Ceapro Inc. Reports 2020 First Quarter Financial Results and Highlights

– Maintained production operations during COVID-19 pandemic crisis, providing our customers essential products while ensuring the health and safety of our employees –

–  R&D activities focused on the development of innovative delivery systems –

– First quarter 2020 sales increased 34% vs. first quarter 2019 –

– Net profit of $1,126,000 for Q1 2020 vs. net loss of $637,000 for Q1 2019 –

EDMONTON, Alberta, May 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ceapro Inc. (TSX-V: CZO) (“Ceapro” or the “Company”), a growth-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of active ingredients for healthcare and cosmetic industries, today announced financial results and operational highlights for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

“We are very pleased with the progress we have made on multiple fronts during the first quarter of this year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. While our first quarter financial results were very strong, our focus remains on the health and safety of our associates during these unprecedented times, followed by business continuity. These solid results are a clear testament to the dedication and hard work of every one of our employees during these challenging times and we are very proud of their commitment to support our customers heightened demand by delivering high quality products. Importantly, these results also reflect the sound foundation and the strength of our base business deliberately built over the last few years,” stated Gilles Gagnon, M.Sc., MBA, President and CEO.

Corporate and Operational Highlights

Pipeline Development:

• Received approval from Health Canada for an amendment to the beta glucan clinical trial protocol to allow evaluation of subjects with confirmed pathophysiological condition of hyperlipidemia who voluntary request to be treated with beta glucan only, without regular dosing of statins. This, allowing patients to receive beta glucan as a stand-alone therapy, should accelerate patient enrollment and expand target addressable patient population.
• Received approval from Health Canada Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch for a research license with medical cannabis for the formulation of unique solid cannabinoid delivery systems using PGX technology.
• Published Results from a collaborative project with University of Alberta researchers in Journal of Supercritical Fluids in an article titled “Preparation of PGX-dried gum arabic and its loading with coQ10 by adsorptive precipitation.”
• Continued to monitor stability studies for liquid beta glucan and avenanthramides produced at a new manufacturing site as well as for the pharmaceutical-grade dry powder formulation of avenanthramides to be used in a human bioavailability study.
• Developed new PGX-dried chemical complexes like sodium alginate and gum arabic impregnated with coenzyme Q10 demonstrating the versatility of the PGX technology and the potential to develop significant bioactives delivery systems.

Technology:

• Advanced conversations with interested potential partners to out-license applications developed using Ceapro’s innovative technology.
• Conducted a technical assessment of available equipment in Europe and North America and are actively evaluating locations for a future commercial scale-up of the PGX technology.
• Advanced research and development efforts to pursue the development of new PGX-dried chemical complexes for potential applications under various forms like pills, capsules, fast dissolving strips and face masks.
• Executed on research collaboration projects with Universities of Alberta and McMaster for the impregnation of various bio actives using PGX-processed dry beta glucan as a potential delivery system for multiple applications in healthcare.
• Subsequent to quarter, announced research project with McMaster University for PGX-processed yeast beta glucan as a potential treatment for COVID-19 patients.

Corporate:

• Hired an international consulting firm to support licensing activities.
• Secured DTC Eligibility for publicly traded shares under Ticker OTCQZ: CRPOF.
• Increased Company exposure through investor relations activities.

Financial Highlights for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2020

• Total sales of $4,273,000 for the first quarter of 2020 compared to $3,197,000 for the comparative period in 2019; an increase of 34% over last year. Avenanthramides sales volumes increased by 68% for Q1 2020 vs Q1 2019.
• Net income after taxes of $1,126,000 for the first quarter of 2020 compared to a net loss after taxes of $637,000 for the comparative period in 2019.
• Research and Development of $503,000 in Q1 2020 vs $801,000 in 2019. This decreased investment was partly due to a slowdown of recruitment of patients for the beta glucan trial during the pandemic crisis.
• Cash generated from operations of $531,000 in Q1 2020 vs. cash flows generated from operations of $367,000 in Q1 2019.
• Positive working capital balance of $6,263,817 as of March 31, 2020.

“As we respond to the potential impacts and uncertainties of COVID-19 by taking the necessary steps to preserve our financial position, we continue to execute on our transition to a new business model from a contract manufacturer to a biopharmaceutical company. We remain dedicated to executing on our milestones ahead and depending on the pandemic situation, look forward to what we believe will be an exciting year,” concluded Mr. Gagnon.

