omniture

Sutor Technology Group Limited Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2013 Financial Results

2013-02-07 21:00 1849

CHANGSHU, China, February 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sutor Technology Group Limited (the "Company" or "Sutor") (Nasdaq: SUTR), a leading China-based manufacturer and distributor of high-end fine finished steel products and welded steel pipes used by a variety of downstream applications, today announced its financial results for fiscal 2013 second quarter ended December 31, 2012.

Second quarter fiscal 2013 results highlights:


2Q FY2013

2Q FY2012

Change

Revenue (million)

$157.9

$107.9

46.3%

Gross profit (million)

$12.2

$10.4

17.3%

Net income (million)

$4.8

$2.8

71.4%

EPS (fully diluted)

$0.12

$0.07

71.4%

Discussing second quarter fiscal 2013 results, Lifang Chen, Chairwoman and CEO of Sutor, commented, "We are pleased to report that we substantially improved our top and bottom lines, expanded our product offering, introduced new products and services, and further diversified our customer base."

Second Quarter FY2013 vs. Second Quarter FY2012 Highlights

  • The 46.3% increase in revenue was mainly due to an 87.0% increase in sales volume, partially offset by a 21.7% decrease in the average selling price (ASP) primarily due to lower costs of raw materials. As the Chinese economy continues to gradually regain its strength, we anticipate stable or higher steel product prices in the coming quarters.
  • Revenue generated from domestic sales increased by 49.2% to $139.6 million, while revenue generated from international sales increased by 27.5% to $18.3 million. As a percentage of total revenue, international sales accounted for 11.6%, as compared to 13.3% in the same quarter of fiscal 2012.
  • Our gross margin decreased due to changes in the product mix, as we sold more acid pickled steel products which have lower gross margin as compared to other products.
  • Total operating expenses (selling expenses and general and administrative expenses) slightly decreased despite higher revenue, mainly due to cost control measures.
  • Higher revenue, lower operating expenses, lower interest expenses and higher interest income contributed to a 71.4% increase in net income.

Liquidity

  • Operating activities provided approximately $6.2 million of cash in the six months ended December 31, 2012. As of December 31, 2012, cash and cash equivalents (excluding restricted cash) were $17.8 million and restricted cash were $99.4 million.
  • Sutor's major sources of liquidity are borrowings through short-term bank loans. As of December 31, 2012, short-term loans totaled approximately $112.9 million, and the current portion of long-term loans was $30.8 million. The Company also had approximately $3.4 million long-term loans.
  • As of December 31, 2012, Sutor had an unused line of credit with banks of approximately $34.7 million which entitles the Company to draw bank loans for general corporate purposes. Sutor expects sufficient liquidity to carry out normal operations for fiscal 2013.

Recent Business Developments

  • The new high precision cold-rolled steel production line with a designed annual capacity of 500,000 metric tons (MT) is expected to start trial operations in the first half of calendar year 2013. Once operational, we expect this new line will increase our cold-rolled steel capacity to 750,000 MT. Cold-rolled steel products are used as raw materials to manufacture hot-dip galvanized and pre-painted galvanized steel products, for which we have a capacity of 700,000 MT and 200,000 MT, respectively.
  • We are making progress on our recently established electronic commerce B2B platform, a complementary business to our existing capital intensive and asset heavy steel processing business. We believe that this platform has significant upside potential. We are currently using it to promote and sell our own products to existing customers. Additionally, we plan to introduce this platform to other companies in the heavy industry to promote and sell their products.
  • We recently started commercial production of galvolume steel plates. Derived from hot-dip aluminum galvanization and hot-dip zinc galvanization technology, our galvolume steel plates possess exceptional anti-corrosion, anti-oxidation and electric-chemical properties, which make it less prone to rust and corrosion. As a result, this product can be used in a variety of industries such as construction, household appliances, automobiles, machinery and shipping.

Ms. Chen concluded, "We have well positioned our Company to take advantage of additional opportunities arising from China's expected economic recovery. Sutor's business is strong and competitive, and should continue to profitably grow in fiscal 2013."

Conference Call Information

Sutor's management will host an earnings conference call today, February 7, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern time/10:00 pm Beijing/Hong Kong time. Listeners may access the call by dialing US: +1877 847 0047, CN: 800 876 5011, HK +852 3006 8101, access code: SUTR. A recording of the call will be available shortly after the call through March 9, 2013. Listeners may access it by dialing US: +1866 572 7808, CN: 800 876 5013, HK: +852 3012 8000, access code: 689245.

