CERES INC 
By THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Jan. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy crop company Ceres, Inc. (Nasdaq: CERE) today announced financial results for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and provided an update on its business in Brazil.
The company reported that mill plantings for the 2013-2014 sorghum growing season in Brazil have been successfully completed on time and according to Ceres crop management protocols. Growing conditions have been generally favorable to date across most regions.
"The adjustments we have made to our go-to-market approach and product development processes have had a positive impact on the start of the season," said Richard Hamilton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ceres. He noted that Ceres agronomists will continue to work closely with ethanol mills to help their agricultural teams gain confidence in producing the crop and adhering to the company's crop management protocols. "Our primary goal is to duplicate the individual successes we demonstrated last season across a broader range of customers and geographies," said Hamilton.
Chief Financial Officer Paul Kuc reported that expenses for the company's first fiscal quarter reflect operational changes and cost saving measures initiated during the quarter. "We expect expenditures to begin to decline in the near term as we prioritize our commercialization and product development activities in Brazil and remain vigilant over the use of our working capital," said Kuc.
RECENT BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
-- Plantings of the company's sorghum hybrids for the 2013-2014 sorghum
growing season in Brazil have been successfully completed with 49
customers, including mills and mill suppliers, across 55 different
locations. As previously reported, these plantings consist primarily of
smaller, multi-hybrid evaluations designed to determine yield potential
and identify the best performing hybrids for specific regions.
-- As part of its product development process, Ceres has also established a
number of breeding and product development field evaluations across
various geographies. These trials consist of hundreds of hybrids,
including a subset of hybrids in advanced evaluations in Brazil and
other countries in South America that have demonstrated higher yields
and other performance benefits over current products.
-- Total plantings of the company's commercial and pre-commercial sorghum
hybrids cover approximately 1,000 hectares this season. Harvests are
expected to commence in late February to early March and continue
through May.
-- In December, the company successfully completed all elements of a
multi-year project funded by a competitive grant from the U.S.
Department of Energy's Advanced Research Project Agency for Energy
(ARPA-E). The Ceres project consisted of multi-state field evaluations
of the company's high yield, low input biotech traits in three energy
crops. Based on the positive results of the project, Ceres has advanced
a number of these traits in its product development pipeline.
-- During the quarter ended November 30, 2013, Ceres was awarded a U.S.
patent related to a sorghum-derived gene promoter useful for regulating
the expression of genes developed through biotechnology in various
crops.
FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS
Total revenues for the quarter ended November 30, 2013 were $0.8 million compared to $2.0 million for the same period last year primarily due to lower collaborative research revenue and government grants. Product sales remained relatively unchanged compared to the first quarter of 2012.
Cost of product sales was $1.3 million for the quarter ended November 30, 2013 compared to $0.7 million for the same period last year. The increase was primarily due to costs related to the company's previously reported workforce reductions and expenses for obsolete seed inventory related to the company's sweet sorghum products.
Research and development expenses were $4.4 million for the three months ended November 30, 2013 compared to $4.3 million for the same period last year. In the U.S., research and development expenses decreased by $0.6 million primarily due to reduced external research and development expenses. In Brazil, research and development expenses increased by $0.7 million primarily as a result of increased personnel and related expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $0.6 million to $3.3 million for the three months ended November 30, 2013 compared to the same period last year. In the U.S., expenses decreased by $0.7 million primarily due to reduced personnel and related expenses and lower professional fees. In Brazil, expenses increased by $0.1 million primarily as a result of increased personnel and related expenses.
For the quarter ended November 30, 2013, Ceres reported a net loss of $8.2 million, or $0.33 per share, compared to a net loss of $6.9 million, or $0.28 per share, for the quarter ended November 30, 2012.
At November 30, 2013, cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $24.4 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 its fiscal first quarter results and to provide an update on its business. 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.
2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Ceres will hold its 2014 annual meeting of stockholders on March 7, 2014 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, 2013 will be mailed to stockholders of record as of January 21, 2014. Each attendee must be a Ceres stockholder as of the close of business on January 21, 2014 or hold a valid proxy for the annual meeting.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Ceres is scheduled to present at World Bio Market 2014 on March 5, 2014 in The Netherlands.
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 Ceres' efforts to develop and commercialize its products, anticipated yields and product performance, status of crop plantings, short-term and long-term business strategies, market and industry expectations, future operating metrics, and future results of operations and financial position, including anticipated cost savings from our plan to align expenditures, 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 Ceres' 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 obligation to update publicly, except to the extent required by law, any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date the company issues this press release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in the company's expectations.
CERES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
November 30,
------------
2013 2012
---- ----
Revenues:
Product sales $20 $14
Collaborative
research and
government grants 743 1,952
--- -----
Total revenues 763 1,966
--- -----
Cost and operating expenses:
Cost of product
sales 1,309 700
Research and
development 4,414 4,343
Selling, general
and
administrative 3,260 3,844
----- -----
Total cost and
operating
expenses 8,983 8,887
----- -----
Loss from
operations (8,220) (6,921)
Interest expense - (1)
Interest income 16 29
--- ---
Loss before income
taxes (8,204) (6,893)
Income tax expense (1) (1)
--- ---
Net loss $(8,205) $(6,894)
======= =======
Basic and diluted
net loss per
share $(0.33) $(0.28)
Weighted average outstanding common
shares used for net loss per share:
Basic and diluted 25,106,690 24,693,303
CERES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share amounts and par value)
(Unaudited)
November 30, August 31,
------------ ----------
2013 2013
---- ----
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and
cash
equivalents $7,314 $8,881
Marketable
securities 17,127 21,630
Prepaid
expenses 779 791
Accounts
receivable 901 957
Inventories - 20
Other
current
assets 147 157
Total
current
assets 26,268 32,436
------ ------
Property
and
equipment,
net 4,632 4,633
Other
assets 44 109
--- ---
Total
long-
term
assets 4,676 4,742
Total
assets $30,944 $37,178
======= =======
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts
payable
and
accrued
expenses $4,745 $3,825
Other
current
liabilities 80 18
Current
portion
of
long-
term
debt 135 154
--- ---
Total
current
liabilities 4,960 3,997
Other
non-
current
liabilites 88 93
Long-
term
debt,
net of
current
portion 60 82
Total
liabilities 5,108 4,172
----- -----
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common
stock authorized; 24,897,199
and 25,224,269 shares
additional shares issued
paid in issued and
capital, and outstanding
$0.01 outstanding at
par at August
value; November 31,
490,000,000 30, 2013.
shares 309,212 308,286
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss (587) (696)
Accumulated
deficit (282,789) (274,584)
-------- --------
Total
stockholders'
equity 25,836 33,006
------ ------
Total
liabilities
and
stockholders'
equity $30,944 $37,178
======= =======
SOURCE Ceres, Inc.
