-- Net Income Ex-Items Soared 136.4% in Fourth Quarter --
-- Successfully Satisfied Make-Good Agreement for Year 2007 --
-- Strong Performance Capitalized on Robust Industrial Energy-Saving Demand in China --
-- Teleconference to Be Held at 8:30 a.m. EDT Today --
GONGYI, China, March 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- China Gengsheng Minerals, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CHGS) ("Gengsheng" or the "Company"), a leading manufacturer in China of industrial materials capable of withstanding high temperature, saving energy and boosting productivity, today reported its audited results for fourth quarter and year 2007 ended December 31, 2007.
(All figures are in USD)
Fourth-Quarter Highlights
-- Total sales grew 26.6% to $10.9 million from the same period in 2006;
-- Excluding a Make Good-related charge*, net income soared 136.4% from
same period 2006 to $3.3 million, representing a record 30.7% net
margin;
* The Company had an unusual, non-cash charge of $5.3 million, per U.S.
GAAP, for successfully meeting the performance goal set in the April
2007 Escrow Agreement, which resulted in the return of 1.7 million
shares to the major shareholder.
-- Sales of fracture proppants rose 195.2% to $262,000 from the third
quarter of 2007;
Fiscal Year 2007 Highlights
-- Total sales increased 44.4% to a record $39.7 million from 2006;
-- Gross margin rose to 40.5% from 39.8% in 2006;
-- Excluding the same Make Good-related charge, net income grew 84.6% to
arecord $8.3 million from 2006;
FINANCIAL RESULTS OVERVIEW
(In Mlns of USD,
except EPS) Q4-FY06 Q4-FY07 YoY% FY06 FY07 YoY%
Sales 8.6 10.9 26.60% 27.5 39.7 44.40%
Gross profit 3.4 4.3 27.30% 10.9 16.1 46.80%
Operating income 1.4 2.9 107.10% 4.7 8.9 89.40%
Ex-items net income 1.4 3.3 136.40% 4.5 8.3 84.60%
GAAP net income 1.4 (2.0) (242.9%) 4.5 3 (33.3%)
Ex-items EPS 0.08 0.14 75.00% 0.27 0.38 (40.7%)
GAAP EPS 0.08 (0.08) (200.0%) 0.27 0.14 (66.7%)
Outlook
-- The Company reaffirmed its guidance of net income of $13.5 million,
excluding any potential Make Good-related charge per U.S. GAAP, for
2008.
"I am extremely pleased by the increase both the volume and selling prices for our products. We delivered a strong year of exciting achievements in our operations, helped by China's growing demand for industrial materials that can also help save energy and enhance productivity," said Mr. Shunqing Zhang, Chairman, President and CEO of Gengsheng. "We are glad we made the momentous decision to access the U.S. capital markets in 2007. We believe our growth profile, which is in lockstep with China's modernizing steel and oil industries, is being increasingly recognized by investors."
Mr. Zhang continued, "We have been able to monetize our edge in advanced technology and we expect to continue to win market share for our monolithic refractory products. This year, our plan is to further expand our fracture proppants business and launch our fine precision abrasives products into the market. We look forward to having all these three product lines propel Gengsheng into the ranks of the top industrial materials producers in China."
Fourth Quarter of 2007 Financial Results
For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2007, sales grew 26.6% to $10.9 million, from $8.6 million recorded in same period of 2006.
Gross profit rose 27.3% to $4.3 million from $3.4 million in the same period of 2006. The increase was primarily driven by more effective control of production costs, especially in the segment of monolithic refractory products. Fourth-quarter 2007 gross margin was 39.8% compared with 39.6% in 2006 same period.
Selling expenses rose 18.2% to $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, from $1.0 million in same period 2006, primarily due to rising shipping costs, which accounted for roughly 60% of selling expenses, compared with 55% in the fourth quarter of 2006. Selling expenses were 11.4% of sales in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared with 12.2% in same period of 2006.
General and administrative expenses declined 53.6% to $443,000, from $933,000 in same period 2006, primarily due to effective cost-cutting. G&A as a percentage of sales was 4.0% in the fourth quarter of 2007, compared with 10.8% in 2006 same period.
In the fourth quarter of 2007, Gengsheng received government grants worth a total of $957,000, in the forms of awards, subsidies and incentive packages. About 80% of the grants came from the cities of Zhengzhou and Gongyi, where the Company conducts its business. The rest was from Henan Province. The grants were to recognize and reward Gengsheng's achievements in tapping the U.S. capital markets for funding in 2007, as well as its track record in promoting technological innovation in the local industry.
