Exhibit 99.1
Evogene Reports First Quarter 2021 Financial Results
Conference call and webcast: today, May 26, 2021, 9:00 am ET
Rehovot, Israel – May 26, 2021 – Evogene Ltd. (NASDAQ: EVGN, TASE: EVGN), a leading computational biology company targeting to revolutionize life-science
product discovery and development across several market segments, announces today its financial results for the first quarter of 2021.
Mr. Ofer Haviv, Evogene's President and CEO, stated, “A major corporate target for this year and the year following is value creation and its recognition by the capital
markets, through Evogene’s subsidiaries. Two main paths to achieve this target in life-science based companies, such as our subsidiaries, are: product advancement and commercialization, and demonstration of their underlying technological
advantage.
With respect to product advancement, in 2021-2022, all our subsidiaries have significant milestones for pipeline advancement, and some of them are even expected to reach first product launches. We
believe that announcing the achievement of such milestones, as they are reached, will enable the capital markets to properly appreciate the value created by the subsidiaries and will also be reflected in Evogene's value recognition.
With respect to demonstration of the advantage of the underlying technology, we believe that it can be recognized through the rapid progress of our subsidiaries' discovery and development pipelines. Moreover, any
strategic collaboration entered into by a subsidiary, such as between AgPlenus and Corteva, or equity investment in a subsidiary by a strategic partner, such as Corteva's investment in Lavie Bio, is a vote of confidence in the unique advantages
of our technology.
As previously disclosed, some of our subsidiaries are targeting to achieve additional strategic collaborations during 2021-2022. We expect that such collaborations will enable the capital markets
to further recognize the unique technological value of our subsidiaries, thus reflecting on Evogene's value, as well.
I am pleased to report that both Evogene and our subsidiaries have been progressing in accordance with their plans during the first quarter of 2021. Each of our subsidiaries has a very promising
product pipeline, and their activities are aiming to advance the products towards commercialization.”
Q1 2021 main achievements
Biomica
|
|
• |
Received additional positive pre-clinical results in its immuno-oncology program demonstrating efficacy of its live biotherapeutic product consortium BMC128 in combination with immune-checkpoint-inhibitors, this time in melanoma.
|
Canonic
|
|
• |
Entered into agreements for the production and distribution in Israel of Canonic’s medical cannabis products with Tikun Olam-Cannbit Pharmaceuticals to enable the planned launch of Canonic's first product in 2022.
|
Lavie Bio
|
|
• |
Recently appointed Mr. Russ Putland as Vice President Commercial, bringing significant commercial experience to the Lavie Bio management team in preparation for its anticipated product launches starting 2022.
|
Evogene’s Ag-Seed division
|
|
• |
Entered a collaboration agreement with a U.S. company, Plastomics, whereby Evogene’s insect control genes, demonstrating new modes of action, will be introduced into soybean, utilizing Plastomics’ disruptive new technology.
|
“We enthusiastically look forward to continuing our progress, achieving our defined targets, entering into new collaborations, and expanding the use of our technology into new fields of activity,” Mr. Haviv concluded.
Consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended as of March 31, 2021:
Cash position: Evogene maintains a strong financial position for its activities with approximately $70.1 million in consolidated cash, cash related accounts, bank deposits and
marketable securities as of March 31, 2021. Approximately $11.8 million of Evogene’s consolidated cash is appropriated to its subsidiary, Lavie Bio.
During the first quarter of 2021, our consolidated net cash usage, excluding $27.1 million of net proceeds raised through an “At the Market Offering” (“ATM”) initiated in January 2021 and concluded during February
2021, was approximately $5.2 million, or $4.0 million, if excluding Lavie Bio. The Company has no bank debt.
In March 2021 we announced a new “ATM” and we had not sold any shares under this offering as of the end of the quarter.
Research and Development (“R&D”) expenses: R&D expenses, which are reported net of grants received, were
approximately $4.3 million for the first quarter of 2021 (including a non-cash expense of $0.3 million for amortization of share-based compensation), in comparison to $4.6 million (including a non-cash expense of $0.9 million for amortization of
share-based compensation) in the first quarter of 2020. In the first quarter of 2021 the actual R&D expenses slightly decreased, mainly due to a decrease in share-based compensation expenses.
Business Development (“BD”) expenses: BD expenses were approximately $0.6 million for the first quarter of 2021 (including a non-cash expense of $0.1
million for amortization of share-based compensation), in comparison to $1.0 million (including a non-cash expense of $0.7 million for amortization of share-based compensation) in the first quarter of 2020.
General and Administrative (“G&A”) expenses: G&A expenses for the first quarter of 2021 were $1.5 million
(including a non-cash expense of $0.1 million for amortization of share-based compensation), in comparison to $1.3 million (including a non-cash expense of $0.3 million for amortization of share-based compensation) in the first quarter of 2020. The
increase is mainly attributed to the increase of the costs of directors' and officers' insurance, partially offset by a decrease in non-cash expenses of amortization of share-based compensation.
