EX-99.1 3 exh99-1.htm PRESS RELEASE September 19, 2011 8K Exhibit 99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

S&W Seed Releases Financial Results for
Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2011

For Immediate Release

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

FIVE POINTS, California - September 19, 2011 - S&W Seed Company (Nasdaq: SANW) today released financial results for the fiscal year and the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2011.

For the fiscal year, S&W Seed Company reported revenues of $3.6 million compared to $6.7 million in the prior year. The Company primarily attributes this revenue decrease to management's strategic decision to retain higher than normal inventory levels, and withhold certain alfalfa seed varieties from the international market, while grower demand and pricing corrected from oversupply conditions. For the fiscal year, the company's preliminary net loss was $811,448, or $(0.14) per basic and diluted share. This compares to net income excluding non-controlling interests of $384,476 or $0.11 per basic and diluted share for fiscal year 2010.

For the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2011, S&W Seed Company reported revenues of $1.4 million compared to $1.2 million in the comparable quarter last year, an increase of 11%. This marks the highest quarterly revenue of the year reflecting the resumption of international shipments towards the end of the quarter as demand and pricing for the company's proprietary alfalfa seed varieties increased. As previously reported in the second and third fiscal quarters, the company made a strategic decision to protect margins and storehouse our proprietary seed until market prices in Saudi Arabia rebounded to higher levels. Based on the recent spike in demand and pricing, our decision not to discount our seed in the Saudi Arabian market, as some of our competitors seem to have done, has proven to be the correct decision.

According to the USDA, alfalfa hay is trading at record high prices due to shortages and increased global demand. In July 2011, the national average was $189 per ton, compared with $117 per ton in the previous year. While not a direct correlation to alfalfa seed pricing, the company believes the significantly increased price for alfalfa hay will translate into increased farming production into the future, which increases the demand for the high yielding varieties that the company produces.

Mark Grewal, president and chief executive officer of S&W Seed Company commented, "Given our view that these oversupply conditions were temporary and that commodity prices would recover from recession levels, we decided to maintain inventories until pricing improved. Towards the end of the fourth quarter, we recommenced shipments into the international markets due to the strong pricing that our non-dormant, high yielding, salt tolerant varieties are now commanding. With higher levels of inventory on hand, we are well positioned to take advantage of these strong market conditions. Based on improved market conditions and conversations with our customers, we expect meaningful revenue growth in fiscal year 2012."

For the quarter end June 30, 2011, the company reported a net loss of $181,539, or $(0.03) per basic and diluted share. This compares to a net loss of $260,664 or $(0.06) per basic and


diluted share in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010. This loss for the 2011 fourth quarter includes approximately $110,000, or $(0.02) per basic and diluted share, of R&D expenditures pertaining to the company's ongoing investment in the development of S&W's new U.S. stevia initiative and costs of developing new proprietary alfalfa seed varieties. As previously communicated, the company has incurred certain costs pertaining to the research and development of its stevia program with the expectation that S&W will eventually become the first commercial provider of stevia in the United States. The company is harvesting stevia leaf for shipment to its partner, PureCircle, with initial stevia revenues expected to be recognized in the company's fiscal second quarter, ended December 31, 2011.

Mr. Grewal continued, "We are reaching an inflection point in our stevia program where the investments in R&D we have made over the last two years will translate into revenues in the coming quarters. We believe we have assembled some of the top agronomists in the world to develop a breed of stevia that will consistently yield high levels of Reb-A, the all-natural sweetener component of stevia, and will stand up to the rigors of highly mechanized American farming. If this initial harvest yields the results we expect, S&W Seed will be poised to be a leading provider in the rapidly growing stevia market."

Matthew Szot, chief financial officer of S&W Seed Company commented, "The execution of the Company's strategic plans has been facilitated by our strong balance sheet and robust inventory levels. With $3.7 million in cash, $11.0 million of net working capital and no debt, we are well positioned to capitalize on current market conditions as well as other strategic initiatives."

Mr. Grewal concluded, "Fiscal year 2012 is shaping up to be a transformative year for the company. We are well positioned in our core alfalfa seed business to take advantage of the strong pricing indications we are seeing. Likewise, the time, the resources and the personnel dedicated to the development of our stevia program are beginning to yield measurable results. Finally, we are continuing to see increased demand for our seed processing and milling services. We look forward to using our assets to drive value creation for our shareholders for the future."

