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Terra Tech Corp. (TRTC) (“Terra Tech” or the “Company”), a vertically integrated cannabis-focused agriculture company, today announced its third quarter 2017 financial results for the period ended September 30, 2017.
“The third quarter marked the expansion of Blüm℠’s cannabis sales into Nevada’s adult-use market for the first time,” said Derek Peterson, Chief Executive Officer of Terra Tech Corp., “This was a turning point for the Company, as it opened up our total addressable market significantly. We are pleased with our early-stage traction in the adult-use market, which drove 82% revenue growth in the cannabis segment compared with the same period in the prior year. To support the increased demand for cannabis products throughout Nevada we are expanding our cultivation and production facilities through an arrangement with NuLeaf, and expect to start ramping production at the new facilities in Sparks, NV and Reno, NV by the end of the year.”
Mr. Peterson continued, “We expect the favorable market conditions to continue to accelerate our growth, with California adult-use sales expected to come online in 2018. We have taken several steps to position the Company to leverage this major opportunity, including expanding our Blüm brand in California by operating a new dispensary in Santa Ana (previously known as The Reserve), and constructing a new Blüm dispensary in San Leandro, which is expected to open in early 2018. We are investing in our California production facilities so that we can rapidly pivot to meet demand from the adult-use market as legal sales commence in 2018. During the third quarter we signed our second craft cultivator agreement to enable us to expand our production, and our new cultivation facility in Oakland, California is expected to be fully operational in early 2018.
“The cannabis segment contributed 86% of total revenues in the third quarter and represents a major growth opportunity for Terra Tech. As we advance our plans to grow market share in the cannabis market, we are also experiencing success with Edible Garden™, a provider of herbs and leafy greens to consumers in the U.S., which saw improved gross profits and gross profit margins year over year. We are encouraged by the strong results we reported this quarter and look forward to continuing to grow the business and build value for our shareholders,” concluded Mr. Peterson.
Financial Update
- Total revenues generated for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017 were $10.1 million, compared to $7.0 million in the same period in 2016. The increase was driven by sales in the cannabis segment which increased 81.8%, due to higher sales from the Company’s four Nevada-based Blüm Dispensaries. It was partially offset by lower sales from Edible Garden due to the discontinuation of sales of its low-margin floral products.
- Gross profits for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017 were approximately $2.3 million, compared with $1.3 million in the prior year period. Gross margin for the third quarter of 2017 amounted to approximately 23%, compared with a gross margin of approximately 18% for the third quarter of 2016. The improvement in gross margin was due to the sales of higher margin cannabis products and the expiration of the floral product contract at Edible Garden.
- Selling, general and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2017 amounted to approximately $6.2 million, compared to approximately $5.9 million for the third quarter of 2016. The increase was partially due to an increase in salaries due to new hires associated with the Blüm dispensaries and an increase in accounting and compliance personnel costs. Other expenses include an increase in depreciation expense due to fixed assets placed in service for the Nevada dispensaries.
- The Company realized an operating loss of approximately $3.9 million for the third quarter of 2017, compared to an operating loss of approximately $4.7 million for the third quarter of 2016.
- The net loss attributable to Terra Tech for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 was approximately $7.8 million, or $0.01 per share, compared with a net loss of $5.6 million, or $0.02 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.
- Stockholders’ equity for the third quarter of 2017 amounted to approximately $75.8 million, compared to approximately $52.2 million as of December 31, 2016.
- The Company had no short-term debt as of September 30, 2017, compared with approximately $564,000 as of December 31, 2016. Long term debt was $2.1 million as of September 30, 2017, compared with $1.4 million as of December 31, 2016.
Business Update
Cannabis Segment Updates
Nevada
- Blüm dispensaries in Nevada expanded sales activities to include the adult-use market on July 1, 2017.
- Announced plans to acquire 50% of NuLeaf Sparks Cultivation LLC and NuLeaf Reno Production LLC to fast track Terra Tech’s cultivation and production facilities.
- In August 2017, the Company acquired an additional 38% ownership in MediFarm. Previously, the Company owned 60%. As of September 30, 2017, the Company has 98% ownership of MediFarm.
California:
- Expanded retail operations into Santa Ana, Southern California, through the acquisition of the assets of Tech Center Drive Management LLC, which operated The Reserve OC medical cannabis dispensary. Subsequent to the closing, The Reserve was rebranded as a Blüm dispensary.
- Signed the second Craft Cultivator agreement to grow the Company’s proprietary high grade “IVXX™” cannabis flowers and oils. The farm, Cultivar Inc., is located in Salinas, California and is approved for up to six acres of cannabis cultivation, to be grown in high tech, climate-controlled greenhouses.
Miscellaneous:
- Filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for innovative cannabis-infused rolling papers; expected to launch in 2018 under the IVXX™ brand.
Edible Garden Updates
- Launched a new line of fresh-cut herbs, under the name ‘Snip Its®’, for consumers seeking healthier salad alternatives that are free of genetically modified organisms.
- Secured a feature slot for its nutritionally-enhanced SUPERLEAF™ salad on the television show ‘Plant Based by Nafsika’, on A&E’s FYI Channel. Edible Garden also aired commercials during the program’s advertisement breaks.
Corporate Governance
- Appointed Mr. Alan Gladstone to provide strategic guidance to management as the Company enters a new growth phase.
This interview may include forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this release. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. .SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. received five thousand dollars from the company on 1-18-13 for 30 days of service. On 3-1-13 SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. signed a 180-day agreement for $2500 per month and 100,000 restricted shares subject to Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933 for the six-month term. On 3/26/13 SmallCapVoice.com received an additional $30,000 from the Company to manage an investor awareness campaign on behalf of TRTC. SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. received cash payment of $14,000 from the Company on 5/29/13 from the Company to manage an investor awareness campaign on behalf of TRTC. On 9-1-13 SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. signed a 180-day agreement for $2500 per month and 200,000 restricted shares subject to Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933 for the six-month term. On 12-10-13 SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. received an additional cash budget of $10,000 to hire additional groups for awareness campaign. SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. received five thousand dollars from the company on 1-18-13 for 30 days of service. On 3-1-13 SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. signed a 180-day agreement for $2500 per month and 100,000 restricted shares subject to Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933 for the six-month term. On 3/26/13 SmallCapVoice.com received an additional $30,000 from the Company to manage an investor awareness campaign on behalf of TRTC. SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. received cash payment of $14,000 from the Company on 5/29/13 from the Company to manage an investor awareness campaign on behalf of TRTC. On 9-1-13 SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. signed a 180-day agreement for $2500 per month and 200,000 restricted shares subject to Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933 for the six-month term. On 3-1-15 SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. signed a one-year agreement for 150,000 restricted shares subject to Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933. On 4-1-14 SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. signed a one-year agreement for 150,000 restricted shares subject to Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933. On 3-1-16 SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. signed a one-year agreement for 200,000 restricted shares subject to Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933. On 3-1-17 SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. signed a one-year agreement for 140,000 restricted shares subject to Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933.
