omniture

China Automotive Systems Reports Higher Net Sales and Profit in the 2016 Third Quarter

2016-11-10 19:30 1621

WUHAN, China, Nov 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- China Automotive Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAAS) ("CAAS" or the "Company"), a leading power steering components and systems supplier in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Third Quarter 2016 Highlights

  • Net sales increased 4.2% to $94.6 million, compared to $90.8 million in the third quarter of 2015;
  • Gross margin increased to 21.1% compared to 17.5% in the third quarter of 2015;
  • Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $5.7 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.18, compared to net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders of $4.3 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.13, in the third quarter of 2015.

First Nine Months of 2016 Highlights

  • Net sales were $312.5 million, compared to $323.5 million in the first nine months of 2015;
  • Gross margin was 18.9%;
  • Diluted earnings per share attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $0.52;
  • Cash and cash equivalents, pledged cash deposits and short-term investments were $99.5 million as of September 30, 2016;
  • Net cash flow from operating activities was $13.1 million.

Mr. Qizhou Wu, the Chief Executive Officer of CAAS, commented, "We are encouraged to see all of our subsidiaries' operations achieved growth in the third quarter of 2016 despite continuing lackluster growth in the Chinese economy. We continued to grow our electric power steering ("EPS") business which grew by 26.1% and represented 27.0% of net sales compared with 22.4% in the same period last year. We remain optimistic about our EPS business and continue to expand our product portfolio and production capabilities. Even our traditional hydraulic steering products reversed its declining trend and registered an increase."

"Internationally, our Brazilian assembly plant has completed its trials and begun commercial production to serve our Tier-1 customer in Brazil and Chinese OEMs operating in the region. We anticipate that our North American operations will continue to expand in the years ahead." Mr. Wu concluded.

Mr. Jie Li, the Chief Financial Officer of CAAS, commented, "We maintain a strong balance sheet while continuing to invest in our products and production capacity to position CAAS to further penetrate the Chinese auto market and international markets as well. From a financial reporting perspective, the significantly weakening Chinese currency RMB against the US dollars negatively affected our third quarter results by 6.4%, as we still generate a majority of our sales in Mainland China while we report in US dollar. As part of our commitment to building long-term shareholder value, we continued to repurchase shares. As of September 30, 2016, approximately $1 million has been used to repurchases of 260 thousand shares and $4 million of additional shares may yet be repurchased under our share repurchase program."

Third Quarter of 2016

In the third quarter of 2016, net sales increased 4.2% to $94.6 million, compared to $90.8 million in the same quarter of 2015. This increase was mainly due to higher volumes and a change in the product mix to more electric power steering systems (EPS).

Gross profit was $20.0 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to $15.9 million in the third quarter of 2015. The gross margin was 21.1% in the third quarter of 2016, versus 17.5% in the third quarter of 2015.

Selling expenses were $3.8 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2015. Greater unit sales led to higher transportation expenses in the third quarter of 2016. Selling expenses represented 4.1% of net sales in the third quarter of 2016, compared to 3.7% in the third quarter of 2015.

General and administrative expenses ("G&A expenses") were $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to $3.1 million in the same quarter of 2015. G&A expenses represented 4.0% of net sales in the third quarter of 2016 and 3.4% in the third quarter of 2015.

Research and development expenses ("R&D expenses") were $6.7 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to $5.4 million in the third quarter of 2015. R&D expenses represented 7.1% of net sales in the third quarter of 2016 compared with 6.0% in the third quarter of 2015. The higher R&D expenses as a percentage of revenue was mainly due to continued development of new EPS products and acquiring advanced production equipment.

Net financial income was $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2016 compared to net financial income of $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2015.

Income from operations increased 15.2% to $5.7 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to $5.0 million in the same quarter of 2015. The increase was mainly due to higher net sales and gross profit.