Functional Currency

The reporting currency of the Company is the United States Dollar ("USD"). Sutor and Sutor BVI maintain their books and records in USD, their functional currency. The PRC subsidiaries maintain their books and records in its local currency, the Renminbi Yuan ("RMB"), which is their functional currency as being the primary currency of the economic environment in which these entities operate. In general, for consolidation purposes, assets and liabilities of its subsidiaries whose functional currency is not USD are translated into USD, in accordance with ASC Topic 830-30, "Translation of Financial Statement", using the exchange rate on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average rates prevailing during the period. The gains and losses resulting from translation of financial statements of foreign subsidiaries are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

About Sutor Technology Group Limited

Sutor is one of the leading China-based manufacturers and distributors of high-end fine finished steel products and welded steel pipes used by a variety of downstream applications. The Company utilizes a variety of in-house developed processes and technologies to convert steel manufactured by third parties into fine finished steel products, including hot-dip galvanized steel, pre-painted galvanized steel, acid-pickled steel, cold-rolled steel and welded steel pipe products. To learn more about the Company, please visit http://www.sutorcn.com/en/index.php.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements that are not descriptions of historical facts, but are forward-looking statements. Such statements include, among others, those concerning our expected financial performance, liquidity and strategic and operational plans, our future operating results, our expectations regarding the market for our products, our expectations regarding the steel market, as well as all assumptions, expectations, predictions, intentions or beliefs about future events. You are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that a number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but not limited to, the factors mentioned in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2012, and other risks mentioned in our other reports filed with the Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Copies of filings made with the SEC are available through the SEC's electronic data gathering analysis retrieval system (EDGAR) at http://www.sec.gov. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "targets," "optimistic," "intend," "aim," "will" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

For more information, please contact:

China

US

Jason Wang, Director of IR

Lena Cati, IR Representative

Sutor Technology Group Limited

The Equity Group

Tel: +86-512-5268-0988

Tel: 212 836-9611

Email: investor_relations@sutorcn.com

Email: lcati@equityny.com

Financial Tables Below:

SUTOR TECHNOLOGY GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS



December 31,


June 30,



2012


2012






ASSETS





Current Assets:





Cash and cash equivalents

$

17,798,409

$

9,530,531

Restricted cash


99,395,193


111,582,149

Short-term investments


-


4,849,112

Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $566,912 and $1,306,099

as of December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012, respectively


3,860,126


7,023,880

Notes receivable


110,960


475,112

Other receivables and prepayments, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $335,588 and

$351,372 as of December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012, respectively


3,427,375


4,275,817

Advances to suppliers, unrelated parties, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $414,811 and

$366,697 as of December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012, respectively


33,393,020


27,446,626

Advances to suppliers, related parties, net of right to offset (Note 10)


137,031,287


121,884,833

Inventories, net


57,809,111


50,432,279

Deferred tax assets


889,819


709,688

Total Current Assets


353,715,300


338,210,027

Non-current Assets:





Advances for purchase of long term assets


15,349,526


15,001,088

Property, plant and equipment, net


74,589,227


77,231,273

Intangible assets, net


6,565,187


3,082,877

Investments in affiliated company


6,356,497


-

Total Non-current Assets


102,860,437


95,315,238

TOTAL ASSETS

$

456,575,737

$

433,525,265






LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY





Current Liabilities:





Short-term loans

$

112,884,062

$

111,166,838

Long-term loans, current portion


30,786,516


27,762,975

Accounts payable, unrelated parties


51,315,445


57,079,617

Accounts payable, related parties


17,976,698


-

Other payables and accrued expenses


7,747,798


8,820,064

Advances from customers


13,300,180


7,924,812

Warrant liabilities


32,881


47,404

Total Current Liabilities


234,043,580


212,801,710

Long-Term Loans


3,437,544


8,490,772

Total Liabilities


237,481,124


221,292,482

Stockholders' Equity





Undesignated preferred stock - $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; nil shares

outstanding


-


-

Common stock - $0.001 par value;

authorized: 500,000,000 shares as of December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012;

issued: 40,855,602 and 40,805,602 shares as of December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012.


40,855


40,805

Additional paid-in capital


41,415,780


41,344,306

Statutory reserves


18,100,361


18,100,361

Retained earnings


124,340,415


117,732,738

Accumulated other comprehensive income


35,848,711


35,622,241

Less: Treasury stock, at cost, 590,838 and 544,477 shares as of December 31, 2012 and June 30,

2012, respectively


(651,509)


(607,668)

Total Stockholders' Equity


219,094,613


212,232,783

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

$

456,575,737

$

433,525,265






SUTOR TECHNOLOGY GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME




For The Three Months Ended



For The Six Months Ended




December 31,



December 31,




2012


2011



2012


2011












Revenue:











Revenue from unrelated parties


$

106,478,486

$

83,070,982


$

195,593,572

$

181,467,497

Revenue from related parties



51,388,372


24,823,816



79,459,977


56,622,918




157,866,858


107,894,798



275,053,549


238,090,415












Cost of Revenue











Cost of revenue from unrelated parties



(96,462,341)


