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8-K - QKL Stores Inc.v222819_8k.htm
 
Exhbit 99.1
 
QKL Stores Inc. Announces First Quarter 2011 Financial Results

-- 1Q11 Revenue Increased 24.1% to $101.3 million from $81.6 million in 1Q10--
-- 1Q11 Gross Profit Increased 24.6% to $18.1 million from $14.5 million in 1Q10 –

Daqing, China, May 16, 2011 – QKL Stores Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: QKLS), a leading regional supermarket chain in Northeastern China, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011.

Mr. Zhuangyi Wang, Chairman and CEO, said, “We made a lot of progress in the first quarter with our store opening activity.  The opening of six new stores in the first quarter was our most active store opening quarter to date.  We have since opened another five stores in April which brings us close to completing our plan to open twelve new stores for the year.  While this has resulted in higher pre-opening expenses, we believe we are setting the stage for increased top and bottom line growth in the coming quarters.  We finished the first quarter operating a total of 49 stores, comprised of 33 supermarkets, 13 hypermarkets and 3 department stores.  As our new store opening plan slows for the remainder of the year, particularly in the second half, we expect our profitability to improve as we benefit from our new store sales, increased same store sales at existing stores and reduced store opening and promotional expenses.”

“We were also pleased with the improvement of our operating cash flows in the first quarter due to a reduction in inventory after the peak Chinese New Year season and a decrease in other receivables attributable to cash recovery from our vendors after the busy holiday season.  We are pleased with our execution in the first quarter and are setting the stage for increased top and bottom line growth in the coming quarters.”

First Quarter 2011 Financial Results
Revenue in the first quarter of 2011 increased 24.1% to $101.3 million from $81.6 million in the first quarter of 2010.  Revenue performance reflected the growth of 34 comparable stores, which are stores that have been open for at least one year before the beginning of the comparison period, or by January 1, 2010, as well as sales from the opening of 15 new stores since January1, 2010.  Same-store sales were approximately $84.1 million in the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 8.5% from $77.5 million in the first quarter of 2010.The 15 new stores opened since January 1, 2010 generated approximately $17.2 million in the first quarter of 2011.

Gross profit increased 24.6% year over year to $18.1 million, compared to $14.5 million in the prior year period.  Gross margin for the first quarter of 2011 was 17.9%, compared to 17.8% for the first quarter of 2010.  The increase in gross profit was primarily attributable to the increase in net sales over the prior year period.
 
Operating expenses increased 63.2% to $14.7 million compared to $9.0 million in the prior year period.
This was primarily a result of additional salary, rent and utility expenses, the hiring of more employees, and other operating costs related to the Company’s increased store count over the past year as well as from pre-opening expenses from six new stores opened in the 2011 first quarter. Operating income was $3.4 million, or 3.3% of sales, from $5.5 million, or 6.7% of total sales, in the first quarter of 2010.
 
 
 

 

First quarter 2011 net income was approximately $2.6 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared with $11.9 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the same period in 2010. Excluding changes in the fair value of warrants, adjusted net income for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $2.6 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared to $4.1 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, in the period prior year.
 
As of March 31, 2011, the Company had $41.1 million in unrestricted cash, compared to $46.5 million as of March 31, 2010 and no debt or bank loans.

As of March 31, 2011, the Company operated 49 stores totaling 260,000 sq. meters compared to 38 stores totaling 164,000  sq. meters in the prior year period.  The Company opened 6 new store locations in the first quarter of 2011.

The number of weighted average shares outstanding used in the computation of diluted EPS (excluding the fair value of the warrants) decreased 8.2% to 37.0 million in the first quarter 2011 from 40.4 million in the first quarter 2010.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the 2011 first quarter was $25.5 million compared to $1.5 million in the prior year period. The increase in cash provided by operating activities primarily reflects net cash inflow caused by the decrease of inventories, and decrease of other receivables. The decrease of inventories was caused by reducing the inventory 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
The Company will conduct a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2011 results on Monday, May 16, 2011 at 9:00 am ET. Listeners may access the call by dialing #1-719-325-2455. To listen to the live webcast of the event, please go to http://www.viavid.net.  Listeners may access the call replay, which will be available through May 23, by dialing #1-858-384-5517; conference ID: 8096663.

About QKL Stores Inc.:

Based in Daqing, China, QKL Stores, Inc. is a leading regional supermarket chain company operating in Northeastern China. 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:
ICR, Inc.
 
