Bio-Extraction Inc. (TSX VENTURE: BXI) ("BioExx" or "the Company")
announced today its financial results for the three and six month
periods ended June 30, 2009. Complete financial statements and
Management's Discussion and Analysis have been filed for public
review at www.sedar.com.
Highlights:
- confirmation of the development of high-value canola protein
isolates
- significant acceleration of protein isolate business plan
implementation
- initial protein isolate customer product trials
- continued progress towards required food safety certifications
(GRAS, HACCP)
- successful early warrant exercise program to fund protein
isolate capex
- commencement and ramp-up of Phase 1 commercial operations in
Saskatoon
- completion of preliminary work for a plant expansion into the
United States
"The second quarter of 2009 was an extremely busy and productive
time for BioExx. As a relatively young company with limited
resources, we continue to drive forward on several parallel
initiatives. We not only commenced operations and generated revenue
for the first time, but we also significantly advanced our business
plan with respect to protein isolate production and maintained our
expected timing in announcing our second plant location," said
Chris Carl, CEO of BioExx. "The work that has taken place to
achieve these milestones has been dramatic and we continue to be
proud of our growing team of leaders and doers. There are lots of
details to be attended to before we will reach our goal of selling
protein isolates, but our progress is steady and there is little
doubt that we will be successful in the dramatic advancement of
isolate production."
Summary of Q2 Events
Confirmation of Production of Protein Isolates: At the beginning
of the quarter, BioExx completed pilot-scale production of its
first protein isolates. The high quality of these isolates was
confirmed through third party testing, including independent
laboratories and customer testing. As a manifestation of
intellectual property embodied in a May 2008 patent filing, the
BioExx proteins profiled with outstanding nutritional and
functional properties which are suggestive of a long-term position
at the high end of the protein market. The Company has always
maintained that isolate markets are its ultimate commercial goal,
and accordingly this was considered a watershed moment in the
evolution of BioExx.
Acceleration of Protein Isolate Production Plans: During the
quarter, BioExx announced its intention to accelerate the
production of protein isolates at the Saskatoon plant to as early
as late 2009, from a prior target of early 2011. This advancement
was enabled by on-going progress in product development,
engineering design, regulatory requirements, and customer
acceptance testing. The process modifications embedded in the
isolate system involve the consolidation of what were previously
two distinct implementation phases (Phase 2 Extraction and Phase 3
Proteins) into a single implementation phase. Accordingly,
operating the Phase 1 Crushing operations on a stand-alone basis is
extended by a few months. This effectively defers some of the
expected economic enhancement to plant operations that would result
from the Phase 2 Extraction implementation, and lengthens the
marginally economic interim crush-only Phase 1. However, the net
shareholder value gains and risk mitigation benefits embedded in
the isolate production acceleration should materially outweigh any
negative impact. The acceleration of the BioExx plan for entry into
high-value protein isolate markets should be viewed as a seminal
event in the Company's development, and most certainly the defining
event of the second quarter of 2009.
Successful Early Warrant Exercise Program: In order to fund the
increased and earlier capital expenditures associated with protein
isolate production, BioExx reached out to its warrant holders to
request the early exercise of in-the-money share purchase warrants
which were not due to expire until January 29, 2010. The response
to this request and the support of the warrant holders was
tremendous. From the date of the announcement of the acceleration
plan through to mid-August, BioExx has received approximately $6.3
million of proceeds from early warrant exercises. Assuming a
reasonable continued flow of exercises through expiry, and together
with other potential non-dilutive funding sources, BioExx is
reasonably well positioned financially going into the final stages
of construction of its protein isolate plant. As always however,
the Company will continue to watch for appropriate ways to keep its
cash position strong, and will have greater visibility into the
matter as it gets closer to protein start-up.
Second Plant and Expansion Into the United States: Successful
pre-development efforts during the quarter led to BioExx announcing
plans for its second canola processing and protein production
facility, to be located in Minot (pronounced "my-not"), North
Dakota. Through the balance of 2009, BioExx will engage in further
project development activities, including environmental permitting,
site analysis, building design, and supplier and customer
contracting. This would facilitate completion of project financing
and commencement of construction in late spring 2010. The 80,000
metric tonne per year facility would then be scheduled for
completion and start-up in 2011.
Commencement of Commercial Operations at Saskatoon Plant: The
second quarter was also notable for the commencement and ramp-up of
Phase 1 seed crushing operations at the Saskatoon plant. These
operations faced many of the customary and expected plant start-up
challenges, but continued to show improved metrics during the
quarter, across the key variables of quality, yield, and
throughput.
