Burcon Announces Year-End Results

Since the signing of the License and Production Agreement with ADM in March 2011 for CLARISOY soy protein, Burcon’s scientific team has been focused on further optimization of the CLARISOY process and further improvements of the final products, including increasing yields and improving economics.

26 Jun 2012 --- Burcon NutraScience Corporation reported financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 and provided a review of the year’s operations.

A summary of the highlights of the past year includes:

- Archer Daniels Midland Company (“ADM”) launched CLARISOY 100, the first product in the CLARISOY line, at the IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo in June 2011. ADM also announced that they will launch the first extension of CLARISOY at the 2012 IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo in June 2012;
- ADM announced the opening of its first commercial-scale plant to make CLARISOY;
- In October 2011, Burcon’s common shares commenced trading on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “BUR”;
- Developed PEAZAZZ, a novel pea protein that is 100% soluble and transparent in low pH solutions with clean flavour characteristics and is heat stable permitting hot fill applications;
- Filed several patent applications over novel or alternative processes for the production and functional applications of, and functional attributes of CLARISOY soy protein, as well as over the composition and functional applications of canola protein isolates;
- Nine U.S. patents granted over Burcon’s canola protein patent applications; and
- Canola License and Development agreement with ADM terminated on March 1, 2012.

Since the signing of the License and Production Agreement with ADM in March 2011 for CLARISOY soy protein, Burcon’s scientific team has been focused on further optimization of the CLARISOY process and further improvements of the final products, including increasing yields and improving economics.  In addition, the Winnipeg Technical Centre focused on gathering data required for scale-up to production plant and equipment selection and provided assistance in the start-up of the semi-works facility.  Burcon produced significant quantities of CLARISOY samples for ADM customer evaluations.

Burcon announced it had developed a novel pea protein isolate that it has branded PEAZAZZ.  PEAZAZZ pea protein may be used in a variety of healthy consumer product applications and should be of interest to companies looking for a functional alternative plant protein ingredient.  Until April 2012, Burcon held exclusive negotiations with a potential partner to commercialize PEAZAZZ pea protein and the associated protein extraction technology.  On April 23, 2012, Burcon announced that although discussions with this potential partner are ongoing, the exclusivity period had lapsed.  Therefore, Burcon will consider additional routes-to-market for its PEAZAZZ pea protein.

On March 1, 2011, Burcon and ADM amended the License and Development Agreement (the “Canola Agreement”) to provide a one-year extension to the development period to March 1, 2012 to facilitate continued research aimed at expanding the commercial value of Puratein and Supertein canola protein isolates.  Burcon agreed to reimburse ADM for its share of the U.S. regulatory recognition process of US$360,000 (CA$359,100) if ADM chose not to proceed with the license under the Canola Agreement.  These funds were deposited into an interest-bearing escrow account held in trust for Burcon and ADM and would be released to ADM if Burcon and ADM did not agree to any further extensions and amendments by March 1, 2012.  Upon ADM’s receipt of the escrow funds, all intellectual property, reports, studies or other materials prepared by ADM, Burcon or by a third party in connection with the U.S. regulatory recognition process would be deemed to be owned solely by Burcon and ADM would have no further rights with respect thereto.  The Canola Agreement terminated on March 1, 2012 and the funds held in escrow were released to ADM in April 2012.  Given the termination of the Canola Agreement, Burcon is free to choose alternative paths for the commercialization of its technology for the production of its canola proteins:  Puratein, Supertein and Nutratein canola protein isolates.

In the case of Puratein and Supertein canola protein isolates, Burcon continues to work with food and beverage manufacturers to establish the value of Burcon’s proteins in their food products.  Burcon has executed material transfer agreements with certain major companies.  In the case of Nutratein canola protein isolate, Burcon has been in discussions with a leading animal nutrition company with the intention of using Nutratein canola protein isolate to replace or partially replace dairy protein in certain animal feed applications.

For the coming year, Burcon’s objectives are to further the development and commercialization of its soy, canola and pea products.

Soy

Burcon will support ADM in connection with its development of a commercial facility for the production, marketing and sale of CLARISOY soy protein.

Canola

Burcon plans to conduct further research and development to establish the unique functional and nutritional characteristics of Supertein, Puratein and Nutratein canola protein isolates.  In respect of Nutratein, Burcon will refine the pilot process to produce a consistent product of optimum quality, flavour, colour, aroma, amino acid profile, nutritional and functional attributes.  Burcon also intends to pursue a collaboration with animal feed manufacturers on animal and/or fish feeding trials using Nutratein.  Burcon will continue to pursue product development agreements with major food, beverage and nutritional product companies to develop improved or novel applications for Supertein and Puratein canola protein isolates into their products.  Burcon will also continue to pursue a strategic alliance with a potential partner in connection with the development of a commercial facility for the production, marketing and sale of Burcon’s canola protein isolates. 

Pea

Burcon intends to pursue product development agreements with major food, beverage and nutritional product companies to develop improved or novel applications for PEAZAZZ pea protein into their products.  Burcon will also pursue a strategic alliance with a potential partner in connection with the development of a commercial facility for the production, marketing and sale of PEAZAZZ pea protein.