(74,930,923)



(178,489,766)


(165,952,519)

Cost of revenue from related parties



(49,195,171)


(22,552,581)



(75,807,453)


(50,737,745)




(145,657,512)


(97,483,504)



(254,297,219)


(216,690,264)












Gross Profit



12,209,346


10,411,294



20,756,330


21,400,151












Operating Expenses:






















Selling expenses



(1,978,916)


(2,078,492)



(4,292,168)


(4,414,272)

General and administrative expenses



(2,550,249)


(2,578,617)



(4,680,073)


(5,504,115)

Total Operating Expenses



(4,529,165)


(4,657,109)



(8,972,241)


(9,918,387)

Income from Operations



7,680,181


5,754,185



11,784,089


11,481,764












Other Incomes/(Expenses):











Interest income



1,059,709


388,207



2,022,050


678,415

Interest expense



(2,340,244)


(2,438,976)



(5,874,436)


(4,167,516)

Changes in fair value of warrant liabilities



(1,501)


22,082



14,523


232,466

Equity in gains of affiliated company



185,888


-



174,446


-

Other income



122,520


14,592



159,138


19,950

Other expense



(563,209)


(477,176)



(667,524)


(858,667)

Total Other Expenses, net



(1,536,837)


(2,491,271)



(4,171,803)


(4,095,352)












Income Before Taxes



6,143,344


3,262,914



7,612,286


7,386,412

Income tax (expense)/benefit



(1,371,012)


(460,504)



(1,004,609)


400,329

Net Income


$

4,772,332

$

2,802,410


$

6,607,677

$

7,786,741












Other Comprehensive Income:











Foreign currency translation adjustment



708,871


1,375,046



226,470


3,862,447

Comprehensive Income


$

5,481,203

$

4,177,456


$

6,834,147

$

11,649,188












Basic Earnings per Share


$

0.12

$

0.07


$

0.16

$

0.19

Diluted Earnings per Share


$

0.12

$

0.07


$

0.16

$

0.19












Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding



40,224,003


40,487,224



40,222,247


40,602,179

Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding



40,224,003


40,487,224



40,222,247


40,602,179












SUTOR TECHNOLOGY GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS




For The Six Months Ended



December 31,



2012


2011

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:





Net income

$

6,607,677

$

7,786,741

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities





Depreciation and amortization


4,408,037


4,179,300

Reversal for doubtful accounts


(708,630)


-

Stock based compensation


71,524


61,257

Foreign currency exchange gain


(10,234)


(686,395)

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment


85,198


-

Interest income from short-term investments carried at amortized cost


(30,900)


-

Equity in gains of affiliated company


(174,446)


-

Deferred income taxes


(179,476)


(47,431)

Changes in fair value of warrant liabilities


(14,523)


(232,466)

Changes in current assets and liabilities:





Restricted cash for notes payable


2,221,324


(50,625,460)

Trade accounts receivable


3,910,051


(7,624,315)

Notes receivable


364,553


(526,505)

Other receivable and prepayments


868,254


269,075

Advances to suppliers, unrelated parties


(5,968,905)


6,087,748

Advances to suppliers, related parties


(15,026,467)


1,984,400

Inventories


(7,330,679)


(46,491,155)

Accounts payable, unrelated parties


(5,156,443)


60,932,832

Accounts payable, related parties


17,975,273


-

Other payables and accrued expenses


(1,078,382)


222,530

Other payables, related parties


-


(601,014)

Advances from customers


5,368,031


(5,520,486)

Net Cash Provided by/(Used In) Operating Activities


6,200,837


(30,831,344)






Cash Flows from Investing Activities:





Purchase of property, plant and equipment, net of value added tax refunds received


(3,217,771)


(9,786,882)

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment


523,761


-

Purchase of intangible assets


(3,560,563)


-

Investment in affiliated company


(6,181,547)


-

Proceeds from sale of short-term investments


4,884,009


-

Net Cash Used In Investing Activities


(7,552,111)


(9,786,882)






Cash Flows from Financing Activities:





Proceeds from loans


94,118,588


128,876,501

Repayment of loans


(94,530,050)


(102,275,514)

Restricted cash for bank loans


10,065,475


-

Payments on repurchase of common stock


(43,841)


(534,269)

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities


9,610,172


26,066,718






Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents


8,980


228,347






Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents


8,267,878


(14,323,161)

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period


9,530,531


21,324,931

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

$

17,798,409

$

7,001,770






Supplemental Non-Cash Information:





Offset of notes payable to related parties against receivable from related parties

$

10,609,363

$

10,263,357

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:





Cash paid during the period for interest expense

$

(5,025,598)

$

(3,915,785)

Cash (paid)/received during the period for income tax

$

(1,669,952)

$

6,019






Source: Sutor Technology Group Limited
collection