Operating loss: Operating loss for the first quarter of 2021 was $6.3 million, in comparison to $6.9 million for the first quarter of 2020. The decrease in
operating loss during the first quarter is attributed to the increase in revenues from collaboration agreements compared to the first quarter of 2020 and due to the decrease in aforementioned amortization of share-based compensation expenses.
Loss: The loss for the first quarter of 2021 was $7.1 million in comparison to a loss of $7.2 million for the first
quarter of 2020. The slight decrease in the loss for the first quarter is attributed to the reduction in operating loss, partially offset by an increase in financing expenses mainly attributed to exchange rate differences and revaluation of
pre-funded warrants.
***
Conference Call & Webcast Details:
Date: May 26, 2021
Time: 9:00 am EST; 16:00 Israel time
Dial-in number:1-888-326-9310 toll free from the United States, or +972-3-925-5901internationally
Webcast: Available at www.evogene.com
Replay Information: A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours following the completion of the call.
To access the replay, please dial 1-888-326-9310 toll free from the United States, or +972-3-925-5904 internationally. The replay will be accessible through May 28, 2021, and an archive of the
webcast will be available on the Company’s website.
About Evogene Ltd.:
Evogene (NASDAQ: EVGN, TASE: EVGN), is a leading company in leveraging computational biology to design novel products for life-science-based industries including human health, agriculture, and
industrial applications. Leveraging Big Data and Artificial Intelligence while incorporating a deep understanding of biology, Evogene established its unique technology, the Computational Predictive Biology (CPB) platform, to computationally design microbes, small molecules and genes as the core components for life-science products. Evogene holds a number of subsidiaries utilizing the CPB platform, for the development of human microbiome-based therapeutics, medical cannabis, ag-biologicals, ag-chemicals, seed traits and ag-solutions for castor oil production. For more information, please visit www.evogene.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" relating to future events. These statements may be identified by words such as “may”, “could”, “expects”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “believes”, “scheduled”, “estimates” or words of similar meaning. For example, Evogene is using forward-looking
statement in this press release when it discusses its expected paths to value creation, its and its’ subsidiaries expected trials, studies, product advancements, commercializations, launches, pipelines, milestones, potential collaborations and
other plans for 2021 and 2022, the potential advantages of its technology and its anticipated entry into new fields of activity. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, describe opinions about
future events, involve certain risks and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and are not guarantees of future performance. Therefore, actual future results, performance or achievements of Evogene and its subsidiaries may differ
materially from what is expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Evogene and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, those risk factors contained in
Evogene’s reports filed with the applicable securities authority, as well as a result of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Evogene and its subsidiaries rely, and expect to continue to
rely, on third parties to conduct certain activities, such as their field-trials and pre-clinical studies, and if these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, comply with regulatory requirements or meet expected
deadlines (including as a result of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic), Evogene and its subsidiaries may experience significant delays in the conduct of their activities. Evogene and its subsidiaries disclaim any obligation or commitment to
update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments or changes in expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions.
|
Evogene Investor Contact:
|
US Investor Relations:
|
|
Aviva Banczewski / Rivka Neufeld
Investor Relations and Public Relations Manager
E: IR@evogene.com
T: +972-8-931-1900
|
Joseph Green
Edison Group
E: jgreen@edisongroup.com
T: +1 646-653-7030
|
|
Laine Yonker
Edison Group
E: lyonker@edisongroup.com
T: +1 646-653-7035
|
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
|
As of
March 31,
|
As of
December 31,
|
|||||||
|
2021
|
2020
|
|||||||
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|||||||
|
CURRENT ASSETS:
|
||||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$
|
38,642
|
$
|
46,229
|
||||
|
Marketable securities
|
19,948
|
-
|
||||||
|
Short-term bank deposits
|
11,500
|
2,000
|
||||||
|
Trade receivables
|
219
|
222
|
||||||
|
Other receivables and prepaid expenses
|
2,584
|
3,372
|
||||||
|
72,893
|
51,823
|
|||||||
|
LONG-TERM ASSETS:
|
||||||||
|
Long-term deposits
