EX-9.1 2 exhibit_99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

Exhibit 99.1
 
Evogene Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results
 
Conference call and webcast: November 13th, 9:00 am ET
 
Rehovot, Israel – November 13, 2019 – Evogene Ltd. (NASDAQ: EVGN, TASE: EVGN), a leading biotechnology company developing novel products for life science markets, announces today its financial results for the third quarter, ending September 30, 2019.
 
Ofer Haviv, Evogene's President and CEO, stated, “During the third quarter of 2019, we reached an important milestone with the investment in our subsidiary, Lavie Bio, by Corteva. This investment represents the first major, third party, financial and commercial implementation of our corporate strategy, as we outlined in our 2019 letter to the shareholders. The core of this strategy is to create shareholder value within Evogene by leveraging our unique Computational Predictive Biology ‘CPB’ platform through specific market-focused subsidiaries where the platform provides a significant competitive advantage. As our subsidiaries gain traction and begin to attract investor interest, the intrinsic value of Evogene will continue to increase.”
 
“Looking ahead, we will continue to provide our subsidiaries with exclusive access to our unique ‘CPB’ technology platform, which accelerates the product pipeline development within each subsidiary.  In addition, Evogene will continue to leverage its strong cash position to provide financial support to each subsidiary until it reaches the point whereby its progress and assets warrant an attractive valuation. At such a stage, as demonstrated by the recent Lavie Bio investment, Evogene intends to bring in value-adding and strategic partners, while still remaining a major shareholder.” Mr. Haviv concluded
 
Recent Highlights:
 
AgPlenus:
 

 -
Expansion of its herbicide pipeline with an additional two chemical families, to include a total of five chemical families with validated new modes-of-action.
 

 -
In its insecticide program, the first molecules resulting from discovery efforts are being synthesized and are expected to enter insect screening within the next few months.
 
Biomica:
 

 -
Achievement of positive preliminary results in animal studies in its immuno-oncology program demonstrating improved anti-tumor activity.
 

 -
Advancement to pre-clinical studies in its Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program.
 

 -
Initiation of a collaboration with the Weizmann Institute of Science to develop a selective treatment against antibiotic resistant bacteria, in-licensing IP and know-how generated by Professor Ada E. Yonath, Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, who will advise Biomica on the program.
 
Canonic:
 

 -
Initiation of the cultivation and breeding of cannabis varieties with unique genomic profiles for the development of medical cannabis products, following import of a genetically diverse cannabis seed collection, establishment of specialized R&D facilities, and receipt of regulatory approval from the Israeli Medical Cannabis Agency (IMCA).
 
Casterra:
 

 -
Following semi-commercial trials in both Brazil and Argentina, Casterra has decided to focus on the Brazilian market, which has a well-developed castor market with several castor oil manufacturers providing a substantial demand for castor grain.
 
Lavie Bio:
 

 -
Corteva Agriscience, a major US agricultural chemical and seed company, announced its investment in Lavie Bio, Evogene’s ag-biologicals subsidiary. The investment included $10 million in equity and the transfer of Corteva’s holdings in Taxon Biosciences, a wholly owned subsidiary, following which Corteva holds approximately 30% of Lavie Bio, and Evogene, approximately 70%.
 

 -
Progress in its product development within its bio-fungicide pipeline for fruit & vegetables, reaching a significant milestone. In this program, Lavie Bio has moved forward to the advanced development stage following successful vineyard trials in Europe.
 

 -
Completion of the discovery stage and establishment of a pipeline targeting pests in corn & soybean.
 
Evogene has initiated a revised policy regarding the filing of announcements made by its subsidiaries.  All of such announcements will continue to be distributed by press release to the wire services and uploaded to Evogene’s website. However, Evogene will only re-file the announcement if the news is considered to have material impact, not just for such subsidiary, but for all of Evogene as a whole, by reporting it on an Evogene Form 6-K to the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR platform and making a corresponding report to the Israeli Securities Authority’s MAGNA platform. Evogene encourages investors to follow the development of its subsidiaries via the Evogene website and mailing list.
 
2
 
Consolidated financial results for the period ending September 30, 2019:
 
Cash position:  As of September 30, 2019, Evogene had $52.1 million in consolidated net cash, short-term bank deposits and marketable securities. The Company cash usage amounted to $12.3 million during the first nine months of 2019 and $3.7 million during the third quarter of 2019. Evogene’s consolidated cash includes a $10 million investment in its subsidiary, Lavie Bio, received from Corteva during the third quarter of 2019.
 
