EX-99.1 2 exh99-1.htm PRESS RELEASE February 12, 2015 Exhibit 99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

S&W Announces Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2015

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 12, 2015 - S&W Seed Company (Nasdaq: SANW) today announced financial results for the second quarter of its fiscal year 2015 ended December 31, 2014.

Recent Corporate Events and Highlights:

  • On December 31, 2014, S&W acquired alfalfa production and research facility assets, as well as conventional (non-GMO) alfalfa germplasm from Dupont Pioneer, creating the largest and most diversified alfalfa seed company in the world.
  • On January 26, 2014, S&W agreed to sell 759 acres of farmland in Calipatria, California and 30 acres of farmland in Five Points, California for $7.3 million in total proceeds. The Company will use $5.0 million in proceeds (remaining after repayment of $2.3 million in related mortgage debt) to prepay convertible debentures issued to fund the DuPont Pioneer acquisition.
  • In December 2014, the Company filed two patents for unique stevia varieties.
    • SW107 exhibits increased concentrations of Reb-A sweetener, higher leaf mass production and an improved taste profile that has little or no aftertaste for the commercial production market; and
    • SW201 exhibits an improved taste profile that is well suited for producing fresh and dry leaf stevia, as well as the home gardening customer. Fresh and dry stevia leaves can be used as a sweetener in beverages, such as teas or coffee, and in cooking applications that might require the leaf to be crushed into a powdered substance.

  • The Company expanded management expertise by adding alfalfa industry veterans (from DuPont Pioneer) Robin Newell, Kirk Rolfs and Mark Smith, as well as other key employees.
  • For the third quarter ending March 31, 2015, S&W expects to report record revenue of approximately $27 to $30 million, with improved gross profit margins.

(Note: The balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 reflects the DuPont Pioneer alfalfa acquisition and concurrent debt and equity financing. The statement of operations for the second quarter does not include any activity from the DuPont Pioneer acquisition that closed on December 31, 2014, other than transaction expenses being charged to SG&A.)

Quarterly Results

For the second quarter of fiscal year 2015 ended December 31, 2014, S&W reported revenue of $13.8 million, above previously announced estimates of $12 million, versus $11.5 million in the comparable period of the prior year. The increase in revenue over the comparable period in the prior year is primarily attributable to an increase in sales of seed (both proprietary and non-proprietary) into Saudi Arabia.

Adjusted gross margins (excluding the effects of non-seed farming related losses) during the second quarter were 16.2% compared to gross margins of 20.7% in last year's second quarter and compared to gross margins of 16.1% in the immediately preceding first quarter. The Company incurred losses of approximately $270,000 in connection with the farming of various non-seed crops, including hay, sorghum and triticale, primarily utilized for land reclamation in preparation for isolating GMO production fields. Including the effects of non-seed farming related losses, gross margins for the second quarter were 14.2%. The decrease in adjusted gross profit margins compared to last year's second quarter can be attributed to increased sales of lower margin seed sold and resulting lower concentration of our highest margin products sold, as well as a decrease in milling contribution during the quarter. While there will continue to be quarterly fluctuations in gross profit margins based on product sales mix, the Company anticipates improved gross margins for the remainder of fiscal year 2015 due to pricing strength that appears to be taking hold within certain end markets, a change in sales mix to higher-margin products and gross margin contributions from the operations acquired from DuPont Pioneer.

Adjusted selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses for the second quarter, excluding the non-recurring one-time transaction expenses for the acquisition, totaled $1.86 million compared to $1.47 million for the comparable period of the prior year. Including the transaction expenses of the acquisition, SG&A for the second quarter totaled $3.0 million. The Company incurred one-time non-recurring expenses of approximately $1.15 million in connection with the acquisition of DuPont Pioneer's alfalfa seed research and production assets.

Adjusted non-GAAP net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2015, excluding the non-seed farming related losses, impairment of $500,000 for unrecovered stand establishment and growing crop costs that were incurred on the farmland being sold prior to farming revenues being received, and acquisition related expenses (See Non-GAAP Adjustments to Income Statement), was $(247,000), or $(0.02) per basic and diluted share, compared to $110,000, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2014. Including the various one-time expenses identified, net loss was $(1.5) million, or $(0.13) per basic and diluted share.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP metric (see Table A), for the second quarter of fiscal 2015 was $396,000 compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $883,000 in the second quarter of last fiscal year.


Outlook
Based upon the evaluation of information currently available to management, for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 ending March 31, 2015, the Company estimates revenue to be approximately $27 to $30 million.

Management Discussion
Mark Grewal, president and chief executive officer of S&W Seed Company, commented, "This is a very exciting time for everyone at S&W. We set out five years ago to build a company that could take advantage of one of the most compelling opportunities in agriculture -- the desire for increased protein consumption in a growing global population. Alfalfa is the gateway to higher protein levels in animals. Our goal is to be the world's largest and most diversified alfalfa seed company. Our DuPont Pioneer acquisition is an important step toward that goal, and I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity that we have in front of us."

