Terra Tech Corp Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2018
26% Revenue Growth for Q1 2018 vs Q1 2017
IRVINE, Calif., May 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Terra Tech Corp. (OTCQX:TRTC) (“Terra Tech” or the “Company”), a vertically integrated cannabis-focused agriculture company, today announced its first quarter 2018 financial results for the period ended March 31, 2018.
We were pleased to report revenue growth of 26% compared to the prior year period. This was the first quarter in which we generated revenues from sales to California’s adult use cannabis market. We believe these revenues will accelerate as the industry’s supply chain professionalizes and the adult-use market matures.
Derek Peterson, Chief Executive Officer of Terra Tech
California is the world’s largest cannabis market, home to approximately 40 million people, and we are proud to have positioned ourselves to have first mover advantage in anticipation of a significant market ramp over the coming months.
“To prepare us to scale our production to meet this projected demand, we are building a Blüm dispensary and extraction facility in San Leandro and have submitted applications to open two additional retail dispensaries in Santa Ana. As a result of this infrastructure buildout and the developments in the market, our California operations are well-positioned to drive top-line revenue growth in the future.
“We are also pleased with the performance of our four Nevada-based cannabis dispensaries, which have been selling to the adult-use market since July of last year and have established both our Blüm retail and IVXX wholesale brands as recognized leaders in the adult-use market. During the first quarter we participated in completing the construction of our new cultivation facility in Sparks, NV and our cannabis extraction facility in Reno, NV, which will significantly expand our capacity when the requisite state approvals come through.
“Our revenues from Edible Garden increased 40% as sales for our expanded line of organic and locally-grown salads and greens gained momentum. This segment of our business gives us a strong foothold in the New Jersey market and we will continue to invest in building out its distribution channels and constructing a major new packaging facility,” concluded Mr. Peterson.
Financial Update
- Total revenues generated for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 were approximately $8.6 million, an increase of 26% from $6.8 million in the same period in 2017. This growth was primarily due to revenue generated by the Company’s dispensaries in California and Nevada and from revenue generated by Edible Garden from the sales of its produce and herbs.
- Gross margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 amounted to approximately 19.1%, compared to approximately 5.3% for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.
- Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 amounted to approximately $8.4 million, compared to approximately $6.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.
- The net loss attributable to Terra Tech for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 was approximately $(10.0 million), or ($0.16) per share compared to a loss of approximately $(10.1 million) or ($0.27) per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.
- The Company had $4.5 million in cash as of March 31, 2018. During the quarter, the Company secured a $40 million investment commitment, to be made in eight tranches of $5 million over 24 months. This capital injection will primarily be used to build out the Company’s infrastructure to support its long term growth strategy.
- Stockholders’ equity for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 amounted to approximately $85.7 million, an increase of approximately $8.9 million compared to approximately $76.8 million as of December 31, 2017.
- The Company had no short-term debt as of March 31, 2018. Long term debt was $13.2 million as of March 31, 2018, compared with $6.6 million as of December 31, 2017.
Business Update
California:
Terra Tech received State of California Temporary Authorization to cultivate, manufacture, distribute and retail cannabis to the adult-use market, following California’s legalization of adult-use cannabis sales effective January 1, 2018. This significantly expands the Company’s potential customer base in California beyond the medical market, which it has been servicing since April 2016.
- Oakland: The Company’s Blüm, Oakland dispensary expanded its sales of cannabis to include the adult-use market for the first time. To prepare for a ramp in demand as a result of the legalization of adult-use cannabis, Terra Tech is constructing a 13,000 square foot cultivation facility in Hegenberger, Oakland which has the capacity to produce up to one metric ton, or 2,000 pounds, of cannabis per year. The facility is expected to be fully operational by late-2018.
- San Leandro: The Company continued construction of a Blüm dispensary and extraction facility, both of which are expected to open in the second half of 2018.
- Santa Ana: The Company continued to ramp sales at its Blüm, Santa Ana location, including making its first sales at this location to the adult-use market. Upon receiving regulatory approval from the city of Santa Ana, Terra Tech will acquire the cannabis retail permit associated with the dispensary for no additional consideration. On February 1, 2018, the Company submitted applications to open two additional retail dispensaries in Santa Ana and expects the City to announce whether these are approved in the next 60 days.
- Terra Tech’s ‘Craft Cultivator’, Panther Gap Farms, in Humboldt county, received the necessary cultivation and manufacturing licenses to grow and extract products for the Company’s proprietary IVXX-branded cannabis for the adult use market.
Nevada:
- The Company’s four Blüm dispensaries in Nevada continued to grow their brand recognition among adult-use customers.
- The Company has participated in the completion of the construction of a new 30,000 square foot cannabis cultivation facility in Sparks, NV and a 15,000 square foot cannabis extraction facility in Reno, NV, through agreements with NuLeaf. The Company is awaiting final State of Nevada approvals to begin production at the Reno facility and cannabis cultivation of our IVXX-branded products at the Sparks facility.
New Jersey:
- Construction is underway for a major new pack house in New Jersey to distribute herbs and leafy greens for its subsidiary, Edible Garden.
Conference Call
The company will also host a conference call today, Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time.
Dial-In Number: 1-857-232-0157
Access Code: 422095
Derek Peterson, Chairman and CEO of Terra Tech Corp., will be answering shareholder questions at the end of the call. Should you have questions during or prior to the conference call please send an email to TRTC@kcsa.com with ‘TRTC Question’ in the subject line. Mr. Peterson will answer as many questions as time will allow.
For those unable to participate in the live conference call, a replay will be available at http://smallcapvoice.com/blog/trtc/. An archived version of the webcast will also be available on the investor relations section of the company’s website.
To be added to the Terra Tech email distribution list, please email TRTC@kcsa.com with TRTC in the subject line.
About Terra Tech
Terra Tech Corp. (OTCQX: TRTC) operates through multiple subsidiary businesses including: Blüm, IVXX Inc., Edible Garden, and MediFarm LLC. Blüm’s retail and medical cannabis facilities provide the highest quality medical cannabis to patients who are looking for alternative treatments for their chronic medical conditions as well as premium cannabis to the adult-use market in Nevada and California. Blüm offers a broad selection of cannabis products including; flowers, concentrates and edibles through its Oakland, CA and multiple Nevada locations. IVXX, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Terra Tech that produces cannabis-extracted products for regulated medical cannabis dispensaries throughout California and medical and adult-use dispensaries in Nevada. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Edible Garden, cultivates a premier brand of local and sustainably grown hydroponic produce, sold through major grocery stores such as ShopRite, Walmart, Ahold, Aldi, Meijer, Kroger, Stop & Shop and others nationwide. Terra Tech’s MediFarm LLC subsidiaries are focused on medical and adult-use cannabis cultivation and permitting businesses throughout Nevada.
For more information about Terra Tech Corp visit: http://www.terratechcorp.com/
For more information about IVXX visit: http://ivxx.com/
For more information about Blüm Nevada visit: http://letsblum.com
For more information about Blüm Oakland visit: http://blumoak.com/
Visit us on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/terratechcorp/timeline
Follow us on Twitter @terratechcorp
For more information about Edible Garden visit: http://www.ediblegarden.com/
Visit Edible Garden on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/ediblefarms?fref=ts
Visit IVXX on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/ivxxbrand?fref=ts
Original press release