Jim Lane 
The Pharaohs of Farnesene continue to pick up momentum.
In California, Amyris (AMRS) reported a net loss of $35.5M for the second quarter of 2014 on sales of $9.3M, with a 5.4 percent increase in sales over Q2 2013. Renewable product sales were $4.4M for the quarter, while “Recognized grants and collaborations revenues” reached $4.9M.
In announcing results, the company highlighted:
• End of quarter cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments balance of $90.2 million.
• Lowest farnesene production costs to date and successful start of fragrance molecule production.
• Addition of Braskem as a new collaboration partner for renewable isoprene and Natura for cosmetics sector.
• Produced and shipped jet grade farnesane, now in use in commercial flights at 10% blends with Jet A/A1.
In addition, the company affirmed guidance for doubling renewable product sales year-on-year and achieving cash flow positive from operations in second half of 2014. Specifically, Amyris expected for 2014:
Inflows. Renewable product sales to be over $32 million, doubling our 2013 renewable product sales, and to achieve positive cash margin from products. In addition, we continue to expect collaboration inflows, a non-GAAP measure, in the range of $60 million to $70 million by the end of the year.
Expenses. Cash operating expenses for R&D and SG&A in the range of $80 million to $85 million and capital expenditures less than $10 million in 2014.
Earnings. Positive cash flow from operations during the second half of the year and to achieve positive EBITDA in 2015.
Payback. Cash payback for our Brotas biorefinery in the next two years (following 2013 start-up year), based on plant cash contributions of $10 million to $15 million in 2014 and $40 million to $50 million in 2015.
“With two new collaboration partners, continued progress on renewable product sales, and our best operational performance to date, we’re well positioned to double our renewable product sales this year over 2013 and deliver positive operational cash flow in the second half of this year. In May, we completed a $75 million convertible note financing and, since quarter-end, increased our cash balance sheet with payments from our ongoing collaborations as well as additional inflows from new collaborations,”said John Melo, Amyris President & CEO.
“We rounded out our developing product portfolio for the tire industry when Braskem joined our collaboration to develop and produce renewable isoprene, and our expanded collaboration with Kuraray for liquid rubber. With TOTAL, we obtained industry certification for sales of our renewable jet fuel and have begun sales of jet fuel. We continue to experience strong demand for sustainable products that perform better than the alternative and are cost competitive, while solving the supply challenges our customers face in growing their business,” concluded Melo.
The analysts react:
Rob Stone and James Medvedeff, Cowen & Company
Q2 non-GAAP loss was 36c (vs. St. 30c) on $8.2MM (vs. St. $12.4MM). Product costs are improving, but COGS reflected higher-cost inventory. New collaborations and product segments are encouraging, raising our PT to $3.50 (vs. $3.00), but expected product sales for 2014 are heavily H2-weighted. Execution risk on a steep ramp and potential dilution from converts keep us at Market Perform (2).
Product revenue of $4.4MM missed our $7.0MM estimate. A new fragrance molecule was not yet shipping. Three new products should launch in 2015, and a total of 10 molecules supports expected growth.
Adjusting Our Model for Smaller 2015 Ramp, Slower Cost Reduction. We now project 2014-15E losses of $1.01 and $1.23, on sales of $76.3MM and $115MM, vs. prior ($0.64) and ($0.35) on $76.5MM and $196MM.
Pavel Molchanov, Raymond James & Company
After a period of retooling while in the “overpromise and underdeliver” penalty box, 2013 and 2014 have been Amyris’ first years with operations truly in commercial mode, and the outlook for the rest of 2014 (and beyond) is encouraging. There is visible commercialization progress, but the top line’s reliance (for now) on partner-based R&D revenue makes quarterly results very choppy. We maintain our Market Perform rating.
* Brotas: steady as she goes. The 50 million liter Brotas plant in Brazil made its first farnesene shipment over a year ago and is back online (following its 1Q downtime). Recall, as of last November, the initial 2014 target has been for product sales to at least double – likely conservative after last year’s shortfall. This target remains in place, and our current “guesstimate” for product sales is $38 million for 2014, up ~2.5x.
* $3.50/gal diesel: intriguing target, but we’ll believe it when we see it. It is on the Total front that the most interesting revelations came out of yesterday’s call. Amyris is working on a framework for producing renewable diesel in Europe – as part of the fuels JV with Total – with a long-term target cost of $1.00/liter, or $3.50/gallon. The feedstock is… to be disclosed later, so we can’t help but feel some skepticism. The working assumption is that the first large diesel plant will start up in 2017, with two or three by decade’s end. If true, this would solidify Total’s status as one of the most active strategics in bioindustrials.
Valuation. Consistent with peers, we apply a discounted cash flow approach to arrive at a DCF value of $2.90/share.
The Digest’s take
The analysts don’t see much upside in the stock for now a ramp-up in price over the past year has absorbed most of the short-term potential. It’s highly intriguing that the company is targeting $3.50 diesel with a Total/Amyris plant as soon as 2017. That’s big news, if it materializes but we would expect a move away from the spot Brazilian sugar market in order to facilitate this. Cellulosic sugars would be appropriate targets for anything sold in the aviation to avoid food vs fuel debates.
Jim Lane is editor and publisher of Biofuels Digest where this article was originally published. Biofuels Digest is the most widely read Biofuels daily read by 14,000+ organizations. Subscribe here.
