-- 2Q09 Gross Margin Increased 130 Basis Points YoY to 28.3% --
ZHEJIANG, China, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- SORL Auto Parts, Inc. (Nasdaq: SORL) ("SORL" or "The Company"), a leading manufacturer and distributor of commercial vehicle air brake valves as well as related auto parts in China, announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.
Prior to the implementation of the China III emission standard beginning on July 1, 2008, demand for commercial vehicles equipped with China II engines was significantly enhanced in the first half of 2008. This resulted in higher than usual output and sales volume of commercial vehicles in the first and second quarter of 2008, distorting year over year comparisons. SORL provides both year over year and sequential comparisons when discussing its second quarter 2009 financial performance.
Gross profit for the second quarter of 2009 was $8.4 million, a 26.2% decrease compared to $11.4 million in the same period of 2008 and a 52.8% increase compared to the first quarter of 2009. Gross margin in the second quarter of 2009 increased 130 basis points to 28.3% from 27.0% in the same period of 2008 and 27.2% in the first quarter of 2009. The increase in gross margin was primarily the result of increasing management efficiency, improving the technologies of products, and SORL’s continued market expansion with new, higher profit valve products.
Operating income in the second quarter of 2009 was $4.1 million, a 26.3% decrease compared to $5.5 million in the same period of 2008 and a 197% increase compared to the first quarter of 2009. Operating margin increased 60 basis points to 13.7% for the second quarter 2009 from 13.1% in the same period of 2008 as a result of the increase in sales gross margin, offset by the increase in operating expenses as a percent of revenue. In the second quarter of 2009, operating margin increased 690 basis points from 6.8% in the first quarter of 2009 as a result of stronger sales.
Net income attributable to stockholders for the second quarter of 2009 was $3.0 million or $0.16 per diluted share, a 36.7% decrease compared to $4.7 million, or $0.26 per share in the same period of 2008 and a 217% increase compared to the first quarter of 2009.
"Year over year comparisons in the second quarter of 2009 reflected challenging conditions for SORL," said Xiaoping Zhang, SORL Auto Parts’ CEO and Chairman. "Sales growth in China and internationally was negatively affected by difficult global economic conditions and year over year comparisons were made more difficult in the first half of 2009 because of government regulations enacted in 2008. In response to the implementation of the China III emission standard beginning July 1, 2008, sales of trucks equipped with China II engines accelerated in the first half of the year before the policy was enforced."
Mr. Zhang continued, "Looking at SORL’s financial performance on a sequential basis, we experienced significant improvement. Sales increased 46.9% between the first and second quarter of 2009. Gross profit increased 52.8% between the first and second quarter of 2009 and operating income increased 197%. Net income increased 217% between the first and second quarter of 2009.
"We believe that global economic conditions are showing signs of stabilization and we remain confident in the long-term viability of China’s auto market and SORL’s business plan. The Chinese government’s stimulus plan has already induced increased demand in the auto market, which we believe will boost our performance in the second half of this year. The stabilizing market is already having a positive impact on our sales, reflected in improved sales performance in the second quarter of 2009 and so far in the third quarter of 2009.
"We continue to invest in research and development to fund exciting new products for these market segments. The financial position of our company remains solid, with $15.8 million of cash on the balance sheet and no long-term debt, and we generated $5.4 million of cash flow from operations during the quarter."
Conference Call
Management will host a conference call at 8:30 am ET, on Thursday, August 13, 2009 to discuss its second quarter 2009 financial results. Listeners may access the call by dialing #1-888-668-1638 or #1-913-312-1495 for international callers. A live webcast of the conference call will also be available at http://www.sorl.cn .
A replay of the call will be available from August 13, 2009 to August 20, 2009. Listeners may access the replay by dialing #1-888-203-1112 or #1-719-457-0820 for international callers; pin number: 4220704.
About SORL Auto Parts, Inc.
As China’s leading manufacturer and distributor of automotive air brake valves, SORL Auto Parts, Inc. ranks first in market share in the segment for commercial vehicles weighing more than three tons, such as trucks and buses. The Company distributes products both within China and internationally under the SORL trademark. SORL ranks among the top 100 auto component suppliers in China, with a product range that includes 40 types of air brake valves and over 1000 different specifications. The Company has four authorized international sales centers in Australia, United Arab Emirates, India, and the United States, with additional offices slated to open in other locations in the near future. For more information, please visit http://www.sorl.cn .
