TSO3 Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

Orders Received in 2015 Drive 2016 Commercial Rollout of STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer

QUÉBEC CITY, March 23, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - TSO₃ Inc. (TSX: TOS), an innovator in sterilization technology for medical devices in healthcare settings, reported its operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015.

2015 Fourth Quarter, Full Year and Subsequent Event Financial Summary

• TSO₃ received US$7.5 million (CAD$10.4 million) and performance minimums from Getinge Infection Control AB, a global leader in infection control solutions, in exchange for exclusive global distributor rights to TSO₃'s FDA-cleared, STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer.
• Revenue was $1.6 million for the year 2015 and $0.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. On December 21, 2015, TSO₃ announced that it had received purchase orders from Getinge for the full amount of its minimum purchase commitment for 2016, and all related shipments are scheduled for delivery in 2016. Consequently, in the first two months of 2016, the Company shipped product and recorded revenues in excess of all revenues recorded in all of 2015.
• Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $20.9 million at December 31, 2015. TSO₃ had $32.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and short term investments and no debt as of February 5, 2016. This amount is inclusive of $13.5 million in warrant proceeds received in 2016.
• 83.3 million shares outstanding as of December 31, 2015, which increased in the first quarter of 2016 as a result of warrant exercises. As of March 22, 2016, TSO₃ had 91.0 million shares outstanding and no outstanding warrants.
• The Company's net loss was $8.1 million, or $0.10/share for the year of 2015 and $2.9 million, or $0.03/share, for the fourth quarter of 2015. The Company generated $3.9 million in cash from operations during 2015 and $8.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Excluding the December 2015 Getinge receipt, the Company consumed cash from operations of $6.5 million for 2015 and $1.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Fourth Quarter 2015 Operational Highlights

• Received clearance from Health Canada to sell STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer with extended claims including claims for colonoscopes and duodenoscopes, in Canada.
• Filed extended U.S. claims for STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer to include the sterilization of up to eight channels in a single endoscopic device of up to 3.5 meters in length — marking an industry first.
• Accelerated expansion of manufacturing and assembly workforce for the STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer to meet demand.
• Appointed Glen Kayll as CFO, who brings more than 20 years of senior management experience, including as CFO and head of operations for Canadian and U.S. listed companies.
• Appointed Steve West as director, adding to the board more than 30 years of public company experience in health and life sciences, nuclear industry, specialty chemicals and venture capital.

Management Commentary

"During the fourth quarter, we achieved several major milestones with our STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer, including the exclusive global distribution agreement with Getinge, clearance of extended claims relating to colonoscopes, duodenoscopes and other flexible endoscopes by Health Canada, and, as an industry-first, the filing for extended U.S. claims to include the terminal sterilization of up to eight channels in a single device," said TSO₃ president and CEO, R.M. (Ric) Rumble.

"Soon after we signed the exclusive Agreement with Getinge, they submitted a purchase order for the full amount of their minimum purchase commitment for 2016. It is rewarding to see their commitment and the demand they anticipate from their customers. This action is also in line with their message to Getinge shareholders that their entrance into the low-temperature sterilization market represents great potential for accelerated business growth."

"Production toward fulfilment of this order began immediately, with the first shipments rolling out in January. Through the first two months of 2016, we have recorded revenues in excess of all revenues recorded in all of 2015 and with manufacturing improvements made year to date, the Company believes it is in a position to assemble and deliver in excess of 100 sterilizers."  

"To ensure an orderly ramp-up in production, we recently appointed Harold R. Tessman to the new position of COO. As a proven operational leader for fast-growing international organizations, Harold will focus on strengthening our manufacturing and quality control systems at our U.S. and Canadian facilities, including expanding our manufacturing workforce."

