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Wuhan General Group (China), Inc. Announces First Quarter 2009 Results

Posted on: Monday, 18 May 2009, 05:00 CDT

WUHAN, Hubei, China, May 18 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Wuhan General Group (China), Inc. (Nasdaq: WUHN) ("Wuhan General" or the "Company"), a leading manufacturer of industrial blowers and turbines in China, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009. Wuhan General operates through its subsidiaries, Wuhan Blower Co., Ltd. ("Wuhan Blower"), Wuhan Generating Equipment Co., Ltd. ("Wuhan Generating") and Wuhan Xingelin Machinery Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd. ("Wuhan Xingelin").

First Quarter 2009 Highlights -- First quarter revenue was $18.1 million, down 29.4% year over year -- Gross profit was $3.8 million, down 53.0% year over year -- Net income was $1.1 million, or $0.03 per fully diluted share, down from $4.8 million, or $0.10 per fully diluted share in the same quarter last year -- Appointed new independent director to Board of Directors

"Although our top line and bottom line performance were adversely affected due to the global economic slowdown, we are pleased that we remained profitable during the quarter. Our operating subsidiaries performed as forecasted through the first quarter allowing us to exceed our preliminary top line results, however costs at Wuhan General caused us to come in just under our preliminary net income," commented Mr. Xu Jie, CEO of Wuhan General. "Market conditions and the business environment will most likely remain challenging throughout the year. However, with Wuhan General's strong management team and operational expertise, we are hopeful and confident that we will meet our 2009 guidance."

First Quarter 2009 Results

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2009, total revenue was $18.1 million, down 29.4% from $25.6 million in the same period last year. Wuhan Blower generated $10.3 million in revenues, or 56.8% of the total revenues, compared to $12.8 million, or 49.8% of total revenues in the same period last year. Wuhan Generating contributed $7.7 million, or 42.8% of the total revenues, compared to $12.9 million, or 50.2% of total revenues in the same period last year. The remaining $0.1 million in revenues in the first quarter of 2009 was contributed by Wuhan Xingelin. The decrease in total revenue was primarily due to decreased activities by both steel companies and power plants as the result of the economic slowdown in China.

Gross profit for the quarter was $3.8 million, down 53.0% from $8.1 million in the first quarter of 2008. Gross margin was 21.0%, down from 31.5% compared to the same period in 2008. The decrease in gross margin was primarily attributable to a decrease in selling prices. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2008, gross margin was down 2.3 percentage points.

Operating expenses totaled $1.9 million, down 26.5% from $2.6 million from the same period in the prior year. Selling expenses increased 11.5% to roughly $0.4 million while sales as a percent of revenues increased from 1.4% to 2.3% year over year due to lower economies of scale as a result of the decline in sales. General and administrative expenses declined 38.6% due to tighter controls implemented by management. As a percentage of revenue, total operating expenses were 10.8% in the first quarter of 2009, compared to 10.3% for the same period last year.

Operating income was $1.8 million for the quarter or 10.2% of total revenue, down 65.9% from $5.4 million, or 21.1% of total revenue for the first quarter of 2008. This decrease as a percentage of sales was primarily due to decreased selling prices and decreased gross margin.

Net income for the first quarter of 2009 was $1.1 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, compared to $4.8 million, or $0.10 per diluted share in the same period the prior year. Net income for the first quarter of 2009 was affected by $0.3 million in taxes whereas the Company enjoyed a tax holiday in the prior year period.

Financial Condition

As of March 31, 2009, Wuhan General had $1.0 million in cash compared to $2.8 million as of December 31, 2008 and $33.9 million in working capital with a current ratio of 1.6. At quarter end, the Company's total stockholders' equity stood at $95.5 million, compared to $93.6 million as of December 31, 2008. The Company recorded cash used in operating activities of $0.7 million, compared to cash used in operating activities of $4.6 million in the same period prior year.

Wuhan General's short-term bank loans and notes were $25.1 million as of March 31, 2009. The Company has the option to refinance most of these loans and notes.

Business Outlook

"We expect our sales to improve in the second half of 2009 despite a slowdown in sales during the first quarter of this year. To maintain our market share, our management team intends to adopt a competitive pricing strategy for our products. We also intend to focus sales efforts to align with sectors which will receive benefits from the Chinese government's stimulus plan, including sewage treatment and other infrastructure related projects that utilize blowers and turbines," stated Mr. Xu. "In the meantime, we are increasing emphasis on collecting on outstanding balances from customers and have set up a collection team and more monitoring controls for this purpose. We also have begun requiring customers to increase their down payments on orders."

For the 2009 fiscal year, Wuhan General would like to reaffirm its guidance of revenues between $70 million and $80 million and net income between $7 million and $8 million.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. ET on Monday, May 18, 2009 to discuss the first quarter 2009 results. To participate in the live conference call, please dial the following number five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time: 1-888-339-2688. International callers should dial +1-617-847-3007. When prompted by the operator, mention conference passcode 241 158 38. If you are unable to participate in the call at this time, a replay will be available for 14 days starting on Monday, May 18, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. ET. To access the replay, please dial 1-888-286-8010 and enter passcode 11067406. International callers should dial +1-617-801-6888 and enter passcode 11067406.

