The Earthtimes online News
Home


Puda Coal Announces Solid First Quarter 2008 Results

Posted : Fri, 16 May 2008 12:06:11 GMT
Author : PUDA COAL INC./XPRNCHINA
Category : Press Release
News Alerts by Email click here )
Create your own RSS
News | Home
TAIYUAN, Shanxi, China, May 16 PUDA-Coal-Q1-Result
TAIYUAN, Shanxi, China, May 16 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Puda Coal, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: PUDC) ("Puda Coal" or the "Company"), a supplier of China's high grade metallurgical coking coal used to make coke for the purposes of steel manufacturing, today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2008.
First Quarter 2008 Highlights
-- Net revenue was a record $50.6 million, up 35.2% from the same period
   in 2007
-- Operating income totaled $6.2 million, down 1.4% from the first quarter
   of 2007
-- Net income increased 11.6% year over year to $4.3 million, or $0.04 per
   share on a fully diluted basis
-- Adjusted net income rose 12.8% to $4.1 million, or $0.04 per diluted
   share
-- Sales of cleaned coal totaled 576,000 metric tons (MT), up 23.3% from
   the first quarter of 2007
-- Average selling price of cleaned coal was approximately $88 and $87 per
   MT (after adjusting for exchange rate differences) for the three months
   ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
-- Interest expenses was $201,000, down 58.9% from the first quarter of
   2007
-- Debt financing costs decreased 33.1% over year to $513,000
-- Derivative unrealized fair value gain was $364,000, down 58.1% from the
   first quarter of 2007
-- The Company's registration statement on Form S-1 in connection with a
   private placement of convertible promissory notes and warrants was
   declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
   ("SEC")
"In the first quarter of 2008, we achieved record revenue due to increased sales to new and existing customers. While the first quarter is typically a seasonal slower quarter due to the Chinese New Year holidays, we saw tonnage sales increase more than 23%, as demand for our high-grade cleaned coking coal remained strong," commented Mr. Ming Zhao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Puda Coal.
Results for the First Quarter 2008
For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, net revenue was $50.6 million, up 35.2% from $37.4 million in the first quarter of 2007. Sales of cleaned coal were 576,000 MT in the first quarter of 2008, up 23.3% from 467,000 MT in the same period last year. The increase in the tonnage sales of cleaned coal accounted for approximately 23.0% of the total 35.2% increase in net revenue and the remaining 12% was attributable to exchange rate differences and the slight increase in selling price. The increase in tonnage sales was primarily due to increased sales to existing and new customers as a result of the increase in the general demand for high-grade coking coal in China.
Gross profit for the quarter was $7.5 million, unchanged from the first quarter of 2007. Gross margin was 14.7% in the quarter, down from 20.1% in the same period last year. The decrease was mainly due to an increase in the average price of raw coal during the first quarter of 2008.
Operating expenses for the first quarter of 2008 were $1.2 million, up 3.1% from the same period last year. Selling expenses declined primarily due to lower shipping charges from decreased tonnage sales to customers outside Shanxi Province during the quarter. General and administrative expenses increased mainly due to an increase in legal and professional fees and investor relation expenses. As a percentage of net revenue, operating expenses were 2.4% in the first quarter of 2008, improved from 3.2% in the same quarter last year, due to the benefits of scale.
Operating income was $6.2 million, or 12.3% of net revenue, down slightly from $6.3 million, or 16.9% of net revenue, in the first quarter of 2007.
Net income was $4.3 million, or $0.04 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to net income of $3.8 million, or $0.04 per share on a fully diluted basis, in the first quarter of 2007. Adjusting net income to exclude non-cash debt financing and other expenses related to the Company's convertible debt and warrants, adjusted net income was $4.1 million, or $0.04 per share on a fully diluted basis, in the first quarter of 2008, up 12.8% from adjusted net income of $3.6 million, or $0.03 per share on a fully diluted basis, in the same period of 2007.
Financial Condition
As of March 31, 2008, Puda Coal had $32.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, $49.9 million in working capital and a current ratio 3.25:1. Long-term debt, excluding current portion, was $12.9 million and shareholders' equity stood at $55.1 million.
The Company generated $15.3 million cash from operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with $2.4 million for the first quarter of 2007. The material increase in cash flow from operating activities was primarily due to the reduction of about $8.6 million in inventory, of which $5.6 million was raw materials inventory.
Business Outlook
"We began 2008 with record revenue and increasing profitability, and we plan to build on this momentum in the coming months. We believe that the Chinese economy will continue driving demand for high-grade coking coal, and expect continued growth in our top line," said Mr. Zhao. "We continue our search for a coal mine acquisition candidate, which will allow us to vertically integrate our coal washing operations and improve our profitability over the long term."
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Friday, May 16, 2008, to discuss results for the first quarter 2008. To participate in the conference call, please dial the following number five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time: (888) 481-7939. International callers should dial (617) 847-8707. The passcode for the call is 37636359. If you are unable to participate in the call at this time, a replay will be available on Friday, May 16 at 11:00 a.m. EDT, through Thursday, May 29 at 12:00 a.m. EDT. To access the replay, dial (888) 286-8010. International callers should dial (617) 801-6888. The conference passcode is 20261744.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
GAAP results for the three month periods ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007 include certain non-cash debt financing and other expenses related to the Company's convertible notes and warrants. To supplement the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, the Company has provided non-GAAP financial information, which is adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share, excluding the impact of these items in this release. The Company's management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide investors with a better understanding of how the results relate to the Company's historical performance. A reconciliation of adjustments to GAAP results appears below. This additional non-GAAP information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP financials. The non-GAAP financial information that the Company provides also may differ from the non-GAAP information provided by other companies.
About Puda Coal, Inc.
Puda Coal, through its subsidiaries in China, supplies premium grade coking coal to the steel making industry for use in making coke. The Company currently possesses 3.5 million metric tons of annual coking coal cleaning capacity in Shanxi Province, China. Shanxi Province provides 20-25% of China's coal output and supplies nearly 50% of China's coke.
Forward-looking Statements
The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. For example, our business strategies, such as our plan to acquire coal mines, are subject to, among other things, the risks and uncertainties relating to the market condition beyond our control. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

- FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW -



 PUDA COAL, INC.
  UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
  (In thousands of United States dollars, except per share data)

   Three months ended March 31,

  2008  2007

NET REVENUE$50,598   $37,415

COST OF REVENUE(43,145)  (29,910)

GROSS PROFIT 7,453 7,505

OPERATING EXPENSES
Selling expenses   754   842
General and administrative expenses477   352

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 1,231 1,194

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS   6,222 6,311

INTEREST INCOME 2725

INTEREST EXPENSE  (201) (489)

DEBT FINANCING COSTS  (513) (767)

DERIVATIVE UNREALIZED FAIR VALUE GAIN  364   868

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   5,899 5,948

INCOME TAXES(1,604)   (2,101)

NET INCOME   4,295 3,847

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Foreign currency translation adjustment  2,175   400

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME$6,470$4,247

NET INCOME   4,295 3,847

LESS: DIVIDENDS
Option holder preference dividend   --(2,717)
Common dividend ----

UNDISTRIBUTED EARNINGS  $4,295$1,130




  PUDA COAL, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
   For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
 (In thousands of United States dollars, except per share data)

  Three months ended March 31,
  2008  2007

BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
   - Option holder preference$0.00 $0.04
   - Other common holders 0.04  0.00
 $0.04 $0.04

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
   - Option holder preference$0.00 $0.04
   - Other common holders 0.04  0.00
 $0.04 $0.04

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES
 OUTSTANDING-BASIC 105,252,17694,085,190
  -DILUTED 113,298,354   109,277,096



  PUDA COAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007
  (In thousands of United States dollars)

   March 31,  December 31,
   20082007
 (Unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents   $32,286  $16,381
Restricted cash 233  233
Accounts receivable, net  8,4638,137
Other receivables
  - Related parties   44
  - Third parties--6
Advances to suppliers
  - Related parties 742  685
  - Third parties 1,6441,363
Inventories  28,639   35,953

Total current assets 72,011   62,762

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET   14,617   15,018

INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET3,4633,484

TOTAL ASSETS$90,091  $81,264


CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current portion of long-term debt
  - Related party$1,300   $1,300
Accounts payable
  - Related parties 223  182
  - Third parties 3,4062,140
Other payables
  - Related parties   1,8911,851
  - Third parties 3,4382,916
Accrued expenses  1,4481,350
Income taxes payable  1,6382,223
VAT payable   2,4841,379
Distribution payable  1,1421,096
Convertible notes 1,9751,841
Derivative conversion feature 1,1001,100
Penalty payable   2,1041,725

Total current liabilities22,149   19,103

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-term debt
  - Related party 8,7759,100
Derivative warrants   4,1164,480

