Concord Medical Announces Third Quarter 2010 Financial Results

BEIJING, Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited (“Concord Medical” or the “Company”) (NYSE: CCM), the operator of the largest network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010(1).

Third Quarter Fiscal 2010 Highlights

• Total net revenues in the third quarter of 2010 were RMB101.0 million ($15.1 million), a 29.6% increase from the corresponding period in 2009.

• Gross profit in the third quarter of 2010 was RMB66.9 million ($10.0 million), a 20.2% increase from the corresponding period in 2009.

• Net income in the third quarter of 2010 was RMB33.4 million ($5.0 million), a 2.2% decrease from the corresponding period in 2009. Basic and diluted earnings per American depositary share (“ADS”)(2) for the third quarter of 2010 were RMB0.69 ($0.10).

• Non-GAAP net income(3) in the third quarter of 2010 was RMB36.0 million ($5.4 million), a 5.3% increase from the corresponding period in 2009. Non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per ADS for the third quarter of 2010 were RMB0.74 ($0.11).

• Adjusted EBITDA(4) (non-GAAP) in the third quarter of 2010 was RMB81.3 million ($12.2 million), a 24.9% increase from the corresponding period in 2009.

• Concord Medical added eleven centers, two of which were acquisitions made during the third quarter of 2010, bringing the total number of centers in operation to 111 across 41 cities in China, as of September 30, 2010. To date, the Company has entered into agreements to establish 27 new centers.

• The number of treatment patient cases and diagnostic patient cases was 8,461 and 35,044 during the third quarter of 2010, respectively. Compared to the corresponding period in 2009, treatment patient cases increased by 20.8% and diagnostic patient cases increased by 44.4% .

(1) This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB6.6905 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate on September 30, 2010 in The City of New York for cable transfers of RMB as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

(2) Each ADS represents three ordinary shares of the Company.

(3) Non-GAAP net income is defined in this announcement as net income excluding share-based compensation expenses Share-based compensation was RMB 2.6 million ($0.4 million) in the third quarter of 2010. The Company did not incur share-based compensation expenses in the third quarter of 2009 and therefore no reconciliation for this period has been provided herein.

(4) Adjusted EBITDA is defined in this announcement as net income plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expenses and other adjustments. Other adjustments include change in fair value of convertible notes, foreign exchange loss and other income.

“We delivered solid top line growth and business progress in the third quarter despite a stronger than usual seasonal impact.  This year, the Mid-autumn Festival in September and the October Golden Week occurred in close proximity, causing reductions in patient volume in late September more than in prior years,” said Dr. Jianyu Yang, director, president and chief executive officer of Concord Medical. “In addition, we opened 9 new centers and acquired 2 centers during the third quarter, which gives us continued confidence to meet our target of adding 34 to 39 centers in 2010. We made steady headway in the past two quarters and have in place a healthy contract pipeline.”

“Our quality marketing and academic programs continued to effectively educate and attract patients while further solidifying our brand and reputation,” continued Dr. Yang.  “Combining our strong momentum with the government’s ongoing support of private investment into the healthcare industry and medical insurance reform, we are confident that Concord Medical is well positioned to benefit from this fast-growing market,” Dr. Yang concluded.

Recent Developments

Under a share repurchase program approved in June 2010, the Company repurchased 981,030 ADSs, representing 2,943,090 ordinary shares, in the third quarter of 2010 for an aggregate consideration of $6.2 million, including transaction fees. Since the inception of this share repurchase program, the Company has repurchased a total of 1,585,299 ADSs, representing 4,755,897 common shares, for an aggregate consideration of $10.6 million.

In October 2010, Boxun Zhang, who joined Concord Medical in September 2009 as corporate vice president, resigned from his post during the reporting quarter to pursue other interests.

“During his time at Concord Medical, Boxun was a great asset to the Company,” commented Dr. Yang. “We would like to thank him for the significant contributions he made to the Company’s development. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Third Quarter Fiscal 2010 Results

Total net revenues were RMB101.0 million ($15.1 million) for the third quarter of 2010, representing a 29.6% increase from the corresponding period in 2009 The increase was primarily due to patient volume growth from established centers as well as from new centers added through organic development and acquisitions in 2009 and the first three quarters of 2010.

Cost of revenues in the third quarter of 2010 was RMB34.1 million ($5.1 million), a 52.9% increase from the corresponding period in 2009, primarily due to the higher depreciation cost associated with the new equipment purchases in 2009 and the first three quarters of 2010.

Gross profit margin in the third quarter of 2010 was 66.2% as compared to 71.4% in the corresponding period in 2009. The decrease was mostly due to depreciation and amortization from business expansion.

Operating expenses, consisting of selling expenses and general and administrative expenses, were RMB17.3 million ($2.6 million) in the third quarter of 2010, compared to RMB9.7 million in the corresponding period in 2009. The increase was largely due to the expanded business size and additional post-IPO related professional expenses.

Operating income was RMB49.6 million ($7.4 million), representing an 7.9% increase from the corresponding period in 2009. Operating profit excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) was RMB52.2 million ($7.8 million), a 13.5% increase from the corresponding period in 2009.

