediate commercial opportunity.
The company reported that plantings of its new sweet sorghum hybrids
have been largely completed for the 2012-2013 production season in
Brazil. Harvests are expected to begin in late March or April.
"Our primary objective this season is to demonstrate economically
compelling yields with many mill groups, and thus, drive adoption of our
products across a broad customer base," said Richard Hamilton, President
and Chief Executive Officer of Ceres. "It is still early in the growing
season, but the weather has been cooperating and the crop appears to be
off to a good start."
FIRST QUARTER BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
-
For the 2012-2013 sweet sorghum season in Brazil, Ceres reported that
it will be working with 31 ethanol mills and mill suppliers in Brazil
through a combination of seed sales, agronomy and crop management
services and product evaluations. These customers, which include
approximately half of the top-20 ethanol producers in Brazil, were
responsible for approximately 30% of the sugarcane crushed during the
2011-2012 production season.
-
Ceres' sweet sorghum hybrids are expected to be planted on
approximately 3,000 hectares, which is less than the company
originally anticipated. As previously reported, this is due in part to
the effects of the drought last season and the focus among its
customers on the field performance of its new hybrids, which can be
determined at a smaller scale than industrial evaluations. Mills have
already validated the industrial processing of sweet sorghum during
the past two seasons.
-
In November, Ceres announced that its Brazilian subsidiary Ceres
Sementes do Brasil Ltda. entered into a collaboration with Syngenta.
Under a market development agreement, Syngenta will evaluate its crop
protection portfolio with Ceres hybrids. Both companies are
coordinating outreach to ethanol mills and developing industry
training programs in Brazil.
-
Ceres achieved positive results from field trials of its various
drought tolerance genes in rice, which it routinely uses in its
development pipeline to confirm performance. The company will proceed
with wider-scale testing, and continue to move its traits into its
energy crops.
-
During the quarter ended November 30, 2012, Ceres was awarded five
U.S. patents related to methods for improving plants, plants and plant
parts, transcription promoters, markers and compositions of matter for
protein-encoding DNA sequences.
FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS
Total revenues for the quarter ended November 30, 2012 were $2.0 million
compared to $1.8 million for the same period last year. The increase was
primarily due to an increase in collaborative research and government
grant revenue, which was partially offset by a decrease in product sales.
Of the plantings this season, approximately 1,800 hectares were planted
under certain sales incentive programs and promotions, whereby the
company has either deferred revenue until the completion of the
2012-2013 sweet sorghum harvest season, or expects to generate revenue
through agronomy services or biomass sales. The remaining hectares,
which were not enrolled in incentive programs, consisted of seed sales
that were recognized as revenue upon delivery and planting as well as
complimentary trial seed. The majority of seed deliveries and plantings
in Brazil occurred in the fiscal second quarter.
Cost of product sales was relatively flat at $0.7 million for the
quarter ended November 30, 2012 compared to $0.8 million for the same
period last year. Cost of product sales during this comparative period
primarily related to the company's U.S. operations.
Research and development expenses decreased by $1.0 million to $4.3
million in the quarter ended November 30, 2012 compared to the same
period last year due primarily to reduced R&D personnel and related
expenses as well as lower external R&D expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $3.8 million in the
quarter ended November 30, 2012 compared to $2.8 million for the same
period last year. The increase was primarily attributable to increased
personnel expenses in the U.S. as well as an increase in Brazil expenses
due to an increase in business operations and market development support.
For the quarter ended November 30, 2012, Ceres reported a net loss of
$6.9 million, or $0.28 per share, compared to a net loss of $7.5
million, or $3.73 per share, for the quarter ended November 30, 2011.
Shares used in the calculation of net loss per share (basic and diluted)
were 24,693,303 and 2,018,939 for the quarters ended November 30, 2012
and 2011, respectively.
At November 30, 2012, Ceres had cash and cash equivalents of $14.4
million and marketable securities of $38.8 million.
CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST INFORMATION
Ceres has scheduled a conference call for 4:30 p.m. EST (1:30 p.m. PST)
today to discuss first quarter results. The webcast of the conference
call may be accessed at investor.ceres.net.
Audio of the teleconference is also available by dialing:
North America callers:
(877) 838-4153
International callers:
+1 (720) 545-0037
An audio replay of the call will be available two hours after the
conclusion of the live call, and remain available on the Ceres website
for 30 days.
2013 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Ceres will hold its 2013 annual meeting of stockholders on February 8,
2013 at 11:00 a.m. PST at the W Hotel at 6250 Hollywood Blvd. in Los
Angeles, California. Notice of the annual meeting, proxy materials and
the company's annual report for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012
will be mailed to stockholders of record as of December 20, 2012. Each
attendee must be a Ceres stockholder as of the close of business on
December 20, 2012 or hold a valid proxy for the annual meeting.