Income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies was $6.7 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to $5.2 million in the third quarter of 2015. The increase in income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies was mainly due to higher operating income, lower interest expense and higher net financial income in the third quarter of 2016 compared with the third quarter of 2015.

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $5.7 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders of $4.3 million in the third quarter of 2015. Diluted earnings per share were $0.18 in the third quarter of 2016, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.13 in the third quarter of 2015.

The weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding was 31,911,722 in the third quarter of 2016, compared to 32,134,839 in the third quarter of 2015.

First Nine Months of 2016

Net sales for the first nine months of 2016 were $312.5 million, compared to $323.5 million in the first nine months of 2015. Nine-month gross profit was $59.1 million, compared to $59.4 million in the corresponding period last year. Nine-month gross margin was 18.9%, compared to 18.4% for the corresponding period in 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, gain on other sales amounted to $2.0 million, compared to $3.2 million for the corresponding period in 2015. Income from operations was $18.0 million compared to $22.6 million in the first nine months of 2015. Operating margin was 5.8%, compared to 7.0% for the corresponding period of 2015.

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $16.8 million compared with $20.5 million in the corresponding period last year. Diluted earnings per share were $0.52 in the first nine months of 2016, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.64 for the corresponding period in 2015.

Balance Sheet

As of September 30, 2016, total cash and cash equivalents, pledged cash deposits and short-term investments were $99.5 million, total accounts receivable including notes receivable were $279.4 million, accounts payable were $210.0 million and bank and government loans were $39.9 million. Total parent company stockholders' equity was $312.2 million as of September 30, 2016, compared to $299.0 million as of December 31, 2015. Net cash flow from operating activities was $13.1 million for the first nine months of 2016.

Business Outlook

Management has increased its revenue guidance for the full year 2016 to US$450 million. This target is based on the Company's current views on operating and market conditions, which are subject to change.

Conference Call

Management will conduct a conference call on November 10th at 8:00 A.M. EST/9:00 P.M. Beijing Time to discuss these results. A question and answer session will follow managements presentation.To participate, please call the following numbers 10 minutes before the call start time and ask to be connected to the "China Automotive Systems" conference call:

Phone Number: +1-877-407-8031 (North America)
Phone Number: +1-201-689-8031 (International)
China Toll Free: +86-400-1202-840

A replay of the call will be available on the company's website in the investor relations section.

About China Automotive Systems, Inc.

Based in Hubei Province, the People's Republic of China, China Automotive Systems, Inc. is a leading supplier of power steering components and systems to the Chinese automotive industry, operating through eight Sino-foreign joint ventures. The Company offers a full range of steering system parts for passenger automobiles and commercial vehicles. The Company currently offers four separate series of power steering with an annual production capacity of over5.5 million sets of steering gears, columns and steering hoses. Its customer base is comprised of leading auto manufacturers, such as China FAW Group, Corp., Dongfeng Auto Group Co., Ltd., BYD Auto Company Limited, Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd. and Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. in China, and Chrysler Group LLC in North America. For more information, please visit: http://www.caasauto.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are "forward-looking statements" as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the qualitative and quantitative effects of the accounting errors, the periods involved, the nature of the Company's review and any anticipated conclusions of the Company or its management and other statements that are not historical facts. Our actual results may differ materially from the results described in or anticipated by our forward-looking statements due to certain risks and uncertainties. As a result, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2016, and in documents subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any duty to provide updates to any forward-looking statements made in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Jie Li
Chief Financial Officer
China Automotive Systems, Inc.
Email: jieli@chl.com.cn

Investor Relations
Email: caas@compassbell.com

- Tables Follow -

China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

(In thousands of USD, except share and per share amounts)



Three Months Ended September 30,



2016



2015

Net product sales ($9,950 and $8,137 sold to related parties for the three

months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015)


$

94,626



$

90,845

Cost of products sold ($5,869 and $5,721 purchased from related parties for

the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015)