Foreign exchange loss was RMB3.0 million ($0.4 million) for the third quarter compared with RMB97,000 ($14,210) in the corresponding period in 2009, primarily due to the appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar.

Income tax expense was RMB12.4 million ($1.9 million), compared to an income tax expense of RMB10.2 million in the corresponding period in 2009. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2010 was 27.0% as compared to 28.5% in the previous quarter and 23.0% in the corresponding period in 2009.

Net income was RMB33.4 million ($5.0 million), representing a 2.2% decrease from the corresponding period in 2009. Both basic and diluted earnings per ADS for the third quarter of 2010 were RMB0.69 ($0.10).

Net income excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) was RMB36.0 million ($5.4 million), a 5.3% increase from the corresponding period in 2009. Both basic and diluted earnings per ADS excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) for the third quarter of 2010 were RMB0.74 ($0.11).

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP), was RMB81.3 million ($12.2 million) for the third quarter of 2010, representing a 24.9% increase from the corresponding period in 2009.

Capital expenditure for the third quarter of 2010 was RMB107.9 million ($16.1 million). Total depreciation expenses were RMB21.0 million ($3.1 million). In addition, amortization of acquired intangibles was RMB7.9 million ($1.2 million). The Company expects amortization of acquired intangibles to be approximately RMB28.8 million ($4.3 million) in 2010, assuming no additional intangibles are acquired through potential acquisitions during the year.

As of September 30, 2010, the Company had total fixed assets with a net book value of RMB863.9 million ($129.1 million) and cash of RMB515.2 million ($77.0 million). The decline in cash was mainly due to the increased fixed assets balance and prepayment for equipment purchase for our network expansion.

As of September 30, 2010, the Company had bank credit lines totaling RMB2.1 billion ($313.9 million), of which RMB129.2 million ($19.3million) were drawn as at September 30, 2010.

Accounts receivable were RMB149.5 million ($22.3 million) as of September 30, 2010, as compared to RMB111.3 million as of December 31, 2009. The average turnover days was 127 days as of September 30, 2010, as compared to 119 days as of December 31, 2009.

Outlook for Fiscal Year 2010

Based on current market and operating conditions, estimated business expansion and forecasted patient volumes, Concord Medical reaffirms that its estimated range of total net revenues for 2010 is RMB367 million to RMB398 million, which would represent a 25.5% to 36.1% increase from 2009.

The Company also reaffirms that it expects to add 34 to 39 radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in 2010, and the range of expected total capital expenditures related to these new centers is approximately RMB400 million to RMB450 million.

This forecast reflects Concord Medical’s current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.

Conference Call Information

Concord Medical’s management will hold an earnings conference call at 8 AM on November 18, 2010 U.S. Eastern Time (9 PM on November 18, 2010 Beijing/Hong Kong time).

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at http://ir.cmsholdings.com/.

About Concord Medical

Concord Medical operates the largest network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China in terms of revenues and the total number of centers in operation per available statistics. The Company currently operates a network of more than 111 centers spanning 41 cities and 23 provinces and administrative regions in China. Under long-term arrangements with top-tier hospitals in China, the Company provides radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging equipments and manages the daily operations of these centers located on its hospital partners’ premises. The Company also provides ongoing training to doctors and other medical personnel in its network of centers to ensure a high level of clinical care for patients.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “predict,” “should” and “will” and similar expressions. These forward looking statements are based upon management’s current views and expectations with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. Furthermore, these statements are, by their nature, subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance and results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. Such factors include: the number of new radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers opened; the increase in the number of patients in existing centers; the establishment of specialty cancer hospitals; changes in the healthcare industry in China, including changes in the healthcare policies and regulations of the PRC government; and technological or therapeutic changes affecting the field of cancer treatment and diagnostic imaging. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Concord Medical uses certain non-GAAP measures.  The Company presents certain of its financial information that is adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude the impact of share-based compensation expense. The Company believes excluding share-based compensation expense from its GAAP financial measures is useful for its management and investors to assess and analyze the Company’s core operating results as such expense is not directly attributable to the underlying performance of the Company’s business operations and do not impact its cash earnings. Concord Medical also believes these non-GAAP measures excluding share-based compensation expense are important in helping investors to understand the Company’s current financial performance and future prospects and to compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis. In addition, Concord Medical also presents the non-GAAP measure of Adjusted EBITDA, which is defined in this announcement as net income plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expenses and other adjustments. Other adjustments include change in fair value of convertible notes, foreign exchange loss and other income. Furthermore, Adjusted EBITDA eliminates the impact of items that the Company does not consider indicative of the performance of its network of centers. The Company believes investors will similarly use Adjusted EBITDA as one of the key metrics to evaluate its financial performance and to compare its current operating results with corresponding historical periods and with other companies in the healthcare services industry. The presentation of these additional measures should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results or as being comparable to results reported or forecasted by other companies. The non-GAAP measures have been reconciled to GAAP measures in the attached financial statements.