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8-K - FORM 8-K - QKL Stores Inc.v378577_8k.htm

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

QKL Stores Inc. Announces First Quarter 2014 Financial Results

 

— 1Q14 Revenue Decreased by 11.4% to $86.0 million from $97.1 million in 1Q13—

— 1Q14 Gross Profit Decreased by 12.0% to $14.7 million from $16.6 million in 1Q13 –

 

Daqing, China, May 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 first quarter ended March 31, 2014.

 

Mr. Zhuangyi Wang, Chairman and CEO, said, “We opened two hypermarkets in the first quarter, and finished the first quarter operating a total of 47 stores, comprised of 27 supermarkets, 16 hypermarkets and 4 department stores. As our new store opening plan slows for 2014, the two more new stores are going to open in the second half of the year, we expect our profitability to improve as we benefit from our improving 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 2014 Financial Results

Revenue decreased by $11.1 million, or 11.4%, to $86.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 from $97.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Same store sales represents sales from stores that were opened for at least one year before the beginning of the comparison period, or by January 1, 2013. Same store (45 stores) sales generated approximately $81.8 million in sales in the first quarter of 2014, a decrease of $12.6 million, or 13.3% compared with $94.4 million in net sales in the first quarter of 2013. New store sales increased, reflecting the opening of two new stores since January 1, 2013. The stores generated approximately $4.2 million in sales in the first quarter of 2014. The number of stores including supermarkets/hypermarkets and department stores at March 31, 2014 was 47 versus 46 at March 31, 2013.

 

Gross profit decreased by $1.9 million, or 12.0%, to $14.7 million, or 17.1% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2014 from $16.6 million, or 17.1% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2013. The change in gross profit was primarily attributable to a decrease in net sales of $11.1 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013. We believe that our gross margin is likely to be between 16.8% and 17.3%, over the next few business quarters. New stores tend to be less profitable during their early months of operation. In addition, China’s retail industry in general, and its supermarket industry in particular, are becoming more competitive every year. In this competitive marketplace, it is likely that we will focus on providing our customers with low prices in order to increase our market share and long-term sales volume.

 

Selling expenses were $13.3 million, or 15.4% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2014, and $13.3 million, or 13.7% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2013. The change in selling expenses was immaterial in the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

 

 
 

 

Our net loss for the first three months of 2014 was $3.1 million, or $2.01 per diluted share, from net income of $0.4 million, or $0.27 per diluted share in the prior year period. The number of shares used in the computation of diluted EPS was 1,522,326 and 1,510,828 for the first three months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

At March 31, 2014, we had $30.2 million of cash compared to $32.5 million at March 31, 2013.

 

Conference Call

The Company will conduct a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2014 results on Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 8:30 am ET. Listeners may access the call by dialing #1-719-325-2455. To participate, please dial one of the local access numbers, listed below. The conference call identification number is 10014237.

 

Participant Dial In (Toll Free): 1-877-870-4263
   
Participant International: 1-412-317-0790
   
Canadian Dial In (Toll Free): 1-855-669-9657
   
China (N) Toll Free: 4001-201203
   
China (S) Toll Free: 4001-201203
   
Hong Kong Toll Free: 800-905945

 

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  

 

(Financial Tables on Following Pages)

 

 
 

 

QKL STORES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

   March 31,
2014
   December 31,
2013
 
   (Unaudited)     
ASSETS          
Cash  $30,202,971   $9,245,212 
Restricted cash   8,598,008    8,668,882 
Accounts receivable   313,906    557,745 
Inventories   53,880,184    64,724,923 
Other receivables   19,562,646    21,979,152 
Prepaid expenses   6,315,204    9,915,479 
Advances to suppliers   5,589,121    7,822,660 
Income taxes receivables   1,725,573    1,739,773 
Deferred income tax assets – current portion   2,765,569    2,788,918 
Total current assets   128,953,182    127,442,744 
Property, plant and equipment, net   38,365,069    40,247,576 
Land use rights, net   705,134    718,337 
Deferred income tax assets – non-current portion   66,956    66,956 
Other assets   17,168    17,276 
Total assets  $168,107,509   $168,492,889 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Short-term loans  $43,799,883   $40,889,761 
Accounts payable   30,898,432    35,840,964 
Cash card and coupon liabilities   22,634,708    18,465,030 
Customer deposits received   656,549    984,308 
Accrued expenses and other payables   20,340,192    18,827,472 
Total current liabilities   118,329,764    115,007,535 
Total liabilities   118,329,764    115,007,535 
           