"Before the end of the year, we expect to receive regulatory clearance for instruments that were previously only subject to high-level disinfection processes. These extended claims would further differentiate our technology, and moreover give healthcare providers a new tool to break the cycle of instrument-associated infection transmission. The feedback received from U.S. regulators is typical and consistent with the seriousness of elevating the standard of reprocessing for these extremely challenging medical devices. The minimal testing is planned or already underway, and we have requested meetings with the agency to discuss the work."

"Meanwhile, we will be working to ensure that our channel partner meets or exceeds their contractual performance objectives. This means strengthening our supply chain process to deliver quality product at increasing volumes, as well supporting the Getinge sales team in the commercial rollout of the STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer." concluded Rumble.

Additional Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Financial Information

In the fourth quarter of 2015, sales were CAD$0.2 million as compared to CAD$0.1 million in the same year-ago quarter. For the full year, sales were CAD$1.6 million versus CAD$0.4 million in 2014. The increase in both periods was due to sales related to the company's new STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer.

Supply chain expenses totaled CAD$2.1 million in 2015, as compared to CAD$1.1 million in 2014. The increase is primiarly due to increased operation costs in 2015 to support STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer shipments.

Marketing, sales and service expenses totaled CAD$0.9 million in 2015, as compared to CAD$0.3 million in 2014. The increase was due to increased marketing-related activities (including trade shows and professional association meetings), customer-related travel expenses, and salaries and commissions related to the expansion of sales in the U.S.

Research and development expenses were CAD$2.8 million in 2015, as compared to CAD$2.3 million in 2014. The increase refects the recognition of R&D tax credits in 2014. In 2015, TSO₃ concentrated its effort on its new STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer, while at the beginning of 2014 the company recorded R&D tax credits following amended reports for years 2011 and 2012.

Before accounting for the tax credits, R&D expenses were CAD$3.0 million in 2015, as compared to CAD$2.9 million in 2014. The company incurred similar salary, test and consulting expenses in association with FDA clearance and product development activities in both years.

Administrative expenses totaled CAD$4.2 million in 2015, as compared to CAD$2.7 million in 2014. The increase is primiarly due to increased investors relations activities, professionnal fees related to the incorporation of the subsidiary TSO₃ Corporation and the Getinge agreement, and salary expenses including a severance amount of $0.4 million.

Net loss was CAD$2.9 million or $(0.03) per basic and diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2015, as compared to net loss of CAD$1.6 million or $(0.02) per basic and diluted share in the same year-ago period. For the full year, net loss was CAD$8.1 million or $(0.10) per basic and diluted share, as compared to net loss of CAD$5.9 million in 2014.

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $20.9 million at December 31, 2015, as compared to CAD$6.0 million at December 31, 2014. As of February 5, 2016, TSO₃ had CAD$32.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and short term investments and no debt. This amount is inclusive of the US$7.5 million received form Getinge in November 2015, as well as CAD$13.5 million in warrant proceeds received in 2016.

Summary of Results
Periods ended December 31 (Audited, IFRS Basis, CAD$ except share amounts)

		2015 $	2014 $
Sales		1,633,244	432,987
Expenses
	Supply Chain	2,056,571	1,118,498
	Marketing, Sale and Service	851,034	301,763
	Research and Development	2,808,041	2,333,113
	Administrative	4,228,403	2,720,249
	Financial	(177,343)	(92,647)
Total Expenses		9,766,706	6,380,976
Net Loss before Income Taxes		8,133,462	5,947,989
IncomeTaxes		-	-
Net Loss and Comprehensive Loss attributable to Shareholders		8,133,462	5,947,989
Basic and Diluted Net Loss per Share		0.10	0.08
Weighted Average Number of Outstanding Shares		81,263,710	73,123,794

Summary of Quarterly Results 
(Unaudited, IFRS Basis, CAD$)

This table shows the quarterly evolution of sales, net loss and net loss per share.

