China New Borun Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Financial Results

BEIJING, March 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- China New Borun Corporation (NYSE: BORN; "Borun" or the "Company"), a leading producer and distributor of corn-based edible alcohol in China, today announced unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2011.

Fourth Quarter 2011 Financial Highlights

• Total revenue increased 60.4% to RMB762.0 million ($120.9 million(1)) from RMB475.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.
• Gross profit increased 4.0% to RMB120.1 million ($19.1 million) from RMB115.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.
• Net income increased 3.6% to RMB72.1 million ($11.5 million) from RMB69.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.
• Diluted earnings per American Depositary Share ("ADS") were RMB2.80 ($0.45) for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. Each ADS represents one of the Company's ordinary shares.

Commenting on the results for the quarter, Mr. Jinmiao Wang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Borun, stated, "We have seen strong demand for edible alcohol in the fourth quarter of 2011, which has continued into 2012. During the quarter our facilities operated at full capacity, making us one of the most efficient producers of edible alcohol in the country. Driven by higher prices and strong demand for edible alcohol and our strong capacity utilization, our record fourth quarter revenue exceeded our previously stated guidance. External factors, notably continued elevated levels in the price of corn, have resulted in higher costs of goods than we have seen in the past."

Mr. Wang added, "While the higher corn price has resulted in net income increasing at a slower rate than revenues, we are pleased that our production facilities, as well as sales and administration, are operating efficiently. Driven by strong market demand for our edible alcohol and the acquisition of new customers, we have already signed pre-sales contracts for approximately 90% of our total edible alcohol production capacity in 2012. We are also proactively focused on enhancing our ability to pre-purchase corn at lower prices. During the recent peak harvest season, we continued to engage granaries to secure greater quantity of lower-priced corn and store for later use in the non-harvest season."

Continuing, Mr. Wang stated, "In January of 2012 the State Intellectual Property Office awarded a patent to the Company for the Borun Wet Process, our proprietary manufacturing method. We are pleased to receive the patent and believe that it validates our conviction that the Borun Wet Process results in a higher production yield, is environmentally friendlier and is more energy efficient than other corn-based edible alcohol production processes currently used in China. Benefitting from our patented Borun Wet Process, our robust pre-sales for 2012, and our strong corn sourcing ability, we believe that we will be well-positioned to continue to prosper in a cost-rising environment."

Fourth Quarter 2011 Financial Performance

Fourth quarter 2011 revenue increased by 60.4% year-over-year to RMB762.0 million ($120.9 million) from RMB475.0 million in the same period of 2010. Key factors affecting the Company's results of operations are as follows:

• Revenue from edible alcohol, driven by higher sales volume and price, increased by 60.3% to RMB536.1 million ($85.1 million) in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to RMB334.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. The combination of strong demand for edible alcohol and the Company's expanded production capacity contributed to the sales volume growth of 44.5% year-over-year to 95,115 tons. In the fourth quarter of 2011, sales price of edible alcohol increased by 10.9% year-over-year to RMB5,637 per ton.
• Revenue from DDGS Feed increased by 107.7% to RMB147.8 million ($23.4 million) in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to RMB71.2 million in the prior year period, as sales volume increased by 88.3% year-over-year to 81,661 tons. In addition to the Company's expanded capacity, the implementation of crude corn oil production increased DDGS Feed yield per ton of corn processed. In the fourth quarter of 2011, sales price of DDGS Feed increased by 10.3% year-over-year to RMB1,810 per ton.
• Beginning in March 2011, the Company began to deep-process corn germ into crude corn oil and eliminated corn germ production in its Daqing facilities. Additionally, in September 2011, the Company began producing crude corn oil and eliminated corn germ production in its Shandong facilities. Consequently, since the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company no longer sells corn germ.
• Revenue from liquid carbon dioxide increased by 20.5% to RMB 16.7 million ($2.6 million) in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to RMB 13.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 as a result of increases in sales volume during the period. In the fourth quarter of 2011, sales volume increased by 21.5% to 34,085 tons and sales price remained stable.
• Beginning in March 2011, the Company began selling the by-product crude corn oil produced at its Daqing facilities, and beginning in September 2011 the Company also began selling crude corn oil produced at its Shandong facilities. In the fourth quarter of 2011, revenue from crude corn oil was RMB61.4 million ($9.8 million), and sales volume was 7,645 tons at a price of RMB8,037 per ton.

