-- First Quarter Revenue Increases 78.1% to $4.3 million
-- New Customers in Recently Acquired Exclusive-Right-Cities Contributes to Growth
BEIJING, May 19 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sino Gas International Holdings, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: SGAS; "Sino Gas" or the "Company"), a leading developer of natural gas distribution systems and distributor of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in niche markets in People's Republic of China, today announced its results for the first quarter of 2008 ended March 31, 2008.
Sales for the first quarter 2008 increased 78.1% to $4.3 million compared to $2.4 million for the same quarter in 2007. The improvement in revenue emanated from connection fees from new customers and per household gas sales for new and existing customers. During the first quarter, the Company connected 4,590 new households to its gas distribution network which resulted in total connection fees of $1.3 million for the quarter. Gas sales were 9.45 million cubic meters, or $3.0 million with 49% resulting from existing customers and 51% from new connections. By comparison, the Company connected 2,260 new residential households to its gas distribution network for the 3 months ended March 31st, 2007, which totaled $0.62 million respectively. As a reference point, 39,306 new residential households were connected during 2007.
Cost of goods for the three months ended March 31, 2008, which includes labor connection costs and costs per m3 of gas, from the main pipelines for resale was $3.0 million for the period. Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $1.4 million, an increase of approximately 127.5% from the first quarter of 2007. Gross margins were 31.5% compared to 24.6% for the first quarter of 2008 and 2007 respectively. The increase in gross profit was attributed to an increased number of high margin connection fees from new customer sales.
Operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased 104% to $1.0 million from $0.5 million in the same period in 2007 and general and administration expenses for the period increased to approximately $0.8 million from $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2007. The increases were due to the Company's six new subsidiaries incorporated in the second half of 2007 which resulted in increased payroll, benefits and travel expense in the first quarter.
Operating income for the first quarter of 2008 totaled $351,490 compared to $103,025 for the same period in 2007, a 241.2% increase. Operating margins were 8.1% and 4.2% for the first quarter of 2008 and 2007, respectively. Taxes during the quarter were $174,017 compared to $16,865 for the same period 2007. The reason behind the increased income tax expense is due to the adjustment of the Company's Enterprise Income Tax (EIT) rate prepayment rate from 7.5% in 2007 to 25% currently. In 2008, the Company's EIT is 25%.
Net income for the 2008 first quarter increased 29.4% to $0.15 million, representing earnings of $.007 per diluted share, from $0.12 million in net income, or $.004 per diluted share during the first quarter of 2007. Calculations were based utilizing 22 million and 28.7 million diluted shares outstanding respectively. The reason for the year over year decrease in shares utilized was diluted earnings per share was computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock plus the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method for warrants and the as-if method for convertible securities.
"Our strategic strength and value addresses the natural gas needs of typically un-served and newly developed provinces and cities which possess many of the same basic needs, including adequate natural gas supply," commented Yuchuan Liu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "In combination with Beijing's policy to support residential development in second and third tier cities, Sino Gas equally benefits from the policy as developers of land and REITS incorporate the necessary infrastructure for natural gas into the buildings. Our contractual and exclusive rights to the markets we serve provides a significant captive market, long term recurring revenue and the opportunity for significant future growth within the areas we service," concluded Mr. Liu.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Discussion
The Company had $8.0 million and $10.9 million in cash and equivalents as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 respectively. Accounts receivable decreased slightly to $6.2 million as of March 31, 2008, from $7.3 million as of December 31, 2008 due to improved collection efforts and a tighter credit policy.
About Sino Gas International Holdings, Inc.
The Company, through its indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary, Beijing Zhong Ran Wei Ye Gas Co., Ltd. ("Beijing Gas"), and the subsidiaries of Beijing Gas, is a leading developer of natural gas distribution systems in small and medium size cities in China, as well as a distributor of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers in China. The Company owns and operates 24 natural gas distribution systems serving approximately 93,700 residential and eight commercial and industrial customers. Facilities include approximately 700 kilometers of pipeline and delivery networks with a designed daily capacity of approximately 70,000 cubic meters of natural gas. Beijing Gas owns and operates natural gas distribution systems in Hebei, Jilin, Jiangsu and Shandong Provinces. The Company's website is: http://www.sino-gas.com .
Safe Harbor Statement:
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the Company's ability to raise additional capital to finance the Company's activities; the effectiveness, profitability, and the marketability of its products; the ability of the Company to identify attractive acquisition candidates and close on acquisitions; the period of time for which its current liquidity will enable the Company to fund its operations; the Company's ability to protect its proprietary information; general economic and business conditions; the volatility of the Company's operating results and financial condition; the Company's ability to attract or retain qualified senior management personnel and research and development staff; and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the companies and the industry. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or to changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they cannot assure you that their expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.
- FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW -
SINO GAS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF MARCH 31, 2008 AND DECEMBER 31, 2007
(Stated in US Dollars)
3/31/2008 12/31/2007
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash & cash equivalents $ 8,021,212 $ 10,915,590
Restricted cash 664,061 478,920
Notes receivable 586,710 825,119
Accounts receivable 6,162,418 7,315,253
Inventory 246,891 207,976
Advances to suppliers 1,041,556 27,372
Prepayments and others 465,669 320,380
Other receivables 9,849,587 3,100,695
Total Current Assets 27,038,104 23,191,305
Non-Current Assets
Investment 2,703,156 4,007,310
Property, plant & equipment, net 26,852,967 24,572,565
Construction in progress 12,830,941 11,556,820
Intangible assets, net 2,112,337 2,028,250
Total non-current assets 44,499,401 42,164,945
TOTAL ASSETS $ 71,537,505 $ 65,356,250
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Bank Loans $ 7,120,276 $ 2,734,444
Accounts payable 1,417,807 716,707
Other payables 9,715,659 10,383,657
Unearned revenue 640,615 312,573
Accrued liabilities 41,428 362,263
Total current liabilities 18,935,785 14,509,644
TOTAL LIABILITIES STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY $ 18,935,785 $ 14,509,644
Preferred Stock A US $0.001 par
value; 20,000,000 shares authorized;
275,111 shares issued and outstanding as
of March 31, 2008 and December
31, 2007 $ 275 $ 275
Preferred Stock B US $0.001 par
value; 5,000,000 shares authorized;
4,971,859 shares issued and outstanding
as of March 31, 2008 and December
31, 2007 4,972 4,972
Common Stock US $0.001 par value;
250,000,000 shares authorized;
25,282,380 shares issued and
outstanding as of March 31, 2008
and December 31, 2007 25,283 25,283
Additional Paid in Capital 35,247,303 35,247,303
Statutory Reserve 3,481,730 3,258,201
Retained Earnings 10,358,228 10,432,430
Accumulated Other Comprehensive
Income 3,483,929 1,878,142
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 52,601,720 50,846,606
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 71,537,505 $ 65,356,250
SINO GAS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated in US Dollars)
3/31/2008 3/31/2007
Net Sales
Revenues $ 4,342,117 $ 2,438,227
Cost of revenues (2,975,472) (1,837,630)
Gross Profit 1,366,645 600,597
Operating Expenses
Selling and marketing expenses (181,704) (56,198)
General & administrative expenses (833,451) (441,374)
Total operating expenses (1,015,155) (497,572)
Operating Income/(Loss) 351,490 103,025
Other Income (Expenses)
Other income -- 36,088
Other expenses (845) (1,495)
Interest income 33,166 --
Interest expense (60,467) (5,370)
Total other income (expense) (28,146) 29,223
Earnings before tax 323,344 132,248
Income tax (174,017) (16,865)
Net income $ 149,327 $ 115,383
Earnings per share
Basic 0.009 0.008
Diluted 0.007 0.004
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Basic 17,165,894 14,730,597
Diluted 22,017,096 28,724,652
SINO GAS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2008 AND 2007
(Stated in US Dollars)
3/31/2008 3/31/2007
Cash flow from operating activities
Net Income $ 149,327 $ 115,383
Depreciation expense 640,248 38,844
Amortization expense 29,532 --
Invested in restricted time deposits (185,141) 3,124,541
Decrease/(increase) in accounts receivable (5,357,649) 310,419
Increase in inventory (38,915) --
Increase in prepaid expenses (831,430) --
Increase in accounts payable (287,733) 3,023,295
Cash sourced/(used) in operating activities (5,881,761) 6,612,482
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash received for investment sales proceeds 1,304,154 --
Cash paid for investment and acquisition -- (930,801)
Purchase of property, plant & equipment (2,920,649) (3,320,688)
Purchase of intangible assets (113,620) (172,210)
Increase in construction in progress (1,274,121) (1,345,436)
Cash sourced/(used) in investing activities (3,004,236) (5,769,135)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from bank borrowings 4,385,832 (2,430,445)
Cash sourced/(used) in financing activities 4,385,832 (2,430,445)
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash & Cash
Equivalents for the Year (4,500,165) (1,587,098)
Effect of Currency Translation on cash and
cash equivalents 1,605,787 293,589
Cash & Cash Equivalents - Beginning of
Year $ 10,915,590 $ 3,638,673
Cash & Cash Equivalents - End of Year $ 8,021,212 $ 2,345,164
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest received $ 33,166 $ 94,653
Interest paid 60,467 43,617
Income tax paid -- 16,865
For more information, please contact:
Yong Zhang, CFO
Zhou Jiang, IR Director
Sino Gas International Holdings, Inc.
Tel: +86-10-8260-0527
Email: Jiangzhou@sino-gas.com
Investor Relations
Matthew Hayden
HC International, Inc.
Tel: +1-858-704-5065
Email: matt@haydenir.com