($000 EXCEPT LOSS/SHARE)	2015				2014
	Q4	Q3	Q2	Q1	Q4	Q3	Q2	Q1
Sales	196	1,210	137	90	120	99	132	82
Net Loss	(2,885)	(1,682)	(1,748)	(1,818)	(1,635)	(1,427)	(1,325)	(1,561)
Net Loss per Share (basic and diluted)	(0.03)	(0.02)	(0.02)	(0.02)	(0.02)	(0.02)	(0.02)	(0.02)

Financial Position Analysis
(Audited, IFRS Basis, CAD$)

	2015	2014
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments	20,915,182	5,973,446
Accounts Receivable	609,930	257,694
Inventories	1,802,423	1,293,503
Property, Plant and Equipment	503,541	557,515
Intangibles Assets	2,340,530	2,432,653
Accounts Payable and Accured Liabilities	1,822,136	676,058
Deferred Revenues (short and long term)	10,431,625	82,019
Equity	14,027,491	9,859,028

Q4 2015 Conference Call

TSO₃ President and CEO R.M. (Ric) Rumble and CFO Glen Kayll, will host the conference call, followed by a question and answer period.

Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Time: 10:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (7:30 a.m. PDT)
Toll-free dial-in number: 1-888-231-8191
International dial-in number: 1-514-807-9895 (Montreal); 1-647-427-7450 (Toronto)
Conference ID: 61277075

Analysts and institutional investors are invited to participate on the call. Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Liolios Group at 1-949-574-3860.   

Other interested parties may listen to the live webcast of the conference call at http://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=1145377&s=1&k=499E59772D80269D84E097254B3D81F5, which will be available for replay in the Investors section of the company's website at www.tso3.com.  

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2015 Results Disclosure

The 2015 Annual Report is available on TSO₃'s website at the following address http://www.tso3.com/en/investors/financial_reporting/quarterly_reports/ and full 2015 disclosure will shortly be available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

About the STERIZONE^® VP4 low temperature sterilizer

The STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer developed by TSO₃ is a dual sterilant, low temperature sterilization system that utilizes vaporized hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and ozone. Its single cycle can sterilize a large number and wide range of compatible devices, thereby allowing for a cost effective and error-free sterilization process. TSO₃'s unique Dynamic Sterilant Delivery System^TM automatically adjusts the quantity of injected sterilant based on the load composition, weight and temperature. With its large 75 lb load capacity and a short cycle time, the STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer can enhance throughput and lower sterilization cost. The STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer was cleared for commercialization in the United States in December 2014.

More information about the STERIZONE^® VP4 Sterilizer is available through TSO₃'s website, under the Products section:http://www.tso3.com/en/products/sterizone-vp4/

About TSO₃

Founded in 1998, TSO₃'s activities encompass the sale, production, maintenance, research, development and licensing of sterilization processes, related consumable supplies and accessories for heat-sensitive medical devices. The Company designs products for sterile processing areas in the hospital environment that offer an advantageous replacement solution to other low temperature sterilization processes currently used in hospitals. It also offers services related to the maintenance of sterilization equipment and compatibility testing of medical devices with such processes.

For more information about TSO₃, visit the company's web site at www.tso3.com or contact Liolios Group at 949 574-3860 or email [email protected] or Renmark Financial Communications at 416 644-2020 or 514 939-3989 or by email at [email protected].

The statements in this release and oral statements made by representatives of TSO₃ relating to matters that are not historical facts (including, without limitation, those regarding the timing or outcome of TSO₃'s sales, business or operations) are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and hypotheses, including, but not limited to, general business and economic conditions, the condition of the financial markets, the ability of TSO₃ to obtain financing on favourable terms and other risks and uncertainties. 

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The TSX has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein and accepts no responsibility for it.

SOURCE TSO3 Inc.

Company Contacts: TSO3 Inc., R.M. (Ric) Rumble, President and CEO, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]; TSO3 Inc., Glen Kayll, CFO, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Investor Relations: Liolios Group, Inc., Ron Both, Tel: [phone], [email protected]; Renmark Financial Communications Inc., Barry Mire, Tel: [phone] or 514 939-3989, [email protected]