SHANGHAI, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall / --ShengdaTech, Inc.
("ShengdaTech" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: SDTH), the leading manufacturer of
nano-precipitated calcium carbonate ("NPCC") in China, today reported
financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.
Third Quarter 2009 Highlights
-- NPCC revenue for the third quarter of 2009 was $25.4 million relatively
unchanged from the third quarter of 2008
-- NPCC gross profit decreased 6.7% to $10.1 million, NPCC gross margin
decreased to 39.7% from 42.3% in the third quarter of 2008
-- EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization)
for the third quarter of 2009 was $9.2 million (See Table 4)
-- Net income, all from NPCC, was $4.6 million, or $0.09 per diluted share
-- Executive team is now based at the Company's new world headquarters in
Shanghai
-- New NPCC facility in Zibo, Shandong Province, commenced production of
Phase I with 60,000 metric tons ("MT") in capacity
-- Signed agreement to acquire Anhui Chaodong Nanomaterials Science and
Technology Co., Ltd. ("Chaodong"), an inactive NPCC facility in Hanshan
County, Anhui Province, with 10,000 MT of annual NPCC production
capacity
-- Entered into an investment agreement with the Hanshan County government
to add 200,000 MT of additional production capacity to Chaodong's
existing NPCC facility in several stages over the next four years
Third Quarter 2009 Results
"The third quarter of 2009 marked an important period for ShengdaTech, as
we successfully implemented our NPCC expansion strategy with the acquisition
of Chaodong in Anhui Province. We also began shipping first production
products to customers from our newly built NPCC facility in Zibo. During the
quarter, we expanded our domestic NPCC customer base with 19 new customers,
including seven new polyethylene (PE) manufacturers, six adhesive
manufacturers, five tire manufacturers, and one PVC manufacturer," commented
Mr. Xiangzhi Chen, President and CEO of ShengdaTech. "Our new NPCC lines in
Zibo have ramped up quickly to meet the growing market demand for our products
and are on track to reach 80% capacity utilization by year end, and 100% of
the plant's 60,000-metric-ton capacity early next year."
Total revenue for the third quarter of 2009 declined 48.5% to $25.4
million from $49.3 million in the third quarter of 2008, reflecting the
cessation of production and revenue resulting from the mandatory closure of
the Company's Bangsheng Chemical Facility on October 31, 2008. The ceased
production resulted from a directive issued by the Tai'an city government due
to rezoning of the facility's location into a residential and
non-manufacturing area.
Revenue from the NPCC business decreased 0.6% to $25.4 million in the
third quarter of 2009 from $25.5 million in the third quarter of 2008. Total
volume of NPCC sold during the third quarter of 2009 was up 1.5% to 52,489
metric tons from 51,701 metric tons in the third quarter of 2008. However, the
average selling price of the Company's NPCC products declined a modest 2.2% to
$483 per metric ton, from $494 per metric ton in the third quarter of 2008
caused primarily by a shift in the overall product mix of applications sold.
The Company's NPCC production capacity utilization rate, excluding Zibo, was
100% during both the third quarter of 2009 and 2008.
NPCC for use in tires and PVC represented 34.7% and 25.3% of the Company's
NPCC sales for the quarter, respectively. NPCC used in PE accounted for 18.5%
of NPCC revenue. Sales from the NPCC products for use in adhesives and latex
were 12.2% of total NPCC revenue during the third quarter. NPCC used in ink,
paper, paint, and automobile underbody coatings combined to generate 9.3% of
NPCC revenue.
The Company's gross profit for the third quarter of 2009, all of which was
derived from NPCC products, was $10.1 million as compared with gross profit,
which included the chemical operation, of $16.7 million for the third quarter
of 2008. Total gross margin was 39.7%, up 5.7 percentage points from 34.0%
during the third quarter of 2008. Gross profit for the NPCC segment decreased
6.7% on a year-over-year basis. NPCC gross margin was 39.7% in the third
quarter, down 2.6 percentage points from the same quarter last year. The
decrease in NPCC gross margin was due to the decrease in average selling price,
reclassification of certain export freight from related general and
administrative expenses to cost of goods sold, and initial production costs at
the Zibo facility.
Selling expenses for the third quarter of 2009, all of which were
attributable to NPCC products, were $0.5 million, or 2.2% of revenue, down
35.8% from $0.9 million, or 1.7% of revenue, for the same period last year.