|
10
|
9
|
||||||
|
Right-of-use-assets
|
1,882
|
1,872
|
||||||
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
2,084
|
2,072
|
||||||
|
Intangible assets, net
|
15,909
|
16,139
|
||||||
|
19,885
|
20,092
|
|||||||
|
$
|
92,778
|
$
|
71,915
|
|||||
|
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
|
||||||||
|
Trade payables
|
$
|
993
|
$
|
863
|
||||
|
Employees and payroll accruals
|
2,397
|
2,535
|
||||||
|
Operating lease liability
|
758
|
777
|
||||||
|
Liabilities in respect of government grants
|
144
|
72
|
||||||
|
Pre-funded warrants
|
-
|
4,144
|
||||||
|
Deferred revenues and other advances
|
26
|
47
|
||||||
|
Other payables
|
1,024
|
1,238
|
||||||
|
5,342
|
9,676
|
|||||||
|
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
|
||||||||
|
Operating lease liability
|
1,592
|
1,663
|
||||||
|
Liabilities in respect of government grants
|
3,740
|
3,694
|
||||||
|
5,332
|
5,357
|
|||||||
|
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
|
||||||||
|
Ordinary shares of NIS 0.02 par value:
Authorized − 150,000,000 ordinary shares; Issued and outstanding – 40,414,229 shares as of March 31, 2021 and 35,600,088 shares as of December 31, 2020
|
230
|
200
|
||||||
|
Share premium and other capital reserve
|
257,184
|
225,121
|
||||||
|
Accumulated deficit
|
(185,878
|
)
|
(179,276
|
)
|
||||
|
Equity attributable to equity holders of the Company
|
71,536
|
46,045
|
||||||
|
Non-controlling interests
|
10,568
|
10,837
|
||||||
|
Total equity
|
82,104
|
56,882
|
||||||
|
$
|
92,778
|
$
|
71,915
|
|||||
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
|
Three months ended
March 31,
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|||||||||||
|
2021
|
2020
|
2020
|
||||||||||
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|||||||||||
|
Revenues
|
$
|
333
|
$
|
75
|
$
|
1,040
|
||||||
|
Cost of revenues
|
271
|
39
|
574
|
|||||||||
|
Gross profit
|
62
|
36
|
466
|
|||||||||
|
Operating expenses:
|
||||||||||||
|
Research and development, net
|
4,297
|
4,587
|
17,287
|
|||||||||
|
Business development
|
570
|
970
|
2,672
|
|||||||||
|
General and administrative
|
1,454
|
1,337
|
5,321
|
|||||||||
|
Total operating expenses
|
6,321
|
6,894
|
25,280
|
|||||||||
|
Operating loss
|
(6,259
|
)
|
(6,858
|
)
|
(24,814
|
)
|
||||||
|
Financing income
|
52
|
137
|
1,591
|
|||||||||
|
Financing expenses
|
(905
|
)
|
(487
|
)
|
(2,951
|
)
|
||||||
|
Financing expenses, net
|
(853
|
)
|
(350
|
)
|
(1,360
|
)
|
||||||
|
Loss before taxes on income
|
(7,112
|
)
|
(7,208
|
)
|
(26,174
|
)
|
||||||
|
Taxes on income
|
8
|
6
|
32
|
|||||||||
|
Loss
|
$
|
(7,120
|
)
|
$
|
(7,214
|
)
|
$
|
(26,206
|
)
|
|||
|
Attributable to:
|
||||||||||||
|
Equity holders of the Company
|
(6,602
|
)
|
(6,228
|
)
|
(23,374
|
)
|
||||||
|
Non-controlling interests
|
(518
|
)
|
(986
|
)
|
(2,832
|
)
|
||||||
|
$
|
(7,120
|
)
|
$
|
(7,214
|
)
|
$
|
(26,206
|
)
|
||||
|
Basic and diluted loss per share
|
$
|
(0.17
|
)
|
$
|
(0.24
|
)
|
$
|
(0.83
|
)
|
|||
|
Weighted average number of shares used in computing basic and diluted loss per share
|
38,959,623
|
25,754,297
|
28,158,779
|
|||||||||
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
U.S. dollars in thousands
U.S. dollars in thousands
|
Three months ended
March 31,
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|||||||||||
|
2021
|
2020
|
2020
|
||||||||||
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|||||||||||
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
||||||||||||
|
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares, net of issuance expenses
|
27,108
|
-
|
18,658
|
|||||||||
|
Proceeds from issuance of pre-funded warrants
|
-
|
-
|
1,989
|
|||||||||
|
Proceeds from advances for pre-funded warrants
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
|||||||||
|
Proceeds from exercise of options
|
445
|
-
|
59
|
|||||||||
|
Repayment of lease liability
|
(167
|
)
|
(177
|
)
|
(639
|
)
|
||||||
|
Proceeds from government grants
|
123
|
175
|
320
|
|||||||||
|
Repayment of government grants
|
(20
|
)
|
-
|
(22
|
)
|
|||||||
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
27,489
|
(2
|
)
|
20,374
|
||||||||
|
Exchange rate differences - cash and cash equivalent balances
|
(624
|
)
|
(512
|
)
|
1,206
|
|||||||
|
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
(7,587
|
)
|
(2,737
|
)
|
11,481
|
|||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents, at the beginning of the period
|
46,229
|
34,748
|
34,748
|
|||||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents, at the end of the period
|
$
|
38,642
|
$
|
32,011
|
$
|
46,229
|
||||||
|
Significant non-cash activities
|
||||||||||||
|
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
|
$
|
64
|
$
|
17
|
$
|
57
|
||||||
|
Increase (decrease) of right-of-use asset recognized with corresponding lease liability
|
$
|
162
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
(41
|
)
|
|||||
|
Exercise of options
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
57
|
||||||
|
Ordinary shares issuance expenses
|
$
|
50
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
||||||