Ocean Power Technologies Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2018 Results

MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J., March 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocean Power Technologies (Nasdaq:OPTT), a leader in innovative ocean energy solutions, today announced financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2018 ended January 31, 2018.

Fiscal Third Quarter Highlights

• Signed contract with Premier Oil for a feasibility study regarding deployment of a PowerBuoy™ for site decommissioning operations in the North Sea;
• Added key leadership with extensive experience in subsea systems and engineering;
• Completed relocation to expanded corporate headquarters and manufacturing operations;
• Established presence based in Norway as we work with potential customers in the region;
• Additional PowerBuoy™ unit builds approved;
• Continued to cultivate commercialization opportunities for PB3 PowerBuoy™ for use in remote offshore power and real-time data communications applications;
• Cash and equivalents of $14.4 million, up from $8.4 million at April 30, 2017.

“The third fiscal quarter was an opportunity for further investment in our organization, as we took several strategic steps to ensure that we can meet the emerging demand for our technology,” said George H. Kirby, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Power Technologies, “Our recent contract with Premier Oil to study the feasibility of deploying our PB3 PowerBuoy™ for site decommissioning operations in the North Sea is a leading indicator in expanding our capabilities into the oil and gas sector.”

Operations Review
Mr. Kirby added, “Our initial work with companies and national and international governments has helped us develop a variety of new opportunities around the world, and has also led to expansion, both in our facilities and on our management team. During the quarter, management authorized the construction of two additional PowerBuoys™ and we completed our move to a new facility, expanding both our corporate headquarters and our manufacturing operations. This new facility will support the completion of the four additional PB3 units, two of which we announced last quarter. In addition, we added Chris Phebus as Vice President of Engineering. He comes with a proven track record from GE and served as GE’s General Manager and Executive Engineering Director for GE Subsea Product and Projects. Chris is further strengthening our capabilities as we continue to scale our business.

“We remain excited and encouraged that our PB3 PowerBuoy™ offers a unique technology that can meet the needs of current and potential customers in growing markets including oil and gas, defense and security, communications, and ocean observing. We have made significant investments in increased sales and marketing activities, along with initiatives to partner with others and bring about continuous performance improvements, which we believe are critical to our long-term success, and can result in a robust pipeline of potential customers,” concluded Kirby.

Financial Review

Third Quarter Overview

No revenue was recorded for the third quarter of fiscal 2018 ended January 31, 2018 as compared to revenue of $221,000 for the prior-year period. The decrease in revenues over the prior year was due to the expected completion of contracts with Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding and Department of Defense Office of Naval Research during the second quarter of the current fiscal year.

The net loss for the third quarter of fiscal 2018 was $1.7 million, compared to a net loss of $2.1 million for the prior-year period. The decrease in net loss in the current year period as compared to the same period of prior year is mainly attributable to a higher income tax benefit recorded in the current year, partially offset by current year period higher product development costs as a result of the two additional PB3 units in process of being completed.

First Nine Months Overview

Revenue for the first nine months of fiscal 2018 was $289,000, compared to revenue of $593,000 for the same period in fiscal 2017. The net loss for the first nine months of fiscal 2018 was $6.9 million, compared to a net loss of $6.9 million for the same period in fiscal 2017. The decrease in net loss in the current year period as compared to the same period of the prior year is mainly attributable to a higher income tax benefit recorded in the current year and lower product development spending and is mostly offset by the change in fair value of warrant liabilities.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

Total cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were $14.4 million as of January 31, 2018, up from $8.4 million on April 30, 2017. As of both January 31, 2018, and April 30, 2017, restricted cash was $0.5 million. Net cash used in operating activities was $8.2 million during the nine months ended January 31, 2018. Excluding $1.1 million of cash payments made in the current fiscal year related to the disposition of the mooring anchoring system from a prior project in Reedsport, Oregon, the PB40 site final closeout off the coast of New Jersey, and completion of legal matters, net cash used in operating activities was $7.1 million during the nine months ended January 31, 2018 as compared to $7.6 million during the prior-year period.

Conclusion
Mr. Kirby closed by stating “We are very excited about where we are now in our product commercialization and business development efforts. We believe that we have a unique product, a great strategy, and an exceptional team. We intend to continue our work to bring this technology to the marketplace and build relationships with quality customers around the globe.”

Conference Call & Webcast Details
Ocean Power Technologies’ management will host a conference call and webcast to review the third quarter financial and operating results on March 7, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Interested parties may access the conference call by dialing 1-844-473-0979 (toll free in the U.S.) or 1-574-990-1390 for international callers and entering passcode conference ID 1382389.

Investors, analysts and members of the media interested in listening to the live presentation are encouraged to join a webcast of the call available on the Company’s website at https://www.oceanpowertechnologies.com.

A replay will be available starting within a few hours after the conference concludes and will be available until March 14, 2018. To access the rebroadcast please dial 1 (855) 859-2056 or 1 (404) 537-3406 and use replay access code 1382389. The webcast will also be archived on the Ocean Power Technologies investor relations website.

About Ocean Power Technologies
Headquartered in New Jersey, Ocean Power Technologies aspires to transform the world through durable, innovative and cost-effective ocean energy solutions. Our PB3 PowerBuoy™ uses ocean waves to provide clean, reliable and persistent electric power and real-time communications for remote offshore applications in markets such as oil and gas, defense, security, ocean observing, and communications. To learn more, visit www.oceanpowertechnologies.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain "forward-looking statements" that are within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are identified by certain words or phrases such as "may", "will", "aim", "will likely result", "believe", "expect", "will continue", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "contemplate", "seek to", "future", "objective", "goal", "project", "should", "will pursue" and similar expressions or variations of such expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations about its future plans and performance. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions and estimates which could be inaccurate and which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from those anticipated or expressed in any forward-looking statement made by the Company. Please refer to the Company's most recent Forms 10-Q and 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties. The Company disclaims any obligation or intent to update the forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Financial Tables Follow
Additional information may be found in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The Form 10-Q may be accessed at www.sec.gov or at the company's website in the Investor Relations section.

Investor Relations Contact:                                 
Steve Calk or Jackie Marcus                                 
Alpha IR Group                                                     
Phone 312 445-2870