The Company continues to estimate that its cash usage for the whole of 2019 will be in the range of $16 to $18 million dollars. During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company made the payment of the directors' and officers' liability insurance policies, which was substantially higher than in previous years due to changes in D&O insurance market conditions, in accordance with the approval of the general shareholders on September 26, 2019
 
Evogene’s consolidated cash use is mostly appropriated to its subsidiaries, primarily Lavie Bio, AgPlenus, and Biomica, with funds also used for the establishment of infrastructure and greenhouses for Canonic.
 
Evogene does not have bank debt.
 
The Company intends to provide information with regard to its expected burn rate for 2020 in its press release for the fourth quarter of 2019.
 
Revenues for the third quarter of 2019, were $0.1 million versus $0.4 million in the same period last year. Revenues primarily consist of third-party research and development payments. These revenues represent R&D cost reimbursement and milestone payments under our various collaboration agreements. The majority of these agreements also provide for royalties or other forms of revenue sharing from successfully developed products.
 
Gross profit for the third quarter of 2019 was $16 thousand in comparison to $91 thousand in the third quarter of 2018.
 
R&D expenses for the third quarter of 2019 were $3.6 million in comparison to $3.9 million in the third quarter of 2018.
 
R&D expenses mostly represent product development activities of the Company and its subsidiaries, which include computational work, lab & greenhouse assays, field-trials and pre-clinical studies provided by third parties.  Evogene’s consolidated R&D expenses were mostly attributed to its subsidiaries, primarily Lavie Bio, AgPlenus, and Biomica.
 
Operating loss for the third quarter of 2019 was $4.9 million in comparison to $5.1 million in the third quarter of 2018.
 
Net financing income for the third quarter of 2019 was $0.4 million in comparison to net financing income of $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2018.
 
Loss for the third quarter of 2019 was $4.5 million in comparison to a loss of $4.8 million during third quarter of 2018.

3
Conference Call & Webcast Details:

Date: November 13th, 2019
Time: 9:00am EST; 16:00  Israel time
Dial-in: 1-888-668-9141 toll free from the United States, or +972-3-918-0609 internationally
Webcast: Available at www.evogene.com.

Replay Information: A replay of the conference call will be available approximately three hours following the completion of the call.

To access the replay, please dial 1-888-326-9310 toll free from the United States, or +972-3-925-5900 internationally. The replay will be accessible through November 15, 2019, and an archive of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website through November 28, 2019.


About Evogene Ltd.:
 
Evogene (NASDAQ: EVGN, TASE: EVGN) is a leading biotechnology company developing novel products for major life science markets through the use of a unique computational predictive biology (CPB) platform incorporating deep scientific understandings and advanced computational technologies.
 
Today, this platform is utilized by the Company to discover and develop innovative products in the following areas (via subsidiaries or divisions): ag-chemicals, ag-biologicals, seed traits, integrated castor oil ag-solutions, human microbiome-based therapeutics and medical cannabis. Each subsidiary or division establishes its product pipeline and go-to-market, as demonstrated in their collaborations with world-leading companies such as BASF, Bayer, Corteva and ICL.
 
For more information, please visit www.evogene.com

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" relating to future events. These statements may be identified by words such as "may", "could", “expects”, "intends", “anticipates”, “plans”, “believes”, “scheduled”, “estimates” or words of similar meaning. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, describe opinions about future events, involve certain risks and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and are not guarantees of future performance. Therefore, actual future results, performance or achievements of Evogene and its subsidiaries may differ materially from what is expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, many of which beyond the control of Evogene and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, those risk factors contained in Evogene’s reports filed with the appropriate securities authority. Evogene and its subsidiaries disclaim any obligation or commitment to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments or changes in expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions.

Evogene Investor Contact:
US Investor Relations:
 
Rivka Neufeld
Investor Relations and Public Relations Manager
E: IR@evogene.com
T: +972-8-931-1940
 
Joseph Green
Edison Group
E: jgreen@edisongroup.com
T: +1 646-653-7030
 
 
Laine Yonker
Edison Group
E: lyonker@edisongroup.com
T: +1 646-653-7035

4
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)

   
September 30,
    
December 31,
  
   
2019
    
2018
  
   
Unaudited
    
Audited
  
CURRENT ASSETS:
            
Cash and cash equivalents
  
$
16,467
    
$
5,810
  
Marketable securities
    
6,386
      
26,065
  
Short-term bank deposits
    
29,268
      
22,592
  
Trade receivables
    
147
      
160
  
Other receivables and prepaid expenses
    
1,560
      
861
  
                 
     
53,828
      
55,488
  
LONG-TERM ASSETS:
                
Long-term deposits
    
8
      
19
  
Operating lease right-of-use-assets
    
2,963
      
-
  
    Property, plant and equipment, net
    
2,389
      
3,187
  
Intangible assets, net
    
17,255
      
-
  
                 
     
22,615
      
3,206
  
                 
   
$
76,443
    
$
58,694
  
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
                
Trade payables
  
$
820
    
$
1,015
  
Employees and payroll accruals
    
1,848
      
2,095
  
Operating lease liability
    
960
      
-
  
Liabilities in respect of government grants
    
79
      
988
  
Deferred revenues and other advances
    
118
      
412
  
Other payables
    
904
      
921
  
                 
     
4,729
      
5,431
  
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
                
Operating lease liability
    
2,273
      
-
  
Liabilities in respect of government grants
    
3,270
      
2,898
  
Deferred revenues and other advances
    
9
      
28
  
Severance pay liability, net
    
28
      
31
  
                 
     
5,580
      
2,957
  
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
                
Ordinary shares of NIS 0.02 par value:
Authorized - 150,000,000 ordinary shares; Issued and outstanding - 25,754,297 at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively
    
142
      
142
  
Share premium and other capital reserve
    
205,772
      
187,701
  
Accumulated deficit
    
(149,824
)
    
(137,790
)
                 
Equity attributable to equity holders of the Company
    
56,090
      
50,053
  
                 
Non-controlling interests
    
10,044
      
253
  
                 
Total equity
    
66,134
      
50,306
  
                 
   
$
76,443
    
$
58,694
  

5
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)

   
Nine months ended
September 30,
    
Three months ended
September 30,
    
Year ended
December 31,
  
   
2019
    
2018
    
2019
    
2018
    
2018
  
   
Unaudited
    
Audited
  
                               
Revenues
  
$
637
    
$
1,112
    
$
97
    
$
367
    
$
1,747
  
Cost of revenues
    
253
      
825
      
81
      
276
      
1,452
  
                                         
Gross profit
    
384
      
287
      
16
      
91
      
295
  
                                         
Operating expenses:
                                        
                                         
Research and development, net
    
10,627
      
10,828
      
3,603
      
3,883
      
14,686
  
Business development
    
1,420
      
1,610
      
450
      
526
      
2,084
  
General and administrative
    
2,622
      
2,571
      
876
      
785
      
3,514
  
                                         
Total operating expenses
    
14,669
      
15,009
      
4,929
      
5,194
      
20,284
  
                                         
Operating loss
    
(14,285
)
    
(14,722
)
    
(4,913
)
    
(5,103
)
    
(19,989
)
                                         
Financing income
    
2,517
      
1,196
      
647
      
328
      
1,413
  
Financing expenses
    
(655
)
    
(1,423
)
    
(265
)
    
(35
)
    
(2,206
)
                                         
Financing income (expenses), net
    
1,862
      
(227
)
    
382
      
293
      
(793
)
                                         
Loss before taxes on income
    
(12,423
)
    
(14,949
)
    
(4,531
)
    
(4,810
)
    
(20,782
)
Taxes on income (tax benefit)
    
-
      
34
      
(3
)
    
18
      
30
  
                                         
Loss
  
$
(12,423
)
  
$
(14,983
)
  
$
(4,528
)
  
$
(4,828
)
  
$
(20,812
)
                                         
Attributable to:
                                        
Equity holders of the Company
  
$
(12,034
)
  
$
(14,957
)
  
$
(4,231
)
  
$
(4,802
)
  
$
(20,758
)
Non-controlling interests
    
(389
)
    
(26
)
    
(297
)
    
(26
)
    
(54
)
                                         
   
$
(12,423
)
  
$
(14,983
)
  
$
(4,528
)
  
$
(4,828
)
  
$
(20,812
)
                                         
Basic and diluted loss per share, attributable to equity holders of the Company
  
$
(0.47
)
  
$
(0.58
)
  
$
(0.16
)
  
$
(0.19
)
  
$
(0.81
)
                                         
Weighted average number of shares used in computing basic and diluted loss per share
    
25,754,297
      
25,753,111
      
25,754,297
      
25,754,297
      
25,753,411
  


6

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
U.S. dollars in thousands

   
Nine months ended
September 30,
    
Three months ended
September 30,
    
Year ended
December 31,
  
   
2019
    
2018
    
2019
    
2018
    
2018
  
   
Unaudited
    
Audited
  
Cash flows from operating activities
                              
                               
Loss
  
$
(12,423
)
  
$
(14,983
)
  
$
(4,528
)
  
$
(4,828
)
  
$
(20,812
)
                                         
Adjustments to reconcile loss to net cash used in operating activities:
                                        
                                         
Adjustments to the profit or loss items:
                                        
                                         
Depreciation
    
1,906
      
1,507
      
591
      
506
      
2,020
  
Amortization of intangible assets
    
194
      
-
      
194
      
-
      
-
  
Share-based compensation
    
802
      
1,371
      
355
      
650
      
1,731
  
Net financing expense (income)
    
(2,647
)
    
150
      
(1,025
)
    
(347
)
    
694
  
Loss from sale of property, plant & equipment
    
12
      
-
      
12
      
-
      
-
  
Taxes on income (tax benefit)
    
-
      
34
      
(3
)
    
18
      
30
  
                                         
     
267
      
3,062
      
124
      
827
      
4,475
  
Changes in asset and liability items:
                                        
                                         
Decrease (increase) in trade receivables
    
13
      
(104
)
    
-
      
(107
)
    
(28
)
Decrease (increase) in other receivables
    
(600
)
    
(621
)
    
56
      
131
      
95
  
Increase in long-term deposits
    
-
      
(2
)
    
-
      
-
      
-
  
Increase (decrease) in trade payables
    
(190
)
    
(417
)
    
71
      
(313
)
    
(114
)
Increase (decrease) in employees and payroll accruals
    
(247
)
    
(206
)
    
113
      
114
      
(182
)
Increase (decrease) in other payables
    
(3
)
    
(88
)
    
75
      
97
      
233
  
Increase (decrease) in severance pay liability, net
    
(3
)
    
-
      
1
      
-
      
-
  
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenues and other advances
    
(313
)
    
29
      
(120
)
    
(227
)
    
(165
)
                                         
     
(1,343
)
    
(1,409
)
    
196
      
(305
)
    
(161
)
                                         
Cash received (paid) during the period for:
                                        
                                         
Interest received
    
692
      
1,139
      
637
      
318
      
1,360
  
Taxes paid
    
-
      
(23
)
    
3
      
(6
)
    
(23
)
                                         
Net cash used in operating activities
    
(12,807
)
    
(12,214
)
    
(3,568
)
    
(3,994
)
    
(15,161
)

7

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
U.S. dollars in thousands

   
Nine months ended
September 30,
    
Three months ended
September 30,
    
Year ended
December 31,
  
   
2019
    
2018
    
2019
    
2018
    
2018
  
   
Unaudited
    
Audited
  
Cash flows from investing activities:
                              
                               
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
  
$
(518
)
  
$
(256
)
  
$
(321
)
  
$
(103
)
  
$
(374
)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities
    
22,828
      
33,434
      
2,833
      
12,337
      
63,639
  
Purchase of marketable securities
    
(1,637
)
    
(14,401
)
    
-
      
(11,246
)
    
(31,700
)
Investment in bank deposits, net
    
(6,675
)
    
(4,120
)
    
(6,675
)
    
(6,000
)
    
(14,212
)
                                         
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    
13,998
      
14,657
      
(4,163
)
    
(5,012
)
    
17,353
  
                                         
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                        
                                         
Proceeds from exercise of options
    
-
      
9
      
-
      
-
      
9
  
Proceeds from government grants
    
406
      
221
      
119
      
68
      
354
  
Repayment of operating lease liability
    
(734
)
    
-
      
(230
)
    
-
      
-
  
Issuance of subsidiary's ordinary shares to non-controlling interests
    
10,000
      
-
      
10,000
      
-
      
-
  
Repayment of government grants
    
(586
)
    
(65
)
    
(11
)
    
(21
)
    
(66
)
                                         
Net cash provided by financing activities
    
9,086
      
165
      
9,878
      
47
      
297
  
                                         
Exchange rate differences - cash and cash equivalent balances
    
380
      
(333
)
    
223
      
(62
)
    
(114
)
                                         
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    
10,657
      
2,275
      
2,370
      
(9,021
)
    
2,375
  
                                         
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period
    
5,810
      
3,435
      
14,097
      
14,731
      
3,435
  
                                         
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period
  
$
16,467
    
$
5,710
    
$
16,467
    
$
5,710
    
$
5,810
  
                                         
Significant non-cash activities
                                        
                                         
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
  
$
130
    
$
130
    
$
47
    
$
130
    
$
80
  
                                         
Acquisition of intangible assets from non-controlling interests against issuance of subsidiary's ordinary shares
  
$
17,449
    
$
-
    
$
17,449
    
$
-
    
$
-
  

8