The decline in selling expenses was the result of the implementation of a
lowered sales commission rate, effective January 1, 2009 and the
reclassification of export freight costs to cost of goods sold in the current
period, partly offset by higher salary and benefits expenses due to expansion
of the NPCC business.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $1.4 million, or 5.6% of
revenue, up from $1.1 million, or 2.1% of revenue, for the same period last
year. The increase was mainly due to increased research and development
expenditures, higher professional services expenses, increases in managerial
compensation, and increase in amortization of land-use rights related to the
Company's growing NPCC operations. These increases were partly offset by the
elimination of certain G&A expenses associated with the chemical business as a
result of cessation of production at the Company's Bangsheng Chemical Facility.
Operating income for the third quarter of 2009, all of which was derived
from the NPCC segment, was $8.1 million, down 45.3% from $14.8 million in the
same period a year ago. Operating margin improved to 32.0%, compared to 30.1%
in the third quarter of 2008.
Interest expense, related primarily to the Company's convertible notes
issued in May and June 2008, was $2.8 million for the three-months ended
September 30, 2009, down from $3.5 million a year ago. Interest expense
included $1.4 million of contractual coupon interest on the convertible notes,
$0.3 million of amortization of debt issuance costs, and $1.5 million of
amortization of debt discount. The total interest expense was reduced by $0.3
million interest cost capitalized during the three-month period ended
September 30, 2009.
Income tax expense was $0.6 million for the third quarter of 2009 compared
to $2.1 million in the same period last year. The Company's effective tax rate
decreased to 10.8% from 18.6% for the same period last year primarily due to
the fact that the Company applied a higher income tax rate than the enacted
rate to the PRC taxable income during the three-month period ended September
30, 2008. The income tax rate was adjusted to reflect the appropriate enacted
rate in the three month period December 31, 2008.
EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization),
all of which was derived from the NPCC segment, for the third quarter of 2009
was $9.2 million, down 47.6% from $17.5 million, which included the chemical
operation, in the third quarter of 2008.
Net income, almost all of which was derived from the NPCC segment, in the
third quarter of 2009 was $4.6 million, down 49.5% from $9.2 million in the
same period last year. Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of
2009 were $0.09, compared with diluted earnings per share of $0.17 in the
third quarter of 2008. The Company's diluted weighted average shares
outstanding during the quarter were 54,207,742, down 20.7% from 68,335,041 in
the same quarter last year, primarily due to exclusion of potential common
shares related to the convertible notes from the diluted earnings per share
computation because their effect was anti-dilutive for the three-months ended
September 30, 2009.
Nine Months Results
Total revenue for the first nine months of 2009 declined 38.5% to $72.4
million due to the ceased production at the Company's Bangsheng Chemical
Facility on October 31, 2008 from $117.7 million in the first nine months of
2008. The 2009 NPCC business contributed 99.6% of revenue at $72.1 million, up
24.1% from $58.1 million in the first nine months of 2008. Gross profit for
the first nine months of 2009 was $30.0 million, down 27.7% from gross profit
of $41.4 million in the comparable period a year ago. Gross margin was 41.4%
and 35.2% for the first nine months of 2009 and 2008, respectively. Income
from operations was $24.3 million, down 33.6% from $36.6 million in the first
nine months of 2008. EBITDA was $29.1 million in the first nine months of 2009,
down 28.8% from $40.9 million in first nine months of 2008. Net income for the
first nine months of 2009 was $16.1 million, down 38.8% from $26.4 million in
the first nine months of 2008. Diluted earnings per share were $0.30 for the
first nine months of 2009 compared to $0.49 in the first nine months of 2008.
The Company's diluted weighted average shares outstanding during the first
nine months of 2009 were 54,204,109, down 10.4% from 60,513,076 in the same
period last year, primarily due to exclusion of potential common shares
related to the convertible notes from the diluted earnings per share
computation because their effect was anti-dilutive for the nine months ended
September 30, 2009.
Financial Condition
As of September 30, 2009, ShengdaTech had $105.5 million in cash and
$109.3 million in working capital. As of September 30, 2009, shareholders'
equity was $163.9 million, up 11.5% from shareholder's equity of $147.0
million as of December 31, 2008. For the first nine months of 2009, the
Company generated net cash flow from operating activities of $17.6 million.
