VANCOUVER, BC – BioteQ Environmental Technologies, Inc. (TSX:BQE), a leader in the treatment of metal and sulphate contaminated water, today reported third quarter results for the period ended September 30, 2007. All figures are in Canadian dollars and are in accordance with Canadian GAAP.
The third quarter results for 2007 (unaudited) continued the successful plant operations reported since mid-2006, resulting in a positive cash contribution of $840,000 before G&A, amortization and other expenses, compared to $777,000 in the third quarter of 2006. After all expenses, cash flow from operating activities was $258,472 for the quarter, and $184,282 for the nine month period.
“We are pleased to report another quarter with positive cash flow from operating activities. Our plants continue to perform well, with Bisbee producing 17% more copper in 2007 than 2006, and Raglan showing excellent performance. In addition to our current operations, we have five new plants under construction at sites in Australia, China, Mexico, and the US, which we expect will contribute to revenue in 2008,” stated Brad Marchant, President and CEO.
BioteQ remains very active with new projects under construction in 2007, two of which are currently in the commissioning stage. BioteQ normally looks for a minimum 3 year payback in assessing its new projects, which are expected to cost in excess of $11 million this year. Capital expenditures of $3.4 million were incurred in the third quarter, totaling $5.8 million for the year to date. The Company’s existing cash and short-term investments of $26 million will cover these expenditures and should also fund anticipated projects for 2008.
Financial Highlights for Third Quarter 2007
Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was $1,304,298, compared to $1,313,428 in the third quarter of 2006. Third quarter revenues remained steady, even though the contract for water treatment services at Caribou ended in July. While Caribou’s contribution to revenues was $285,000 less than in 2006, this decline was offset by increased revenues from both the Bisbee and Raglan plants. The Bisbee plant revenue was 25% higher in 2007 due to a 44% increase in copper sold in 2007, offset by a $0.50 reduction in the net Canadian price realized per pound of copper. The Raglan plant showed excellent performance in the quarter and revenues increased by 22% due to increased plant throughput. Plant and other operating expenses decreased in the current quarter by 14% because of the change at Caribou. Operating costs at Raglan were very similar to 2006 and costs per pound of copper produced at Bisbee were also consistent with the prior year. Plant operating profit for the third quarter of 2007 was $840,000 compared to $777,000 in the third quarter of 2006.
The Company has accepted a recent recommendation from its auditor to include a onetime, non-cash charge of $2,100,000 to operating expenses with an offset to share capital, to reflect the value of 7 million performance-based escrow shares. This is a onetime adjustment required under Canadian GAAP because the escrow agreement was modified during the quarter, but has no effect on total shareholders’ equity. The escrow shares have already been treated as issued and therefore the number of issued and outstanding shares remains the same.
As a result of this accounting requirement, the current quarter shows an overall loss for the period of $2,501,000, after all administration and other costs and non-cash charges, or a basic and diluted loss of $0.05 per share. This compares to a profit of $78,000 for 2006, or a basic and diluted profit of $0.00 per share for 2006. However, after eliminating non-cash charges, the cash flow from operating activities was $258,000, an improvement over cash flow in 2006 which was $236,000 in the same period. The year to date loss of $3,484,000 compares to a loss of $840,000 for 2006, however after eliminating non-cash charges, cash flow was positive by $184,000 for the nine months of 2007, compared to a loss of $402,000 in 2006. The loss position is created by non-cash accounting items such as stock-based compensation, amortization, and the one-time charge for escrow share revaluation.
Stock-based compensation charges, a non-cash item, increased by $537,000 compared to the same period in 2006 due to director and employee options granted in the past eighteen months, including the current quarter, being expensed over their vesting periods and also options issued to consultants which are revalued as BioteQ’s stock price varies. The rapid increase in BioteQ’s stock price has resulted in new stock options having a significant value attributed to them under the accepted model for stock option valuation.
