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8-K - CURRENT REPORT - QKL Stores Inc.v407344_8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

QKL Stores Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Financial Results

 

Daqing, China, April 15, 2014 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 fourth quarter and full year financial results ended December 31, 2014.

 

Mr. Zhuangyi Wang, Chairman and CEO, said, “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 2015 and believe we’ll see an improvement in operating expenses and profit growth in coming quarters.

 

“In 2014, we closed one store and opened five stores. As of December 31, 2014, we operated 26 supermarkets, 18 hypermarkets, 4 department stores and 5 distribution centers situated in Daqing, Harbin Changchun and Jiamusi, respectively.

 

As we advance into 2015, we expect to open two new supermarket or hypermarket stores this year. We maintain confidence in our strategy of strengthening our store presence in Tier 4 and 5 cities in northeastern China as well as in our core region of operation around Daqing where the majority of our older stores are based.”

 

Fourth Quarter 2014 Financial Results

Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2014 increased by 12.3% to $75.8 million from $67.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. Comparable stores are stores that were opened for at least one year before the beginning of the comparison period, or by October 1, 2013. Those 43 stores generated approximately $66.8 million in sales in the fourth quarter of 2014, representing a decrease of $0.2 million, or 0.3% compared with $67.0 million in sales in fiscal 2013. New store sales increased, reflecting the opening of five new stores since October 1, 2013. These stores generated approximately $9.0 million in sales in the fiscal 2014.

 

Gross profit increased by 10.4% year over year to $12.7 million, compared to $11.5 million in the prior year period. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue for the fourth quarter of 2014 was 16.8%, compared to 17.0% for the fourth quarter of 2013. The decrease was due to the increasing competition in the online shopping.

 

Operating expenses increased by 42.2% to $24.6 million compared to $17.3 million in the prior year period. This was primarily a result of our significant recognition of the preliminary expenses and related new stores expenses in the fourth quarter of 2014. We did not open any new store in fiscal 2013.

 

We had a net loss of $14.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared with net loss of $11.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.

 

Full Year 2014 Financial Results

Revenue decreased by $8.2 million, or 2.9%, to $274.6 million for fiscal 2014 from $282.8 million for fiscal 2013. The change in net sales was primarily attributable to the following: comparable stores are stores that were opened for at least one year before the beginning of the comparison period, or by January 1, 2013. Those 43 stores generated approximately $252.9 million sales in fiscal 2014, a decrease of $20.1 million, or 7.4% compared with $273.0 million sales in fiscal 2013. New store sales increased, reflecting the opening of five new stores since January 1, 2013. These stores generated approximately $19.0 million in sales in the fiscal 2014.

 

Gross profit, or total revenue minus cost of sales, was decreased by $2.0 million, or4.1%, to $46.4 million, or 16.9% of net sales, in fiscal 2014 from $48.4 million, or 17.1% of net sales, in fiscal 2013. The change in gross profit was primarily attributable to net sales decreased by $8.2 million in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013.

 

Selling expenses increased by $11.8 million, or 25.2%, to $58.7 million, or 21.4% of net sales, in fiscal 2014 from $46.9 million, or 16.6% of net sales, in fiscal 2013. The change in selling expense was mainly due to the increase in the new stores in 2014. In particular, we incurred $5.5 million of preliminary expense, and $4.4 million of other additional expenses, including salaries, depreciation rental, utility and advertising in fiscal 2014. We did not open any new store in fiscal 2013.

 

We had a net loss of $27.0 million in fiscal 2014 compared with net loss of $14.3 million in fiscal 2013. The number of shares used in the computation of diluted EPS increased by 0.2% to 1,522,326 shares in fiscal 2014 from 1,519,258 shares in fiscal 2013.

 

 

 
 

 

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

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

   December
31, 2014
   December
31, 2013
 
           
ASSETS          
Cash  $9,013,006   $9,245,212 
Restricted cash   8,623,748    8,668,882 
Accounts receivable   949,211    557,745 
Inventories   62,605,754    64,724,923 
Other receivables   21,375,611    21,979,152 
Prepaid expenses   12,114,028    9,915,479 
Advances to suppliers   8,653,037    7,822,660 
Income taxes receivables   -    1,739,773 
Deferred income tax assets – current portion   2,839,714    2,788,918 
           
Total current assets   126,174,109    127,442,744 
Property, plant equipment, net   37,843,171    40,247,576 
Land use rights, net   684,375    718,337 
Deferred income tax assets – non-current portion   61,681    66,956 
Other assets   11,880    17,276 
           
