VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SHARC International Systems Inc. (CSE:SHRC) (IWIA.F) (INTWF) ("SHARC" or the “Company”) has filed its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. All figures are in CDN unless otherwise noted.

2019 Financial Highlights:

• Loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $3.3M, a decrease of $1.1M year over year.
  

• Through the restructuring of its operations, the Company has reduced its working capital deficit by approximately $1.6M, from $5.12M to $3.5M, between the interim period ended September 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2019.
  

• Gross margin of $0.08M at 54% margin in 2019 compared to $0.25M at 46% margin in 2018.
  

• Disposed of the UK operations reducing a continued drain on cash balances and our financial commitments.

2019 Accomplishments

• Pivoted from the Design, Build, Finance and Operate (“DBFO”) or Energy Service Company (“ESCO”) model, a high upfront capital cost with long term residual income streams or payback, to a lower cost, higher return upfront model with a focus on equipment sales and leasing (“OEM”)
  

• Successfully reallocated internal resources from research and development and technical positions to sales and sales support positions
  

• Hired dedicated and skilled sales professionals to manage and generate leads with a focus to bring leads to a close.
  

• Review and reduced general and administrative spend and support focusing resources on sales and marketing activities.
  

• Successfully divested from UK Operations.
  

• Entered into a lease with the City of Vancouver for a one-year lease with the option to renew at $9,000 per month. The City of Vancouver is planning expansion of the False Creek Neighborhood Energy Utility with bidding beginning in late 2020.

Subsequent events

• On February 11, 2020, the Company issued 10,000,000 units at a price of $0.065 for cash proceeds of $156,000 and the settlement of debt of $494,000 owed to officers, directors and consultants. Debt settlement of officers and directors of the Company account for $326,794 of the total settlements.
  

• On February 13 and February 24, 2020, the Company issued unsecured convertible debenture units with total principal amounts of $1,764,000 and $276,000 respectively. The debentures mature on February 13 and February 24, 2023, respectively, and bear interest at an annual rate of 2% due semi-annually.
  
  

• In May 2020, SHARC won the opportunity to collaborate on a pilot project funded by the Electric Power Research Institute (“EPRI”) after presenting at the Incubatenergy© Labs Challenge. After being selected as 1 of 17 finalists from a pool of over 130 applicants, SHARC made a virtual pitch on April 7^th, 2020. The Company has now been selected as 1 of 10 companies to demonstrate innovative power delivery and use technologies under the leadership of EPRI, Ameren Corporation, Tennessee Valley Authority and Southern California Edison.
  
  

• On May 29, 2020, the Company issued unsecured convertible debenture units with a principal amount of $2,000,000. The debenture matures on May 29, 2023 and bears interest at an annual rate of 2% due semi-annually.
  
  

• On May 29, 2020, the Company settled with all holders (“Debentureholders”) of the Company’s $1,320,000 and $1,023,000 12% unsecured, convertible debentures which were set to mature on May 30, 2020 and June 29, 2020 (the “Maturing Debentures”).The Debentureholders have entered into settlement agreements with the Company (the “Settlement Agreements”) pursuant to which the Debentureholders accepted 75% cash payout of the outstanding principal amount of the Maturing Debentures, the payout of any accrued and unpaid interest up to the date of maturity and the amendment of 1,673,571 common share purchase warrants (the “Warrants”) in consideration for the cancellation of the Maturing Debentures and a release of the Company’s obligations under the Maturing Debentures.