New Oriental Energy & Chemical Corp. (NASDAQ: NOEC), a specialty chemical and emerging alternative fuel manufacturer in
The People's Republic of China (PRC), said today that it achieved record
sales and earnings in its fiscal year ending March 31, 2008, as combined
sales of urea, and other products used mainly for fertilizer, and its
alternative fuels, methanol and DME, reached $67,832,920. This was a 76.9%
gain, which surpassed its guidance for the year of $66 million. In fiscal
'07, the Company reported revenues of $38,338,773.
Net income for the '08 fiscal year of $4,062,941, a 34.6% gain over the
$3,017,671 reported last year, also set a new record. Earnings per share
for the year, based on comprehensive earnings of $5,681,371, which include
a foreign currency translation gain of $1,618,430, reached $0.32 on
12,640,000 shares outstanding. EPS in FY '07 based on comprehensive income
of $3,316,110 was $0.30 on 9,922,137 shares outstanding. The increase in
shares outstanding reflects the Company's participation in the share
exchange transaction in October of 2006, which resulted in the weighted
average share calculation in FY '07.
Mr. Chen Si Qiang, CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Company, stated,
"The very outstanding results in FY '08 reflect the soundness of our
decision to ramp up our methanol and DME production with the aim of
reaching our goal of producing 600,000 tons per year of DME, while
meanwhile benefitting from the favorable trends in our core fertilizer
business where we continue to improve margins. As the largest DME producer
in Henan Province, we fully expect to benefit from increasing domestic
demand for the alternative fuels we provide, which are cheaper and cleaner
substitutes for the LPG used for home heating and cooking, and the
petro-diesel fuel used in vehicles."
Fertilizer Profits Grow; DME Revenues Increase 566%
The Company said its most significant accomplishments during the year were
the completion of its expansion to 150,000 tons of DME capacity in the
second half of the year and the startup of the next phase of the expansion
of its methanol/DME capacity. Upon expected completion later this year,
this newest expansion will add approximately 200,000 tons of internally
generated methanol which can be sold or utilized as feedstock for the
150,000 tons of DME production capacity now in place.
The Company noted that there were other important accomplishments during
the year aimed at reducing costs in both its fertilizer and alternative
energy businesses. In particular, it cited the launch of its "coal stick"
line, which utilizes fine coal -- which is approximately 25% cheaper than
lump coal -- in a new stick-shaped product, which helped reduce coal costs
in FY '08 and will facilitate further savings in the current year.
Additionally, the Company recently announced the start up of an
environmentally sound 3000 Kw per hour residual heat generating set that
was constructed during FY '08. The new low emission generator is expected
to produce cost savings of approximately $750,000 per year if operated at
80% of capacity.
Reflecting these accomplishments, in particular the utilization of coal
sticks, the Company said that while urea revenues in the year grew from
$21,999,472 in the prior year to $30,774,271 in FY '08, gross profits
increased from 13.54% to 17.93%.
DME revenues grew dramatically to $32,626,266 in FY '08 compared to
$4,899,690 in the prior fiscal year. However, gross profit for the year of
15.90% was lower than the 21.57% reported in the prior year. The key
reason for this was that the Company's self-produced methanol capacity was
insufficient to meet its DME production demands and as such was required to
obtain methanol at a much higher cost from outside vendors. Going forward,
this situation is being addressed by the increased methanol production
capacity currently being built by the Company.
While the Company saw increases in other expenses, such as interest costs,
selling and distribution costs, and general and administrative expenses, it
said that these were in line with the increased sales and scope of the
Company, and the continuing construction of increased capacity. With
respect to a reported increase in R & D costs, the Company said it is
engaged in a number of R & D projects focused on new product development
and further reductions in production costs.
Since the end of the year, as reported earlier this week, the VAT tax on
DME has been lowered from 17% to 13%, which as described in the Company's
announcement, also will have a favorable effect on DME gross profits in the
last three quarters of the year.
Outlook
Looking ahead, the Company said it expects another year of record overall
growth, based on continuing solid gains in its fertilizer business, and an
anticipated significantly increased contribution from its alternative
energy products after its new 200,000 ton capacity methanol plant now under
construction comes on stream toward the end of the fiscal year. The new
methanol capacity will reduce the Company's need to purchase methanol at
higher prices from outside vendors, and thereby should contribute to
improved margins on sales of DME, or allow the Company to sell the methanol
depending on prevailing economics. The Company said that it will soon
schedule an Investor Conference Call to review FY '08 results and to
further discuss the FY '09 outlook.
