omniture

QKL Stores Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2012 Financial Results

2012-08-14 19:00 2765

DAQING, China, August 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- QKL Stores Inc. (the "Company") (Nasdaq: QKLS), a leading regional supermarket chain in Northeastern China and Inner Mongolia, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012.

Mr. Zhuangyi Wang, Chairman and CEO, said, "The second quarter was a period in which we focused on improving efficiency in our business. Our existing stores opened for more than a year continued to show stable gross profit margin of 17.5% which helps support the ramp up period of our newer stores, which typically take longer to reach profitability.

"We plan to open 3 additional stores this year. Most of the new stores we will open in the future will be located in the Heilongjiang Province where we have stronger relationships with local vendors and the cost of goods is slightly lower than the other two provinces (Liaoning and Jilin) in which we operate.

"As our new store opening plan modifies from the first half of the year, we believe that preliminary new store opening expenses will decrease in the coming quarters as our total store sales rise, labor & utility costs stabilize and new store marketing expenses ease. For the remaining two quarters of 2012, we believe our gross margin will remain stable in the 17%-17.5% range, operating expenses as a percent of total revenue will move back into the 14%-15% range and we'll return to profitability with net income as a percent of total revenue in the 0.5%-1.0% range.

"As QKL expands its market presence in northeast China, we are uniquely positioned against our local competitors through our large product offering, strong supplier relationships, efficient distribution network and state-of-the-art IT system. We are comfortable with our opportunities in the second half of the year and believe we'll see an improvement in operating expenses and profit growth from the current quarter."

Second Quarter 2012 Financial Results

Revenue in the second quarter of 2012 decreased by 0.3% to $83.2 million from $83.5 million in the second quarter of 2011. Revenue performance reflected the growth of 46 comparable stores, which have been open for at least one year before the beginning of the comparison period, or by April 1, 2011, as well as sales generated from the opening of 7 new stores since April 1, 2011. Same-store sales were approximately $77.0 million in the second quarter of 2012, representing an increase of 3.6% from $74.3 million in the second quarter of 2011.The 7 new stores opened since April 1, 2011 generated approximately $6.2 million in the second quarter of 2012.

Gross profit decreased 0.4% year-over-year to $14.6 million, compared to $14.6 million in the prior year period. Gross margin for the second quarter of 2012 is likely to be between 17.0% and 17.5%. The change in gross profit was primarily attributable to net sales decreased by $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to the second quarter of 2011.

Operating expenses decreased 1.4% to $14.5 million compared to $14.7 million in the prior year period. This was primarily a result of higher preliminary expenses for new stores in the prior year period.

The Company reported a net income of approximately $9,611, or $0.001 per diluted share, compared with net loss of $32,867, or $(0.003) per diluted share, for the same period in 2011. This increase was due to lower selling expenses related to new store openings in the second quarter of 2012.

As of June 30, 2012, the Company had $26.0 million in unrestricted cash and bank loans of $3,164,707, compared to $36.0 million as of June 30, 2011 with no bank loans.

As of June 30, 2012, the Company operated 53 stores totaling 286,000 sq. meters compared to 51 stores totaling 275,000 sq. meters in the prior year period.

As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, the number of outstanding shares of common stock of the Company was reduced to 10,527,637 shares. Fractional stockholdings were rounded up to the nearest whole number. Each shareholder's percentage ownership interest in the Company and proportional voting power remains unchanged after the Reverse Stock Split except for minor changes and adjustments resulting from rounding of fractional interests. The rights and privileges of the holders of common stock are substantially unaffected by the Reverse Stock Split.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the six month ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 was $22.4 million and $26.0 million, respectively. The decrease in cash provided by operating activities for the six month ended June 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 primarily reflects net cash inflow caused by the increase in accrued expenses, and a decrease of inventories. The increase in accrued expenses was in line with the increase in operating expenses due to inflation and new store openings. The decrease of inventories was caused by reducing the inventories on hand after the peak Chinese New Year season. The decrease of other receivables is largely attributable to the recovery of money from vendors.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call at 8:30 am ET on Tuesday, August 14th. To participate, please dial one of the local access numbers, listed below. The conference call identification number is 10017432.

Participant Dial In (Toll Free):

1-800-860-2442

Participant International:

1-412-858-4600

Canadian Dial In (Toll Free):

1-866-605-3852

China (N) Toll Free:

10-800-712-2304

China (S) Toll Free:

10-800-120-2304

Hong Kong Toll Free:

800-962475

About QKL Stores Inc.:

Based in Daqing, China, QKL Stores, Inc. is a leading regional supermarket chain company operating in Northeastern China and Inner Mongolia. QKL Stores sells a broad selection of merchandise, including groceries, fresh food, and non-food items, through its retail supermarkets, hypermarkets and department stores; the company also has its own distribution centers that service its supermarkets. For more information, please access the Company's website at: www.qklstoresinc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this release and other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of the Company are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements regarding future events and developments and our future performance, as well as management's expectations, beliefs, plans, estimates or projections relating to the future, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of these laws. The forward looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including market acceptance of the Company's services and projects and the Company's continued access to capital and other risks and uncertainties. The actual results the Company achieves may differ materially from those contemplated by any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on our current expectations and speak only as of the date of such statements.

Contact Information

QKL Stores, Inc.

