EX-99.1 3 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

 

SYNTROLEUM ANNOUNCES 1Q 2003 RESULTS;

NEGATIVE CASH FLOW REDUCED 41%

 

For Release

Tuesday, April 29, 2003

 

Contact:

 

John Ford

Syntroleum Corporation

(918) 592-7900

www.syntroleum.com

     

 

Tulsa, OK—(Syntroleum Corporation (NASDAQ: SYNM) today announced unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003. The company reported success in reducing net cash outflow from $5 million in the first quarter of 2002 and from $8 million in the fourth quarter of 2002 to $47 thousand in the first quarter of 2003, which includes a $3 million private placement. Excluding the private placement, the company’s net cash outflow for the first quarter averaged approximately $1 million per month. This first quarter expenditure of $3 million is 41% less than the $5 million expenditure for the first quarter of 2002 and 64% less than the $8 million expenditure for the fourth quarter of 2002. This is on track to meet the company’s previously stated objective to achieve a 50% reduction in net cash outflow for the full year 2003. The company’s cash balance at the end of the first quarter was $14.6 million, essentially equal to the December 31, 2002 cash balance.

 

First quarter 2003 revenue increased to $1.5 million from $1.1 million for the first quarter 2002. First quarter expenses totaled approximately $17.3 million, including $10.8 million of expenditures on the DOE/Catoosa project to install major equipment modules. The Catoosa project is a 100-barrel per day plant sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Marathon Oil Company, and Syntroleum that will supply fuels for demonstration in vehicle fleets. Since this project is not currently for commercial operations, these reimbursed costs are recorded as expense in accordance with Statement of Financial

 

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Syntroleum Announces First Quarter…

April 29, 2003

Page 2 of 5

 

Accounting Standards No. 2, “Accounting for Research and Development Costs.” Expenses for the construction of the Catoosa plant do not negatively impact the company’s current cash since they are funded by Marathon through a $21.3 million promissory note that is recorded as convertible debt on the company’s balance sheet. The only form of repayment of the note is through credits against future license fees or conversion into the company’s stock at no less than $6 per share. Excluding these reimbursed plant expenses, first quarter operating expenses in 2003 were down $1.4 million compared to the same period in 2002, despite one-time severance expenses of $454 thousand for lay-offs occurring in February 2003. For the first quarter of 2003, the company reported a loss of $16.3 million, or $.48 per share, compared to a loss of $6.8 million, or $.20 per share, in the first quarter of 2002.

 

As part of its increased emphasis on commercialization and financing, the company also announced organizational changes resulting from the company’s increased focus on commercialization and project development. Larry Weick becomes senior vice president/CFO. Ken Roberts, formerly CFO, becomes senior vice president of business development. The research and development and engineering departments have been combined under Jeff Bigger who becomes senior vice president and chief technology officer. Ron Stinebaugh, who joined the company in February, becomes vice president corporate finance and acquisitions.

 

“Syntroleum’s financial performance for the first quarter was in line with our strategy and expectations,” stated Jack Holmes, Syntroleum’s president and chief operating officer. “While we have not yet achieved profitability, we have significantly reduced our negative cash flow from last year as a result of our restructuring efforts.”

 

“The organizational changes announced today will focus our attention more intensely on critical near-term financing needs by exploiting commercial progress that we have achieved thus far on a number of fronts. We believe these changes will help insure our success in the coming year and build a strong foundation for profitability.”

 

“In summary,” Holmes concluded, “we believe we have assured our survival, we have a competitive advantage in our proven technology, we have a large inventory of projects, and we are focused on executing our best projects in a way that will result in positive cash flow.”

 

The company’s first quarter 2003 conference call will take place on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 at 4:00 PM EDT, during which Syntroleum’s senior management will review these financial results for this period. Callers may listen to the live presentation by dialing (800) 210-9006 and entering pass code #591174. In addition, a web cast of the call will be available via the Internet by accessing www.syntroleum.com. Listeners should allow a few minutes for registration into the web site. A replay of this conference call will be available on the web site under the Syntroleum Investor Relations tab for a period of one year.


