ZBB Energy Achieves Planned Sales Growth in First Quarter 2013 Results
ZBB Energy Corporation announced its financial results for the first quarter ended on September 30, 2012. As of November 5, 2012, the Company's backlog was $5.3 million compared to backlog of $6.2 million on September 6, 2012. ZBB ended the quarter with total assets of $20.4 million including $4.6 million in cash. Inventory for current backlog expected to ship in the second and third quarters of this fiscal year has mostly been procured.
Anticipated collections in the second and third quarters of this fiscal year associated with current backlog less any customer deposits approximate $3.7 million. Operating expenses continue to run just under $900,000 per month with the Company actively reducing non-essential cash expenses. The Company is aggressively pursuing additional sales orders and other sources of funding. Sufficient cash and working capital through June 30, 2013 depends on closing additional sales orders and/or obtaining additional funding.
Total revenues increased during the first quarter to $1,823,321 from $1,637,857 in the prior year quarter. First quarter product sales increased $1,379,031 to $1,605,138 during the first quarter, due to successful commercialization and continued sales growth of the Company's EnerSystem™ platform and related products. This increase was offset by a decline in engineering and development revenues, which declined to $218,183, as compared to $1,411,750 in the prior year, due primarily to the completion of the Honam engineering and development agreement.
Total expenses for the first quarter were $4,719,380 compared with $3,334,339 in the prior year quarter. The increase in expenses was primarily related to an increase in the cost of product sales and other expenses.
"The first quarter increase in product sales met our plan objectives of quarter over quarter increases in revenues," said Eric C. Apfelbach, President and CEO. "These shipments provide field-proven references for repeat orders from existing customer and for new customer orders. While our sales funnel continues to grow the key to our growth and achieving our 2013 fiscal year targets is accelerating the near-term bookings of orders in the funnel. In addition, our initial penetration in these key segments is leading to strategic partnership opportunities that we believe could offer significant leverage in our market channels, product offering and access to capital."
