NutraCea Announces Second Quarter 2008 Financial Results

PHOENIX, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NutraCea (BULLETIN BOARD: NTRZ) , a world leader in stabilized rice bran (SRB) nutrient research and technology, today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2008.

The Company reported net revenues of $10.3 million for the second quarter of 2008, compared to net revenues of $13.0 million for the second quarter of 2007. The net revenues for the second quarter of 2007 included a one-time license fee of $5.0 million (non-recurring) without which net revenues for the second quarter 2007 would have been $8,000,000. Sequentially, net revenues for the second quarter of 2008 rose 102% over first quarter 2008 net revenues of $5.1 million.

The Company's two business segments, NutraCea and Irgovel, recorded net revenues of $3.9 million and $6.4 million, respectively, for second quarter 2008. The decrease in product sales by our NutraCea segment in the second quarter of 2008 over the prior year's second quarter was primarily due to an increase of $615,000 in sales in the SRB product lines offset by sales for the period ended June 30, 2007 to two customers of $2.1 million and $2.6 million of proprietary finished products and an intentional inventory build by NutraCea to handle the roll out of new customers and new customer product lines anticipated to begin in the fourth quarter of this year..

Net loss for the second quarter of 2008 was $6.1 million, or $(0.04) per share, compared to net income of $2.0 million or $0.01 per share for the same period last year. The second quarter 2008 loss was primarily due to the decreased margin of $6.1 million, an increase of $371,000 in operating expenses, and a net increase in other expenses (net of other income), and income taxes of $1.1 million. (Sequentionally, NutraCea reported a reduction in net loss from $6.8 loss in the first quarter of 2008 to $6.1 million in the second quarter of 2008). Our NutraCea segment had a loss before income taxes of $(6.9) million, while our Irgovel segment reported income before income taxes of $1.0 million for second quarter 2008.

Sales, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses were $5.9 million for the second quarter of 2008, compared to SG&A expenses $5.7 million for the second quarter of 2007. The $214,000 increase was due to $1.4 million of SG&A costs for our Irgovel segment, offset by a reduction of $1.1 million in SG&A expenses at our NutraCea segment.

Brad Edson, President and CEO of NutraCea commented, "We are pleased to have exceeded our revenue estimate for our second quarter. Irgovel, which we acquired in late February of this year, has come on rapidly and is already proving to be a major contributor to both our top and bottom line performance. As stated previously, by the end of this year, we expect this facility to have an annual sales run rate of approximately $30 million. We are also on track to add an additional 45,000 tons of annual capacity at Irgovel by the end of first quarter 2009 which would give us a total annual capacity of 115,000 tons, based on existing results this would produce a corresponding increase in gross and net of at least 60%. We also anticipate that our proprietary and new patent filed technology will have been installed and operating when this additional capacity comes on line. When fully operational, we believe this could additionally more than double the estimated level of profitability of Irgovel for each quarter going forward. Further, we are moving forward with another planned expansion which is currently estimated to increase the Irgovel annual capacity to over 200,000 tons by the first quarter of 2010.

Mr. Leo Gingras, COO of NutraCea, added, "It is important to note that during the second quarter our NutraCea segment operated at 30% capacity overall due to difficulties in obtaining adequate quantities of rice bran. Our Mermentau plant was not operational from May through July because the rice mill that serves that facility was not milling rice. Additionally our Lake Charles facility production levels have not been reached because the rice mill was phasing in our contract for rice bran. Beginning this month, we anticipate that both of these mills will be operational and our plants will be receiving 100% of the output from each mill."

Six Month Results

For the first six months of 2008 the Company recorded net revenues of $15.4 million, compared to revenues of $15.0 million for the first six months of 2007, a 3% increase. The net revenues for the first six months of 2007 included a non recurring license fee of $5.0 million in the second quarter of 2007, without which NutraCea would have recorded net revenues of $10.0 million for the first six months of 2007.

The Company reported a loss of $(12.9) million for the first half of 2008, or $(0.09) per share, compared to a net income of $1.8 million, or $0.01 per share, for the first six months of 2007. The decrease for the first six months of 2008 was primarily due to a $5.4 million increase in product sales, offset by the $5.0 decline in license fee revenue, and a $7.1 million increase in cost of goods sold. Operating expenses also increased $4.9 million and other expenses (net of other income) increased $3.1 million.

Sales, General and Administrative expenses for the first six months of 2008 were $11.0 million, compared to SG&A expenses of $8.0 million for the first six months of 2007. The increase was due to a $1.7 million increase in our NutraCea segment due to an increase in personnel, infrastructure and sales and marketing activities and $1.4 million in SG&A expenses at our Irgovel segment.

Mr. Edson continued, "We feel that we are making great strides at our Company. Most importantly the value of our business model to establish facilities in major rice producing countries is being validated by the early success of Irgovel. We are moving ahead with our China facility and it will be over seven times the size of our existing facility in Brazil. This project will incorporate state of the art technology and because of scale is anticipated to generate results that are more than seven times greater than what we are currently achieving in Brazil. This project is progressing and we hope to obtain all the necessary permits and approvals shortly and break ground later this year.

