EX-99.1 2 a15474exv99w1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 exv99w1
 

(COMMERCE LOGO)
Exhibit 99.1
NEWS RELEASE
COMMERCE ENERGY GROUP REPORTS RESULTS
FOR FIRST FISCAL QUARTER
COSTA MESA, CA., December 15, 2005 - Commerce Energy Group, Inc. (AMEX: EGR), a leading U.S. electricity and natural gas marketing company, today announced results for its fiscal first quarter ended October 31, 2005.
First Quarter Results
The company reported net income of $0.2 million, or $0.01 per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2006, compared with a net loss of $0.0 million, or $0.00 per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2005.
Net revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 were $64.4 million, a 10% increase compared with $58.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2005. The increase was primarily attributable to the natural gas and electric customers that were added as a result of the company’s acquisition in February 2005 of the ACN energy assets, and was partly offset by lower revenues in the company’s electricity markets in California, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 increased to $8.2 million, a 15% increase from $7.2 million in the first quarter fiscal 2005. The addition of $1.9 million of gross profit from the ACN energy assets was partly offset by lower gross profit on electricity sales in Commerce Energy’s Michigan and Pennsylvania markets due primarily to lower mark-to-market supply contract gains and reduced sales volumes. Retail sales volumes in the Michigan and Pennsylvania electricity markets totaled 300 million kWh for the first quarter of fiscal 2006, a 43% decline from the comparable period in fiscal 2005.
General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 increased to $7.6 million, a 52% increase from $5.0 million in first quarter fiscal 2005. The increase reflects $1.8 million of added direct costs related to the acquired operations of the ACN energy assets; $0.6 million in higher legal, board, and other expenses primarily incurred in connection with severance agreements to former executive officers; and $0.2 million resulting from the adoption of SFAS 123R.
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Commerce Energy Group, Inc.
“In the first quarter we made significant progress in our efforts to move Commerce Energy to a position of sustainable profitability,” said Steven S. Boss, chief executive officer. “As we progress through the year, our focus is on leveraging our substantial market presence and operational support capabilities in our existing market areas and on exploiting opportunities to expand into new markets that offer the potential for customer growth and margin contributions.”
Liquidity
At October 31, 2005, the company had total cash and cash equivalents of $21.2 million and no long-term debt. The company does not have open lines of credit for direct unsecured borrowings or letters of credit. Credit terms from Commerce Energy’s suppliers often require the company to post collateral against its energy purchases and against its mark-to-market exposure with certain suppliers. Commerce Energy currently finances these collateral obligations with available cash. As of October 31, 2005, the company had $8.3 million in restricted cash and cash equivalents to secure letters of credit required by suppliers and $13.2 million in deposits principally pledged as collateral in connection with energy purchase agreements.
About Commerce Energy Group, Inc.
Commerce Energy Group, Inc. (AMEX:EGR) is a leading independent U.S. electricity and natural gas marketing company, operating through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Commerce Energy, Inc. and Skipping Stone, Inc. Commerce Energy, Inc. is a FERC-licensed unregulated retail marketer of natural gas and electricity to homeowners, commercial and industrial consumers and institutional customers operating in nine states. Skipping Stone is an energy consulting firm serving utilities, pipelines, merchant trading and technology companies. For more information, visit www.commerceenergygroup.com.
         
Contacts:
  Commerce Energy Group, Inc.
Investor Relations
(800) 962-4655
InvestorRelations@commerceenergy.com
  PondelWilkinson Inc.
Cecilia Wilkinson/Wade Huckabee
310-279-5980
cwilkinson@pondel.com/
whuckabee@pondel.com
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Forward Looking Statements
Except for historical information contained in this release, statements in this release, including those of Mr. Boss, may constitute forward-looking statements regarding the company’s assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events. Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “targets,” “will likely result,” “will continue,” “may,” “could” or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed. Commerce Energy cautions that while such statements are made in good faith and the company believes such statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in records, and other data available from third parties, the company cannot assure that it projections will be achieved. In addition to other factors and matters discussed from time to time in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, some important factors that could cause actual results or outcomes for Commerce Energy Group, Inc. or its subsidiaries to differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements include: the volatility of the energy market, competition, operating hazards, uninsured risks, failure of performance by suppliers and transmitters, changes in general economic conditions, seasonal weather or force majeure events that adversely effect electricity or natural gas supply or infrastructure, increased or unexpected competition, adverse state or federal legislation or regulation or adverse determinations by regulators, including failure to obtain regulatory approvals. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and, except as required by law, Commerce Energy undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors.
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Commerce Energy Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
                 
    First Quarter Ended October 31,  
    2005     2004  
Net revenue
  $ 64,368     $ 58,496  
Direct energy costs
    56,128       51,335  
 
           
Gross profit
    8,240       7,161  
Selling and marketing expenses
    698       953  
General and administrative expenses
    7,609       5,007  
 
           
Income (loss) from operations
    (67 )     1,201  
Other income and expenses:
               
Initial formation litigation expenses
          (1,439 )
Interest income, net
    287       190  
 
           
Net Income (loss)
  $ 220     $ (48 )
 
           
Net Income (loss) per common share — Basic & Diluted
  $ 0.01     $ (0.00 )
 
           
 
               
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
               
Basic
    31,719       30,519  
 
           
Diluted
    31,999       30,519  
 
           
Volume and Customer Count Data
                 
    First Quarter Ended October 31,  
    2005     2004  
Electric — Thousand kilowatt-hour (kWh)
    551,000       775,000  
Natural Gas — Dekatherms (Dth)
    715,000        
Customer Count
    134,000       100,000  
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
                 
    October 31, 2005     July 31, 2005  
Assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 21,233     $ 33,344  
Accounts receivable, net
    27,565       27,843  
Inventory
    8,140       4,561  
Other current assets
    7,708       3,542  
 
           
Total current assets
    64,646       69,290  
Restricted cash and cash equivalents
    8,313       8,222  
Deposits
    13,201       11,347  
Property and equipment, net
    2,251       2,007  
Goodwill, intangible and other assets
    11,489       11,766  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 99,900     $ 102,632  
 
           
 
               
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
               
Accounts payable
  $ 22,901     $ 25,625  
Accrued liabilities
    6,664       6,946  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    29,565       32,571  
Total stockholders’ equity
    70,335       70,061  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 99,900     $ 102,632