BEIJING, May 10 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- China Fire & Security Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CFSG) ("China Fire" or "the Company"), a leading total solutions provider for industrial fire protection systems in China, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.
Highlights for the first quarter of 2010:
-- Successfully signed and executed the first retrofitting contract of $92
million with Wuhan Iron and Steel Group.
-- Revenue increased 25.3% year-over-year to $20.9 million.
-- Gross margin increased to 55.5%, from 48.8% in the previous quarter.
-- Non-GAAP Net income increased 6.7% year-over-year to $6.3 million.
-- Non-GAAP Diluted EPS increased 6.0% year-over-year to $0.22.
First Quarter, First Quarter, Change
(in US Dollars) 2010 2009 (%)
GAAP Net Income 5,247,225 5,645,603 -7.1%
Non-Cash Option and
Restricted Stock
Expenses 1,035,674 245,049 322.6%
Non-GAAP Net Income 6,282,899 5,890,652 6.7%
GAAP Diluted EPS 0.19 0.20 -7.7%
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS 0.22 0.21 6.0%
First Quarter 2010 Results
For the first quarter of 2010, the Company's revenue increased 25.3% year over year to $20.9 million, compared to $16.7 million for the same period in 2009. This increase was primarily driven by an increase in all business segments including system contracting projects, product sales and maintenance services and the successful implementation of the Wuhan Iron and Steel's retrofitting contract during the period.
Gross margin for the first quarter of 2010 was 55.5%, compared to a gross margin of 61.6% for the first quarter of 2009. The decrease in the Company's gross margin was primarily due to the contract mix during the period where lower margin contracts contributed to a higher percentage of revenues.
The Company's operating expenses were $5.5 million for the first quarter of 2010, compared to $4.1 million for the same period of 2009. The increase in the Company's operating expenses was primarily due to an increase of $0.8 million in non-cash option and restricted stock expenses during this quarter. If this non-cash item is excluded, then operating expenses only increased 17.0% on annual basis, which is slower than the Company's growth in revenue.
The Company's operating income for the first quarter of 2010 was $6.1 million, compared to $6.2 million for the same period last year.
The Company's GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2010 was $5.2 million, compared to $5.6 million for the same period of 2009, representing an annual decrease of 7.1 %. This decrease in GAAP net income was mainly attributable to a lower gross margin and higher operating expenses. As a result, the Company's fully diluted EPS was $0.19 in the first quarter of 2010, versus $0.20 in the first quarter of 2009.
If the non-cash option and restricted stock expenses are excluded, then the Company's non-GAAP net income was $6.3 million during the first quarter of 2010, compared to $5.9 million during the first quarter of 2009, representing an annual increase of 6.7%. The Company's non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.22 for the first quarter of 2010, compared to $0.21 for the same period of 2009.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2010, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $25.1 million, a decrease of $9.8 million from $34.9 million at the end of 2009. During the first quarter, the Company used $7.1 million cash for operations as compared to a positive operating cash flow of $2.5 million in the same period of last year. This quarterly decrease in the Company's cash position and negative operating cash flow during the first quarter of 2010 were due to a temporary delay in the initial payment of $18 million from the Wuhan Iron and Steel's retrofitting project. The Company is expected to receive the initial payment during the second quarter of 2010.
Financial Outlook for 2010
Based on the current backlog of $141 million, the Company reaffirms that for the year 2010, its revenue is expected to increase by between 66% to 78% to a range of $135 million to $145 million. Net income is estimated to grow 89% to 105% or between $47 million to $49 million, $1.65 to $1.70 per diluted share.
Mr. Weigang Li, executive chairman of China Fire commented, "We are pleased with our first quarter results as we successfully signed and implemented our first retrofitting project in the iron and steel industry. Through our internal marketing research, we have found the huge potential in the retrofitting market for iron and steel industry, which is approximately $2 billion. We are confident that China Fire will be able to secure more retrofitting contracts in future. Furthermore, in addition to our core iron and steel vertical, we continue to pursue expansions into other verticals, including power, transportation, petrochemical as well as international markets."
Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call to discuss the financial results at 8:00 a.m. ET today, May 10, 2010. The Company invites the participants to join the call by dialing +1-719-325-4814. To listen to the live webcast of the event, please go to http://www.chinafiresecurity.com and click on the Investor Relations section or the link http://viavid.net/dce.aspx?sid=000074D5 where conference calls are posted. Please go to the link 15 minutes early to download and install any necessary audio software.
A replay of the call will be available from May 10, 2010 to May 17, 2010. Listeners may access the recording by dialing +1-719-457-0820, passcode: 3688604.
About China Fire & Security Group, Inc.