Recent Events
On October 26, 2009, the Company announced that it was named on Forbes
Magazine's fifth annual list of "Asia's 200 Best Under a Billion" for the year
2009.
In November, the Company announced that the Bureau of Commerce of Anhui
Province approved the acquisition of 100% of the equity interest of Anhui
Chaodong Nanomaterials Science and Technology Co., Ltd. ("Chaodong"),
including existing building, equipment, and mining rights to approximately
14.25 million tons of limestone reserves for approximately $3.8 million.
Located in Anhui Province, Chaodong has approximately 10,000 metric tons of
annual NPCC production capacity. ShengdaTech will begin to obtain the business
licenses and registrations that are necessary to operate Chaodong and plans to
rename Chaodong to Puxi Nanomaterials Co., Ltd. ("Puxi"). Upon receipt of
these required documents, the Company will invest an additional $2.9 million
in Puxi for technological upgrades at the production facility, at which time
the Company plans to commence the trial production. Concurrent with the
upgrades, ShengdaTech plans to finalize the agreement to purchase land-use
rights for approximately 66,767 square meters (16.5 acres) of land from the
local government of Hanshan County, Anhui Province (the "Hanshan County
government") for the existing Chaodong facility at an estimated cost of
approximately $4.4 million.
In connection with the acquisition, the Company entered into a contract
with the Hanshan County government to expand Chaodong's existing NPCC facility
by adding another 200,000 metric tons of production capacity with a total
investment commitment, of approximately $175.7 million. The investment
includes the expansion of production capacity, acquisition of additional
land-use rights for approximately 341,335 square meters (84.35 acres) of
property adjacent to Chaodong that can ultimately accommodate the additional
200,000 metric tons of NPCC production facilities, and exclusive rights to an
additional 60 million metric tons of quality limestone. The Company plans to
make the investment in several phases over the next four years, the pace of
which will be determined by demand and overall market conditions.
Business Outlook
ShengdaTech has commenced production at the Company's newly constructed
Phase I NPCC facility in Zibo, Shandong Province in August 2009. With the
additional capacity contributed by the Zibo facility, ShengdaTech's total
annual production capacity has now increased 31.6% to 250,000 MT at September
30, 2009 from 190,000 MT at December 31, 2008. The Company expects the Zibo
facility to achieve 80% capacity utilization by the end 2009 and 100% within
the first quarter of 2010.
"With the Chaodong acquisition, we have now successfully established our
presence in the Yangtze River Delta, a vital economic region in China.
Chaodong's key location expands our footprint in China and will drive our
international sales growth. We have recently established a new sales team of
well-qualified and experienced personnel in Shanghai to focus on international
sales and marketing, commented Mr. Chen. "We believe these targeted sales
efforts in promoting our powerful and highly successful value proposition,
will prove to be a major force in deepening our market penetration. When
combined with the additional capacity from Phase I of the Zibo facility and
concurrent entry into the highly industrialized Anhui Province, we are well
positioned to capitalize on the diverse growth opportunities available in the
high-potential NPCC industry. We also continue to pursue innovative NPCC
applications with the efforts of our technologically advanced and dedicated
R&D resources to expand our business and strengthen our leading position in
the industry."
Conference Call
ShengdaTech will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday,
November 10, 2009, to discuss the 2009 third quarter financial results. To
participate in the conference call, please dial the following number five to
ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time: 888-339-2688.
International callers should dial +1-617-847-3007. The pass code for the call
is 10691351. If you are unable to participate in the call at this time, a
replay will be available for 14 days starting on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at
11:00 a.m. ET. To access the replay, dial 888-286-8010. International callers
should dial +1-617-801-6888. The conference pass code is 65764214. This
conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed
by all interested parties by clicking on http://www.shengdatechinc.com .
Please access the link at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the call
to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. For those
unable to participate during the live broadcast, a 90-day replay will be
available shortly after the call by accessing the same link.
About ShengdaTech, Inc.
ShengdaTech is engaged in the business of manufacturing, marketing and
selling nano-precipitated calcium carbonate ("NPCC") products. The Company
converts limestone into NPCC using its proprietary and patent-protected
technology. ShengdaTech is the only company possessing proprietary NPCC
technology in China. In addition to its broad customer base in China, the
Company currently exports to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India and Israel.