The effective tax rate for fourth-quarter 2007 was 12.1%, compared with 1.0% in the same period of 2006.
Because the Company exceeded the net income threshold as defined in the Make-Good provision of an Escrow Agreement signed April 25, 2007, 1,656,067 shares of the Company (worth about $5.3 million at the fair value of the date the performance goal was met) are to be returned to the major shareholder. U.S. GAAP consider such Escrow Agreement as an incentive for the Company to perform, therefore the value of the returned shares becomes an unusual,
non-cash charge, in the amount of $5.3 million.
Excluding that $5.3 million non-cash charge, net income soared 136.4% from fourth-quarter 2006 to a record $3.3 million, or diluted EPS of $0.14.
Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2007 was $2.0 million, or diluted loss per share of $0.08.
Year 2007 Financial Results
For the year 2007, sales jumped 44.4% to a record $39.7 million, from $27.5 million in 2006.
Sales contribution from monolithic refractory products in 2007 was 96.0%, versus 96.9% in 2006; industrial ceramics, 2.9% versus 3.1% in 2006; and fracture proppants, 1.1% versus zero in 2006.
Gross profit rose 46.8% to $16.1 million in 2007, from $10.9 million in 2006. The increase was primarily because of a significant rise in sales, as well as more efficiency in sourcing raw materials. In addition, the Company's high-margin, full-service programs for steel companies now accounted for 36.9% of sales versus 35.0% in 2006. Gross margin for 2007 was 40.5% versus 39.8% in 2006.
Selling expenses increased 25% from 2006 to $4.7 million, reflecting cost increases associated with rising sales, in particular shipping costs. General and administrative expenses rose 1.2% to $2.4 million from 2006.
In 2007, the Company recovered doubtful debt of $253,000, compared with such recovery of $58,000 in 2006.
As mentioned above, the Company recorded an unusual, non-cash charge of $5.3 million at December 31, 2007 for meeting the performance goal set in the April 2007 Escrow Agreement.
The effective tax rate for year 2007 was 13.2%, compared with 0.2% in 2006.
Excluding the $5.3 million non-cash charge resulting from Make Good, net income for 2007 jumped 84.6% to a record $8.3 million, or diluted EPS of $0.38, from $4.5 million in 2006.
Net income for 2007 was $3.0 million, or diluted EPS of $0.14.
As of December 31, 2007, the Company's total cash and cash equivalents were $2.0 million compared to $426,000 at December 31, 2006. Its net working capital was $25.8 million as of December 31, 2007, compared with $11.5 million at December 31, 2006.
Total shareholders' equity increased to $37.2 million as of December 31, 2007 from $19.1 million at December 31, 2006. The increase was primarily due to the Company's reverse merger transaction and the private offering of shares in the second quarter of 2007.
The total shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis as of December 31, 2007 were 24.2 million.
2007 Operating Highlights
On April 25, 2007, the Company successfully completed a reverse acquisition transaction by which it became a publicly traded entity on the OTC Bulletin Board in the U.S. In conjunction with the listing, the Company performed a private placement transaction and sold 5,347,594 shares of its common stock to certain accredited investors for approximately $8.5 million in net proceeds to the Company.
Also in 2007, the Company signed 15 new one- or multi-year contracts for refractory products, three of which were with foreign steel companies. The existing production line for refractory, with an annual capacity of 100,000 metric tons, is now running at full capacity. The Company is currently retooling its manufacturing facilities and installing an automated assembly line. It is expecting to increase the existing production capability by 20%-30% by July 2008. The Company is also considering introducing additional, new production lines for refractory products later this year.
In October 2007, the Company was certified by the three Chinese oil majors (Sinopec, PetroChina and CNOOC) as a first-tier supplier of fracture proppants. Through the end of 2007, the Company had a total of $450,000 in sales to oil and gas drillers in China, or 1.1% of the Company's sales. As of March 24, 2008, sales of fracture proppants had already exceeded last year's level.
Update on Facilities for Fine Precision Abrasives
The Company is currently in the construction phase to build a production line for fine precision abrasives, with 50,000 metric tons of designed annual capacity. As of March 24, 2008, the Company has finished the laying of electrical wires and the reconfiguration of the gateway to the site. The facilities are being built and machinery is being ordered. The Company is expecting to start trial production by October 2008.
Business Outlook
The Company reaffirmed its previous guidance of net income of $13.5 million for the l year 2008.
The target is based on the Company's current views on the operating and market conditions, which are subject to change.