UPCOMING INVESTOR EVENTS
Ceres is scheduled to present at the Seventeenth Annual Goldman Sachs
Agribusiness Conference on February 26, 2013 in New York City. The
company will also present at the Raymond James 34th Annual Institutional
Investors Conference on March 5, 2013 in Orlando, Florida. Slide
presentations will be posted on the investor events page of the
company's website, www.ceres.net.
ABOUT CERES
Ceres, Inc. is an agricultural biotechnology company that markets seeds
for energy crops used in the production of renewable transportation
fuels, electricity and bio-based products. The company combines advanced
plant breeding and biotechnology to develop products that can address
the limitations of first-generation bioenergy feedstocks, increase
biomass productivity, reduce crop inputs and improve cultivation on
marginal land. Its development activities include sweet sorghum,
high-biomass sorghum, switchgrass and miscanthus. Ceres markets its
products under its Blade brand.
CERES FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. All
statements, other than statements of historical facts, including
statements regarding our efforts to develop and commercialize our
products, our short-term and long-term business strategies, market and
industry expectations, future operating metrics, product yields and
future results of operations and financial position, are forward-looking
statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond our control. Factors
that could materially affect actual results can be found in Ceres'
filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Ceres
undertakes no intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. These forward-looking statements should not
be relied upon as representing Ceres' views as of any date subsequent to
the date of this press release.
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|
|
CERES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
|
|
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
|
|
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
November 30,
|
|
|
|
2012
|
|
2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product sales
|
|
$
|
14
|
|
|
$
|
276
|
|
|
Collaborative research and government grants
|
|
|
1,952
|
|
|
|
1,472
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
1,966
|
|
|
|
1,748
|
|
|
Cost and operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of product sales
|
|
|
700
|
|
|
|
763
|
|
|
Research and development
|
|
|
4,343
|
|
|
|
5,275
|
|
|
Selling, general and administrative
|
|
|
3,844
|
|
|
|
2,804
|
|
|
Total cost and operating expenses
|
|
|
8,887
|
|
|
|
8,842
|
|
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
(6,921
|
)
|
|
|
(7,094
|
)
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
(111
|
)
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
Other expense
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(338
|
)
|
|
Loss before income taxes
|
|
|
(6,893
|
)
|
|
|
(7,539
|
)
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(6,894
|
)
|
|
$
|
(7,540
|
)
|
|
Basic and diluted net loss per share
|
|
$
|
(0.28
|
)
|
|
$
|
(3.73
|
)
|
|
Basic and diluted weighted average outstanding
common shares used for net loss per share
|
|
|
24,693,303
|
|
|
|
2,018,939
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CERES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
|
|
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
|
|
(In thousands, except share amounts)
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
November 30,
|
|
August 31,
|
|
|
|
2012
|
|
2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
14,378
|
|
|
$
|
21,069
|
|
|
Marketable securities
|
|
|
37,636
|
|
|
|
33,565
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses
|
|
|
758
|
|
|
|
1,050
|
|
|
Accounts receivable
|
|
|
1,488
|
|
|
|
765
|
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
1,054
|
|
|
|
841
|
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
144
|
|
|
|
278
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
55,458
|
|
|
|
57,568
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
|
5,559
|
|
|
|
5,756
|
|
|
Marketable securities
|
|
|
1,156
|
|
|
|
5,720
|
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
105
|
|
|
|
203
|
|
|
Total long-term assets
|
|
|
6,820
|
|
|
|
11,679
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
62,278
|
|
|
$
|
69,247
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
|
|
$
|
5,314
|
|
|
$
|
5,476
|
|
|
Other current liabilities
|
|
|
345
|
|
|
|
732
|
|
|
Current portion of long-term debt
|
|
|
65
|
|
|
|
134
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
5,724
|
|
|
|
6,342
|
|
|
Other non-current liabilities
|
|
|
69
|
|
|
|
88
|
|
|
Long-term debt, net of current portion
|
|
|
96
|
|
|
|
256
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
5,889
|
|
|
|
6,686
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders' (deficit) equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock and additional paid in capital, $0.01 par value;
490,000,000 shares authorized; 24,801,986 shares issued and
outstanding at November 30, 2012; 24,549,029 shares issued and
outstanding at August 31, 2012.
|
|
|
305,740
|
|
|
|
304,917
|
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(384
|
)
|
|
|
(283
|
)
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
(248,967
|
)
|
|
|
(242,073
|
)
|
|
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity
|
|
|
56,389
|
|
|
|
62,561
|
|
|
Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders'
(deficit) equity
|
|
$
|
62,278
|
|
|
$
|
69,247
|
|
|
|
Ceres, Inc.
Gary Koppenjan
Investors: 805-375-7801
Media:
805-376-6546
ir@ceres.net
Source: Ceres, Inc.
News Provided by Acquire Media
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