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EXHIBIT 99.1

S&W Announces Results for the Second
Quarter of Fiscal Year 2014

For Immediate Release

Company Contact:
Matthew Szot, Chief Financial Officer
S&W Seed Company
Phone: (559) 884-2535
www.swseedco.com

Investor Contact:
Joe Dorame, Robert Blum, Joe Diaz
Lytham Partners, LLC
Phone: (602) 889-9700
sanw@lythampartners.com
www.lythampartners.com

FIVE POINTS, California - February 13, 2014 — S&W Seed Company (Nasdaq: SANW) today announced financial results for its second quarter of fiscal 2014 ended December 31, 2013.

Second Quarter Overview:

  • Second quarter revenues were within management's range at $11.5 million, compared to $13.7 million in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2013;
  • Gross margins improved to 20.7% during the second quarter compared to 11.6% for the second quarter of the prior fiscal year, and also improved quarter over quarter from 18.6% in the first quarter of fiscal 2014;
  • 3rd consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement in gross margins;
  • Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA (see Table A) totaled $882,000, an improvement of $366,000 compared to the second quarter of last year;
  • Net income per basic and diluted share of $0.01 for the second quarter compared to $0.02 per basic and diluted share in the period a year ago.

Quarterly Results

For the second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2013, S&W reported revenues of $11.5 million versus $13.7 million in the comparable period of the prior year. Revenues during the quarter were within the company's stated range and primarily driven by growth in Northern Africa and Mexico.

Gross margins improved to 20.7% during the second quarter compared to 11.6% in last year's second quarter. In the second quarter of last year, the company recorded a $0.3 million inventory valuation reserve for stevia due to the company's evaluation of its projected yields and agronomic practices. Gross margins improved for the third consecutive quarter as a result of success the company is achieving in trying to capture the most value possible for its seed inventory through a series of initiatives, including its optimization program.


Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") for the first quarter totaled $1,471,000 compared to $1,065,000 for the comparable period of the prior year, and decreased 8% from the $1,594,000 incurred in the most recent first quarter of fiscal 2014. The increase in SG&A expense versus the prior year was primarily due to the acquisition of SGI which closed on April 1, 2013 and therefore was not included in the second quarter results in the comparable period of the prior year. Non-cash stock-based compensation totaled $222,000 in the current quarter versus $99,000 in the comparable period in the prior year.

Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 was $110,000, or $0.01 per basic and diluted common share, compared to net income of $147,000, or $0.02 per basic and diluted common share during the second quarter of last year.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP metric (see Table A), for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 improved to $883,000 compared to $516,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2013.

Outlook
Based upon the evaluation of information currently available to management, the company is narrowing its estimates of annual revenues to be in the range of $52 to $58 million as the company focuses its operations on improving gross margins, as well as a shift of anticipated shipments to the following year. Revenues for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 are expected to be approximately $7 million.

Management Discussion
Mark Grewal, president and chief executive officer of S&W Seed Company, commented, "We continue to focus on our strategy of improving gross margins, which resulted in our third consecutive quarter of gross margin improvement when compared to the year ago period. While we are pleased with the near term improvements, we are very focused on our long-term gross margin expansion initiatives by: increasing acreage of S&W varieties in Australia where the cost of production is lower than California; increasing our optimization program whereby we are creating unique proprietary blends and product offerings; converting fields in the Imperial Valley away from non-proprietary varieties to S&W's elite varieties; and continuing to communicate the value capture opportunity of our elite proprietary varieties."

Mr. Grewal expanded, "Revenues during the quarter were within the company's stated range and were driven by growth in Northern Africa and Mexico, offset by decreased sales to Saudi Arabia. We continue to evaluate the market conditions in Saudi Arabia, and believe that inventories are being diminished in the channel heading into the fall planting season. We will continue to be striving to obtain the most value for our seed possible and believe we are uniquely positioned with our seed inventories."


Matthew Szot, chief financial officer of S&W Seed Company, commented, "A number of the opportunities for growth and gross margin expansion are being made possible due to our recent strategic acquisitions. In particular, we believe that our strategy to move into Australia will be one that has the ability to dramatically transform the capabilities of S&W over the next number of years due to the decreased cost of production. We are already benefitting from the synergies of optimizing our group inventory, and look forward to the coming years as we increase our proprietary S&W seed production in Australia."