Safe Harbor Statement
SORL Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008
30-Jun-09 31-Dec-08
(Unaudited) (Audited)
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents US$ 15,762,830 US$ 7,795,987
Accounts Receivable, Net of
Provision 40,764,983 35,797,824
Notes Receivable 8,120,653 7,536,534
Inventory 16,246,168 19,105,845
Prepayments, including $0 and
$187,813 to related parties
at June 30, 2009 and December
31, 2008, respectively 1,568,450 1,013,440
Other current assets,
including $41,042 and
$1,906,070 to related parties
at June 30, 2009 and December
31, 2008, respectively 562,310 4,445,778
Total Current Assets 83,025,394 75,695,408
Fixed Assets
Property, Plant and Equipment 33,494,523 32,927,306
Less: Accumulated Depreciation -10,247,047 -8,951,886
Property, Plant and Equipment,
Net 23,247,476 23,975,420
Leasehold Improvements In
Progress 465,620 --
Land Use Rights, Net 14,355,711 14,514,983
Other Assets
Deferred compensation cost-
stock options -- 9,935
Intangible Assets 161,411 161,347
Less: Accumulated Amortization -46,692 -39,018
Intangible Assets, Net 114,719 122,329
Deferred tax assets 531,512 189,228
Total Other Assets 646,231 321,492
Total Assets US$121,740,432 US$114,507,303
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable and Notes
Payable, including
$1,570,913 and $0 to
related parties at June 30,
2009 and December 31, 2008,
respectively US$ 5,487,114 US$ 4,623,850
Deposit Received from
Customers 6,435,620 6,295,857
Income tax payable 1,281,330 340,138
Accrued Expenses 3,302,262 2,389,314
Other Current Liabilities 371,389 460,124
Total Current Liabilities 16,877,715 14,109,283
Non-Current Liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities 149,616 106,826
Total Liabilities 17,027,331 14,216,109
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred Stock - No Par
Value; 1,000,000 authorized;
none issued and outstanding
as of June 30, 2009 and
December 31, 2008 -- --
Common Stock - $0.002 Par
Value; 50,000,000 authorized,
18,279,254 issued and
outstanding as of
June 30, 2009 and December 31,
2008 36,558 36,558
Additional Paid In Capital 37,498,452 37,498,452
Reserves 3,521,246 3,126,086
Accumulated other
comprehensive income 10,885,312 10,848,248
Retained Earnings 42,321,182 38,774,684
Total SORL Auto Parts, Inc.
Stockholders’ Equity 94,262,750 90,284,028
Noncontrolling Interest In
Subsidiaries 10,450,351 10,007,166
Total Equity 104,713,101 100,291,194
Total Liabilities and
Stockholders’ Equity US$121,740,432 US$114,507,303
SORL Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
For The Three Months and Six Months Ended June 30,2009 and 2008
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
Sales US$ 29,740,212 42,186,119 49,983,950 72,844,561
Include: sales to
related parties 64,179 1,004,231 201,611 1,822,149
Cost of Sales 21,318,699 30,776,773 36,049,624 52,793,354
Gross Profit 8,421,513 11,409,346 13,934,326 20,051,207
Expenses:
Selling and
Distribution Expenses 2,060,718 2,771,803 3,378,452 4,611,078
General and
Administrative
Expenses 2,273,064 2,718,217 5,065,813 4,694,418
Financial Expenses 9,129 383,320 38,091 752,996
Total Expenses 4,342,911 5,873,340 8,482,356 10,058,492
Operating Income 4,078,602 5,536,006 5,451,970 9,992,715
Other Income 176,244 222,762 215,461 333,840
Non-Operating Expenses -11,002 -175,785 -14,616 -254,963
Income (Loss) Before
Provision for Income
Taxes 4,243,844 5,582,983 5,652,815 10,071,592
Provision for Income
Taxes 914,125 318,757 1,272,091 882,231
Net Income US$ 3,329,719 5,264,226 4,380,724 9,189,361
Other Comprehensive
Income (Loss)- Foreign
Currency Translation
Adjustment 60,385 2,110,749 41,183 5,470,639
Total Comprehensive
Income 3,390,104 7,374,975 4,421,907 14,660,000
Less:
Net income Attributable
to Non-controlling
Interest In
Subsidiaries 332,972 527,929 439,066 921,948
Other Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Attributable to Non-
controlling Interest’s
Share 6,039 211,075 4,119 547,064
Total Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Attributable to Non-
controlling Interest’s
Share 339,011 739,004 443,185 1,469,012
Net Income Attributable
to Stockholders 2,996,747 4,736,297 3,941,658 8,267,413
Other Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Attributable to
Stockholders 54,346 1,899,674 37,064 4,923,575
Total Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Attributable to
Stockholders 3,051,093 6,635,971 3,978,722 13,190,988
Weighted average common
share - Basic 18,279,254 18,279,254 18,279,254 18,279,254
Weighted average common
share - Diluted 18,279,254 18,287,764 18,279,254 18,288,958
EPS - Basic 0.16 0.26 0.22 0.45
EPS - Diluted 0.16 0.26 0.22 0.45