Total assets  $164,775,216   $168,492,889 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Short term bank loans   60,201,757    40,889,761 
Accounts payable   37,206,633    35,840,964 
Cash card and coupon liabilities   14,539,728    18,465,030 
Customer deposits received   2,005,136    984,308 
Accrued expenses and other payables   23,147,611    18,827,472 
Income taxes payable   241,189    - 
           
Total current liabilities   137,342,054    115,007,535 
Warrant liabilities   -    - 
           
Total liabilities   137,342,054    115,007,535 
           
Commitments and contingencies   -    - 
           
Shareholders’ equity          
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share, authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 1,522,326 and 1,522,326 shares at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 respectively   1,522    1,522 
Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $0.01, authorized 10,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 529,412 and 529,412 shares at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013   5,294    5,294 
Additional paid-in capital   93,746,014    93,337,957 
Retained earnings – appropriated   8,338,153    8,329,586 
Retained earnings   (89,116,190)   (62,145,794)
Accumulated other comprehensive income   14,458,369    13,956,789 
           
Total shareholders’ equity   27,433,162    53,485,354 
           
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $164,775,216   $168,492,889 

 

 

 
 

  

QKL STORES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2014   2013 
         
Net sales  $274,636,920   $282,790,433 
Cost of sales   228,215,577    234,421,906 
Gross profit   46,421,343    48,368,527 
           
Operating expenses:          
Selling expenses   58,724,799    46,854,916 
General and administrative expenses   8,879,070    10,384,659 
Total operating expenses   67,603,869    57,239,575 
           
Loss from operations   (21,182,526)   (8,871,048)
           
           
Non-operating income(expense):          
Interest income   622,988    441,718 
Interest expense   (4,436,526)   (1,386,810)
Total non-operating income   (3,813,538)   (945,092)
           
Loss before income tax   (24,996,064)   (9,816,140)
           
Income taxes   1,965,765    4,481,672 
           
Net loss  $(26,961,829)  $(14,297,812)

 

Comprehensive loss statement: 

          
           
Net loss   (26,961,829)   (14,297,812)
Foreign currency translation adjustment   501,580    1,406,689 
           
Comprehensive loss  $(26,460,249)  $(12,891,123)
 
*Basic earnings per share of common stock
  $(17.71)  $(9.41)
*Diluted earnings per share  $(17.71)  $(9.41)

*Weighted average shares used in calculating net income per ordinary share – basic   1,522,326    1,519,258 
*Weighted average shares used in calculating net income per ordinary share – diluted   1,522,326    1,519,258 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

QKL STORES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2014   2013 
         
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:          
Net loss  $(26,961,829)  $(14,297,812)
Depreciation-property, plant and equipment   4,942,830    6,502,288 
Amortization   30,223    29,968 
Deferred income tax   (60,393)   3,631,238 
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment   1,205,657    2,850 
Share-based compensation   408,057    816,468 
(Reversal)/provision on inventory, other receivables and sales return   (378,576)   518,453 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Accounts receivable   (394,389)   261,888 
Inventories   1,761,003    (2,895,295)
Other receivables   880,698    (3,018,049)
Prepaid expenses   (2,250,285)   1,509,946 
Advances to suppliers   (871,150)   1,990,054 
Accounts payable   1,552,356    3,865,732 
Cash card and coupon liabilities   (3,829,348)   (743,884)
Customer deposits received   1,026,003    (301,087)
Accrued expenses and other payables   5,209,616    (10,898,312)
Income taxes payable   1,972,000    (1,718,925)
Net cash used in operating activities   (15,757,527)   (14,744,479)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Purchases of property, plant and equipment   (4,230,820)   (598,043)
Sales proceeds of fixed assets disposal   277,290    177,346 
Increase of restricted cash   -    (8,668,629)
Net cash used in investing activities   (3,953,530)   (9,089,326)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Bank repayment   (40,678,849)   (16,133,794)
Bank borrowings   60,204,696    40,334,486 
Net cash provided by financing activities   19,525,847    24,200,692 
           
Net (decrease)/increase in cash   (185,210)   366,887 
           
Effect of foreign currency translation   (46,996)   398,912 
           
Cash at beginning of period   9,245,212    8,479,413 
Cash at end of period  $9,013,006   $9,245,212 
           
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:          
Interest paid   4,436,526    1,386,810 
Income taxes (received)/paid  $(45,196)  $999,271