About Wuhan General Group (China), Inc.

Through its subsidiaries Wuhan Blower, Wuhan Generating, and Wuhan Xingelin, Wuhan General is a leading manufacturer of industrial blowers and turbines in China and the Company is based in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Wuhan Blower is a China-based manufacturer of industrial blowers that are principal components of steam-driven electrical power generation plants. Wuhan Generating is a China-based manufacturer of industrial steam and water turbines used for electricity generation in coal, oil, nuclear, and hydroelectric power plants. Wuhan Xingelin manufactures silencers, connectors and other general parts for industrial blowers and electrical equipment, and it produces general machinery equipment. The Company's primary customers are from the iron and steel, power generation, petrochemical and other industries. Led by a strong management team, Wuhan General is well recognized for its technological sophistication and quality construction of blowers and turbines.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding future demand for our products, our ability to generate business in the current economic climate, our pricing strategy, our ability to maintain or expand our market share in our current industries and into new growth areas, the effects of the Chinese government's stimulus plan on our businesses, the effects of our management and sales strategies, our ability to refinance our debt and our future financial performance, may be forward-looking in nature or "forward-looking statements," as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including all business uncertainties relating to vulnerability of our business to general economic downturn, operating in the People's Republic of China (PRC) generally and the potential for changes in the laws of the PRC that affect our operations, our failure to meet or timely meet contractual performance standards and schedules and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described in such forward-looking statements. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are or will be described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on Wuhan General's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Wuhan General will be those anticipated by the Company. Wuhan General undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Financial Tables Follow Wuhan General Group (China), Inc. Statements of Income For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 (Stated in US Dollars) Three Months Three Months Ended Ended March 31, 2009 March 31, 2008 Sales $18,076,052 $25,618,901 Cost of Sales 14,285,283 17,561,279 Gross Profit 3,790,769 8,057,622 Operating Expenses Selling Expenses 413,162 370,639 General & Administrative Expenses 1,380,608 2,248,542 Warranty Expense 153,973 30,284 Total Operating Expense 1,947,743 2,649,465 Operating Income 1,843,026 5,408,157 Other Income (Expenses) Other Income 18,946 -- Interest Income 184,331 313,959 Other Expenses -4,279 -764 Interest Expense -633,475 -913,442 Total Other Income (Loss) & Expense -434,477 -600,247 Earnings before Tax 1,408,549 4,807,910 Income Tax -293,477 -- Net Income $1,115,072 $4,807,910 Preferred Dividends Declared 178,802 280,365 Income Available to Common Stockholders $936,270 $4,527,545 Earnings Per Share Basic $0.04 $0.22 Diluted $0.03 $0.10 Weighted Average Shares Outstanding Basic 24,759,746 20,378,815 Diluted 39,662,817 47,760,852 Comprehensive Income Net Income $1,115,072 $4,807,910 Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment 929,786 2,533,692 Total Comprehensive Income $2,044,858 $7,341,602 Wuhan General Group (China), Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (Stated in US Dollars) (Audited) March 31, December 31, ASSETS 2009 2008 Current Assets Cash $955,681 $2,817,503 Restricted Cash 6,635,474 13,180,640 Notes Receivable 80,344 -- Accounts Receivable 38,926,932 41,486,856 Other Receivable 6,363,804 1,719,083 Inventory 20,908,034 8,395,467 Advances to Suppliers 13,341,580 20,274,473 Advances to Employees 225,976 189,516 Prepaid Expenses 125,318 92,279 Prepaid Taxes 406,278 604,610 Deferred Tax Asset 58,224 -- Total Current Assets 88,027,645 88,760,427 Non-Current Assets Real Property Available for Sale 1,101,759 1,100,376 Property, Plant & Equipment, net 30,937,437 22,274,551 Land Use Rights, net 12,302,276 12,297,429 Construction in Progress 19,750,769 30,276,011 Intangible Assets, net 353,194 363,574 Total Assets $152,473,080 $155,072,368 LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities Current Liabilities Bank Loans & Notes 25,107,192 35,171,690 Accounts Payable 6,957,258 8,420,678 Taxes Payable 925,112 1,109,548 Other Payable 12,860,665 7,708,323 Dividend Payable 178,802 193,804 Accrued Liabilities 2,994,930 2,805,558 Customer Deposits 5,072,042 4,614,370 Total Current Liabilities 54,096,001 60,023,971 Long Term Liabilities Bank Loans and Notes 2,921,585 1,458,959 Total Liabilities 57,017,586 61,482,930 Stockholders' Equity