Business Context and Reporting Period
This Form 10-Q covers the quarterly period ended July 31, 2009, for Nuvilex, Inc. (formerly eFoodSafety.com, Inc.). The Company is a smaller reporting company engaged in the development and marketing of health and wellness products, including nutritional supplements (Cinnergen, Cinnechol), scar reduction creams (Talsyn), and tattoo inks (Infinitink). The Company operates through several wholly-owned subsidiaries and recently changed its name in March 2009.
Key Financial Metrics
| Metric | Q2 2009 (Ended July 31) | Q2 2008 (Ended July 31) |
|---|---|---|
| Revenues | $67,947 | $290,255 |
| Gross Profit | $26,155 | $235,831 |
| Net Loss | $(814,924) | $(498,626) |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $55,860 | $1,345,593 |
| Working Capital | $(606,999) Deficit | Not explicitly stated (Positive in prior year) |
| Total Debt (Current + Long-term) | $2,387,061 | Not explicitly stated |
| Accumulated Deficit | $(30,306,624) | Not explicitly stated |
Liquidity: Cash decreased by approximately $548,000 during the quarter. The Company reported a working capital deficit of $606,999 as of July 31, 2009.
Material Changes vs. Prior Period
- Revenue Decline: Revenues dropped 77% year-over-year. Management attributes this to the termination of a major Cinnergen retail contract, significant price reductions on Cinnergen and Talsyn products to improve competitiveness, and the discontinuation of the I-Boost Immune Bar line.
- Expense Increases:
- R&D: Increased from $9,724 to $244,047 due to development of new products (Last Shot Hangover Remedy, Prevorex, Cyclosurface3) and sponsored university research.
- Sales & Marketing: Increased from $16,242 to $147,645, driven by the launch of the Last Shot Hangover Remedy campaign.
- G&A: Increased from $138,918 to $362,117 due to patent expenses, costs associated with the new Freedom-2 facility, and public company compliance costs.
- Non-Operating Items: The Company recorded a $55,000 loss on the settlement of a loan receivable from Diamond Ranch Foods, Ltd., where the borrower paid $35,000 to cancel a $90,000 remaining balance.
- Stock Activity: Issued 5,555,555 shares for $250,000 cash received in the prior quarter and declared a 1-for-500 stock dividend.
Guidance, Outlook, Risks, and Contingencies
Management Strategy: The Company outlined a five-part plan to achieve viability: (1) Improve marketing and pricing for existing products; (2) Launch new products; (3) Reduce overhead, specifically by selling or leasing its oversized Cherry Hill, NJ facility (estimated value $1.7M); (4) Out-license or sell IP/assets; and (5) Secure additional debt or equity funding.
Going Concern: The filing explicitly states that the Company has not established an ongoing source of revenues sufficient to cover operating costs. With an accumulated deficit of over $30 million and a working capital deficit, there is substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern without additional funding.
Risks and Contingencies:
- Legal Proceedings: Former SVP Kurt Mussina sued the Company seeking approximately $175,000 in unpaid severance. The Company disputes the claim.
- Customer Concentration: 77% of Q2 2009 revenue came from Cinnergen sales, with two customers accounting for 23% of those sales.
- Internal Controls: Management concluded that disclosure controls and procedures were not adequately effective as of July 31, 2009.
- Capital Needs: The Company requires additional capital to finance inventory and marketing. Failure to raise funds could result in business cessation.
Investor Verification Checklist
- Verify the status of the lawsuit filed by Kurt Mussina and potential financial exposure beyond the $175,000 claim.
- Confirm the timeline and terms for the sale or lease of the Cherry Hill facility to determine if it will resolve the working capital deficit.
- Assess the progress of the "Last Shot Hangover Remedy" launch, as marketing spend increased significantly with no revenue contribution in this quarter.
- Review the terms of the modified mortgage agreement with Cornerstone Bank and the status of the $1.6M balloon payment due in 2013.
- Monitor the Company's ability to secure the additional equity or debt financing required to maintain operations as a going concern.