Commerce Energy Group, Inc. Announces Results for First Quarter Ended October 31, 2004
December 15 2004 - 7:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Commerce Energy Group, Inc. Announces Results for First Quarter
Ended October 31, 2004 COSTA MESA, Calif., Dec. 15
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Commerce Energy Group, Inc. (AMEX:EGR), a
leading U.S. electricity service provider, announced results for
the first quarter ended October 31, 2004. Results for first quarter
Revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 were $58.5 million, a
slight increase as compared to $58.4 million in the first quarter
of fiscal 2004. For the current fiscal year first quarter, the
Company reported a net loss of $1.1 million (loss per share of
$0.04), as compared with a net loss of $1.1 million (loss per share
of $0.04) for the prior year's comparable quarter. For the quarter,
the increase in revenues of $0.1 million was due primarily to
increased energy sales in Michigan of $2.4 million over the first
quarter in fiscal 2004, offset by a decrease in California of $2.3
million over the same period in the prior year. The gross profit
improvement of $1.8 million, or 41%, to $6.1 million in the current
fiscal quarter compared to $4.3 million in the same period in the
prior year, was primarily due to substantial improvement in the
operating income in Pennsylvania offsetting the continuing pressure
on gross profit in the California business. Operating income in the
first quarter of fiscal 2005 was $0.1 million as compared to an
operating loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2004 of $2.3 million.
For the first quarter of fiscal 2005, initial formation litigation
expense of $1.4 million, was primarily related to ongoing
litigation matters. The Company had 100,000 customers at October
31, 2004 compared with 115,000 customers at October 31, 2003. The
customer attrition is primarily attributable to the Company's
effort to improve the profitability per customer while shedding
unprofitable customers. At October 31, 2004, the Company had total
assets of $107.6 million, stockholders' equity of $74.5 million,
restricted cash and unrestricted cash of $58.0 million and no
long-term debt. The Company believes its liquidity is adequate to
meet its current operating obligations. The Company's annual
meeting of shareholders will be held on January 12, 2005. For more
information, visit http://www.commerceenergy.com/. About Commerce
Energy Group, Inc. Commerce Energy Group, Inc. is a provider of
energy products and services to homeowners, commercial and
industrial consumers, utilities, institutional and energy asset
owners. Operating since 1998 as Commonwealth Energy Corporation,
Commerce Energy Group now operates through its subsidiaries
including Commonwealth Energy Corporation, which holds Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission and state licenses for retail and
wholesale energy commodities and is a retail electricity service
provider to homes and businesses in California, Pennsylvania,
Michigan and New Jersey under the brand name electricAmerica. The
Company also owns Skipping Stone, an energy consulting firm and
UtiliHost, an outsourcing services and technology provider. For
more information, contact: Investor Relations Verna Ray (714)
259-2500 Commerce Energy Group, Inc. 600 Anton Boulevard, Suite
2000 Costa Mesa, California 92626 1-800-ELECTRIC (C) Forward
Looking Statements Certain statements contained within this press
release including, without limitation, statements containing the
words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "await,"
"continue," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions, are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and
assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and
results may differ materially from what is expressed in, or implied
by, such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, the volatility of the energy
market, competition, operating hazards, uninsured risks, changes in
energy-related state legislation, failure of performance by
suppliers and transmitters, changes in general economic conditions,
increased or unexpected competition, failure to obtain regulatory
approvals, and other matters disclosed in Commerce Energy Group's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Further,
Commerce Energy undertakes no obligation to release publicly any
revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to
reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect
the occurrence of unanticipated events. Commerce Energy Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands, except per
share data) First Quarter Ended October 31, 2004 2003 Change Net
revenue $58,496 $58,396 0% Direct energy costs 52,406 54,075 (3%)
Gross profit 6,090 4,321 41% Selling & marketing expenses 953
970 (2%) General and administrative expenses 5,007 5,518 (9%)
Reorganization and initial public listing expenses -- 118 -- Income
(loss) from operations 130 (2,285) -- Other income and expenses:
Initial formation litigation expenses (1,439) (585) 145% Minority
interest share of loss -- 544 -- Interest income, net 189 130 46%
Total other income and expenses (1,250) 89 -- Loss before provision
for income taxes (1,120) (2,196) (49%) Provision for income taxes
-- 1,074 -- Net loss $(1,120) $(1,122) 0% Loss per share -- basic
$(0.04) $(0.04) 0% Loss per share -- diluted $(0.04) $(0.04) 0%
Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) October 31, July 31,
2004 2004 Assets Cash & cash equivalents $ 53,757 $ 54,065
Account receivables, net 27,452 31,119 Income taxes refund
receivable 4,423 4,423 Deferred income tax asset 74 74 Prepaid
expenses and other current assets 5,819 5,141 Total current assets
91,525 94,822 Restricted cash and cash equivalents 4,268 4,008
Deposits 5,663 5,445 Investments 96 96 Property and equipment, net
2,409 2,613 Goodwill and other intangible assets 3,671 3,839 Total
assets $107,632 $110,823 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Accounts payable $26,808 $30,576 Accrued liabilities 6,364 6,141
Total current liabilities 33,172 36,717 Stockholders' equity Common
stock 60,796 60,796 Unearned restricted stock compensation (232)
(256) Retained earnings 12,446 13,566 Other comprehensive income
1,450 -- Total stockholders' equity 74,460 74,106 Total liabilities
and stockholders' equity $107,632 $110,823 DATASOURCE: Commerce
Energy Group, Inc. CONTACT: Investor Relations, Verna Ray of
Commerce Energy Group, Inc., +1-714-259-2500, Web site:
http://www.commerceenergy.com/
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