Scio Diamond Technology Corp. Reports Third Quarter Results

News provided by

Scio Diamond

Feb 13, 2015, 08:02 ET

Company continues to execute business plan

GREENVILLE, SC, Feb. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Scio Diamond Technology Corp. (OTCBB: SCIO), a leading lab-grown diamond producer, announced financial results for the fiscal 2015 third quarter ended December 31, 2014.

"This was a very important quarter for Scio Diamond, strategically and operationally," said Gerald McGuire, president and CEO.  "This quarter's successful go-to-market activities, $4.5 million in new funding and operational and product quality improvements are positioning the Company for future growth."

"While our product revenue is up slightly quarter-to-quarter, our main focus has been on growing diamonds to deliver to the market," he continued.

In December, Scio Diamond closed $2.5 million in growth funding from Heritage Gemstone Investors (HGI).  A portion of the HGI funding was used to significantly reduce its borrowing costs by obtaining a new interest rate of 7.25% to replace the original loan rate of 18%. The rest of the funds from HGI were earmarked to double production capacity. 

In December, the Company formally launched a joint venture with Renaissance Diamonds Inc. to develop and deliver high-quality, lab-grown, fancy-colored diamonds to the gem and jewelry market. Scio Diamond produces the diamonds and Renaissance finishes and distributes them to national retailers, wholesalers and more than 500 independent retailers.

Operational advances included an increase in the average size of the Company's rough diamonds by 45% and higher production yield by 7%. The Company also increased factory reliability, as measured by uptime, by more than 8%.

Third Quarter Results
Scio Diamond generated product revenue of $109,358 in Q3 FY 2015, an increase of 16.4%, or $15,443, from $93,915 in product revenue in the year-ago quarter. The increase related primarily to an increase in the price of units sold.

Total revenue was $109,358 in Q3 FY 2015, a decrease of $234,557 from $343,915 of total revenue in the year-ago quarter. The decrease is due to the company recognizing no licensing revenue during Q3 FY 2015, while it recognized $250,000 of licensing revenue during the same quarter the previous year.

Cost of goods sold for Q3 FY 2015 was $495,410, a decrease of 3.5%, or $17,735, from $513,145 for Q3 FY 2014. The decrease in cost of goods sold was primarily due to cost efficiencies from reduced headcount and lower depreciation offset by higher property taxes on manufacturing equipment.

Combined operating expenses, consisting of professional and consulting, salaries and benefits, rent and facilities, marketing, and general and administrative expenses, were $420,671 for Q3 FY 2015, a decrease of 4.4%, or $19,560, from $440,231 for the year-ago quarter.  The decrease in combined operating expenses in Q3 FY 2015 was primarily due to reduced executive compensation included in salaries and benefits during the quarter.

Depreciation and amortization expense was $199,931 for Q3 FY 2015, compared to $200,018 for Q3 FY 2014.

The third quarter of FY 2015 included a one-time forgiveness of legal accounts payable of $(165,453) due to a settlement with a former Company vendor, and a non-cash loss on impairment of in-process research and development of $418,065 related to the Company determining that certain projects will no longer be pursued for commercial development.  There were no one-time items for Q3 FY 2014.

Loss from operations in Q3 FY 2015 was $(1,259,266), compared to $(809,479) for the year-ago quarter.

Cash and cash equivalents were $1,090,858 at December 31, 2014 versus $47,987 at March 31, 2014. This increase in cash was due to the Company's successful debt refinancing that provided for increased borrowing and lower interest rates and the completion of a recent equity offering.

"This has been a positive transitional quarter. We are continuing to execute our business plan and we are pleased with the recent positive strategic and operational developments," explained McGuire.

About Scio Diamond
Scio Diamond employs a patent-protected chemical vapor deposition process to produce high-quality, single-crystal near colorless and fancy-colored diamonds for the jewelry market in a controlled laboratory setting.  Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically and optically identical to "earth-mined" diamonds. Scio's technology offers the flexibility to produce lab-grown diamonds in size, color and quality combinations that are rare in earth-mined diamonds. Scio also delivers diamond materials for advanced industrial, medical and semiconductor applications.  www.sciodiamond.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Scio to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, which involve assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company, are generally identifiable by use of the words "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "forecast," "potential," "continue," "contemplate," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "intend," "or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that may be incorrect, and there can be no assurance that these projections included in these forward-looking statements will come to pass. Actual results of the Company could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Except as required by applicable laws, the Company has no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

The condensed statements of operations, balance sheets and statements of cash flows are unaudited.


