IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 14, 2019 /Terra Tech Corp. (OTCQX: TRTC) (“Terra Tech” or the “Company”), a vertically integrated cannabis-focused agriculture company, today announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2018.

“We faced several headwinds in 2018 that slowed our progress and impacted top line results,” commented Derek Peterson, Chief Executive Officer of Terra Tech. “These challenges included navigating the changing regulations in the State of California, which affected sales from our retail businesses in the state, Blüm Oakland and Blüm Santa Ana. Our capacity to generate wholesale revenues in California was also impacted by the regulations which required us to relocate and upgrade our IVXX™ cannabis production to a new facility, effectively halting production in some months.”

“While these factors created challenges for us in 2018, they also drove us to make investments in cultivation and manufacturing infrastructure that will enable us to scale production and achieve greater IVXX™ distribution in California in 2019. The upgraded facility in Oakland, California is nearly complete and will support a ramp in production starting in Q2 2019. Other initiatives to drive revenue growth in the state include the anticipated launch of a branded delivery system in California, and our plans to establish a pop-up retail experience,” continued Mr. Peterson.

“In conjunction with these growth initiatives, we are also implementing strategies to improve fiscal responsibility and improve our bottom line in 2019. This includes streamlining our operations and headcount to mitigate operational burn and completing an assessment of all our assets to explore opportunities to sell certain lower performing assets and redirect resources into accretive opportunities. This strategy will also allow us to avoid accessing the capital markets for funding in the second half of 2019.

“We believe that our strategy of ensuring cost efficient operations, production of high quality cannabis and stronger corporate governance will strengthen our business and drive meaningful and sustainable shareholder value,” concluded Mr. Peterson

Financial Update

* For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company generated revenues of approximately $31.33 million, compared to approximately $35.80 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, a decrease of approximately $4.47 million. The decrease was primarily due to the significant level of taxes that the State of California placed on cannabis sales which depressed the overall legal cannabis market.

* Gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2018 was approximately 39.68%, compared to approximately 30.51% for the year ended December 31, 2017.

* Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 were approximately $43.30 million, compared to approximately $30.80 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.

* The net loss attributable to Terra Tech for the year ended December 31, 2018 was approximately $(39.8 million) or ($0.56) per share compared to a loss of approximately $(32.7 million) or ($0.71) per share for the year ended December 31, 2017.

* The Company had $7.19 million in cash as of December 31, 2018, compared with $5.45 million as of December 31, 2017.

* Stockholders’ equity for the year ended December 31, 2018 amounted to approximately $94.9 million, an increase of approximately $18.1 million compared to approximately $76.8 million as of December 31, 2017.

* The Company had no short-term debt as of December 31, 2018. Long term debt was $18.3 million as of December 31, 2018, compared with $6.6 million as of December 31, 2017.

Business Update

Corporate