BioExx meal values progressed from below market at start-up to
earning a consistent premium over market later in the quarter,
reflective of good quality. BioExx oil also gained ground on
quality measures during the quarter. The most dramatic gains came
however just after quarter-end with the installation of an
additional piece of key equipment, the delivery of which had been
delayed, resulting in oil now meeting de-gummed specification and
on a path to meeting the end target a of super de-gummed quality.
Yields also improved each month during the quarter and are tracking
towards Phase 1 yield targets.
It is notable that BioExx has achieved substantially higher oil
yields from its pressing operation than was originally designed for
the press. This has been driven by a desire to maximize yield and
press oil production during interim crush-only operations. However,
the higher oil yields will limit throughput to about 60% of final
design capacity, although this will be negated once extraction
operations commence later in the year. At that time press oil
yields will be significantly and intentionally reduced and
throughput capacity will be increased to 100% of original design.
In strong crush margin periods, Phase 1 would have an ability to
operate on a break-even cash basis within the parameters described
above. While the current crush margin environment is weak,
management is of the view that there remains room for improvement
in its crush operations and that any losses incurred during this
period are minimal compared to the ultimate operating performance
anticipated upon the introduction of extraction and protein
production.
Commodity Market Dynamics: Crush margins were healthy at the
beginning of Q2 relative to historical averages, and spending most
of the quarter in the C$120 - C$140 range. However, a number of
factors subsequent to quarter-end conspired to create significant
crush margin weakness with most of July and August in the C$80 -
C$100 range. On the revenue side, general weakness in the
influential energy markets and soy complex have pressured canola
oil and meal prices lower, while on the cost side, canola seed
prices were buoyed by supply stocks moving to the end of the crop
year and also by concerns about the possible negative effect of
prairie weather on the 2009 harvest.
It is also important to understand that, while board crush
margins (which are derived from CBOT soy numbers) are a good proxy
for general economic trends within the oilseed processing industry,
they are not a perfectly correlated indicator of individual local
or regional plant profitability. One example of this has been the
particular weakness of late in Canadian canola meal markets, which
has likely caused actual processing margins to be even lower than
those suggested by board margins. Notably of course, at other times
and under other circumstances, this divergence may work in favour
of actual regional processing margins. An understanding of this
point is important, and it also speaks to the stability and risk
management gains embedded in the Company's strategy to
geographically diversify its processing base.
Patents and Intellectual Property: BioExx continues to expand
its family of patents-pending with the addition of one more US
patent application in the quarter related to specialized solvent
recovery. BioExx also confirms that it has completed extensive
legal and scientific review of all published canola extraction and
canola protein process and product patents, pending and issued, and
remains confident about the uniqueness of the products and
processes that it has developed.
Financial Results (excerpted from MD&A)
Revenue
During the quarter, the Corporation earned $1,152,492 of revenue
from canola oil and canola meal sales at its Saskatoon plant. This
was the first quarter of commercial operations at the plant and
while revenues consistently improved on a month-over-month basis
for each month during the quarter, the total revenues are still
reflective of the initial ramp-up stages of crush-only plant
operations. Revenues are driven by product quality, oil yields,
throughput, and commodity market prices. Each of these measures
also improved on a month-over-month basis for each month during the
quarter, with the exception of commodity market prices which
fluctuated throughout the quarter and which are an uncontrollable
variable. Notably, the plant was down for the last ten days of the
quarter, on a scheduled basis, for the installation of a key
process equipment item which had the effect of causing revenue to
be lower than it would otherwise have been. As this was the first
commercial operating quarter at the plant, there are no comparable
prior periods to provide a basis for analysis versus historical
results.
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of Goods Sold includes canola seed, direct labour and
utilities. These components were generally in line with
expectations during the quarter. However, given that product
quality and oil yields had not reached plan goals during this
ramp-up quarter, sufficient revenue was not generated to cover the
Cost of Goods Sold, resulting in a negative Gross Margin of
$434,310.
Plant Margin
Other Plant Expenses includes items such as maintenance
expenses, QA/QC expenses, production supervision, plant supplies,
and miscellaneous other plant expenses. This item increased
month-over-month during the quarter, reflecting the ramp-up of
plant activities and also reflecting one-time departmental setup
and programmatic costs in maintenance and QA/QC. For the 2nd
quarter, Other Plant Expenses was $282,255. Together with a
non-cash Amortization of Plant and Plant Equipment of $280,653,
this resulted in a negative total Plant Margin of $997,218 for the
Quarter.