For more information, contact CCG Investor Relations directly or go to
ShengdaTech's website at http://www.shengdatechinc.com .
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995:
Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking
statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, without
limitation, statements regarding the Company's ability to resume operations at
Chaodong and expand its manufacturing capacity, ability to win new customers
in the Yangtze River Delta, and predictions and guidance relating to the
Company's future financial performance. We have based these forward-looking
statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future
events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition,
results of operations, business strategy and financial needs but they involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those in the forward-looking statements, which may include, but are not
limited to, such factors as unanticipated changes in product demand especially
in the tire industry, changes in composition of tires, the Company's ability
to meet the planned expansion schedule for its NPCC capacity, the Company's
ability to identify acquisition targets, changes to government regulations,
risk associated with operation of the Company's new manufacturing facility,
ability to attract new customers, ability to increase its product's
applications, ability of its customers to sell products, cost of raw material,
downturns in the Chinese economy, and other information detailed from time to
time in the Company's filings and future filings with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission. You are urged to consider these factors
care in evaluating the forward-looking statements herein and are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are
qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking
statements made herein speak only as of the date of this press release and the
Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform
the statement to actual results or changes in the company's expectations.
For further information, please contact:
ShengdaTech, Inc.
Andrew Chen, Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +86-21-5835-8738
Email: andrew.chen@shengdatech.com
Web: http://www.shengdatechinc.com
CCG Investor Relations
Crocker Coulson, President
Tel: +1-646-213-1915
Email: crocker.coulson@ccgir.com
Web: http://www.ccgirasia.com
TABLE 1
SHENGDATECH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Three Months Ended For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
As adjusted (1) As adjusted(1)
Net sales $25,376,060 $49,253,207 $72,362,743 $117,651,564
Cost of goods sold 15,295,481 32,512,083 42,408,918 76,201,700
Gross profit 10,080,579 16,741,124 29,953,825 41,449,864
Operating expenses:
Selling 549,177 855,348 1,397,013 1,944,138
General and
administrative 1,419,015 1,050,037 4,278,407 2,930,824
Total operating
expenses 1,968,192 1,905,385 5,675,420 4,874,962
Operating income 8,112,387 14,835,739 24,278,405 36,574,902
Other income
(expense):
Interest income 62,716 77,039 628,941 149,896
Interest expense (2,822,212) (3,541,740) (7,626,124) (4,619,918)
Gain on
extinguishment of
long-term
convertible notes -- -- 1,624,844 --
Other expense, net (161,872) (107,866) (221,702) (121,408)
Other expense, net (2,921,368) (3,572,567) (5,594,041) (4,591,430)
Earnings before
income taxes 5,191,019 11,263,172 18,684,364 31,983,472
Income tax expense 560,608 2,098,768 2,536,216 5,582,965
Net income $4,630,411 $9,164,404 $16,148,148 $26,400,507
Earnings per share:
Basic $0.09 $0.17 $0.30 $0.49
Diluted $0.09 $0.17 $0.30 $0.49
Weighted average
shares outstanding:
Basic 54,202,036 54,202,036 54,202,036 54,202,036
Diluted 54,207,742 68,335,041 54,204,109 60,513,076
(1) Adjusted for the required retrospective adoption of Financial
Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification
("ASC") subtopic 470-20.
TABLE 2
SHENGDATECH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, December 31,
2009 2008
As adjusted (1)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash $105,459,582 $114,287,073
Accounts receivable 7,061,032 6,806,066
Inventories 1,735,111 2,647,424
Prepaid expenses and other
receivables 4,574,099 510,825
Income tax refund receivable 969,116 --
Current deferred income tax assets 1,107,111 --
Total current assets 120,906,051 124,251,388
Property, plant and equipment, net 121,272,186 100,122,522
Land use rights 15,511,000 15,710,333
Debt issuance costs 2,021,732 3,096,073
Deferred income tax assets 665,801 502,793
Other Assets 116,025
Total assets $260,492,795 $243,683,109
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $4,106,423 $4,493,551
Accrued expenses and other payables 5,351,456 4,227,184
Income taxes payable -- 1,092,116
Due to related parties 2,136,124 1,737,404
Total current liabilities 11,594,003 11,550,255
Long-term convertible notes 77,723,192 77,926,310
Non-current income taxes payable 1,717,640 1,268,108
Deferred income tax liabilities 5,529,760 5,890,055
Total liabilities 96,564,595 96,634,728
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001
authorized:10,000,000 outstanding:
Nil -- --
Common Stock, par value $0.00001
authorized:100,000,000 issued and
outstanding: 54,202,036 542 542
Additional paid-in capital 38,617,782 38,304,541
Statutory reserves 8,130,601 8,130,601
Retained earnings 103,373,041 87,224,893
Accumulated other comprehensive
income 13,806,234 13,387,804
Total shareholders' equity 163,928,200 147,048,381
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities and shareholders'
equity $260,492,795 $243,683,109
(1) Adjusted for the required retrospective adoption of FASB ASC subtopic
470-20.
