Ceapro Inc. Reports 2021 Second Quarter and Six-Month Financial Results and Operational Highlights

– Company continues to increase R&D activities to advance clinical and preclinical programs –

– Second quarter sales of $4,409,000 compared to $4,666,000 for second quarter 2020 –

– Cash generated from operations of $2,128,000 in Q2 2021 compared to $2,195,000 in Q2 2020 –

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

EDMONTON, Alberta, Aug. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ceapro Inc. (TSX-V: CZO; OTCQX: CRPOF) (“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 second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2021.

“Progress continues on all fronts from production operations to research and development, allowing us to advance our pipeline while expanding our business model. With our newly formed network of highly renowned experts from University of Alberta, McMaster University, the Montreal Heart Institute, and the Angiogenesis Foundation, we have implemented a comprehensive strategic research plan that we believe enables us to address immune/inflammation-based and lifestyle diseases at various stages and from all angles. Additionally, with upcoming results expected in the fourth quarter of this year for Ceapro’s very first clinical trial, I believe we are well positioned for the next steps in becoming a premier life sciences company. The Company has exciting things on the horizon and we are committed to building on momentum,” stated Gilles Gagnon, M.Sc., MBA, President and CEO.

Corporate and Operational Highlights

Pipeline Development:

• Announced successful completion of collaborative research and development program with University of Alberta. The program developed several new chemical complexes as potential delivery systems and demonstrated the possibility of drying peptides using Pressurized Gas eXpanded (PGX) Technology.

• Initiated bioavailability studies with University of Alberta for new chemical complexes yeast beta glucan-CoQ10 and alginate-CoQ10.

• Resumed research activities with McMaster University to develop an inhalable therapeutic for COVID-19 using yeast beta glucan.

• Completed patient enrollment in clinical study evaluating beta glucan as a cholesterol-lowering agent. Last patient last visit is expected by end of September 2021, followed by locking of data base, unblinding of the study and topline results expected in Q4 2021.

Technology:

• Pursued technical upgrades of PGX demo plant in Edmonton including initiation of commercial scale up of impregnation unit to produce chemical complexes.

• Initiated engineering design for PGX commercial scale unit. Final decision on the type and location of future commercial scale PGX unit to be announced during Q4 2021.

Production Operations:

• Successfully passed thorough audits conducted by two major customers for the Edmonton facility, which is now housing all production operations for the Company.
  

Corporate:

• Pursued out-licensing discussions for PGX-processed new chemical complexes.
  

Subsequent to Quarter:

• Announced research agreement with Montreal Heart Institute for a Phase 1 clinical trial assessing safety and tolerability of pharmaceutical grade avenanthramides.

• Announced research agreement with Boston-based Angiogenesis Foundation to assess in vivo bioefficacy of oat beta glucan and avenanthramides in angiogenesis, blood vessel repairs, wound healing and tissue regeneration in various inflammation-based diseases and conditions like COVID-19 presenting damages of the lung blood vessels.

Financial Highlights for the Second Quarter and the Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2021

• Total sales of $4,409,000 for the second quarter of 2021 and $9,110,000 for the first six months of 2021 compared to $4,666,000 and $8,939,000 for the comparative periods in 2020.
  
  Sales being made in USA dollars and then reported in CDN dollars, it is noteworthy to look at the impact of the exchange rate (USD/CDN) from year to year. In fact, the Company has recorded respective sales in USD of $3.6M and USD $7.3M for the second quarter and the first six months of 2021 as compared to USD $3.4M and USD $6.5M for the comparative periods of 2020, representing a year-to-date effective increase of 12% in 2021.

• Net profit of $676,000 for the second quarter of 2021 and $1,191,000 for the first six months of 2021 compared to a net profit of $1,077,000 and $2,203,000 for the comparative periods in 2020.
  
  

• Cash flows generated from operations of $2,433,000 for the first six months of 2021 vs $2,727,000 in 2020.
  
  

• Positive working capital balance of $9,303,000 as of June 30, 2021.
  

“The ability of our business to successfully navigate through the challenging second quarter business environment is a testament to the commitment and hard work of our dedicated employees, and a measurable indication of the operational improvements generated by our strategic investments of the past few years,” continued Mr. Gagnon. “Looking ahead, while considering the ongoing potential economic impact related to the new surge of COVID-19, we believe Ceapro is well-positioned to once again deliver solid growth in 2021. With a strong and very clean balance sheet, a group of dedicated people, and a solid base business coupled with the innovative technologies and products that we have developed to enable us to expand, Ceapro is poised to emerge as a successful life science company.”