During the fourth quarter of 2011, gross profit increased by 4.0% to RMB120.1 million ($19.1 million) from RMB115.4 million in the prior year period. Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2011 decreased to 15.8% from 24.3% in the prior year period, primarily due to corn cost increasing at a faster rate than selling price during the fourth quarter of 2011.

Operating income increased by 4.7% to RMB104.9 million ($16.6 million) in the fourth quarter of 2011, from RMB100.1 million in the same period of 2010, driven by the Company's strong revenue growth and offset by increased cost of goods sold.

Selling expenses increased by 57.0% to RMB1.7 million ($0.3 million) in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to RMB1.1 million in the same period of 2010. The higher expenses in the fourth quarter of 2011 were primarily due to additional sales activities to support the increased sales volume.

General and administrative expenses were RMB13.5 million ($2.1 million) in the fourth quarter of 2011, which were stable compared to RMB14.2 million in the same period of 2010.

Income tax expenses in the fourth quarter of 2011 were RMB24.1 million ($3.8 million), representing an effective tax rate of 25.0%.

Net income increased by 3.6% to RMB72.1 million ($11.5 million) in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to RMB69.6 million in the same quarter of 2010. In the fourth quarter of 2011, diluted earnings per share and per ADS were RMB2.80 ($0.45), and the Company had 25.725 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had cash and bank deposits of RMB223.9 million ($35.5 million), a decrease from RMB341.0 million as of December 31, 2010, reflecting use of funds in completing the construction of its expanded production facilities in 2011. Cash flows provided by operating activities for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 were approximately RMB82.4 million ($13.1 million), reflecting the Company's strong net income and receivables collection during the quarter, partly offset by the deposits paid to local granaries for corn sourcing arrangements.

Full Year 2011 Financial Performance

For the year ended December 31, 2011, total revenue increased 56.7% year-over-year to RMB2,685.2 million ($426.2 million) from RMB1,713.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. Gross profit increased 25.8% year-over-year to RMB510.2 million ($81.0 million) from RMB405.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. Operating income increased 25.3% year-over-year to RMB451.1 million ($71.6 million), from RMB359.9 million a year ago. Net income increased 20.6% year-over-year to RMB313.0 million ($49.7 million), from RMB259.4 million. Earnings per diluted share or ADS increased to RMB12.17 ($1.93), from RMB11.07 in the prior year. Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding was approximately 25.725 million in 2011, up from 20.927 million in 2010.

Financial Outlook

The Company estimates that its revenue for the first quarter of 2012 will be in the range of RMB680.0 million ($107.9 million) to RMB705.0 million ($111.9 million), an increase of approximately 18.9% to 23.3% over the same quarter in 2011.

This forecast reflects the Company's current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.

Conference Call

Borun's management will hold a corresponding earnings conference call and live webcast at 8:00 a.m. E.T on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 (9:00 p.m. Beijing time on Wednesday, March 7, 2012) to discuss the results and highlights from the fourth quarter and full year of 2011 and answer questions from investors. A webcast of the call will be available at http://ir.chinanewborun.com. Listeners may access the call by dialing:

A replay of the webcast will be accessible through March 14, 2012 on http://ir.chinanewborun.com or by dialing:

About China New Borun Corporation

China New Borun Corporation (NYSE: BORN) is a leading producer and distributor of corn-based edible alcohol in China. Borun's edible alcohol products are primarily sold as an ingredient to producers of baijiu, a popular grain-based alcoholic beverage that is sold throughout China in retail stores, restaurants and bars. The Company also produces DDGS Feed, liquid carbon dioxide and crude corn oil as by-products of edible alcohol production. China New Borun is based in Shouguang, Shandong Province. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.chinanewborun.com and in documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Forward-looking Statements

All statements included in this press release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

Contact Information

Three Part Advisors, LLC
John Palizza
Phone: +1-888-870-0798
Email: jpalizza@threepa.com