TABLE 3
SHENGDATECH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2009 2008
As restated and
adjusted (2)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $16,148,148 $26,400,507
Adjustments to reconcile net income
to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation 3,184,802 4,419,395
Land use rights expense 237,306 31,174
Amortization of debt issuance costs 916,232 496,135
Amortization of debt discount 4,115,580 1,832,529
Gain on extinguishment of long-term
convertible notes (1,624,844) --
Share-based compensation 20,172 43,825
Deferred income tax benefit (1,337,346) (728,142)
Changes in operating assets and
liabilities:
Accounts receivable (238,270) (2,754,437)
Inventories 918,081 (4,246,881)
Prepaid expenses and other
receivables (4,060,110) (10,499)
Due to related parties 3,904 (434,111)
Accounts payable (225,606) (336,644)
Accrued expenses and other payables 1,115,318 3,043,878
Income taxes payable/refund
receivable (2,060,209) 2,447,254
Non-current income taxes payable 446,133 --
Net cash provided by operating
activities 17,559,291 30,203,983
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase for property, plant and
equipment, including interest
capitalized (23,856,337) (20,267,859)
Payment for land use rights -- (14,939,604)
Net cash used in investing activities (23,856,337) (35,207,463)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Extinguishment of long-term
convertible notes (2,535,745) --
Proceeds from issuance of long-term
convertible notes -- 115,000,000
Payment of debt issuance costs -- (5,828,136)
Net cash (used in) provided by
financing activities (2,535,745) 109,171,864
Effect of exchange rate changes on
cash 5,300 1,905,224
Net (decrease) increase in cash (8,827,491) 106,073,608
Cash at beginning of period 114,287,073 26,366,568
Cash at end of period $105,459,582 $132,440,176
Non-cash investing activities:
Accounts payable for purchase of
property, plant and equipment $1,614,378 $3,128,305
Due to related parties for
purchase of property, plant and
equipment $1,360,314 $965,835
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow
information:
Cash paid for income taxes $5,484,883 $4,536,420
Cash paid for interest, net of
capitalized interest $1,175,628 --
(2) As restated to correct errors in the classification of cash flows and
adjusted for the required retrospective adoption of FASB ASC subtopic
470-20. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008, the effect
of the errors was to decrease cash flows provided by operating
activities by $4,287,695, decrease cash used in investing activities
by $3,704,417 and increase cash flow provided by financing activities
by $583,278.
TABLE 4
SHENGDATECH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA
(Amounts expressed in United States dollars)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
Net Income 4,630,411 9,164,404 16,148,148 26,400,507
Income Tax 560,608 2,098,768 2,536,216 5,582,965
Interest expense, net 2,759,496 3,464,701 6,997,183 4,470,022
Depreciation and
amortization 1,224,759 2,779,030 3,422,108 4,450,569
EBITDA 9,175,274 17,506,903 29,103,655 40,904,063
YoY Growth -47.6% -28.8%
Note: EBITDA is a financial measure that is not defined by US GAAP. EBITDA
was derived by calculating earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation, and amortization. The Company's management believes
that the presentation of EBITDA provides useful information
regarding ShengdaTech's results of operations because it assists in
analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of
ShengdaTech's business. The Company's calculation of EBITDA may not
be consistent with similarly titled measures of other companies. The
table above provides a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income, the
most comparable GAAP measure.
SOURCE About ShengdaTech, Inc.