NEW ORIENTAL ENERGY & CHEMICAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2008 AND 2007
2008 2007
------------ ------------
REVENUES $ 67,832,920 $ 38,338,773
COST OF GOODS SOLD 56,978,425 32,731,663
------------ ------------
GROSS PROFIT 10,854,495 5,607,110
Selling and distribution 1,171,737 659,836
General and administrative 3,164,145 1,243,143
------------ ------------
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 6,518,613 3,704,131
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)
Interest expense, net (516,032) (238,697)
Government grants 85,405 372,290
Other expenses, net (115,016) (18,822)
------------ ------------
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES 5,972,970 3,818,902
INCOME TAXES 1,932,695 812,126
------------ ------------
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 4,040,275 3,006,776
DISCONTINUED OPERATION
Income from discontinued operation 1,760 10,895
Gain from disposition of discontinued operation 20,906 -
------------ ------------
NET INCOME 4,062,941 3,017,671
------------ ------------
Foreign currency translation gain 1,618,430 445,431
------------ ------------
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME BEFORE TAX 1,618,430 445,431
INCOME TAX EXPENSE RELATED TO OTHER
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - 146,992
------------ ------------
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET 1,618,430 298,439
------------ ------------
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME $ 5,681,371 $ 3,316,110
============ ============
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING,
BASIC AND DILUTED 12,640,000 9,922,137
============ ============
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS PER SHARE,
BASIC AND DILUTED $ 0.47 $ 0.38
============ ============
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATION PER SHARE,
BASIC AND DILUTED 0.00 0.00
============ ============
NET INCOME PER SHARE, BASIC AND DILUTED 0.32 0.30
============ ============
NEW ORIENTAL ENERGY & CHEMICAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
------ March 31, March 31,
2008 2007
------------ ------------
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 7,487,808 $ 2,616,149
Restricted cash 5,438,809 5,430,426
Notes receivable, net of reserve of $135,563
at March 31, 2008 647,908 1,395,858
Inventories 2,171,040 3,786,130
Prepayments for goods 1,196,831 383,639
Taxes receivable - 160,800
Due from employees 13,213 113,275
Other assets 134,993 204,508
Current assets of discontinued operation - 47,084
------------ ------------
Total current assets 17,090,602 14,137,869
------------ ------------
Plant and equipment, net 20,102,938 11,571,652
Land use rights, net 1,629,633 1,510,695
Construction in progress 9,740,638 5,208,277
Deposits 1,978,389 267,757
Deferred taxes 179,541 646,331
Other long-term assets 32,574 39,745
Other assets of discontinued operation - 125,875
------------ ------------
Total long-term assets 33,663,713 19,370,332
------------ ------------
TOTAL ASSETS $ 50,754,315 $ 33,508,201
============ ============
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
------------------------------------
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable $ 1,656,883 $ 2,259,834
Other payables and accrued liabilities 545,090 409,025
Short-term debt 17,954,837 7,356,933
Notes payable-current portion - 572,781
Customer deposits 4,220,527 5,385,425
Payable to contractors 506,364 96,861
Due to related parties 5,708,995 4,041,583
Taxes payable 1,424,992 30,000
Current liabilities of discontinued
operation - 12,711
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 32,017,688 20,165,153
------------ ------------
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-term notes payable 517,168 -
Deferred taxes 773,449 1,619,110
Due to employees 156,517 115,816
------------ ------------
Total long-term liabilities 1,447,134 1,734,926
------------ ------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES $ 33,464,822 $ 21,900,079
============ ============
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share;
30,000,000 shares authorized, 12,640,000
shares issued and outstanding as of March
31, 2008 and 2007, respectively 12,640 12,640
Additional paid-in capital 4,573,205 4,573,205
Retained earnings (restricted portion was
$950,327 and $440,182 as of March 31, 2008
and 2007, respectively) 10,626,499 6,563,558
Accumulated other comprehensive income 2,077,149 458,719
------------ ------------
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 17,289,493 11,608,122
------------ ------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 50,754,315 $ 33,508,201
============ ============
About New Oriental Energy & Chemical Corp.
New Oriental Energy & Chemical Corp. which recently upgraded its US listing
to the NASDAQ Global Market (NASDAQ: NOEC), is an emerging alternative fuel
and specialty chemical manufacturer based in Henan Province, China. The
Company is focused on the production of Dimethyl ether (DME), methanol and
fertilizer products. The Company sells its products primarily through a
network of distribution partners. Additional information on the Company is
available on its website at www.neworientalenergy.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release may contain forward-looking statements concerning New
Oriental Energy & Chemical Corp. The actual results may differ materially
depending on a number of risk factors including, but not limited to, the
following: general economic and business conditions, development, shipment,
market acceptance, additional competition from existing and new
competitors, changes in technology or product techniques, and various other
factors beyond its control. All forward-looking statements are expressly
qualified in their entirety by this Cautionary Statement and the risk
factors detailed in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. New Oriental Energy & Chemical Corp. undertakes no
duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events
or circumstances after the date of this release.
Contact:
Mr. Wang Gui Quan
President
New Oriental Energy & Chemical Corp.
Xicheng Industrial Zone of Luoshan, Xinyang
Henan Province, The People's Republic of China
Tel: (011-86) 376-2169211
Investors:
Mark Miller
East West Network Group
mmeastwest@hotmail.com
Ph: (770) 436-7429
Press:
Ken Donenfeld
DGI Investor Relations
donfgroup@aol.com
kdonenfeld@dgiir.com
Ph: (212) 425-5700
Fax: (212) 425-6951