China Precision Steel Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2014 Results

SHANGHAI, Feb. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- China Precision Steel, Inc. (NASDAQ: CPSL) ("China Precision Steel" or the "Company"), a niche precision steel processing Company principally engaged in producing and selling high precision, cold-rolled steel products, announced today its fiscal year 2014 second quarter results for the period ended December 31, 2013. 

Second Quarter Highlights

• Revenue was $11.9 million
• Gross loss was $5.1 million
• Net loss was $13.0 million
• Fully diluted loss per shares was $3.34
• International sales were $0.2 million, or 2% of total sales

"We experienced an increase in demand for our high-carbon, hot-rolled steel in the second quarter as sales volume for the segment increased to 5,448 tons from 142 tons in the same period a year ago.  However, as we ramped up production of high-carbon, hot-rolled steel used in automobile components, we scaled back production of our low-carbon, cold-rolled steel due to the rising cost of our raw material during the end of the year," commented Mr. Hai Sheng Chen, CEO of China Precision Steel. "We anticipate the price of steel will remain high in the near-term as China's steel industry adjusts to the closing of high polluting steel plants."

Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal year 2014 was $11.9 million, up 45.3% from revenue of $8.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2013.  The increase in revenue was mainly attributable to the increase in production and sales of high-carbon products as a result of increased marketing and sales to the automobile industry.  Sequentially, revenue increased 0.9% from revenue of $11.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014.  Total sales volume in the second quarter of fiscal year 2014 was 15,036 tons, up from total sales volume of 10,705 tons in the prior period.  High carbon and low carbon sales accounted for 66.9% and 26.8% of total sales, respectively, compared to 32.4% and 65.6%, respectively, period-on-period.  Exports represented 2% of total sales for the current period, compared to 10% in the same period a year ago. 

Gross loss in the second quarter was $5.1 million, compared to gross loss of $1.3 million in the same period a year ago.  Gross loss margin for the current period was 43.2%, compared to a gross loss margin of 15.9% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013.  The increase in gross loss margin is due to a 27.8% period-on-period increase in average cost per unit sold as a result of a spike in steel prices due to an expectation of a reduction in steel produced during the quarter. 

Selling expenses for the second quarter of fiscal year 2014 were $49,583, compared to $25,063 in the second quarter of fiscal year 2013. The increase in selling expenses was primarily attributable to higher transportation costs and traveling expenses period-on-period.  Administrative expenses were $303,617, or 2.6% of revenue, compared to $401,797, or 4.9% of revenue period-on-period.  The decrease in administrative expenses was primarily due to a decrease in traveling expenses and legal and professional fees period-on-period. 

Operating loss for the current quarter was $12.0 million, compared to an operating loss of $10.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2013.

Net loss for the second quarter of fiscal year 2014 was $13.0 million, compared to net loss of $10.9 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2013.  Fully diluted loss per share was $3.34, compared to fully diluted loss per share of $2.80 in the same period a year ago. 

Six Months Financial Results

Revenue for the first six months of fiscal year 2014 increased 67.3% to $23.6 million from $14.1 million in the same period a year ago.  Gross loss was $8.1 million, compared to a gross loss of $2.8 million for the six months of fiscal year 2013.  Gross loss margin for the six months ended December 31, 2013 was 34.4% compared to 19.6% for the same period a year ago.  Operating loss was $20.7 million compared to $13.9 million in the first six months of fiscal year 2013.  Net loss was $22.5 million, compared to a net loss of $15.1 million in the same period a year ago.  Fully diluted loss per share was $5.81, compared to fully diluted loss per share of $3.89 for the first six months of fiscal year 2013. 

Financial Condition

As of December 31, 2013, China Precision Steel had $135,219 in cash and cash equivalents, $80.8 million in total liabilities and stockholders' equity stood at $30.8 million.  Net cash generated from operations was $478,410.

Business Outlook

China Precision Steel has been working on improving cash flow and intends to stay conservative in regards to managing its balance sheet.  The Company is also collaborating with one of its steel suppliers and a customer to develop new steel products using its high quality steel.  As of December 31, 2013, China Precision Steel had a backlog of $3.6 million.

"The steel industry remains under a lot of pressure as the government is aggressively working to reduce the high amount of pollution the industry creates which has resulted in a temporary imbalance in supply and demand.  During the last two months of 2013, the government began to shut down high polluting mills in the province of Hebei, the region where a quarter of China's steel is produced," Mr. Chen continued.  "Subsequently, steel prices spiked on expectations steel output will experience a short term drop off in production.  We anticipate the imbalance will be resolved within the first half of the year as larger more efficient mills ramp up production.  In the meantime, we are working on strengthening our cash flow, expanding our sales for our high-carbon steel products and minimizing our gross loss by focusing on higher margin products."

Forward-Looking Statements

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the likelihood that the downturn in China's steel industry has halted and that the industry will experience a turnaround and increased demand; the significance of China's implementation of pro-growth measures and the likelihood that it will start benefitting the domestic steel industry; the Company's ability to reduce operating costs, improve working capital and increase profitability, and any other statements of non-historical information. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs but they involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, such as business conditions in China, weather and natural disasters, changing interpretations of generally accepted accounting principles; outcomes of government reviews; inquiries and investigations and related litigation; continued compliance with government regulations; legislation or regulatory environments, requirements or changes adversely affecting the businesses in which China Precision Steel is engaged; cyclicality of steel consumption including overcapacity and decline in steel prices, limited availability of raw material and energy may constrain operating levels and reduce profit margins, environmental compliance and remediation could result in increased cost of capital as well as other relevant risks not included herein. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations. 

Elite IR
Leslie J. Richardson, Partner
+852-3183 0283
[email protected]

– Financial Tables Follow –

SOURCE China Precision Steel Inc.

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