Burcon will continue to refine its protein extraction and purification technologies, develop new technologies and related products.  In addition, Burcon will further strengthen and expand its intellectual property portfolio.  Burcon will also explore opportunities for acquiring or licensing into Burcon, novel technologies that will complement or enhance Burcon’s intellectual property portfolio and business initiatives.

Financial Results and Highlights

Burcon reported a loss of $5,962,342 ($0.20 per share) for the year as compared to $8,806,474 ($0.30 per share) in the prior year.  Included in the loss amount reported is stock-based compensation (non-cash) costs of $1,716,062 (2011 - $4,091,119).  The other non-cash costs included in the loss for the year are amortization of $101,148 (2011 - $178,050) and gain on disposal of property and equipment of $3,359 (2011 - $nil).

In March 2011, the Company determined that it had met all the criteria of deferring development costs with respect to CLARISOY and commenced deferring these expenditures.  During the year, Burcon deferred a total of $1,778,888 (2011 - $190,284) of these development expenditures.  Burcon expensed about $1,040,000 in R&D expenditures (2011 - $2,890,000).  Over one-half of R&D expenditures are comprised of salaries and benefits.  Before capitalizing salaries and benefits to deferred development costs, the cash portion of salaries and benefits increased by approximately $128,000 over fiscal 2011.  About $83,000 of the increase is due to the addition of new technical staff at the WTC, and the balance due to annual salary increases.  Other R&D expenditures, such as laboratory operation, analyses and testing expenses also increased (before capitalization to deferred development costs) due to increased CLARISOY activity levels.  In 2011, Burcon agreed to reimburse ADM for its share of the GRAS regulatory recognition process pursuant to the amendment of the Canola Agreement.  The amount of US$360,000 was recorded as R&D expenditures in fiscal 2011.

General and administrative expenses decreased by about $993,000 over the prior year.  Included in salaries and benefits is stock-based compensation expense of approximately $1,597,000 (2011 –$2,941,000).  Options granted to directors this year were vested immediately and a related fair value of about $995,000 was recorded as stock-based compensation expense.  Similarly, options granted to directors last year also vested immediately and a related fair value of about $538,000 was recorded as stock-based compensation.  This increase was offset by a decrease in stock-based compensation expense of about $1.6 million for options granted in December 2009 that had completed vesting during this year.

The cash portion of salaries and benefits increased by about $529,000 over the prior year due to the full-year effect of two of the Company’s officers that transferred their employment from a related party to Burcon in late fiscal 2011, the hiring of a director of corporate development and a business development analyst also late last year, and a salary increase, including a retroactive salary adjustment, for a senior officer.  Directors’ fees also increased by about $38,000 due to additional board and committee meetings held during this year.  As a result of the transfer of employment of the two officers from the related party to Burcon, management fees charged by the related party decreased this year by $127,000 from the prior year.

Patent legal fees and expenses account for a significant portion of Burcon’s professional fees.  Burcon’s patent strategy is to aggressively seek protection for new technologies as well as further protecting current technologies.  During the year, Burcon capitalized about $651,000 (2011 - $2,000) of patent costs to deferred development costs.  Total patent legal fees and expenditures (before capitalization) increased by about $674,000 over the prior year.  As noted above, Burcon filed five new patents (2011 – six) during the year, and nine patent applications (2011 – five) entered national phase, which generated significant filing fees in various countries.  Most of the patent applications that entered national phase in the prior year occurred during the last quarter, and the related expenditures continued into the early part of the current year.  From inception, Burcon has expended approximately $7.5 million on patent legal fees and disbursements to strengthen its patent portfolio in various countries of the world and file patent applications for new inventions.

Burcon incurred about $230,000 in legal and audit expenses related to our NASDAQ listing.  As well, audit fees increased by about $50,000 as a result of the NASDAQ listing.  This was offset by legal fees of about $47,000 in the prior year relating to the ADM CLARISOY agreement.

The decrease in consulting fees is due primarily to the financial advisory fee of about $510,000 paid last year for the negotiation and finalization of the CLARISOY agreement.

Included in investor relations expenses is approximately $7,000 (2011 - $67,000) of stock-based compensation expense.  The cash portion of investor relations expenses increased by approximately $14,000.  TSX and NASDSAQ fees accounted for about $39,000 of the increase, which was offset by a decrease in public relations fees of about $31,000.  Travel expenses also increased by about $28,000, offset by a decrease in a newly-designed website last year of about $32,000.

At March 31, 2012, the Company’s cash and short-term investment totaled approximately $6,159,000, as compared to approximately $11,932,000 at March 31, 2011.  Management believes it has sufficient resources to fund its expected level of operations and working capital requirements to at least May 2013, excluding proceeds from outstanding convertible securities and royalty revenues that may be derived from the semi-works commercial facility.  Burcon intends to raise additional capital to fund its operations and business objectives through an equity offering within the next twelve months.