CEAPRO INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited
	March 31,	December 31,
	2020	2019
	$	$
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	2,254,986	1,857,195
Trade receivables	3,923,939	3,659,541
Other receivables	70,888	46,812
Inventories (note 3)	1,016,858	669,005
Prepaid expenses and deposits	233,094	178,908
	7,499,765	6,411,461
Non-Current Assets
Investment tax credits receivable	607,700	607,700
Deposits	85,755	85,755
Licences (note 4)	20,736	21,477
Property and equipment (note 5)	19,324,874	19,764,122
Deferred tax assets	378,643	378,643
	20,417,708	20,857,697
TOTAL ASSETS	27,917,473	27,269,158
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	827,761	1,291,204
Current portion of long-term debt (note 6)	63,899	111,865
Current portion of lease liabilities (note 7)	268,611	265,123
Current portion of CAAP loan (note 9)	75,677	72,942
	1,235,948	1,741,134
Non-Current Liabilities
Long-term lease liabilities (note 7)	2,707,152	2,775,627
CAAP loan (note 9)	63,953	61,580
Deferred tax liabilities	378,643	378,643
	3,149,748	3,215,850
TOTAL LIABILITIES	4,385,696	4,956,984
Equity
Share capital (note 8 (b))	16,503,089	16,401,677
Contributed surplus (note 8 (e))	4,642,226	4,650,090
Retained earnings	2,386,462	1,260,407
	23,531,777	22,312,174
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	27,917,473	27,269,158

CEAPRO INC.
Consolidated Statements of Net Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Unaudited
	2020		2019
Three Months Ended March 31,	$		$
Revenue (note 15)	4,273,374		3,196,930
Cost of goods sold	1,901,223		1,840,298
Gross margin	2,372,151		1,356,632
Research and product development	502,542		800,504
General and administration	865,034		733,019
Sales and marketing	48,228		107,678
Finance costs (note 12)	101,609		108,374
Income (loss) from operations	854,738		(392,943	)
Other income (expenses) (note 11)	271,317		(243,685	)
Income (loss) before tax	1,126,055		(636,628	)
Income taxes	-		-
Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period	1,126,055		(636,628	)
Net income (loss) per common share (note 18):
Basic	0.01		(0.01	)
Diluted	0.01		(0.01	)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (note 18):
Basic	77,538,314		77,046,786
Diluted	77,880,861		77,046,786

CEAPRO INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Unaudited
	2020		2019
Three Months Ended March 31,	$		$
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss) for the period adjusted for non-cash and working capital items	1,126,055		(636,628	)
Adjustments for items not involving cash
Finance costs	40,947		43,703
Transaction costs	554		2,526
Depreciation and amortization	460,088		456,209
Foreign exchange gain on long-term debt	-		(307	)
Accretion	5,108		7,145
Share-based payments	93,548		97,628
Net income (loss) for the period adjusted for non-cash items	1,726,300		(29,724	)
CHANGES IN NON-CASH WORKING CAPITAL ITEMS
Trade receivables	(264,398	)	490,366
Other receivables	(24,076	)	11,515
Inventories	(347,853	)	(257,846	)
Prepaid expenses and deposits	(54,186	)	46,008
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities relating to operating activities	(463,443	)	150,553
Total changes in non-cash working capital items	(1,153,956	)	440,596
Net income (loss) for the period adjusted for non-cash and working capital items	572,344		410,872
Interest paid	(40,947	)	(43,703	)
CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS	531,397		367,169
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of property and equipment	(20,099	)	(14,754	)
Deposits relating to investment in equipment	-		(53,239	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities relating to investing activities	-		(3,458	)
CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(20,099	)	(71,451	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Stock options exercised	-		1,283
Repayment of long-term debt	(48,520	)	(164,963	)
Repayment of lease liabilities	(64,987	)	(76,053	)
CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(113,507	)	(239,733	)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	397,791		55,985
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	1,857,195		1,844,134
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	2,254,986		1,900,119

The complete financial statements are available for review on SEDAR at https://www.sedar.com/DisplayProfile.do?lang=EN&issuerType=03& ... and on the Company’s website at www.ceapro.com.

About Ceapro Inc.

Ceapro Inc. is a Canadian biotechnology company involved in the development of proprietary extraction technology and the application of this technology to the production of extracts and “active ingredients” from oats and other renewable plant resources. Ceapro adds further value to its extracts by supporting their use in cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and therapeutics products for humans and animals. The Company has a broad range of expertise in natural product chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology and process engineering. These skills merge in the fields of active ingredients, biopharmaceuticals and drug-delivery solutions. For more information on Ceapro, please visit the Company’s website at www.ceapro.com.

For more information contact:

Jenene Thomas
JTC Team, LLC
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Advisor
T (US): [phone]
E: [e-mail]

Issuer:
Gilles R. Gagnon, M.Sc., MBA
President & CEO
T: 780-421-4555

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.