'We anticipate that revenues for the third quarter will increase modestly over those for the second quarter of this year, with a more significant increase in the fourth quarter as we begin to move our inventory to new and existing customers."

About NutraCea

NutraCea is a leader in stabilized rice bran nutrient research and dietary supplement development. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, RiceX, the Company manufactures and distributes products and food ingredients made from rice bran through its proprietary technology and processes. NutraCea has developed intellectual properties to create a range of proprietary product formulations, delivery systems and whole food nutrition products. The Company's proprietary technology enables the creation of food and nutrition products from rice bran, normally an underutilized by-product of standard rice processing. In addition to its whole foods products, NutraCea develops families of health-promoting "nutraceuticals," including natural arthritis relief and cholesterol-lowering products. More information can be found in the Company's filings with the SEC and at its Web site http://www.nutracea.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding (i) anticipated future revenues, inventory sales to new customers, and sales with respect to a new customer product line, (ii) the expected future sales run rate, production capacity and profitability at the Irgovel facility, the anticipated installation and operability of new equipment at the Irgovel facility, and the anticipated expansion of the operations and output from Irgovel, (iii) the future operations and output from the Company's rice bran facilities, and (iv) anticipated results from the Company's China venture, all of which statements are subject to market and other risks. These statements are made based upon current expectations and actual results may differ from those projected, due to a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements in this news release to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking information. Assumptions and other information that could cause results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking information can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's most recent periodic report.

Investor Relations Contact: Marilynn Meek Financial Relations Board Phone: [phone] AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS June 30, December 31, 2008 2007 (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $16,067,000 $41,298,000 Restricted cash 906,000 758,000 Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,177,000 and $2,999,000, respectively 4,270,000 2,346,000 Inventories 4,947,000 1,808,000 Notes receivable, net of allowance for doubtful notes receivable of $573,000 and $250,000, respectively 858,000 2,936,000 Deposits and other current assets 2,828,000 2,545,000 Total current assets 29,876,000 51,691,000 Restricted cash 3,248,000 1,791,000 Notes receivable, net of current portion - 5,039,000 Property and equipment, net 43,317,000 19,328,000 Investment in joint ventures 11,786,000 1,191,000 Patents and trademarks, net of accumulated amortization 5,349,000 5,743,000 Other non-current 132,000 - Goodwill 52,668,000 39,510,000 Total assets $146,376,000 $124,293,000 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $14,863,000 $7,506,000 Deferred revenue 12,000 90,000 Note payable 23,000 23,000 Total current liabilities 14,898,000 7,619,000 Long-term liabilities: Long-term liabilities 7,350,000 - Notes payable, net of current portion 64,000 77,000 Total liabilities 22,312,000 7,696,000 Commitments and contingencies Shareholders' equity: Common stock, no par value, 350,000,000 shares authorized, 167,744,000 and 144,108,000 shares issued and outstanding 198,623,000 177,813,000 Accumulated deficit (74,061,000) (61,216,000) Foreign currency cumulative translation gain (498,000) - Total shareholders' equity 124,064,000 116,597,000 Total liabilities and shareholder's equity $146,376,000 $124,293,000 NUTRACEA AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) Three Months Three Months Six Months Six Months Ended Ended Ended Ended June 30, 2008 June 30, 2007 June 30, 2008 June 30, 2007 Revenues: Product sales $10,314,000 $7,996,000 $15,425,000 $9,993,000 Licensing fees - 5,000,000 - 5,000,000 Total revenue 10,314,000 12,996,000 15,425,000 14,993,000 Cost of sales 7,277,000 3,863,000 12,071,000 4,976,000 Gross profit 3,037,000 9,133,000 3,354,000 10,017,000 Operating expenses Research and development expenses 738,000 170,000 1,002,000 291,000 Selling, general and administrative expenses 5,871,000 5,657,000 11,049,000 7,970,000 Professional fees 1,125,000 1,536,000 3,083,000 1,995,000 Total operating expenses 7,734,000 7,363,000 15,134,000 10,256,000 (Loss) income from operations (4,697,000) 1,770,000 (11,780,000) (239,000) Other income (expense) Interest income 161,000 876,000 421,000 1,388,000 Interest expense (365,000) - (485,000) - Gain on settlement - - - 1,250,000 Loss on disposal of assets (331,000) (309,000) (331,000) (309,000) Other expenses (586,000) - (341,000) - Loss on equity investment (63,000) (250,000) (80,000) (250,000) Total (loss) income before income tax (5,881,000) 2,087,000 (12,596,000) 1,840,000 Income tax expense (282,000) (85,000) (319,000) (85,000) Net (loss) income from continuing operations (6,163,000) 2,002,000 (12,915,000) 1,755,000 Minority interest 70,000 - 70,000 - Net (loss) income $(6,093,000) $2,002,000 $(12,845,000) $1,755,000 Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share: Basic (loss) income per share $(0.04) $0.01 $(0.09) $0.01 Fully diluted (loss) income per share $(0.04) $0.01 $(0.09) $0.01 Weighted average basic number of shares outstanding 151,867,000 136,257,000 145,545,000 118,952,000 Weighted average diluted number of shares outstanding 151,867,000 167,259,000 145,545,000 148,954,000