About S&W Seed Company
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in the Central Valley of California, S&W Seed Company is a leading producer of warm climate, high yield alfalfa seed varieties, including varieties that can thrive in poor, saline soils, as verified over decades of university-sponsored trials. S&W also offers seed cleaning and processing at its 40-acre facility in Five Points, California and has recently launched a business expansion initiative centered on its plan to mass produce stevia leaf in the U.S. in response to growing global demand for the 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 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, and other filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Financial Tables Follow

 

 

 

 

 

 


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

            Year Ended
                  June 30,
                  2011     2010
Revenue                        
     Seed revenue               $ 2,664,256    $ 6,122,291 
     Milling and other revenue                 977,124      606,729 
          Total revenue                 3,641,380      6,729,020 
                         
Cost of revenue                        
     Cost of seed revenue                 2,052,032      4,649,900 
     Cost of milling and other revenue                 228,823      230,350 
Total cost of revenue                 2,280,855      4,880,250 
                         
Gross profit                 1,360,525      1,848,770 
                         
Operating expenses                        
     Selling, general and administrative expenses (including stock-based compensation
     expense of $122,185 and $0)
                2,166,375      1,017,608 
     Research and development expenses                 450,016      218,834 
     Depreciation and amortization                 242,431      216,035 
                         
          Total operating expenses                 2,858,822      1,452,477 
                         
Income (loss) from operations                 (1,498,297)     396,293 
                         
Other (income) expense                        
     Loss on sale of fixed assets                 5,706     
     Interest (income) expense, net                 (6,978)     101,890 
                         
Net income (loss) before income tax benefit                 (1,497,025)     294,403 
                         
Income tax (benefit) expense                 (685,577)     (184,488)
                       
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests               $ (811,448)   $ 478,891 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests                     94,415 
Net income (loss) attributable to S&W Seed Company               $ (811,448)   $ 384,476 
                         
Net income (loss) attributable to S&W Seed Company                        
     per common share:                        
     Basic               $ (0.14)   $ 0.11 
     Diluted               $ (0.14)   $ 0.11 
                         
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:                        
     Basic                 5,800,000      3,415,385 
     Diluted                 5,800,000      3,415,385 

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

      June 30,     June 30,
      2011     2010
ASSETS            
             
CURRENT ASSETS            
     Cash and cash equivalents   $ 3,738,544    $ 7,830,517 
     Accounts receivable, net     1,803,909      2,114,868 
     Inventories     5,664,119      2,714,183 
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets     58,451      75,901 
     Deferred tax asset     352,393      184,488 
          TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS     11,617,416      12,919,957 
             
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation     2,299,306      2,110,503 
Other intangibles, net     502,436      548,674 
Stevia production costs     220,431     
Deferred tax asset - long term     517,672     
          TOTAL ASSETS   $ 15,157,261    $ 15,579,134 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY            
             
CURRENT LIABILITIES            
     Accounts payable   $ 207,074    $ 294,477 
     Accounts payable - related party     218,863      1,782 
     Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     169,060      31,348 
          TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES     594,997      327,607 
             
          TOTAL LIABILITIES     594,997      327,607 
             
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;            
          5,800,000 issued and outstanding            
          at June 30, 2011 and June 30, 2010     5,800      5,800 
     Additional paid-in capital     14,604,716      14,482,531 
     Retained earnings (deficit)     (48,252)     763,196 
          TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY     14,562,264      15,251,527 
          TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   $ 15,157,261    $ 15,579,134 

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

      Year Ended
      June 30,
      2011     2010
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES            
     Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests   $ (811,448)   $ 478,891 
     Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) from operating activities to net             
          cash used in operating activities            
          Accretion of acquisition purchase obligation         36,540 
          Stock based compensation     122,185     
          Bad debt expense     3,587     
          Depreciation and amortization     242,431      216,035 
          Loss on disposal of fixed assets     5,706     
          Changes in:            
               Accounts receivable     307,372      (1,728,509)
               Inventories     (2,947,680)     (1,602,720)
               Prepaid expenses and other current assets     17,450      (61,536)
               Stevia production costs     (220,431)    
               Deferred tax asset      (685,577)     (184,488)
               Due from related parties         63,693 
               Accounts payable     (87,403)     279,443 
               Accounts payable - related party     217,081     
               Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     137,712      24,699 
                    Net cash used in operating activities     (3,699,015)     (2,477,952)
             
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES            
     Additions to property, plant and equipment     (397,458)     (39,116)
     Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment     4,500     
                    Net cash used in investing activities     (392,958)     (39,116)
             
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES            
     Withdrawals by owners         (79,614)
     Equity offering costs         (1,153,444)
     Repayment of acquisition purchase obligation         (600,000)
     Repayment of promissory notes         (730,000)
     Net proceeds from initial public offering         13,975,500 
     Capital contribution from owners        
     Borrowing (repayments) on revolving credit loan         (975,682)
     Repayments to related parties         (89,542)
                    Net cash provided by financing activities         10,347,218 
             
NET INCREASE OR (DECREASE) IN CASH     (4,091,973)     7,830,150 
             
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of the period     7,830,517      367 
             
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period   $ 3,738,544    $ 7,830,517