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call, to be simultaneously Webcast, on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time / 8:30 p.m. Beijing Time. Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing +1-877-407-8035 (North America) or +1-201-689-8035 (International) ten minutes before the call start time. A live Webcast of the conference call will be available on the English version of the Gengsheng Web site at http://www.gengsheng.com .
A replay of the call will be available through Friday, April 4, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. An archived Webcast of the conference call will be available on the Gengsheng Web site at http://www.gengsheng.com. Interested parties may access the replay by dialing +1-877-660-6853 (North America) or + 1-201-612-7415 (International) and entering account number 286 and conference ID number 278714.
The Company expects to file its annual report on Form 10-K in a timely manner.
About China Gengsheng Minerals, Inc.
China Gengsheng Minerals, Inc. ("Gengsheng") develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of mineral-based industrial material products, including monolithic refractories, industrial ceramics and fracture proppants. Offering customized solutions, Gengsheng sells its products primarily to the iron-and-steel industry as heat-resistant components for steel-making furnaces, industrial kilns and other high-temperature vessels to guarantee and improve the productivity of those expensive pieces of equipment while reducing their consumption of energy. Founded in 1986 and based in China's Henan province, Gengsheng currently has over 200 customers in the iron, steel, oil, glass, cement, aluminum and chemical businesses located in China and in 11 other countries. Gengsheng conducts business through Gengsheng International Corporation, a British Virgin Islands company, and its Chinese subsidiaries, which are Henan Gengsheng Refractories Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou Duesail Fracture Proppant Co., Ltd. and Henan Gengsheng High Temperature Materials Co., Ltd.
For more information about the Company, please visit http://www.gengsheng.com .
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of China Gengsheng Minerals, Inc., and its subsidiary companies. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements" including statements regarding the Company's ability to market its products and services internationally; the Company's ability to meet its projected output or otherwise achieve its commercial objectives; the business strategy, plans and objectives of the Company and its subsidiaries; and any other statements of non-historical information. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website at http://www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.
- Financial Tables to Follow -
China Gengsheng Minerals, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Audited)
As of December 31,
2007 2006
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $1,964,390 $426,099
Restricted cash 274,200 192,300
Trade receivables 22,721,052 14,103,129
Bills receivable 6,065,681 238,452
Other receivables and prepayments 3,042,086 1,067,334
Advances to staff 728,822 655,095
Inventories 8,060,249 6,416,703
Deferred tax assets 50,554 13,561
Total current assets 42,907,034 23,112,673
Deposits for acquisition of property, plant
and equipment 1,073,684 --
Deposits for acquisition of intangible
asset-patented technology 534,690 --
Intangible asset-unpatented technology 342,750 319,753
Property, plant and equipment, net 8,733,367 6,640,189
Land use right 916,167 871,738
Total assets $54,507,692 $30,944,353
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Trade payables $5,324,108 $4,661,178
Bills payable 548,400 192,300
Other payables and accrued expenses 3,505,199 3,164,381
Income tax payable 750,140 217
Non-interest-bearing loans 515,001 1,698,846
Secured short-term bank loans 6,484,830 1,923,000
Deferred tax liabilities -- 12,967
Total current liabilities 17,127,678 11,652,889
Deferred tax liabilities 14,995 --
Total liabilities 17,142,673 11,652,889
MINORITY INTERESTS 184,643 142,782
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock - $0.001 par value 50,000,000
shares authorized,
no shares issued and outstanding in 2007
and 2006 -- --
Common stock - $0.001 par value 100,000,000
shares authorized,
24,038,183 and 16,887,815 shares issued and
outstanding in 2007 and 2006 24,038 16,888
Additional paid-in capital 19,608,044 6,033,226
Statutory and other reserves 6,723,050 6,212,239
Accumulated other comprehensive income 2,318,600 867,757
Retained earnings 8,506,644 6,018,572
Total stockholders’ equity 37,180,376 19,148,682
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $54,507,692 $30,944,353