Administrative and General Expenses
The Company incurred Administrative and General Expenses of
$1,360,558, versus $1,064,090 in the prior quarter and $877,399 in
the comparable prior year period. The increase reflects increased
activity levels across the Company, as well as the inclusion of
administrative expenses related to the plant. Research and
development expense was $352,597 versus $144,119 in the prior
quarter and $210,230 in the comparable prior year period, being
higher than the long term average and reflective of a greater
intensity of program efforts towards the development and
commercialization of the Company's protein products. Sales and
marketing expense was $137,425 versus $61,354 in the prior quarter
and $66,209 in the 2nd quarter of 2008, reflecting increased
resource allocations towards customer-focused activities as the
Company is now in commercial operations, and also reflecting higher
travel-related investor relations expenditures.
Net Loss
The Net Loss for the quarter was $2,347,257, compared to
$1,054,823 in the prior quarter and $796,126 in the 2nd quarter of
2008. The increase flows from the operating losses at the plant in
the quarter, together with increased Administrative and General
Expenses as discussed above. On a per share basis, the Net Loss is
$0.02 for the quarter, versus $0.01 in the comparable periods.
Working Capital and Liquidity
As at June 30, 2009, current assets were $6,477,178, including
cash of $4,585,643. Against current liabilities of $1,167,645, this
results in net working capital of $5,309,533 (exclusive of
availability of additional funds under the Corporation's various
credit facilities). This compares to current assets of $3,895,293
and net working capital of $1,594,700 at March 31, 2009.
Cash Flows
BioExx Cash Flow Used In Operating Activities during the quarter
was ($2,005,829), compared to ($993,369) in the prior quarter and
($476,936) in the comparable prior year period, reflective
primarily of the net losses discussed above as well as the increase
in accounts receivable resulting from this quarter being the first
quarter of commercial product sales.
BioExx Cash Flow From Financing Activities during the quarter
was $7,500,691, comprised of $663,197 in drawdown of credit
facilities, $1,999,990 from the exercise of options and warrants,
and $4,840,315 from an equity private placement, net of issue
costs, completed in the quarter. This compares to $2,957,499,
driven by a $2,893,346 drawdown of credit facilities, in the prior
quarter, and $3,298,993 in the 2nd quarter of 2008 resulting
primarily from the amount received on completion of a private
placement in that quarter.
BioExx Cash Flow Used In Investing Activities during the quarter
was ($2,671,801). This results from ($3,082,745) of Property, Plant
& Equipment and equipment deposits, reflecting the continued
capital expenditure program at the Saskatoon plant, net of a
$410,944 reduction in restricted cash due to construction lien
holdback releases. This compares to ($4,403,847) in the prior
quarter, comprised of ($2,871,515) for Property, Plant &
Equipment and equipment deposits and ($1,478,725) of restricted
cash allocations for construction lien holdbacks and a Letter of
Credit Facility.
About Bio-Extraction Inc.
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, BioExx is a leading technology
and industrial processing company focused on the extraction of oil
and high-value proteins from oilseeds for the global food market.
BioExx's patented technology allows for the use of significantly
lower temperatures than conventional methods in extracting the
active ingredients and oils from oilseeds, resulting in higher
yields and higher-quality meal, oils and proteins. BioExx's low
energy requirements, environmentally sound process, and high-yield
production have the potential to make a valuable contribution in
alleviating food scarcity. BioExx operates a commercial scale
extraction facility in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and has a mission
to construct additional and larger processing facilities on a
global basis. To find out more about Bio-Extraction Inc. (TSX
VENTURE: BXI), please visit www.bioexx.com.
"The statements made in this press release include
forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or future
performance and reflect management's current expectations and
assumptions. A number of factors could cause actual events,
performance or results to differ materially from the events,
performance and results discussed in the forward-looking
statements, such as the economy, generally, competition in its
target markets, the demand for BioExx's products, the availability
of funding, the efficacy of its technology, and the anticipated
costs of BioExx's plant construction and operation. These
forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and
BioExx does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to
reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could
differ materially from BioExx's expectations and projections."
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Contacts: Bio-Extraction Inc. Chris Schnarr Chief Financial
Officer (416) 588-4442 x111 cschnarr@bioexx.com Investor Relations
Brisco Capital Partners Scott Koyich President (403) 262-9888
scott@briscocapital.com
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