Mr. Grewal concluded, "My 30+ years of experience, and conversations with a number of folks in the industry, leads me to believe that we are appropriately positioned to take advantage of opportunities in the marketplace over the next number of quarters, but more importantly the next number of years. The fourth quarter of this year should be a record quarter for S&W due to the strength of our seed inventories heading into the all important fall planting period. Overall, we have assembled a great set of alfalfa seed assets and believe there is a great opportunity to expand upon them in the future with a strong development pipeline."

Conference Call
S&W Seed Company has scheduled a conference call for today, Thursday, February 13, 2014, at 4:30pm ET (1:30pm PT) to review the results of its most recent quarter. Interested parties can access the conference call by dialing (877) 317-6789 or (412) 317-6789 or can listen via a live Internet webcast, which is available in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at
http://www.swseedco.com/investors. A teleconference replay of the call will be available for three days at (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088, confirmation # 10040684. A webcast replay will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://www.swseedco.com/investors for 30 days.

Non-GAAP Measurements
This press release includes certain financial information which constitutes "non-GAAP financial measures" as defined by the SEC. A full reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures to GAAP can be found in the tables of today's press release. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are supplemental to results presented under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. These non-GAAP measures are used by management to facilitate period-to-period comparisons and analysis of S&W's operating performance and liquidity. Management believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in trending, analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of S&W's business. These non- GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, other similar measures reported in accordance with GAAP.


About S&W Seed Company
Founded in 1980, S&W Seed Company is a global agricultural company, headquartered in the Central Valley of California. The company is the largest producer of non-dormant, alfalfa seed varieties in the world, with production operations in the San Joaquin and Imperial Valley's of California, as well as in Southern Australia. The company has worldwide sales and distribution through both a direct sales force as well as dealer-distributors. The company's proprietary varieties are designed to meet the shifting needs of farmers that require high performance in poor and highly saline soil conditions and have been verified over decades of university-sponsored trials. Additionally, the company is utilizing its research and breeding expertise to develop and produce U.S.-based stevia leaf. Stevia is an all-natural, zero calorie sweetener from the food and beverage industry. For more information, please visit www.swseedco.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may," "future," "plan" or "planned," "will" or "should," "expected," "anticipates," "draft," "eventually" or "projected." You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and other risks identified in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, and in other filings made by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

 


S&W SEED COMPANY
(A NEVADA CORPORATION)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)

      Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended
      December 31,     December 31,
      2013     2012     2013     2012
                         
Revenue   $ 11,460,197    $ 13,685,883    $ 23,838,783    $ 20,405,618 
                         
Cost of revenue     9,082,367      12,101,431      19,153,374      17,742,764 
                         
Gross profit     2,377,830      1,584,452      4,685,409      2,662,854 
                         
Operating expenses                        
     Selling, general and administrative expenses     1,471,041      1,065,089      3,065,243      1,815,440 
     Research and development expenses     246,449      102,036      480,088      205,467 
     Depreciation and amortization     317,334      150,364      631,788      220,149 
                         
          Total operating expenses     2,034,824      1,317,489      4,177,119      2,241,056 
                         
Income from operations     343,006      266,963      508,290      421,798 
                         
Other expense                        
     Foreign currency loss (gain)     24,343          (30,198)    
     Interest expense, net     122,571      14,229      280,125      22,097 
                         
Income before income tax expense     196,092      252,734      258,363      399,701 
     Income tax expense     85,960      106,125      107,022      164,336 
Net income    $ 110,132    $ 146,609    $ 151,341    $ 235,365 
                         
Net income per common share:                        
     Basic   $ 0.01    $ 0.02    $ 0.01    $ 0.03 
     Diluted   $ 0.01    $ 0.02    $ 0.01    $ 0.03 
                         
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:                        
     Basic     11,561,629      7,800,036      11,562,540      7,320,237 
     Diluted     11,662,369      8,353,411      11,758,527      7,652,221 

 


Table A

S&W SEED COMPANY
(A NEVADA CORPORATION)
ITEMIZED RECONCILIATION BETWEEN NET INCOME AND NON-GAAP ADJUSTED EBITDA
(unaudited)

      Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended
      December 31,     December 31,
      2013     2012     2013     2012
                         
Net income   $ 110,132    $ 146,609    $ 151,341    $ 235,365 
                         
Depreciation and amortization     317,334      150,364      631,788      220,149 
                         
Non-cash stock based compensation     222,469      99,130      437,495      189,961 
                         
Foreign currency loss (gain)     24,343          (30,198)    
                         