Preferred Stock - $0.0001 Par Value, 50,000,000 Shares Authorized; 6,241,453 Shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Issued & Outstanding at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 624 624 Additional Paid-in Capital - Preferred Stock 8,170,415 8,170,415 Additional Paid-in Capital - Warrants 3,634,297 3,687,794 Additional Paid-in Capital - Beneficial Conversion Feature 6,371,547 6,371,546 Preferred Stock - $0.0001 Par Value 50,000,000 Shares Authorized; 6,354,078 Shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock Issued & Outstanding at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 635 635 Additional Paid in Capital - Preferred Stock 12,637,158 12,637,158 Additional Paid in Capital - Warrants 2,274,181 2,274,181 Additional Paid in Capital - Beneficial Conversion Feature 4,023,692 4,023,692 Common Stock - $0.0001 Par Value 100,000,000 Shares Authorized; 24,769,917 and 24,752,802 Shares Issued & Outstanding at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively 2,477 2,475 Additional Paid-in Capital 28,490,329 28,436,835 Statutory Reserve 4,478,066 3,271,511 Retained Earnings 16,763,958 17,034,243 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income 8,608,115 7,678,329 Total Stockholders' Equity 95,455,494 93,589,438 Total Liabilities & Stockholders' Equity $152,473,080 $155,072,368 Wuhan General Group (China), Inc. Statements of Cash Flows For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 (Stated in US Dollars) Three Months Three Months Ended Ended March 31, 2009 March 31, 2008 Cash Flow from Operating Activities Cash Received from Customers $16,368,583 $16,291,029 Cash Paid to Suppliers & Employees -16,011,377 -20,244,559 Interest Received 184,331 313,959 Interest Paid -633,475 -913,442 Income Tax Paid -- -- Miscellaneous Receipts 18,944 -- Cash Sourced/(Used) in Operating Activities -72,994 -4,553,012 Cash Flows from Investing Activities Cash Repayment/(Investment) in Restricted Time Deposits 6,545,166 994,099 Repayment/(Investment) in Notes -- -830,227 Investment in Real Property -- -41,313 Payments for Purchases of Plant & Equipment -450,252 -1,767,636 Payments for Purchases of Land Use Rights -- -129,883 Payments for Purchases of Intangible Assets -- -20,141 Cash Used/(Sourced) in Investing Activities 6,094,914 -1,795,101 Cash Flows from Financing Activities Proceeds from Bank Borrowings -- 2,849,209 Proceeds from Issuance of Notes -- 1,976,930 Repayment of Bank Loans -2,101,653 -- Repayment of Notes -6,500,220 -- Dividends Paid -193,804 -852,777 Cash Sourced/(Used) in Financing Activities -8,795,677 3,973,362 Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash & Cash Equivalents for the Period -2,773,757 -2,374,750 Effect of Currency Translation 911,935 2,533,692 Cash & Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period 2,817,503 992,965 Cash & Cash Equivalents at End of Period $955,681 $1,151,907 Non-Cash Financing Activity: Constructive Preferred Dividend -- $-- Conversion of Preferred Stock to Common Stock -- $4,021,338 Wuhan General Group (China), Inc. Reconciliation of Net Income to Cash Flow Sourced/(Used) in Operating Activities For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 (Stated in US Dollars) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 March 31, 2008 Net Income $1,115,072 $4,807,910 Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Cash Activities: Reclassification of assets related to Huangli Project from Construction in Progress to Inventory 1,745,496 -- Amortization 22,001 31,868 Depreciation 567,112 581,858 Decrease/(Increase) in Notes Receivable -80,344 81,169 Decrease/(Increase) in Accounts Receivable 2,559,924 -9,962,662 Decrease/(Increase) in Other Receivable -4,644,721 -2,114,025 Decrease/(Increase) in Inventory -12,512,566 -3,173,291 Decrease/(Increase) in Advances to Suppliers 6,932,893 -5,641,690 Decrease/(Increase) in Advances to Employees -36,460 -220,436 Decrease/(Increase) in Prepaid Expenses -33,039 -- Decrease/(Increase) in Prepaid Taxes 198,332 -23,843 Decrease/(Increase) in Deferred Tax Assets -58,224 -- Increase/(Decrease) in Accounts Payable -1,463,419 1,487,034 Increase/(Decrease) in Taxes Payable -184,436 -164,244 Increase/(Decrease) in Other Payable 5,152,343 6,422,048 Increase/(Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities 189,372 667,646 Increase/(Decrease) in Customer Deposits 457,672 2,667,646 Total of all adjustments -1,188,064 -9,360,922 Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $ -72,994 $ -4,553,012 For more information, please contact: Wuhan General Group (China), Inc. Mr. Haiming Liu, CFO Tel: +86-27-5970-0069 Email: haiming.liu@wuhangeneral.com CCG Investor Relations Inc. Mr. Crocker Coulson, President Tel: +1-646-213-1915 (New York) Email: crocker.coulson@ccgir.com Mr. Graham Reed, Financial Writer Email: graham.reed@ccgir.com Tel: +1-646-213-1907 Web: http://www.ccgirasia.com

SOURCE Wuhan General Group (China), Inc.


Source: PR Newswire

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