Neptune Net Profits Rise in Q4

22 May 2014 --- Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. has announces its consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 28, 2014.

"We are at the verge of a new beginning for Neptune, with our Sherbrooke plant expected to open in early June," highlighted Andre Godin, CFO of Neptune. "We have a high-tech facility and strong management expertise – which will improve service, encourage innovation and heighten performance – all for the greater good of our employees, customers, and shareholders. On top of this, we have successfully resolved all outstanding litigation issues related to the U.S. International Trade Commission's (ITC) investigation into infringement of Neptune's composition of matter patents. We will now focus on strong execution as we reaffirm our role as a premier krill oil manufacturer in the fast growing omega-3 nutraceutical market."

Nutraceutical revenues were $3,465,000 for the three-month period ended February 28, 2014, compared to $4,580,000 for the three-month period ended February 28, 2013. Gross profit as a percent of revenue was 20% for the current quarter, versus 5% for the corresponding prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was negative ($1,456,000) for the current quarter, versus negative ($3,215,000) in the prior year. Net profit was $1,308,000 for the current quarter, compared to net profit of $854,000 in the prior year. Consolidated revenues totalled $3,665,000 for the three-month period ended February 28, 2014, down from $4,588,000 for the quarter ended February 28, 2013.

Neptune's gross profit margin as a percentage of revenues stood at 20% for the quarter ended February 28, 2014, up from 5% in the corresponding prior year quarter and 13% for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2014. The increase is primarily due to product cost reductions following Neptune's krill oil manufacturing and supply agreement with Rimfrost.

The year-over-year improvement in adjusted EBITDA on both a nutraceutical and consolidated basis is largely due to other income of $5.5 million recorded for royalty settlements with certain third parties up until the end of the fiscal year ending February 28, 2014, to resolve cases related to infringement of the Corporation's intellectual property, partially offset by an increase in legal fees and a bad debt expense related to one significant customer. On a Consolidated basis, Neptune's subsidiaries recorded negative EBITDA of $1.3 million for the quarter ending February 28, 2014, versus negative $1.4 million in the prior year.

The year-over-year increase in the quarterly net profit for the nutraceutical business was largely driven by other income relating to royalty settlements. On a consolidated basis, the Corporation had a net loss in both years due to Neptune's subsidiaries, which collectively recorded net losses of $2.6 million for the quarter ending February 28, 2014 and $2.0 million in the prior year.

Nutraceutical revenues totalled $18,995,000, for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2014, compared to $25,263,000 for the corresponding year ended February 28, 2013. Adjusted EBITDA was negative ($12,858,000) for the fiscal year, versus negative ($1,066,000) in the prior year. Net loss totalled ($10,737,000) for the fiscal year, compared to a net loss of ($12,779,000) in the prior year. Consolidated revenues were $19,496,000 for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2014, versus $25,946,000 for the year ended February 28, 2013. Adjusted EBITDA was negative ($19,111,000) for the fiscal year, compared to negative ($5,946,000) in the prior year. Net loss was ($22,237,000) for the current year, versus a net loss of ($19,962,000) in the prior year.

The year-over-year decline in adjusted EBITDA, on both a nutraceutical and consolidated basis, is largely explained by lower gross margins resulting from the plant incident, higher legal fees due to intense negotiations with third parties to successfully settle intellectual property cases and a bad debt expense related to one significant customer. This was partially offset by other income of $5.5 million recorded for royalty settlements as a result of negotiations with third parties to resolve infringement of Neptune's intellectual property.

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA for the year ending February 28, 2014 also includes negative $6.3 million for Neptune's subsidiaries who are actively engaged in clinical studies and research and development. This compares to negative $4.9 million in the prior year for the subsidiaries.

The lower year-over-year net loss for the nutraceutical business is largely due to higher royalty settlements and an increase in insurance recoveries associated with the plant incident. As well, in the prior year ended February 28, 2013 the Corporation recorded higher write-offs of $8.7 million relating to the plant incident. This year-over-year improvement was partially offset by lower gross margins, higher stock-based compensation expenses and an increase in legal fees for the year ended February 28, 2014.

On a consolidated basis, the Corporation recorded a higher year-over-year net loss due to Neptune's subsidiaries, which collectively recorded net losses of $11.5 million for the year ending February 28, 2014 and $7.2 million in the prior year.

The Corporation continues to target an early June opening for its Sherbrooke, Quebec plant. As indicated in Neptune's May 8, 2014 press release, the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail ("CSST"), the Québec commission overseeing health and safety in the workplace, identified items in an inspection that are readily addressable and the facility is expected to open once the requirements are met. The municipal fire department has approved the plant's emergency evacuation plan and no further approvals are required from them. As well, the Minister of Environment is expected to issue its permit upon notification that the CSST has confirmed the plant conforms to all safety regulations.

On May 8, 2014, Neptune announced that the CSST released its investigative report on the accident that took place November 8, 2012 at the Sherbrooke production plant. The report highlighted that the exact cause of the accident could not be identified. In addition, it did not make any mention of additional fines or penalties against Neptune beyond the statement of offense notice seeking payment of a fine of approximately $64,000, previously received and disclosed by Neptune in the Fall of 2013. Neptune has worked in close collaboration with the CSST during the reconstruction of the Sherbrooke plant, and continues to do so, in order to make operations at the new plant as safe as possible.

Neptune has insurance in place covering, among other things, property damage, business interruption and general liability up to specified amounts and subject to limited deductibles and certain exclusions. Since the plant incident in November 2012, Neptune has received insurance recoveries totalling $17.5 million to date, including $5.6 million recorded during the fourth quarter ended February 28, 2014.