China Fire & Security Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CFSG), through its wholly owned subsidiary, Sureland Industrial Fire Safety Limited ("Sureland"), is a leading total solution provider of industrial fire protection systems in China. Leveraging on its proprietary technologies, China Fire is engaged primarily in the design, manufacturing, sales and maintenance services of a broad product portfolio including detectors, controllers, and fire extinguishers. Via its nationwide direct sales force, China Fire has built a solid client base including major companies in iron and steel, power, petrochemical and transportation industries throughout China. China Fire has a seasoned management team with strong focus on standards and technologies. Currently, China Fire has a comprehensive portfolio of patents covering fire detection, system control and fire extinguishing technologies. Founded in 1995, China Fire is headquartered in Beijing with about 430 employees in more than 30 sales and project offices throughout China. For more information about the Company, please go to http://www.chinafiresecurity.com .
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information
This presentation may contain forward-looking information about China Fire & Security Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Sureland which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "project," "plan," "seek," "intend," or "anticipate" or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, and include discussions of strategy, statements about industry trends and China Fire & Security Groups' future performance, operations and products. This and other "Risk Factors" are contained in China Fire & Security Groups' public filings with the SEC.
For more information, please contact:
China Fire & Security Group, Inc.
Amy Gao, Investor Relations
Tel: +86-10-8441-7400
Email: ir@chinafiresecurity.com
CHINA FIRE & SECURITY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF MARCH 31, 2010 AND DECEMBER 31, 2009
ASSETS
March 31, December 31,
2010 2009
CURRENT ASSETS: (Unaudited)
Cash and cash equivalents $ 25,137,358 $ 34,976,880
Restricted cash 5,741,283 1,837,134
Notes receivable 5,609,303 4,274,268
Accounts receivable, net of
allowance for doubtful accounts
of $7,160,723 and $6,539,787 as of
March 31, 2010 and December 31,
2009, respectively 31,862,625 30,989,569
Receivables from and prepayments to
related party 1,759,452 551,792
Other receivables 641,015 368,679
Inventories 5,577,035 5,360,520
Costs and estimated earnings in
excess of billings 43,713,982 36,562,573
Employee advances 1,409,465 953,625
Prepayments and deferred expenses 3,633,930 3,397,358
Total current assets 126,624,125 121,046,728
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net 8,761,779 8,617,521
OTHER ASSETS:
Restricted cash - non current 2,020,865 3,602,906
Accounts receivable - retentions 3,977,360 3,463,998
Deferred expenses - non current 116,045 116,045
Investment in joint ventures 480,547 477,837
Intangible assets, net 1,022,333 1,041,156
Total other assets 7,617,150 8,701,942
Total assets $ 143,003,054 $ 138,366,191
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable $ 6,515,131 $ 6,903,961
Accounts payable to related party -- 272,994
Customer deposits 2,277,836 2,182,790
Billings in excess of costs and
estimated earnings 1,247,992 1,429,999
Other payables 488,169 333,121
Accrued liabilities 13,091,597 13,841,300
Taxes payable 8,752,516 9,002,470
Total current liabilities 32,373,241 33,966,635
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
EQUITY:
Common stock, $0.001 par value,
65,000,000 shares authorized,
27,595,541 shares issued and
outstanding as of March 31, 2010
and December 31, 2009, respectively 27,595 27,595
Additional paid-in-capital 21,636,811 20,601,138
Statutory reserves 7,147,795 7,147,795
Retained earnings 74,513,274 69,266,049
Accumulated other comprehensive
income 7,303,764 7,324,237
Total shareholders' equity 110,629,239 104,366,814
Noncontrolling interest 574 32,742
Total equity 110,629,813 104,399,556
Total liabilities and equity $ 143,003,054 $ 138,366,191
CHINA FIRE & SECURITY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010 AND 2009
UNAUDITED
Three Months Ended March 31,
2010 2009
REVENUES
System contracting projects $ 15,521,748 $ 13,003,184
Products 4,530,599 3,124,322
Maintenance services 891,379 584,705
Total revenues 20,943,726 16,712,211
COST OF REVENUES
System contracting projects 7,311,285 4,807,258
Products 1,454,067 1,211,653
Maintenance services 546,218 396,541
Total cost of revenues 9,311,570 6,415,452
GROSS PROFIT 11,632,156 10,296,759
OPERATING EXPENSES
Selling and marketing 1,996,198 1,902,318
General and administrative 2,940,077 1,680,639
Depreciation and amortization 200,106 193,394
Research and development 396,896 314,030
Total operating expenses 5,533,277 4,090,381
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 6,098,879 6,206,378
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)
Other income 39,344 111,953
Other expenses (4,081) (1,257)
Interest income 83,800 122,096
Total other income (expenses) 119,063 232,792
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
AND
NONCONTROLLING INTEREST 6,217,942 6,439,170
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 1,002,874 793,567
NET INCOME BEFORE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST 5,215,068 5,645,603
Less: Net loss attributable to
noncontrolling interest (32,157) --
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING
INTEREST 5,247,225 5,645,603
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Foreign currency translation adjustment $ (20,473)$ (178,217)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 5,226,752 5,467,386
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
Weighted average number of shares $ 27,595,541 $ 27,586,593
Earnings per share 0.19 0.20
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
Weighted average number of shares $ 28,397,085 $ 28,210,911
Earnings per share 0.19 0.20