In China:

Mike Li, Investor Relations

+86-459-460-7987

QKL STORES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets



June 30,

2012



December 31,

2011




(Unaudited)





ASSETS







Cash


$

25,995,185



$

9,037,550


Restricted cash



253




253


Accounts receivable



102,805




115,163


Inventories



41,319,371




54,336,501


Other receivables



7,834,546




11,991,134


Prepaid expenses



5,154,254




6,085,379


Advances to suppliers



7,141,023




10,160,552


Deferred income tax assets



2,960,318




2,972,570


Total current assets



90,507,755




94,699,102


Property, plant and equipment, net



42,417,556




43,042,136


Land use rights, net



733,962




748,410


Goodwill



26,671,404




26,346,942


Other assets



461,345




520,559


Total assets


$

160,792,022



$

165,357,149


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY









Short-term loans


$

7,911,768



$

10,998,162


Accounts payable



27,678,472




28,417,894


Cash card and coupon liabilities



16,327,419




16,024,437


Customer deposits received



441,362




931,604


Accrued expenses and other payables



11,821,826




14,328,656


Income taxes payable



174,273




227,016


Total current liabilities



64,355,120




70,927,769


Total liabilities



64,355,120




70,927,769


Shareholders' equity









Common stock, $0.001 par value per share, authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 10,527,637 and 10,448,197 shares at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively*



10,527




10,448


Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $0.01, authorized 10,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 5,457,960 and 5,694,549 at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively



54,580




56,945


Additional paid-in capital



91,828,974




91,610,531


Retained earnings - appropriated



7,282,560




7,282,560


Retained earnings



(14,918,204)




(15,758,416)


Accumulated other comprehensive income



12,178,465




11,227,312


Total shareholders' equity



96,436,902




94,429,380


Total liabilities and shareholders' equity


$

160,792,022



$

165,357,149


*The number of shares of common stock has been retroactively restated to reflect the Reverse Stock Split effected on June 11, 2012.

QKL STORES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income



(Unaudited)



(Unaudited)




Three Months

Ended June 30,



Six Months

Ended June 30,




2012



2011



2012



2011


Net sales


$

83,221,544



$

83,453,372



$

195,260,160



$

184,764,468


Cost of sales



68,653,106




68,828,405




161,636,596




152,044,021


Gross profit



14,568,438




14,624,967




33,623,564




32,720,447



















Operating expenses:

















Selling expenses



12,417,898




12,749,493




27,548,786




25,286,696


General and administrative expenses



2,089,501




1,946,466




4,465,275




4,150,083


Total operating expenses



14,507,399




14,695,959




32,014,061




29,436,779



















Income (loss) from operations



61,039




(70,992)




1,609,503




3,283,668




































Non-operating income (expense):

















Interest income



78,243




163,762




104,771




453,385


Interest expense



(101,739)




-




(395,648)




(31,100)


Total non-operating income (expense)



(23,496)




163,762




(290,877)




422,285



















Income before income taxes



37,543




92,770




1,318,626




3,705,953



















Income taxes



27,932




125,637




478,414




1,151,691



















Net income (loss)


$

9,611



$

(32,867)



$

840,212



$

2,554,262



















Comprehensive income statement:

















Net income (loss)


$

9,611



$

(32,867)



$

840,212



$

2,554,262


Foreign currency translation adjustment



88,676




1,784,806




951,153




2,362,436


Comprehensive income


$

98,287



$

1,751,939



$

1,791,365



$

4,916,698



















Weighted average number of shares outstanding:

















Basic*



10,500,251




9,918,362




10,474,368




9,923,928


Diluted*



12,346,437




9,918,362




12,346,552




12,346,380



















Earnings (losses) per share:

















Basic*


$

0.001



$

(0.003)



$

0.068



$

0.257


Diluted*


$

0.001



$

(0.003)



$

0.068



$

0.207


* The earnings (losses) per share data and the weighted average shares outstanding for all periods have been retroactively restated to reflect the 1-for-3 Reverse Stock Split effected on June 11, 2012.

QKL STORES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows



(Unaudited)




Six Months

Ended June 30,




2012



2011


CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:







Net income


$

840,212



$

2,554,262


Depreciation - property, plant and equipment



3,284,259




3,566,227


Amortization



14,448




15,249


Share-based compensation



432,316




432,316


Deferred income tax



33,418




(169,473)


Loss on disposal of fixed assets



6,142




-


Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:









Accounts receivable



13,166




(610,942)


Inventories



13,391,747




7,934,102


Other receivables



4,274,330




11,580,644


Prepaid expenses



1,036,426




(5,164)


Advances to suppliers



3,089,043




(598,759)


Accounts payable



(940,910)




(3,597,550)


Cash card and coupon liabilities



188,706




1,194,685


Customer deposits received



(496,420)




(310,921)


Accrued expenses and other payables



(2,718,441)




5,272,840


Income taxes payable



(54,310)




(1,284,241)


Net cash provided by operating activities



22,394,132




25,973,275











CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:









Purchases of property, plant and equipment



(2,354,873)




(7,775,089)


Decrease of restricted cash



-




41,960


Net cash used in investing activities



(2,354,873)




(7,733,129)











CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:









Bank loan repayment



(3,164,707)




-


Net cash used in financing activities



(3,164,707)




-











Effect of foreign currency translation



83,083




332,622











Net increase in cash



16,957,635




18,572,768


Cash - beginning of period



9,037,550




17,460,034


Cash - end of period


$

25,995,185



$

36,032,802











Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:









Interest paid


$

395,983



$

31,100


Income taxes paid


$

533,130



$

2,562,939


Source: QKL Stores Inc.
collection