China Gengsheng Minerals, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income & Comprehensive Income
(Audited)
Year ended December 31,
2007 2006 2005
Sales $39,692,908 $27,481,539 $22,184,246
Cost of goods sold 23,626,674 16,534,004 12,977,770
Gross profit 16,066,234 10,947,535 9,206,476
Operating expenses
Recovery of doubtful debts (253,205) (58,259) (6,788)
General and administrative
expenses 2,440,112 2,411,939 2,077,114
Amortization and depreciation 221,376 157,814 129,107
Selling expenses 4,739,009 3,783,071 3,131,897
Total operating expenses 7,147,292 6,294,565 5,331,330
Net operating income 8,918,942 4,652,970 3,875,146
Other income/ (expenses)
Government grant income 1,028,639 33,251 320,783
Interest income 82,208 8,698 7,986
Other income 4,868 36,046 39,368
Finance costs (429,862) (226,236) (102,824)
Unusual charge - make good
provision (5,299,414) -- --
Total other income/ (expenses) (4,613,561) (148,241) 265,313
Income before income taxes and
minority interests 4,305,381 4,504,729 4,140,459
Income taxes (1,264,637) (7,010) (250,415)
Income before minority interests 3,040,744 4,497,719 3,890,044
Minority interests (41,861) (1,617) (9,162)
Net income $2,998,883 $4,496,102 $3,880,882
Other comprehensive income
Foreign currency translation
adjustment 1,450,843 556,201 310,914
Total comprehensive income $4,449,726 $5,052,303 $4,191,796
Earnings per share
- Basic $0.14 $0.27 $0.23
- Diluted $0.14 $0.27 $0.23
Weighted average number of shares
- Basic 21,785,329 16,887,815 16,887,815
- Diluted 21,877,034 16,887,815 16,887,815
China Gengsheng Minerals, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Audited)
Year ended December 31,
2007 2006 2005
Cash flows from operating
activities
Net income $2,998,883 $4,496,102 $3,880,882
Adjustments to
reconcile net income
to net cash (used in)
provided by operating
activities:
Depreciation 591,490 389,314 324,095
Amortization of
land use right 15,452 22,195 6,840
Unusual charge -
make good
provision 5,299,414 -- --
Deferred taxes (33,540) (15,221) 14,581
Minority interests 41,861 1,617 9,162
Loss (gain) on
disposal of property,
plant and equipment 10,415 (28,085) (4,338)
Recovery of
doubtful debts (253,205) (58,259) (6,788)
(Recovery of) provision
for obsolete inventories -- (23,306) 43,210
Changes in operating assets
and liabilities:
Restricted cash (65,835) (188,355) --
Trade receivables (7,552,803) (1,663,523) (1,766,537)
Bills receivables (5,580,537) 436,984 (279,302)
Other receivables
and prepayments (2,456,935) (963,540) 1,582,662
Advances to staff 503,354 (319,774) 87,156
Inventories (1,142,723) (3,444,767) (257,495)
Other payables and
accrued expenses 620,172 (70,464) 562,893
Trade payables 325,897 1,880,697 (298,795)
Bills payables 329,175 188,355 --
Income tax payable 720,207 212 (211,992)
Net cash flows (used in)
provided by operating
activities (5,629,258) 640,182 3,686,234
Cash flows from investing
activities
Payments to acquire and
deposit for acquisition of
intangible assets (514,280) (320,500) --
Payments to acquire and
deposit for acquisition of
property, plant and
equipment (3,756,373) (2,818,712) (127,837)
Proceeds from disposal
of property, plant and
equipment 71,102 34,682 4,338
Payments to acquire and
deposit for land use right -- -- (610,981)
Net cash flows used in
investing activities (4,199,551) (3,104,530) (734,480)
Cash flows from financing
activities
Repayment to related parties -- -- (403,326)
Proceeds from bank loans 11,494,791 1,883,550 1,222,200
Repayment of bank loans (7,241,850) (1,255,700) (1,222,200)
Proceeds from
non-interest-bearing loans 3,203 1,297,307 672,210
Repayment of
non-interest-bearing loans (1,253,429) (481,244) (2,101,313)
Cash acquired from RTO 3,036 -- --
Proceeds from issuance of
shares, net of direct share
issue expenses of
$1,504,310 8,495,690 -- --
Share issue expenses paid (216,172) -- --
Contribution from a
stockholder for acquiring
shares of Refractories,
Furnace and Sanwei -- -- 7,133,700
Distribution to stockholders
in connection with acquisition
of shares of Refractories,
Furnace and Sanwei -- -- (7,133,700)
Net cash flows provided by
(used in) financing activities 11,285,269 1,443,913 (1,832,429)
Effect of foreign currency
translation on
cash and cash equivalents 81,831 26,190 31,744
Net increase (decrease) in
cash and cash equivalents 1,538,291 (994,245) 1,151,069
Cash and cash equivalents -
beginning of year 426,099 1,420,344 269,275
Cash and cash equivalents -
end of year $1,964,390 $426,099 $1,420,344
Supplemental disclosure of
cash flow information:
Cash paid for:
Interest $283,496 $219,631 $91,515
Income taxes $548,254 $22,018 $447,826
Non-cash financing activities:
Acquisition of construction
activities under other payable
and accrued expenses $-- $491,837 $--
Issue of warrants to
placement agent $748,034 $-- $--