SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q


               QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                  For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1998
                       Commission File Number : 000-23329

                                    C3, Inc.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


              North Carolina                            56-1928817
          ---------------------------------        -------------------
            (State or other jurisdiction of        (I.R.S. Employer 
            incorporation or organization)         Identification No.)
           


      3800 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 310, Morrisville, North Carolina 27560
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


                                 (919) 468-0399
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                                         Yes   X    No
                                                            -------    -------

As of May 8, 1998, there were 6,942,166 shares of the registrant's common stock,
no par value per share, outstanding.






C3, INC. INDEX PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS-- MARCH 31, 1998 AND DECEMBER 31, 1997 CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS--THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND 1997 CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS--THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND 1997 NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS PART II. OTHER INFORMATION - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K SIGNATURES
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
C3, INC. (A COMPANY IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE) CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS MARCH 31, 1998 DECEMBER 31, (Unaudited) 1997 ------------ ------------ ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and equivalents $ 41,722,943 $ 43,980,385 Accounts receivable, net 60,020 4,298 Interest receivable 166,700 177,654 Inventories 670,364 278,602 Prepaid expenses and other assets 149,052 73,274 ------------ ------------ Total current assets 42,769,079 44,514,213 Equipment, net 316,238 214,990 Patent and license rights, net 163,799 143,886 ------------ ------------ TOTAL ASSETS $ 43,249,116 $ 44,873,089 ============ ============ LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable: Cree Research, Inc. $ 647,216 $ 567,110 Other 367,231 237,186 Accrued expenses 208,126 Deferred revenue 24,387 22,512 ------------ ------------ Total current liabilities 1,246,960 826,808 Commitments and contingencies SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY: Common stock 47,743,431 47,743,431 Additional paid-in capital - stock options 1,683,683 1,632,804 Deficit accumulated during the development stage (7,424,958) (5,329,954) ------------ ------------ Total shareholders' equity 42,002,156 44,046,281 ------------ ------------ TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 43,249,116 $ 44,873,089 ============ ============
See notes to Condensed Financial Statements C3, INC. (A COMPANY IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE) CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
CUMULATIVE FOR THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, THE PERIOD ----------------------------- JUNE 28, 1995 TO 1998 1997 MARCH 31, 1998 ----------- ----------- ---------------- Net sales $ 250,555 $ -- $ 250,555 Cost of goods sold 155,076 -- 155,076 ----------- ----------- ----------- Gross profit 95,479 -- 95,479 Operating expenses: Marketing and sales 761,136 21,707 1,353,797 General and administrative 611,831 180,783 3,471,696 Research and development 1,322,512 201,264 3,675,673 Depreciation and amortization 15,499 2,554 46,069 ----------- ----------- ----------- Operating Loss (2,615,499) (406,308) (8,451,756) Interest income, net 520,495 33,419 1,026,798 ----------- ----------- ----------- Net loss $(2,095,004) $ (372,889) $(7,424,958) =========== =========== =========== Basic and diluted net loss per share $ (0.30) $ (0.16) $ (2.73) =========== =========== =========== Weighted-average common shares, Basic and diluted 6,938,476 2,261,102 2,716,074 =========== =========== ===========
See notes to Condensed Financial Statements. C3, INC. (A COMPANY IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE) CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
CUMULATIVE FOR THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, THE PERIOD ---------------------------- JUNE 28, 1995 TO 1998 1997 MARCH 31, 1998 ---------- ---------- ---------------- OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net loss $(2,095,004) $ (372,889) $(7,424,958) Adjustments: Depreciation and amortization 15,499 2,554 46,069 Compensation expense related to exercise and issuance of stock options 50,879 66,000 1,749,683 Change in operating assets and liabilities: Net change in assets (512,308) 7,000 (1,046,136) Net change in liabilities 420,152 122,014 1,246,960 ----------- ---------- ----------- Net cash used by operating activities (2,120,782) (175,321) (5,428,382) ----------- ---------- ----------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchase of equipment (114,181) (18,342) (351,791) Patent costs (22,479) (21,416) (174,315) ----------- ---------- ----------- Net cash used by investing activities (136,660) (39,758) (526,106) ----------- ---------- ----------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from common stock offerings, net of costs -- -- 42,102,785 Proceeds from preferred stock offerings, net of costs -- 4,981,375 5,574,646 ----------- ---------- ----------- Net cash provided by financing activities -- 4,981,375 47,677,431 ----------- ---------- ----------- Net change in cash and equivalents (2,257,442) 4,766,296 41,722,943 Cash and equivalents at the beginning of the period 43,980,385 1,167,458 -- ----------- ---------- ----------- Cash and equivalents at the end of the period $41,722,943 $5,933,754 $41,722,943 =========== ========== ===========