Matthew Szot, chief financial officer of S&W Seed Company, commented, "The past few months represented a transformational period for S&W as we completed our acquisition of assets from DuPont Pioneer, closed a significant financing to fund the acquisition and negotiated the sale of non-core land holdings. Going forward, we believe that the addition of the dormant alfalfa operations from DuPont Pioneer will allow us to further leverage our operating structure to improve profitability and that our distribution and productions arrangements with DuPont Pioneer will provide a greater level of consistency and predictability to our operations."

Mr. Szot continued, "During the second quarter, we moved higher quantities of lower margin alfalfa seed varieties than we originally anticipated. This has the added benefit of increasing our revenue, but impacts our gross margins. For the remainder of fiscal year 2015, we expect gross margins to improve based on a shift in sales mix to higher margin products and a stronger price environment."

Mr. Grewal concluded, "The Company continues to execute on our business plan to become the largest and most diversified alfalfa seed company in the world. We believe that strengthening end markets for our non-dormant alfalfa seed and the addition of dormant alfalfa operations from DuPont Pioneer put us in a position to have a strong second half of fiscal 2015."

Conference Call
S&W Seed Company has scheduled a conference call for today, Thursday, February 12, 2015, 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 # 10060307. 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's vision is to be the world's preferred proprietary seed company which supplies a range of forage and specialty crop products that supports the growing global demand for animal proteins and healthier consumer diets. The Company is the global leader in alfalfa seed, with unrivaled research and development, production and distribution capabilities. S&W's capabilities span the world's alfalfa seed production regions with operations in the San Joaquin and Imperial Valleys of California, five other U.S. states, Australia, and three provinces in Canada, and S&W sells its seed products in more than 25 countries around the globe.  Additionally, the Company is utilizing its research and breeding expertise to develop and produce stevia, the all-natural, zero calorie sweetener for 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, 2014, 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,
      2014     2013     2014     2013
                                         
          NON-GAAP                   Non-GAAP          
      GAAP   Adjustments   Adjusted     GAAP     GAAP   Adjustments   Adjusted     GAAP
                                         
                                         
Revenue   $ 13,793,766    $ 13,793,766    $ 11,460,197    $ 21,957,999    $ 21,957,999    $ 23,838,783 
                                         
Cost of revenue     11,832,557      11,832,557      9,082,367      18,682,998      18,682,998      19,153,374 
                                         
Gross profit     1,961,209    (270,048)   2,231,257      2,377,830      3,275,001    (265,890)   3,540,891      4,685,409 
                                         
Operating expenses                                        
     Selling, general and administrative expenses     3,000,201    (1,145,064)   1,855,137      1,471,041      4,788,628    (1,145,064)   3,643,564      3,065,243 
     Research and development expenses     208,480      208,480      246,449      431,838      431,838      480,088 
     Depreciation and amortization     310,552      310,552      317,334      630,311      630,311      631,788 
                                         
          Total operating expenses     3,519,233    (1,145,064)   2,374,169      2,034,824      5,850,777    (1,145,064)   4,705,713      4,177,119 
                                         
Income (loss) from operations     (1,558,024)   (1,415,112)   (142,912)     343,006      (2,575,776)   (1,410,954)   (1,164,822)     508,290 
                                         
Other expense                                        
     Impairment expense     500,198    (500,198)           500,198    (500,198)      
     Foreign currency (gain) loss     35,148      35,148      24,343      82,889      82,889      (30,198)
     Interest expense, net     187,742      187,742      122,571      434,392      434,392      280,125 
                                         
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)     (2,281,112)   (1,915,310)   (365,802)     196,092      (3,593,255)   (1,911,152)   (1,682,103)     258,363 
     Income tax expense (benefit)     (738,452)   (620,033)   (118,419)     85,960      (1,176,279)   (625,630)   (550,649)     107,022 
Net income (loss)   $ (1,542,660)   (1,295,277) $ (247,383)   $ 110,132    $ (2,416,976)   (1,285,522) $ (1,131,454)   $ 151,341 
                                         
Net income (loss) per common share:                                        
     Basic   $ (0.13)     $ (0.02)   $ 0.01    $ (0.21)     $ (0.10)   $ 0.01 
     Diluted   $ (0.13)     $ (0.02)   $ 0.01    $ (0.21)     $ (0.10)   $ 0.01 
                                         
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:                          
     Basic     11,634,469       11,634,469     11,561,629      11,629,766        11,629,766      11,562,540 
     Diluted     11,634,469       11,634,469     11,662,369      11,629,766        11,629,766      11,758,527 

 


Table A

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

 

      Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended
      December 31,     December 31,
      2014     2013     2014     2013
                                         
          Non-GAAP                   Non-GAAP          
      GAAP   Adjustments   Adjusted     GAAP     GAAP   Adjustments   Adjusted     GAAP
                                         
Net income (loss)   $ (1,542,660) $ (1,295,277) $ (247,383)   $ 110,132    $ (2,416,976) $ (1,285,522) $ (1,131,454)   $ 151,341 
                                         
Depreciation and amortization     310,552      310,552      317,334      630,311      630,311      631,788 
                                         