Total long-term liabilities  12,891   13,580



  PUDA COAL, INC.
  CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
   March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007
 (In thousands of United States dollars)

   March 31,   December 31,
  20082007
  (Unaudited)

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, authorized 5,000,000 shares,
 par value $0.01, issued and outstanding None--   --
Common stock, authorized 150,000,000 shares,
par value $0.001, issued and outstanding
105,252,176  (2007: 105,252,176)105  105
Paid-in capital  28,304   28,304
Statutory surplus reserve fund1,3661,366
Retained earnings19,102   14,807
Accumulated other comprehensive income6,1743,999

Total stockholders' equity   55,051   48,581

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
 EQUITY $90,091  $81,264



  PUDA COAL, INC.
  UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
  (In thousands of United States dollars)

   Three months ended March 31,
   20082007
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income$4,295  $3,847
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
 provided by operating activities
Amortization of land-use rights   21  20
Depreciation 401 245
Allowance for doubtful debts  --   1
Amortization of debt issue costs  --   6
Amortization of discount on convertible notes and
 warrants134 386
Derivative unrealized fair value gain   (364)   (868)
Discount on converted shares and exercised
 warrants -- 232
Stock compensation12  --
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
  Decrease/(increase) in accounts receivable  13(409)
  Decrease in other receivables6   2
  Increase/(decrease) in advances to suppliers  (247) 45
  Decrease/(increase) in inventories   8,633  (1,692)
  Increase in accounts payable 1,186 366
  Increase/(decrease) in accrued expenses 36 (87)
  Increase in other payables 427 574
  Decrease in income tax payable(664)   (403)
  Increase/(decrease) in VAT payable   1,026(212)
  Increase in penalty payable379 375

Net cash provided by operating activities 15,294   2,428

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Exercise of warrants  -- 120
Repayment of long-term debt (325)   (325)

Net cash used in financing activities   (325)   (205)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash  936 255

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 15,905   2,478
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period  16,381  24,943

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $32,286 $27,421

Supplementary cash flow information:



 PUDA COAL, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL DATA
 For the Three Months   For the Three Months
 ended  ended
Adjusted Net income March 31, 2008 March 31, 2007
($ in thousands except per
  share data)
Net Income (Loss) Diluted EPS NetDiluted Net   Diluted
Income EPS IncomeEPS

Adjusted Amount  4,065 0.04 3,603   0.03
Adjustments
   Non cash debt financing
   costs (1)   134 0.00   392   0.00
  Unrealized derivative
   fair value (Gain)/
   Loss (2)   (364)   (0.00) (868) (0.01)
  Discount on converted
   shares and exercised
   warrants(3)  -- 0.00   232   0.00
Amount per consolidated
 statement of operations 4,295 0.04 3,847   0.04

(1) Non cash debt financing costs for Q1 2008 includes amortization of
debt issue costs of $0, amortization of discount on convertible
notes and warrants of $134,000;  Non cash debt financing costs
for Q1 2007 includes amortization of debt issue costs of $6,000,
amortization of discount on convertible notes and warrants of $386,000
(2) Derivative unrealized fair value gain for Q1 2008 was $364,000;
derivative unrealized fair value gain for Q1 2007 was $868,000
(3) Discount on converted shares and exercised warrants for Q1 2008 was
$0; Discount on converted shares and exercised warrants for Q1 2007
was $232,000



For more information, please contact:

 Investor Relations Contact:
  Crocker Coulson, President
  CCG Elite
  Tel:   +1-646-213-1915
  Email: crocker.coulson@ccgir.com
  Web:   http://www.ccgelite.com

 Company Contact:
  Wenwei Tian, COO and Director of Investor Relations
  Puda Coal, Inc
  Tel:   +86-351-228-1302
  Email: awtian@yahoo.com
SOURCE Puda Coal, Inc.

Copyright © 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.




Article : Puda Coal Announces Solid First Quarter 2008 Results
Print this article
Share this article

Share on

Have your Say
Name
Email
Subject
Your Comment

Enter Verification code
 
  

 


Choose Theme
Green Earth Blue Earth Orange Earth Purple Earth

Search
 
You can

Current News

News Category
Business
Entertainment
Environment
General
Health
Sports
Technology
World

About us | News Archives | Browse old Archive | Feedback | Disclaimer | Mobile/PDA | News Alerts

The views expressed in the articles are not necessarily those of earthtimes.org and we accept no responsibility for the views or opinions
expressed in the articles either direct or indirect.

© 2008 www.earthtimes.org, The Earth Times, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy