Terra Tech Corp Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2019

IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2019 / Terra Tech Corp. (TRTC) ("Terra Tech" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated cannabis-focused agriculture company, today announced its financial results for the period ended March 31, 2019.

Derek Peterson, Chief Executive Officer of Terra Tech, commented, "In the first quarter of 2019 we made meaningful headway both implementing our restructuring strategy and further entrenching ourselves in the California market. All material construction at the Hegenberger cultivation facility in Oakland is complete, and we anticipate it being fully operational upon receipt of licensing approval from the State. This will enable us to ramp production of our IVXXâ„¢ premium wholesale cannabis brand in California."

"We also opened our newest Blüm dispensary in San Leandro, California, a prominent suburb city of San Francisco and Oakland. In the short time since opening, the dispensary has generated consistent medical foot traffic and we expect sales at this location to continue to grow throughout the year, driven by the start of sales to adult users as of May 2019, and increased brand recognition in the area. Moreover, we are working on several growth initiatives that are expected to generate new sources of revenue for the Company, including opening a vertically integrated cannabis complex to host large-scale, cannabis themed events at our East Dyer Road location later this year," continued Mr. Peterson.

"Terra Tech is engaged in a fundamental restructuring to improve profitability and build value for our shareholders. Following a comprehensive review of the Company's assets and their respective performance, we are pursuing a strategy to redeploy certain assets in strategic locations where we believe they have the potential to produce greater returns. To advance this strategy, we have entered into an asset purchase agreement with Picksy LLC, a Nevada limited liability company to sell our Desert Inn Road retail dispensary for $10 million. This strategy is expected to build a stronger, more efficient business based around premium quality, recognizable brands. We are pleased with our progress working toward these strategic objectives," concluded Mr. Peterson.

Financial Update

• For the period ending March 31, 2019, the Company generated revenues of approximately $7.4 million, compared to approximately $8.6 million for the first quarter ending March 31, 2018, a decrease of approximately $1.3 million. The decrease was primarily due to the significant level of taxes that the State of California placed on cannabis sales which depressed the overall legal cannabis market.
  
  
• Gross margin for the period ending March 31, 2019 was approximately 54.4%, compared to approximately 36.2% for the first quarter ending March 31, 2018. The increase in Gross Margin was primarily due to operational improvements across both the cannabis segment and herbs and produce segment.
  
  
• Selling, general and administrative expenses for the period ending March 31, 2019 were approximately $11.5 million, compared to approximately $10.3 million for the first quarter ending March 31, 2018.
  
  
• The Company reported a Gain on Interest in Joint Venture of $5.6 million for the period ending March 31, 2019, as a result of its decision to restate its agreements with NuLeaf Sparks Cultivation, LLC and NuLeaf Reno Production, LLC.
  
  
• The net loss attributable to Terra Tech for the period ending March 31, 2019 was approximately $(5.1 million) or $(0.05) per share compared to a loss of approximately $(12.2 million) or $(0.19) per share for the first quarter endin March 31, 2018.
  
  
• The Company had $5.81 million in cash as of March 31, 2019, compared with $7.19 million as of December 31, 2018.
  
  
• Stockholders' equity for the period ending March 31, 2019 amounted to approximately $115.45 million, an increase of approximately $20.6 million compared to approximately $94.9 million as of December 31, 2018.
  
  
• The Company had no short-term debt as of March 31, 2019. Long term liabilities were $20.8 million as of March 31, 2019, compared with $18.3 million as of December 31, 2018.

Business Update

California:

• Oakland: The Company's Blüm Oakland dispensary continued to focus on the adult use market, however sales were impacted by higher California state excise tax rates. To prepare for a ramp in demand as a result of the legalization of adult-use cannabis, Terra Tech continued constructing a 13,000 square foot cultivation facility in Hegenberger, Oakland which has the capacity to produce up to one metric ton, or 2,000 pounds, of cannabis per year. The Company has completed all material construction at this facility and it is expected to be fully operational upon receipt of State licensing.
• San Leandro: Terra Tech's San Leandro Blüm dispensary opened in January 2019, making history as the first medical dispensary to open its doors in San Leandro. Subsequent to the end of the first quarter, in May 2019, Blüm San Leandro commenced sales to the adult use market after receiving City and State approval.
• Santa Ana: The Company advanced its plans to open a vertically integrated cannabis complex to host large-scale, cannabis themed events at its East Dyer Road location.

Nevada:

• Las Vegas: Entered into an asset purchase agreement with Picksy LLC, a Nevada limited liability company to sell its Blüm Desert Inn dispensary for $10 million. Selling this Nevada asset is aligned with the Company's strategy to leverage its balance sheet to fuel growth by strategically redeploying assets to maximize its return on investment.
• In February 2019, the Company amended and restated its agreements with NuLeaf. As the primary beneficiary of NuLeaf Sparks Cultivation, LLC and NuLeaf Reno Production, LLC, the Company consolidates the accounts and operations of these entities beginning March 1, 2019. The Company remeasured its equity method investment in NuLeaf to estimated fair value, which resulted in a non-cash gain of $5.60 million that was recorded in operating income; recognized redeemable noncontrolling interest for NuLeaf, Inc.'s interest in NuLeaf at an estimated fair value of $13.20 million; and recognized $12.08 million of net assets, including cash acquired, at fair value. As part of the purchase price allocation, the Company recorded $0.80 million of goodwill, primarily related to the value of the existing workforce, and $8.00 million of intangible assets, primarily related to licenses with a weighted-average life of 10 years. The measurement period is expected to be closed in the second quarter of 2019.
• Reno: The Company entered into an agreement to acquire the remainder of the interest in the Blüm Reno dispensary and the building where the facility is located from Forever Green NV and Forever Young Investments, LLC, affiliates of Heidi Loeb Hegerich. The transfer of those interests is subject to approval of the Nevada Department of Taxation, which the Company expects to receive in approximately 60-90 days. The Company also entered into a settlement agreement with Forever Green, Forever Young Investments and Ms. Hegerich to settle the lawsuit between them and the Company.

Conference Call

The company will also host a conference call today, Thursday, May 9, 2019 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time.

Dial-In Number: 1-857-232-0157
Access Code: 422095

Derek Peterson, Chairman and CEO of Terra Tech Corp., will be answering shareholder questions at the end of the call. Should you have questions during or prior to the conference call please send an email to [email protected] with ‘TRTC Question' in the subject line. Mr. Peterson will answer as many questions as time will allow.

For those unable to participate in the live conference call, a replay will be available at https://www.smallcapvoice.com/trtc/. An archived version of the webcast will also be available on the investor relations section of the company's website.

To be added to the Terra Tech email distribution list, please email [email protected] with TRTC in the subject line.

About Terra Tech

Terra Tech Corp. (TRTC) operates through multiple subsidiary businesses including: Blüm, IVXX Inc., Edible Garden, and MediFarm LLC. Blüm's retail and medical cannabis facilities provide the highest quality medical cannabis to patients who are looking for alternative treatments for their chronic medical conditions as well as premium cannabis to the adult-use market in Nevada and California. Blüm offers a broad selection of cannabis products including; flowers, concentrates and edibles through its multiple California and Nevada locations. IVXX, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Terra Tech that produces cannabis-extracted products for regulated cannabis dispensaries throughout California and dispensaries in Nevada. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Edible Garden, cultivates a premier brand of local and sustainably grown hydroponic produce, sold through major grocery stores such as ShopRite, Walmart, Ahold, Aldi, Meijer, Kroger, Stop & Shop and others nationwide. Terra Tech's MediFarm LLC subsidiaries are focused on medical and adult-use cannabis cultivation and permitting businesses throughout Nevada.

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