Non-cash stock based compensation     228,063      228,063      222,469      447,075      447,075      437,495 
                                         
Foreign currency (gain) loss     35,148      35,148      24,343      82,889      82,889      (30,198)
                                         
Interest expense, net     187,742      187,742      122,571      434,392      434,392      280,125 
                                         
Income tax expense (benefit)     (738,452)   (620,033)   (118,419)     85,960      (1,176,279)   (625,630)   (550,649)     107,022 
                                         
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA   $ (1,519,607) $ (1,915,310) $ 395,703    $ 882,809    $ (1,998,588) $ (1,911,152) $ (87,436)   $ 1,577,573 

 


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

      December 31,     June 30,
      2014     2014
ASSETS            
             
CURRENT ASSETS            
     Cash and cash equivalents   $ 4,920,121    $ 1,167,503 
     Accounts receivable, net     16,100,789      24,255,596 
     Inventories, net     43,524,943      28,485,584 
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets     383,962      230,907 
     Deferred tax asset     1,288,076      1,300,665 
          TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS     66,217,891      55,440,255 
             
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation     17,507,464      10,356,809 
Goodwill     14,912,856      4,939,462 
Other intangibles, net     34,868,174      14,590,771 
Crop production costs, net     3,019,178      1,952,100 
Deferred tax asset - long term     2,804,882      1,666,488 
Debt issuance costs     1,726,543      -  
Other asset - long term     359,507      354,524 
               TOTAL ASSETS   $ 141,416,495    $ 89,300,409 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY            
             
CURRENT LIABILITIES            
     Accounts payable   $ 29,906,858    $ 15,026,669 
     Accounts payable - related parties     1,781,730      1,053,874 
     Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     1,160,007      818,730 
     Foreign exchange contract liabilities     159,326      -  
     Working capital lines of credit     13,306,987      15,888,640 
     Current portion of long-term debt     213,457      267,764 
     Current portion of convertible notes     3,760,862      -  
          TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES     50,289,227      33,055,677 
             
Non-compete payment obligation, less current portion     100,000      150,000 
Contingent consideration obligation     2,200,000      -  
Long-term debt, less current portion     14,321,357      4,452,631 
Convertible notes, net of debt discount $4,862,000     18,377,138      -  
Derivative warrant liabilities     4,862,000      -  
Other non-current liabilities     114,790      127,866 
             
          TOTAL LIABILITIES     90,264,512      37,786,174 
             
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;            
          12,977,801 issued and 12,952,801 outstanding at December 31, 2014;            
          11,665,093 issued and 11,640,093 outstanding at June 30, 2014     12,979      11,666 
     Treasury stock, at cost, 25,000 shares at December 31, 2014 and at June 30, 2014     (134,196)     (134,196)
     Additional paid-in capital     59,761,470      55,121,876 
     Retained earnings (deficit)     (4,233,320)     (1,816,344)
     Other comprehensive loss     (4,254,950)     (1,668,767)
          TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY     51,151,983      51,514,235 
               TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   $ 141,416,495    $ 89,300,409 

 


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

      Six Months Ended
      December 31,
      2014     2013
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES            
     Net income (loss)   $ (2,416,976)   $ 151,341 
     Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) from operating activities to net             
          cash provided by (used in) operating activities            
          Stock-based compensation     447,075      437,495 
          Change in allowance for doubtful accounts     8,632     
          Impairment charges     500,198     
          Depreciation and amortization     630,311      631,797 
          Change in foreign exchange contracts     173,977      (668,924)
          Amortization of debt discount     26,143      25,579 
          Changes in:            
               Accounts receivable     7,071,072      769,672 
               Inventories     4,838,843      2,207,989 
               Prepaid expenses and other current assets     32,854      237,656 
               Crop production costs     (1,567,276)     (841,877)
               Deferred tax asset      (1,138,394)     (165,324)
               Accounts payable     (5,832,578)     (13,853,625)
               Accounts payable - related parties     912,721      59,820 
               Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     296,580      (1,114,622)
               Other non-current liabilities     4,445      (94,549)
                    Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities     3,987,627      (12,217,572)
             
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES            
     Additions to property, plant and equipment     (693,311)     (244,858)
     Acquisition of business     (27,000,000)    
     Investment in Bioceres     (4,982)    
                    Net cash used in investing activities     (27,698,293)     (244,858)
             
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES            
     Net proceeds from sale of common stock     4,236,943     
     Common stock repurchased         (134,196)
     Taxes paid related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards     (43,111)     (174,803)
     Borrowings and repayments on lines of credit, net     (1,763,375)     4,274,646 
     Borrowings of long-term convertible debt     27,000,000     
     Debt issuance costs     (1,726,543)    
     Repayments of long-term debt     (211,724)     (692,399)
                    Net cash provided by financing activities     27,492,190      3,273,248 
             
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH     (28,906)     (2,483)
             
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH     3,752,618      (9,191,665)
             
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of the period     1,167,503      11,781,074 
             
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period   $ 4,920,121    $ 2,589,409