Interest expense, net     122,571      14,229      280,125      22,097 
                         
Income tax expense      85,960      106,125      107,022      164,336 
                         
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA   $ 882,809    $ 516,457    $ 1,577,573    $ 831,908 

 


S&W SEED COMPANY
(A NEVADA CORPORATION)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)

      December 31,         June 30,    
      2013     2013
ASSETS            
             
CURRENT ASSETS            
     Cash and cash equivalents   $ 2,589,409    $ 11,781,074 
     Accounts receivable, net     11,869,036      12,700,106 
     Inventories, net     23,376,518      25,822,467 
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets     274,470      509,037 
     Deferred tax asset     1,141,039      954,874 
          TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS     39,250,472      51,767,558 
             
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation     10,320,650      10,239,435 
Goodwill     4,734,402      4,832,050 
Other intangibles, net     14,486,444      15,240,835 
Crop production costs, net     2,424,476      1,582,599 
Deferred tax asset - long term     1,885,231      1,920,742 
          TOTAL ASSETS   $ 73,101,675    $ 85,583,219 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY            
             
CURRENT LIABILITIES            
     Accounts payable   $ 5,744,639    $ 19,512,235 
     Accounts payable - related parties     950,653      893,929 
     Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     597,149      1,662,642 
     Working capital line of credit     10,861,456      6,755,998 
     Foreign exchange contract liability         663,043 
     Current portion of long-term debt     266,113      746,788 
          TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES     18,420,010      30,234,635 
             
Non-compete payment obligation, less current portion     150,000      200,000 
Other non-current liabilities     28,333      122,881 
Deferred tax liability - non-current     291,151      299,682 
Long-term debt, less current portion     4,482,813      4,668,958 
             
          TOTAL LIABILITIES     23,372,307      35,526,156 
             
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY            
     Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized;            
          no shares issued and outstanding        
     Common stock, $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized;            
          11,623,498 issued and 11,598,498 outstanding at December 31, 2013;            
          11,584,101 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2013     11,624      11,585 
     Treasury stock, at cost, 25,000 shares at December 31, 2013 and no shares at June 30, 2013     (134,196)    
     Additional paid-in capital     54,601,411      54,338,758 
     Retained earnings (deficit)     (2,038,103)     (2,189,444)
     Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (2,711,368)     (2,103,836)
          TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY     49,729,368      50,057,063 
          TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   $ 73,101,675    $ 85,583,219 

 


S&W SEED COMPANY
(A NEVADA CORPORATION)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)

      Six Months Ended
      December 31,
      2013     2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES            
     Net income   $ 151,341    $ 235,365 
     Adjustments to reconcile net income from operating activities to net             
          cash used in operating activities            
          Stock-based compensation     437,495      189,961 
          Change in allowance for doubtful accounts         10,445 
          Inventory reserve         300,000 
          Depreciation and amortization     631,788      220,149 
          Change in foreign exchange contracts     (668,924)    
          Amortization of debt discount     25,579     
          Changes in:            
               Accounts receivable     769,672      (11,962,940)
               Inventories     2,207,989      2,804,918 
               Prepaid expenses and other current assets     237,656      (97,234)
               Crop production costs     (841,877)     (1,949,711)
               Deferred tax asset      (165,324)     163,536 
               Accounts payable     (13,853,616)     2,514,674 
               Accounts payable - related parties     59,820      1,978,743 
               Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     (1,114,622)     (199,294)
               Other non-current liabilities     (94,549)    
                    Net cash used in operating activities     (12,217,572)     (5,791,388)
             
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES            
     Additions to property, plant and equipment     (244,858)     (6,396,184)
     Acquisition of business         (3,000,000)
     Acquisition of germ plasm         (57,500)
                    Net cash used in investing activities     (244,858)     (9,453,684)
             
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES            
     Net proceeds from sale of common stock in equity offerings         3,462,586 
     Common stock repurchased     (134,196)    
     Taxes paid related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards     (174,803)    
     Borrowings and repayments on line of credit, net     4,274,646      4,000,000 
     Borrowings of long-term debt         2,625,000 
     Repayments of long-term debt     (692,399)     (40,535)
                    Net cash provided by financing activities     3,273,248      10,047,051 
             
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH     (2,483)    
             
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH     (9,191,665)     (5,198,021)
             
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of the period     11,781,074      8,235,495 
             
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period   $ 2,589,409    $ 3,037,474