General & administrative expenses increased by $68,000 over 2006 due to an increase in investor relations costs. Investor relations costs in the third quarter 2007 included a trip to meet with European investors as well as increased activity related to the Company’s contract with a US-based financial communications and media agency, which started in the fourth quarter last year.
Marketing and development costs increased in the quarter to $197,000, an increase of 21% over 2006, largely due to costs to develop our market in Chile, including pilot testing of the Sulf-IX™ process for a new customer.
Foreign exchange loss on US dollars was $159,000 in the third quarter 2007, compared to $5,000 in the same period in 2006. The Company has some cash and receivables in US dollars related to both existing and new projects, which have deteriorated in value during the quarter with the rapid fall in the US dollar.
Offsetting the above cost increases is an increase in interest income of $218,000. The Company’s surplus cash resources are only invested in a major bank’s short-term paper, which returned approximately 4.7% interest per annum during the current quarter.
BioteQ ended the quarter with a strong balance sheet. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $26.3 million with no long term debt. During the period, the Company received $3,589,125 from the exercise of warrants and options, which together with the surplus cash from operating activities of $184,284, net of non-cash items, was used to fund additions to property, plant & equipment of $5,776,555 and repayment of a bank loan in the amount of $137,917. Changes in working capital contributed $1,229,322.
The Company’s third quarter fiscal 2007 financial statements and MD&A have been filed on SEDAR, www.sedar.com and on our website,www.bqewater.com.
Operations Highlights for Third Quarter 2007
During the quarter, the Company’s principle operations were the Bisbee and Raglan plants built by BioteQ and also the two lime treatment plants under contract at Caribou. Raglan does not operate in the Arctic in the winter months but was fully operational during the third quarter. The contract for water treatment services at Caribou ended on July 31, 2007, as scheduled. The Company met all environmental and safety objectives at its operations during the period.
During the third quarter, the Company initiated commissioning of the Mt. Gordon plant in Australia. Total capital cost for construction as of September 30 was $3.6 million, compared to the budget for construction of $4.3 million. Based on the contracts in progress for construction completion and expected commissioning costs the company estimates that the project will be over budget compared to the original estimate. The final capital cost, which includes commissioning costs as well as credit for metals recovered during commissioning, will be determined once commissioning is completed in early 2008.
The increase in capital cost compared to the original budget is primarily due to rapidly escalating costs for construction contractors in Australia who charge on a “cost-plus” basis which makes it difficult to finalize costs prior to completion of the work; their rising fees have been driven by record activity in the mining sector in Australia. While the capital costs are higher than expected, BioteQ continues to anticipate less than a three-year pay-back on capital for the project, based on the predicted quantity of metals to be recovered and current metal prices. It is anticipated that the Mt. Gordon plant will start contributing to revenues before the end of this year.
During the third quarter, the Company continued to construct a new plant at the Dexing mine site, in joint venture with Jiangxi Copper Company Limited. The project is expected to be completed within the original budget of $4.2 million. Subsequent to the quarter end, BioteQ initiated commissioning of the plant, with operations expected for early 2008.
Conference Call for Discussion of Third Quarter Results
BioteQ will conduct a teleconference call to discuss the third quarter results for the period ended September 30, 2007 on Thursday November 15, 2007 at 8:00 am Pacific Time, 11:00 am Eastern Time. To participate in the conference call, please dial 416-695-7806 or 1-888-789-9572 and enter reference number 3240943#, or ask for the BioteQ earnings conference call.
BioteQ Corporate Profile
BioteQ finances, builds, owns and operates water treatment plants for the world’s mining companies and utility operators, reducing environmental liabilities while generating revenue from waste. The company’s commercially proven technology treats acid mine drainage and other metal-laden waste water by sequentially removing metals and sulphate, producing saleable metal products and clean water than can be discharged safely to the environment.
BioteQ is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, and trades on the TSX under the symbol BQE. For additional information, go to www.bqewater.com.
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On behalf of the Board of Directors
Brad Marchant
The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release.