See notes to Condensed Financial Statements. C3, INC. (A COMPANY IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE) NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. However, certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed, or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the opinion of management, the statements include all normal recurring adjustments which are necessary for the fair presentation of the results of the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for the fiscal year. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year's financial statements to conform to the classifications used in fiscal 1998. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1997, as set forth in the Company's Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 1998. C3, Inc. is a development stage company which has devoted substantially all of its efforts to research and product development and did not, through March 31, 1998, generate significant revenues from its planned principal operations. In preparing financial statements that conform with generally accepted accounting principles, management must make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and amounts of revenues and expenses reflected during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. 2. INVENTORIES Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Inventories consisted of the following: MARCH 31, DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 --------- ------------ Raw materials $ 55,950 -- Work in process 385,768 $278,602 Finished goods 228,646 -- -------- -------- Total inventory $670,364 $278,602 ======== ======== 3. NON-CASH OPERATING EXPENSES During the quarter ended March 31, 1998, in accordance with APB 25, the Company recorded compensation expense of approximately $51,000 relating to stock options. Cumulatively for the period from June 28, 1995 (date of inception) to March 31, 1998, such compensation expense aggregated approximately $1,750,000. This compensation expense is recorded in general and administrative expense in the statements of operations. 4. NEWLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In June 1997, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130 ("FAS 130"), Comprehensive Income, was issued. This Statement establishes standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components (revenues, expenses, gains and losses) in a full set of general-purpose financial statements. FAS 130 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997. Reclassification of financial statements for earlier periods is required. However, this Statement does not currently affect the Company's financial statements since it has no items of other comprehensive income in any period presented. ITEM 2: MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that relate to the Company's future plans, objectives, estimates and goals. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including macro and micro economic factors that affect businesses operating in the international economy, the Company's reliance on Cree Research, Inc. as a developer and supplier of silicon carbide crystals, the level of growth in domestic and international gemstone jewelry markets, the level of market acceptance of and demand for the Company's products, and the actions of existing and potential competitors. These and other risks and uncertainties are described under the heading "Business Risks" in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 1998. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any of the forward-looking statements included herein. OVERVIEW Since its organization in June 1995, the Company has devoted its resources to funding research and development of colorless lab-created moissanite gemstones, market research, qualifying potential retail jewelers and other potential customers for distribution arrangements and assembling a management team. As a development stage company, the Company is subject to all the risks inherent in establishing a new business, including the risk that full-scale operations may not occur. The Company began selling its moissanite/diamond test instrument and lab-created moissanite gemstone samples during the quarter ended March 31, 1998, although these sales were not significant. The Company expects its sales volumes to increase gradually as it increases production capacity and develops its distribution channels. The Company has been unprofitable since inception and anticipates that it will continue to incur increasingly significant expenses as it transitions from the development stage to full-scale production. Historic spending levels are not indicative of anticipated future spending levels because the Company is in the early stages of a period in which it will rapidly increase spending to achieve its business objectives, including refinement and commercialization of its lab-created gemstone technology, introduction of its gemstone products, establishment of distribution channels, expansion of its manufacturing capacity, optimization of SiC crystal yields and further marketing of its moissanite/diamond test instrument. For these reasons, the Company expects to continue operating at a loss through at least some or all of 1998. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the Company will ever achieve profitability or if profitability is achieved, that such profitability can be sustained. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 1998, were $250,555, which resulted entirely from sales of the Company's proprietary test instrument. In addition, the Company generated net sales of $81,101 for gemstone samples, which were netted against research and development expenses on the operating statement because many of the samples were associated with a research and development program. There were no sales for the first quarter of 1997. Gross profit was $95,479 or 38% of sales for the quarter ended March 31, 1998. Gross profit related entirely to sales of the Company's proprietary test instrument. Gross margins will likely decrease through most or all of 1998 as the Company enters into volume distribution agreements for its testers, potentially experiences pricing pressures on its testers from the introduction of competitive test instruments, and as it introduces its gemstones which will have a lower initial gross margin as the Company and Cree work to improve yields from the crystal growth process. Research