Shareholders’ equity          
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share, authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 1,522,326 shares at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013   1,522    1,522 
Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $0.01, authorized 10,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 529,412 shares at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013   5,294    5,294 
Additional paid-in capital   93,439,972    93,337,957 
Retained earnings – appropriated   8,329,586    8,329,586 
Retained earnings   (65,202,245)   (62,145,794)
Accumulated other comprehensive income   13,203,616    13,956,789 
Total shareholders’ equity   49,777,745    53,485,354 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $168,107,509   $168,492,889 

 

 
 

 

QKL STORES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

 

   (Unaudited) 
   Three Months Ended March 31, 
   2014   2013 
         
Net sales  $86,032,676   $97,057,191 
Cost of sales   71,300,517    80,417,743 
Gross profit   14,732,159    16,639,448 
           
Operating expenses:          
Selling expenses   13,280,183    13,324,213 
General and administrative expenses   3,233,410    2,518,336 
Total operating loss   16,513,593    15,842,549 
           
(Loss) income from operations   (1,781,434)   796,899 
           
Non-operating expense:          
Interest income   230,098    193,573 
Interest expense   (1,499,243)   (297,608)
Total non-operating loss   (1,269,145)   (104,035)
           
(Loss) income before income taxes   (3,050,579)   692,864 
           
Income taxes   5,872    289,594 
           
Net (loss) income   (3,056,451)   403,270 
           
Comprehensive income statement:          
Net (loss) income   (3,056,451)   403,270 
Foreign currency translation adjustment   (753,173)   1,185,780 
Comprehensive (loss) income  $(3,809,624)  $1,589,050 
           
Basic (loss) earnings per share of common stock  $(2.01)  $0.27 
Diluted (loss) earnings per share  $(2.01)  $0.27 
           
Weighted average shares used in calculating (loss) earnings per common stock – basic   1,522,326    1,476,735 
Weighted average shares used in calculating (loss) earnings per common stock – diluted   1,522,326    1,510,828 

 

 
 

 

QKL STORES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

   (Unaudited) 
   Three Months Ended March 31, 
   2014   2013 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:          
Net (loss) income  $(3,056,451)  $403,270 
Depreciation   1,646,376    1,678,164 
Amortization   7,383    8,036 
Share-based compensation   102,014    204,117 
Deferred income tax   -    (464,414)
Loss on disposal of fixed assets   -    25,491 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Accounts receivable   241,021    429,824 
Inventories   10,390,643    16,601,846 
Other receivables   2,167,725    537,181 
Prepaid expenses   3,544,791    1,776,872 
Advances to suppliers   2,185,374    6,062,785 
Accounts payable   (4,683,343)   (5,286,996)
Cash card and coupon liabilities   4,352,101    2,683,392 
Customer deposits received   (322,039)   1,976,833 
Accrued expenses and other payables   1,423,767    (2,453,301)
Income taxes payable   (25)   85,795 
Net cash provided by operating activities   17,999,337    24,268,895 
           
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Purchases of property, plant and equipment   (81,623)   (350,987)
Net cash used in investing activities   (81,623)   (350,987)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Bank loan borrowing   3,268,054    - 
Net cash used in financing activities   3,268,054    - 
           
Effect of foreign currency translation   (228,009)   61,898 
           
Net increase in cash   21,185,768    23,917,908 
Cash – beginning of period   9,245,212    8,479,413 
Cash – end of period  $30,202,971   $32,459,219 
           
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:          
Interest paid  $1,499,243   $297,608 
Income taxes paid  $5,847   $203,799