In U.S.:
Mike Li, Investor Relations
Bill Zima
+86-459-460-7987
+1-203-682-8233

 
 

 
 
(Financial Tables on Following Pages)
QKL STORES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Income Statements


   
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Net sales
 
$
101,311,096
   
$
81,606,113
 
Cost of sales
   
83,215,616
     
67,079,999
 
Gross profit
   
18,095,480
     
14,526,114
 
                 
Operating expenses:
               
Selling expenses
   
12,537,203
     
6,866,038
 
General and administrative expenses
   
2,203,617
     
2,167,258
 
Total operating expenses
   
14,740,820
     
9,033,296
 
                 
Income from operations
   
3,354,660
     
5,492,818
 
                 
Non-operating income (expense):
               
(Increase) decrease in fair value of warrants
   
-
     
7,801,649
 
Interest income
   
289,622
     
146,938
 
Interest expense
   
31,100
     
-
 
Total non-operating income
   
258,522
     
7,948,587
 
                 
Income before income taxes
   
3,613,182
     
13,441,405
 
                 
Income taxes
   
1,026,054
     
1,558,554
 
                 
Net income
 
$
2,587,128
   
$
11,882,851
 
                 
Comprehensive income statement:
               
Net income
 
$
2,587,128
   
$
11,882,851
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
   
577,630
     
(128,127
Comprehensive income statement
 
$
3,164,758
   
$
11,754,724
 
                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
               
Basic
   
29,768,444
     
29,558,976
 
Diluted
   
37,039,139
     
40,356,404
 
                 
Earnings per share:
               
                 
Basic
 
$
0.09
   
$
0.40
 
Diluted
 
$
0.07
   
$
0.29
 
 
 
 

 

QKL STORES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets

 
   
March 31, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
Cash
  $ 41,097,024     $ 17,460,034  
Restricted cash
    56,231       77,205  
Accounts receivable
    725,633       167,509  
Inventories
    36,352,254       44,467,265  
Other receivables
    16,940,826       28,236,397  
Prepaid expenses
    6,593,806       5,088,825  
Advances to suppliers
    2,241,538       3,740,327  
Deferred income tax assets
    604,887       508,617  
                 
Total current assets
    104,612,199       99,746,179  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    28,021,579       24,792,149  
Land use rights, net
    756,495       748,533  
Goodwill
    44,142,196       43,863,929  
Other assets
    459,508       467,927  
                 
Total assets
  $ 177,991,977     $ 169,618,717  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Accounts payable
  $ 38,966,162     $ 38,944,917  
Cash card and coupon liabilities
    13,530,112       10,814,546  
Customer deposits received
    1,048,743       1,495,059  
Accrued expenses and other payables
    12,550,831       9,883,282  
Income taxes payable
    2,400,231       2,365,931  
                 
Total current liabilities
    68,496,079       63,503,735  
                 
Total liabilities
    68,496,079       63,503,735  
                 
Shareholders’ equity
               
Common stock, $.001 par value per share, authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 29,769,590 and 29,743,811 shares at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively
    29,770       29,744  
Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $0.01, authorized 10,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 7,269,549 and7,295,328 at March 31,2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively
    72,695       72,953  
Additional paid-in capital
    90,927,009       90,710,619  
Retained earnings – appropriated
    6,012,675       6,012,675  
Retained earnings
    4,681,978       2,094,850  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    7,771,771       7,194,141  
                 
Total shareholders’ equity
    109,495,898       106,114,982  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 177,991,977     $ 169,618,717  
 
 
 

 
 
QKL STORES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net income
 
$
2,587,128
   
$
11,882,851
 
Depreciation – property, plant and equipment
   
1,299,885
     
1,182,186
 
Amortization
   
7,433
     
6,793
 
Share-based compensation
   
216,158
     
570,222
 
Deferred income tax
   
(93,043
)
   
(106,549
)
Change in fair value of warrants
   
-
     
(7,801,649
)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Accounts receivable
   
(557,061)
     
106,019
 
Inventories
   
8,397,106
     
6,813,119
 
Other receivables
   
11,474,705
     
(6,000,627
)
Prepaid expenses
   
(1,472,177
   
524,309
 
Advances to suppliers
   
(281,833)
     
330,749
 
Accounts payable
   
(225,817
)
   
(4,047,174
)
Cash card and coupon liabilities
   
2,646,960
     
715,600
 
Customer deposits received
   
(455,801
)
   
(3,074,499
)
Accrued expenses and other payables
   
1,980,840
     
(413,901
)
Income taxes payable
   
19,291
     
781,347
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
25,543,774
     
1,468,796
 
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
   
(1,942,180
)
   
(888,146
)
Decrease of restricted cash
   
20,974
     
34,874
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(1,921,206
)
   
(853,272
)
                 
                 
Effect of foreign currency translation
   
14,422
     
800
 
                 
Net increase in cash
   
23,636,990
     
616,324
 
Cash – beginning of period
   
17,460,034
     
45,912,798
 
Cash – end of period
 
$
41,097,024
   
$
46,529,122
 
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Interest received
   
157,048
     
146,936
 
Interest paid
 
$
(31,100
 
$
-
 
Income taxes paid
   
991,754
     
964,883