74,641




74,933

Gross profit



19,985




15,912

Gain on other sales



22




877

Less: Operating expenses








Selling expenses



3,840




3,319

General and administrative expenses



3,741




3,080

Research and development expenses



6,723




5,440

Total operating expenses



14,304




11,839

Income from operations



5,703




4,950

Other income, net



420




221

Interest expense



(201)




(501)

Financial income, net



800




556

Income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated

companies



6,722




5,226

Less: Income taxes



1,167




945

Equity in earnings of affiliated companies



304




100

Net income



5,859




4,381

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests



177




93

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders


$

5,682



$

4,288

Comprehensive income:








Net income


$

5,859



$

4,381

Other comprehensive income:








Foreign currency translation loss, net of tax



(2,139)




(12,477)

Comprehensive income/(loss)



3,720




(8,096)

Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests



119




(483)

Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to parent company


$

3,601



$

(7,613)

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders per share








Basic -


$

0.18



$

0.13

Diluted -


$

0.18



$

0.13


Weighted average number of common shares outstanding








Basic



31,911,360




32,121,019

Diluted



31,911,722




32,134,839

China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

(In thousands of USD, except share and per share amounts)










Nine Months Ended September 30,




2016



2015



Net product sales ($28,589 and $28,076 sold to related parties for the

nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015)


$

312,497


$

323,455



Cost of products sold ($18,912 and $18,359 purchased from related

parties for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015)



253,352



264,080



Gross profit



59,145



59,375



Gain on other sales



2,008



3,248



Less: Operating expenses









Selling expenses



12,273



10,989



General and administrative expenses



11,998



11,316



Research and development expenses



18,849



17,746



Total operating expenses



43,120



40,051



Income from operations



18,033



22,572



Other income, net



995



587



Interest expense



(524)



(1,040)



Financial income, net



1,270



2,018



Income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of

affiliated companies



19,774



24,137



Less: Income taxes



3,416



4,001



Equity in earnings of affiliated companies



561



264



Net income



16,919



20,400



Net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests



164



(56)



Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders


$

16,755


$

20,456



Comprehensive income:









Net income


$

16,919


$

20,400



Other comprehensive income:









Foreign currency translation loss, net of tax



(8,435)



(12,316)



Comprehensive income



8,484



8,084



Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests



(143)



(649)



Comprehensive income attributable to parent company


$

8,627


$

8,733



Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders

per share









Basic -


$

0.52


$

0.64



Diluted -


$

0.52


$

0.64



Weighted average number of common shares outstanding









Basic



32,038,933



32,121,019



Diluted



32,040,514



32,136,003



China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands of USD unless otherwise indicated)




September 30, 2016



December 31, 2015


ASSETS









Current assets:









Cash and cash equivalents


$

39,062



$

69,676


Pledged cash



21,077




31,402


Short-term investments



39,337




21,209


Accounts and notes receivable, net - unrelated

parties



255,794




254,397


Accounts and notes receivable, net - related

parties



23,637




21,918


Advance payments and others - unrelated

parties



10,891




4,381


Advance payments and others - related parties



845




544


Inventories



74,484




65,570


Current deferred tax assets



6,610




6,962


Total current assets



471,737




476,059


Non-current assets:









Long-term time deposits



898




5,082


Property, plant and equipment, net



94,063




84,151


Intangible assets, net



588




2,793


Other receivables, net - unrelated parties



2,283




3,882


Other receivables, net - related parties



73




14


Advance payment for property, plant and

equipment - unrelated parties



16,507




15,192


Advance payment for property, plant and

equipment - related parties



6,625




8,863


Long-term investments



15,202




6,152


Goodwill



-




608


Non-current deferred tax assets



4,898




4,899


Total assets


$

612,874



$

607,695











LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'

EQUITY









Current liabilities:









Bank and government loans


$

39,942



$

40,929


Accounts and notes payable - unrelated parties



204,502




197,105


Accounts and notes payable - related parties



5,538




6,363


Customer deposits



741




1,613


Accrued payroll and related costs



6,619




6,332


Accrued expenses and other payables



29,731




31,383


Accrued pension costs



4,365




4,664


Taxes payable



7,233




9,284


Amounts due to shareholders/directors



332




345


Advances payable (current portion)



322




-


Current deferred tax liabilities



177




194


Total current liabilities



299,502




298,212


Long-term liabilities:









Long-term bank loan



669




-


Advances payable



529




1,922


Non-current deferred tax liabilities



-




266


Total liabilities


$

300,700



$

300,400











Commitments and Contingencies


















Stockholders' equity:









Common stock, $0.0001 par value -

Authorized - 80,000,000 shares; Issued -

31,861,756 and 32,338,302 shares as of

September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015,

respectively


$

3



$

3


Additional paid-in capital



64,627




64,627


Retained earnings-









Appropriated



10,521




10,379


Unappropriated



223,235




206,622


Accumulated other comprehensive income



10,284




18,412


Treasury stock - 476,546 and 217,283 shares

as of September 30, 2016 and December 31,

2015, respectively



(1,991)




(1,000)


Total parent company stockholders' equity



306,679




299,043


Non-controlling interests



5,495




8,252


Total stockholders' equity



312,174




307,295











Total liabilities and stockholders' equity


$

612,874



$

607,695


China Automotive Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands of USD unless otherwise indicated)



Nine Months Ended September 30,




2016



2015


Cash flows from operating activities:








Net income


$

16,919


$

20,400


Adjustments to reconcile net income from operations to net cash provided by

operating activities:








Depreciation and amortization



10,732



11,509


Reversal of provision for doubtful accounts



(126)



(124)


Inventory write downs



2,353



1,522


Deferred income taxes



(142)



(1,180)


Equity in earnings of affiliated companies



(561)



(236)


Gain on disposal of Fujian Qiaolong



(698)



-


(Gain)/loss on fixed assets disposals



(6)



2


Changes in operating assets and liabilities (net of the impact of disposal of Fujian

Qiaolong):








(Increase) decrease in:








Pledged cash



9,711



2,696


Accounts and notes receivable



(18,471)



19,801


Advance payments and others



(2,798)



(1,741)


Inventories



(18,244)



(6,723)


Increase (decrease) in:








Accounts and notes payable



14,990



(17,021)


Customer deposits



(613)



(381)


Accrued payroll and related costs



544



(1,068)


Accrued expenses and other payables



1,309



1,109


Accrued pension costs



(160)



(842)


Taxes payable



(1,582)



(3,671)


Advances payable



(75)



-


Net cash provided by operating activities



13,082



24,052









Cash flows from investing activities:








Increase/(decrease) in other receivables



2,382



(1,965)


Proceeds from disposition of a subsidiary, net of cash disposed of $1,063



1,953



-


Cash received from property, plant and equipment sales



511



573


Payments to acquire property, plant and equipment



(27,161)



(24,077)


Payments to acquire intangible assets



(60)



(947)


Purchase of short-term investments



(28,181)



(12,264)


Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments



13,236



25,038


Investment under equity method



(8,682)



(1,636)


Net cash used in investing activities



(46,002)



(15,278)










Cash flows from financing activities:








Proceeds from bank and government loans



12,151



11,420


Repayments of bank and government loans



(7,145)



(8,685)


Dividends paid to the non-controlling interests holders



(464)



(1,121)


Dividends paid to the holders of the Company's common stock



-



(252)


Repurchase of common stock



(991)



-


Net cash provided by financing activities



3,551



1,362










Effects of exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents



(1,245)



(2,577)


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents



(30,614)



7,559


Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period



69,676



68,505


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period


$

39,062


$

76,064


To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/china-automotive-systems-reports-higher-net-sales-and-profit-in-the-2016-third-quarter-300360424.html

Source: China Automotive Systems, Inc.
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