SCIO DIAMOND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Three and Nine Months ended December 31, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

Three Months

Three Months

Nine Months

Nine Months



Ended

Ended

Ended

Ended



December 31, 2014

December 31, 2013

December 31, 2014

December 31, 2013

Revenue








Product revenue, net

$

109,358

$

93,915

$

292,672

$

589,129

Licensing revenue

—

250,000

375,000

250,000















Revenue, net

109,358

343,915

667,672

839,129










Cost of goods sold








Cost of goods sold

495,410

513,145

1,277,178

1,740,932










Gross deficit

(386,052)

(169,230)

(609,506)

(901,803)










General and administrative expenses








Professional and consulting fees

142,699

104,131

309,695

1,097,030

Salaries and benefits

127,668

186,967

688,368

612,405

Rent, equipment lease and facilities expense

36,772

37,101

108,803

112,349

Marketing costs

13,198

15,300

32,065

41,716

Depreciation and amortization

199,931

200,018

600,179

599,910

Corporate general and administrative

100,334

96,732

282,593

282,091

Forgiveness of legal accounts payable

(165,453)

—

(165,453)

—

Loss from impairment of in-process research and development

418,065

—

418,065

—










Loss from operations

(1,259,266)

(809,479)

(2,883,821)

(3,647,304)










Other expense








Interest expense

(60,025)

(55,756)

(192,190)

(102,702)










Net loss

$

(1,319,291)

$

(865,235)

$

(3,076,011)

$

(3,750,006)










Loss per share








Basic:










Weighted average number of shares outstanding

53,701,988

50,264,312

51,705,910

49,303,267


Loss per share

$

(0.02)

$

(0.02)

$

(0.06)

$

(0.08)

Fully diluted:










Weighted average number of shares outstanding

53,701,988

50,264,312

51,705,910

49,303,267


Loss per share

$

(0.02)

$

(0.02)

$

(0.06)

$

(0.08)

SCIO DIAMOND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
As of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)

December 31,

March 31,


2014

2014






ASSETS




Current Assets:




Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,090,858

$

47,987

Accounts receivable, net

92,894

42,085

Other receivables

—

89,192

Inventory, net

215,202

152,817

Deferred contract costs

55,739

—

Prepaid expenses

43,569

79,078

Prepaid rent

23,050

23,050






Total current assets

1,521,312

434,209






Property, plant and equipment




Facility

904,813

899,499

Manufacturing equipment

3,192,350

3,171,656

Other equipment

71,059

71,059

Total property, plant and equipment

4,168,222

4,142,214

Less accumulated depreciation

(1,493,818)

(1,029,212)

Net property, plant and equipment

2,674,404

3,113,002






Intangible assets, net

8,241,654

9,240,640

Prepaid rent, non-current

25,000

42,288

Other assets

21,000

20,000






TOTAL ASSETS

$

12,483,370

$

12,850,139






LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY




Current Liabilities:




Notes payable

$

—

$

1,412,060

Accounts payable

567,341

671,782

Customer deposits

52,151

179,610

Deferred revenue

61,675

—

Accrued expenses

594,335

573,126






Total current liabilities

1,275,502

2,836,578






Notes payable, non-current

2,000,000

—

Other liabilities

109,605

84,144






TOTAL LIABILITIES

3,385,107

2,920,722






Common stock $0.001 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized; 57,198,166 and 50,739,312 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014, respectively

57,199

50,739

Additional paid-in capital

26,715,337

24,476,940

Accumulated deficit

(17,673,273)

(14,597,262)

Treasury stock, 1,000,000 shares at December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014

(1,000)

(1,000)






Total shareholders' equity

9,098,263

9,929,417






TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

$

12,483,370

$

12,850,139

SCIO DIAMOND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
For the Nine Months Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

Nine Months Ended

Nine Months Ended


December 31, 2014

December 31, 2013






Cash flows from operating activities:




Net loss

$

(3,076,011)

$

(3,750,006)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:


—

Depreciation and amortization

1,111,209

1,118,114

Loss on impairment of in-process research and development

418,065

—

Expense for warrants, stock and inventory issued in exchange for services and rent

34,200

389,731

Employee stock based compensation

155,000

193,150

Inventory write down

68,722

—

Changes in assets and liabilities:




Decrease/(increase) in accounts receivable

(50,809)

36,459

Decrease in other receivables

89,192

—

Increase in deferred contract costs

(55,739)

—

Decrease/(increase) in prepaid expenses and rent

(12,886)

63,211

Decrease/(increase) in inventory and other assets

(131,107)

139,918

Increase/(decrease) in accounts payable

(104,441)

392,817

Increase/(decrease) in customer deposits

(127,459)

127,222

Increase in accrued expenses

76,866

15,034

Increase in deferred revenues

61,675

125,000

Increase in other liabilities

25,461

25,461






Net cash used in operating activities

(1,518,062)

(1,123,889)






Cash flows from investing activities:




Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(26,007)

(30,486)

Investment in joint venture

(1,000)

—






Net cash used in investing activities

(27,007)

(30,486)






Cash flows from financing activities:




Proceeds from note payable

2,153,615

1,304,746

Payments of notes payable

(1,565,675)

—

Finance charges paid on note payable

—

(214,746)

Proceeds from sale of common stock - net of fees

2,000,000

129






Net cash provided by financing activities

2,587,940

1,090,129






Change in cash and cash equivalents

1,042,871

(64,246)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

47,987

223,257






Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$

1,090,858

$

159,011







Supplemental cash flow disclosures:




Cash paid for:




Interest

$

48,000

$

18,874

Income taxes

$

—

$

—






Non-cash investing and financing activities:




Payment of accounts payable and accrued expenses with stock

$

55,657

$

—
















Editors Contact
Cynthia Hoye
[email protected]
408.239.0717

SOURCE Scio Diamond