and development expenses increased from $201,264 for the three months ended March 31, 1997 to $1,322,512 for the three months ended March 31, 1998. The increase was primarily attributable to development expenses incurred under the Company's June 1997 Development Agreement and January 1998 Supplemental Development Agreement with Cree Research, Inc. under which Cree is continuing its efforts to develop a fully repeatable process for producing larger diameter SiC crystals in specified diamond color grades. The increase was also due to increased expenditures for the Company's internal development of prototype gemstone pre-forming and faceting operations and compensation expense for Company research and development staff. Marketing and sales expenses increased from $21,707 for the three months ended March 31, 1997 to $761,136 for the three months ended March 31, 1998. The increase was primarily due to compensation expense, increased market research expenditures, and the development of advertising and marketing materials. General and administrative expenses rose from $180,783 for the three months ended March 31, 1997 to $611,831 for the three months ended March 31, 1998. The increase primarily reflected compensation expense of additional staff, occupancy expenses, regulatory and investor relations, and franchise tax. In the first quarter of 1997, the Company had few paid employees and incurred no occupancy expenses until after February 4, 1997. Prior to that time, the Company conducted its operations from the home of two of its founders. Net interest income increased from $33,419 for the three months ended March 31, 1997 to $520,495 for the three months ended March 31, 1998. This increase resulted from higher interest income earned on higher cash balances due primarily to the investment of proceeds from the Company's initial public offering in November 1997. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES The Company has financed its operations primarily from the net proceeds of its initial public offering of common stock in November 1997 and, prior to such offering, from the net proceeds of private equity sales. The net proceeds from the initial public offering were $41,072,982. During the first quarter of 1998, the Company used $2,120,782 to fund operations and $136,660 to fund capital expenditures and patent expenses. At March 31, 1998, the Company had $41,722,943 of cash and equivalents and $41,522,119 of working capital. The Company anticipates that its existing capital resources will be adequate to satisfy its capital requirements for at least the next 12 months. Due to developments in the Company's business, several balance sheet items changed during the quarter. Accounts receivable and inventories have increased significantly over December 1997 levels due to the introduction of the moissanite/diamond test instrument and gemstone sample sales. In addition, accrued expenses increased over fiscal year-end levels primarily as a result of payroll and benefit expenses. In May 1998, the Company agreed to acquire approximately $3.4 million of crystal growth systems from Cree to provide additional production capacity for silicon carbide crystals. The Company will pay the purchase price of the systems on a monthly basis as the systems are manufactured. Once completed, the systems will remain at Cree where Cree will use them to produce SiC crystals for the Company. When the systems are fully depreciated, the Company is obligated to transfer title to Cree. The Company intends to fund the purchase of these systems from its existing cash and equivalents. The Company has also entered into two agreements for the distribution of moissanite gemstones and test instruments. These agreements require the purchase of an aggregate of approximately $2.0 million of moissanite gemstones and $500,000 of test instruments through the year 2000, with approximately $370,000 of these purchases required in 1998. The Company intends to fund the production of the moissanite gemstones and test instruments required by these agreements from its existing cash and equivalents. PART II - OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 2: CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS On November 14, 1997, the Securities and Exchange Commission declared the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-36809) to be effective. The net proceeds of this offering were $41,072,982. As of March 31, 1998, the Company had approximately $37,305,400 of the remaining net proceeds of the offering invested in money market accounts, debt instruments having an original maturity of three months or less and other highly liquid investments. Approximately $2,112,500 of the proceeds have been used in research and development, of which $45,600 was paid to officers, directors or shareholders owning more than ten percent of the Common Stock outstanding. The Company has also used approximately $1,189,100 to fund sales, marketing and administrative expenses, of which $58,000 was paid to officers, directors or shareholders owning more than ten percent of the Common Stock outstanding. The Company also expended approximately $302,000 to build inventory of its products. In addition, the Company spent $164,000 to acquire and install certain computerized slicing and dicing equipment and other equipment. ITEM 6: EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) Exhibits Exhibit 27.1 Financial Data Schedule (b) Report on Form 8-K The Company did not file any reports on 8-K during the three months ended March 31, 1998. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. C3, Inc. Dated: May 10, 1998 /s/ Jeff N. Hunter ---------------------------- JEFF N. HUNTER President and Chairman of the Board and Director (Principal Executive Officer) Dated: May 10, 1998 /s/ Mark W. Hahn ----------------------------- MARK W. HAHN Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 

5 THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1998 AND THE CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 3-MOS DEC-31-1998 JAN-01-1998 MAR-31-1998 41,722,943 0 60,020 0 670,364 42,769,079 350,891 34,653 43,249,116 1,246,960 0 0 0 47,743,431 0 43,249,116 250,555 250,555 155,076 155,076 0 0 0 (2,095,004) 0 (2,095,004) 0 0 0 (2,095,004) (.30) (.30)