Syntroleum Announces First Quarter…

April 29, 2003

Page 3 of 5

 

Syntroleum Corporation owns a proprietary gas-to-liquids (GTL) process for converting natural gas into synthetic liquid hydrocarbons. The company plans to use its GTL technology, as well as other third party gas processing technologies, to develop and participate in gas monetization projects in a number of global locations.

 

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(Tables Follow)

 

This document includes forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the DOE/Catoosa project and other proposed projects, the Syntroleum Process and related technologies and products. When used in this document, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intent,” “may,” “project,” “plan” “should,” “could,” and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. Although Syntroleum believes that its expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include the potential that debt or equity financing for anticipated GTL or related NGL or oil and gas projects may not be available, the schedule for development, construction and operation of proposed GTL plants may not be met, anticipated appropriation and expenditure of federal monies does not occur, commercial-scale GTL plants do not achieve the same results as those demonstrated on a laboratory or pilot basis or that such plants experience technological and mechanical problems, the potential that improvements to the Syntroleum Process currently under development may not be successful, the impact on plant economics of operating conditions (including energy prices), construction risks, risks associated with investments and operations in foreign countries, the ability to implement corporate strategies, including the continued availability of adequate working capital, competition, intellectual property risks, Syntroleum’s ability to obtain financing and other risks described in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

®“Syntroleum” is registered as a trademark and service mark in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.


Syntroleum Announces First Quarter…

April 29, 2003

Page 4 of 5

 

Syntroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries

First Quarter 2003 Earnings* (Unaudited)

 

    

2003

1st Quarter


    

2002

1st Quarter


 

Revenue

                 

Joint Development

  

$

795

 

  

$

639

 

Real Estate Sales

  

 

704

 

  

 

444

 

Other

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

    


  


Total Revenue

  

 

1,499

 

  

 

1,083

 

Cost of Real Estate Sales

  

 

458

 

  

 

332

 

Expenses

                 

DOE/Catoosa Project

  

 

10,802

 

  

 

344

 

R&D/Engineering

  

 

2,315

 

  

 

3,829

 

G&A and Other

  

 

4,192

 

  

 

3,725

 

    


  


Total Expense

  

 

17,309

 

  

 

7,898

 

Earnings (loss) from Operations

  

 

(16,268

)

  

 

(7,147

)

    


  


Other Income(Expense)

  

 

(32

)

  

 

376

 

Taxes

  

 

(20

)

  

 

(14

)

    


  


Net Earnings (loss)

  

$

(16,320

)

  

$

(6,785

)

    


  


Earnings Per Share

                 

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

  

$

(0.48

)

  

$

(0.20

)

    


  


Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

  

 

33,694

 

  

 

33,282

 

    


  


 

* All numbers in thousands except earnings per share.


Syntroleum Announces First Quarter…

April 29, 2003

Page 5 of 5

 

Syntroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

 

    

March 31, 2003


      

December 31, 2002


 
    

(Thousands)

      

(Thousands)

 

Assets

                   

Cash and cash equivalents

  

$

14,564

 

    

$

14,611

 

Total other current assets

  

 

5,704

 

    

 

5,815

 

Total non-current assets

  

 

28,251

 

    

 

26,885

 

    


    


Total Assets

  

$

48,519

 

    

$

47,311

 

    


    


Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity

Total current liabilities

  

$

7,113

 

    

$

6,800

 

Other non-current liabilities

  

 

283

 

    

 

283

 

Long-term debt

  

 

1,611

 

    

 

1,432

 

Convertible debt

  

 

12,774

 

    

 

4,466

 

Deferred revenue

  

 

41,603

 

    

 

35,875

 

Minority interests

  

 

2,443

 

    

 

2,445

 

    


    


Total Liabilities

  

 

65,827

 

    

 

51,301

 

Total Stockholder’s Equity

  

 

(17,308

)

    

 

(3,990

)

    


    


Total Liabilities and Equity

  

$

48,519

 

    

$

47,311