CEAPRO INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited
	June 30,	December 31,
	2021	2020
	$	$
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	7,269,428	5,369,029
Trade receivables	1,801,568	2,019,723
Other receivables	45,913	102,224
Inventories (note 3)	1,168,163	1,210,079
Prepaid expenses and deposits	236,932	348,845
	10,522,004	9,049,900
Non-Current Assets
Investment tax credits receivable	607,700	607,700
Deposits	82,124	82,124
Licences (note 4)	17,032	18,514
Property and equipment (note 5)	18,029,316	18,591,189
Deferred tax assets	874,304	874,304
	19,610,476	20,173,831
TOTAL ASSETS	30,132,480	29,223,731
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	857,731	1,067,622
Current portion of lease liabilities (note 6)	283,204	250,658
Current portion of CAAP loan (note 8)	77,855	72,263
	1,218,790	1,390,543
Non-Current Liabilities
Long-term lease liabilities (note 6)	2,505,623	2,648,917
Deferred tax liabilities	874,304	874,304
	3,379,927	3,523,221
TOTAL LIABILITIES	4,598,717	4,913,764
Equity
Share capital (note 7 (b))	16,555,619	16,511,067
Contributed surplus (note 7 (e))	4,670,289	4,682,393
Retained earnings	4,307,855	3,116,507
	25,533,763	24,309,967
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	30,132,480	29,223,731

CEAPRO INC.
Consolidated Statements of Net Income and Comprehensive Income
Unaudited
	Quarters Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
	$		$		$		$
Revenue (note 14)	4,408,631		4,665,971		9,110,374		8,939,345
Cost of goods sold	1,770,153		2,079,270		4,213,953		3,980,493
Gross margin	2,638,478		2,586,701		4,896,421		4,958,852
Research and product development	830,511		399,797		1,647,358		902,339
General and administration	952,847		838,263		1,665,054		1,703,297
Sales and marketing	16,362		29,207		29,600		77,435
Finance costs (note 11)	38,344		44,583		132,254		146,192
Income from operations	800,414		1,274,851		1,422,155		2,129,589
Other (expenses) income (note 10)	(123,942	)	(197,812	)	(230,807	)	73,505
Income before tax	676,472		1,077,039		1,191,348		2,203,094
Income taxes	-		-		-		-
Total comprehensive income for the period	676,472		1,077,039		1,191,348		2,203,094
Net income per common share (note 17):
Basic	0.01		0.01		0.02		0.03
Diluted	0.01		0.01		0.02		0.03
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (note 17):
Basic	77,673,832		77,608,341		77,662,495		77,573,327
Diluted	78,684,303		77,980,876		78,684,344		77,930,529

CEAPRO INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Unaudited
	2021		2020
Six Months Ended June 30,	$		$
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income for the period	1,191,348		2,203,094
Adjustments for items not involving cash
Finance costs	71,662		79,674
Transaction costs	-		1,108
Depreciation and amortization	937,356		920,521
Accretion	5,592		10,410
Share-based payments	6,828		108,147
Net income for the period adjusted for non-cash items	2,212,786		3,322,954
CHANGES IN NON-CASH WORKING CAPITAL ITEMS
Trade receivables	218,155		600,990
Other receivables	56,311		(43,599	)
Inventories	41,916		(592,489	)
Prepaid expenses and deposits	51,179		(33,088	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities relating to operating activities	(75,337	)	(448,200	)
Total changes in non-cash working capital items	292,224		(516,386	)
Net income for the period adjusted for non-cash and working capital items	2,505,010		2,806,568
Interest paid	(71,662	)	(79,674	)
CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS	2,433,348		2,726,894
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of property and equipment	(277,062	)	(38,230	)
Purchase of leasehold improvements	(19,472	)	-
Deposits relating to investment in equipment	(16,733	)	(50,203	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities relating to investing activities	(134,554	)	-
CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(447,821	)	(88,433	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Stock options exercised	25,620		-
Repayment of long-term debt	-		(97,507	)
Repayment of lease liabilities	(110,748	)	(130,829	)
CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(85,128	)	(228,336	)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,900,399		2,410,125
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	5,369,029		1,857,195
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	7,269,428		4,267,320

The complete financial statements are available for review on SEDAR at https://sedar.com/Ceapro 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): +1 (833) 475-8247
E: czo@jtcir.com

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