Earnings Labs

Antelope Enterprise Holdings Limited (AEHL)

Q4 2015 Earnings Call· Wed, Apr 20, 2016

$0.51

-0.87%

Key Takeaways · AI generated
AI summary not yet generated for this transcript. Generation in progress for older transcripts; check back soon, or browse the full transcript below.

Same-Day

+6.88%

1 Week

+4.77%

1 Month

-16.74%

vs S&P

-14.54%

Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good morning. My name is Lea, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the fourth quarter and fiscal yearend 2015 earnings conference call. [Operator Instructions] David Rudnick, you may begin.

David Rudnick

Analyst

Thank you, Lea. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and good evening to those of you who are joining us from China. Welcome to China Ceramics fourth quarter and fiscal yearend 2015 earnings conference call. With us today are China Ceramics' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jia Dong Huang; and its Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Edmund Hen. Before I turn the call over to Mr. Huang, I remind our listeners that during this call, management's prepared remarks contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties and management may make additional forward-looking statements in response to your questions. Therefore, the company claims protection of the Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements that is contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ from those discussed today. We refer to more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any projections as the company's future performance represent management's estimates as of today, April 20, 2016. China Ceramics assumes no obligation to update these projections in the future as market conditions change. To supplement the financial result presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP management will make reference to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, which we will call by its abbreviated name EBITDA. EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure reconciled from net income, which the company believes provides meaningful additional information to better understand its operating performance. A table reconciling net income to EBITDA can be found in the earnings press release issued earlier today. And now, it's my pleasure to turn the call over to China Ceramics' Chairman and CEO, Mr. Jia Don Huang; and China Ceramics' CFO, Mr. Edmund Hen. [ph] Wei Shi Dai will be translating for Mr. Huang. Mr. Huang, you may proceed.

Huang Jia Dong

Analyst

Thank you, David. On behalf of the company, I would like to welcome everyone to our fourth quarter and fiscal yearend 2015 earnings conference call. For the fourth quarter of 2015, we experienced increasingly challenging market conditions due to an array of macroeconomic factors that have impacted the Chinese economy, and which have negatively impacted the real estate and building materials market. A contraction in consumer demand resulted in a 13.2% decline in the fourth quarter's revenue as compared to the same period in 2014. We also incurred a substantial assets write-down, which significantly affected the fourth quarter's bottomline, but due to the non-cash nature of this event, our adjusted EBITDA was RMB32.9 million or approximately US$5 million, up 15.4% as compared to the year-ago quarter. We continue to differentiate ourselves from our competitors with new products and are excited about the addition of glazed brick ceramic tiles to our product portfolio, as it is a highly effective solution for high-rise apartment buildings and housing projects. This new production line at our Hengdali facility is capable of producing customized roofing tiles according to consumer's specifications. And following extensive testing in the first quarter of 2016, we expect full production to begin in the second quarter of 2016. During the fourth quarter, we utilized production facilities capable of producing 26 million square meters of ceramic tiles per year out of a total annual production capacity of 72 million square meters. Although, we have a substantial amount of capacity available for utilization, in the near-term we do not have plans to bring additional capacity online, as we are currently experiencing a contraction in demand for our product. For the full year 2015, our revenue was down 2%, but our gross profit rose by over 20% due to operating efficiencies. Our adjusted EBITDA, which excluded the fourth quarter's non-cash asset write-down was RMB154.5 million or approximately US$23 million. We also repaid approximately US$7 million in short-term debt during the fourth quarter due to a tightening of credit across China. Looking ahead to 2016, we believe that the operating environment will continue to be challenging. However, we are confident that we can weather the current market volatility and leverage our market position to maintain our existing customers as well as win new customers. We expect a consolidation trend among larger property developers, which would benefit the company since our manufacturing scale and infrastructure enable us to effectively serve these large enterprises. In the long-term, we believe that real estate is a key sector of China's economy that will continue to draw investments and that the urbanization and economic trends underlying the growth in China's real estate sectors are sustainable With that, I would like to turn over the call to the company's Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Edmund Hen, who will discuss the company's fourth quarter earnings results in more detail. Thank you.

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Thank you, Mr. Huang. I will now move on to a more detailed discussion of our financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2015. Our revenue for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2015, was RMB208.3 million or US$31.6 million, a decrease of 13.2% from RMB240.1 million or US$38.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. The year-over-year increase in revenue was primarily due to a 13% decrease in sales volume to 6.7 million square meters of ceramic tiles from the year-ago quarter slightly offset by a 0.3% increase in average selling price to RMB31.1 per square meters from the year-ago quarter. Gross profit for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2015 was RMB29.5 million or US$4.5 million, an increase of 1.4% from RMB29.1 million or US$4.7 million in the year ago quarter. The gross profit margin was 14.2% for the fourth quarter compared to a gross profit margin of 12.1% in the year-ago quarter. The improvement in gross margin was by adjusting production and achieving better control of labor costs. The loss from operations before taxes for the fourth quarter of 2015 was RMB406.5 million or US$64.2 million as compared to RMB10.1 million or US$1.6 million in the year-ago quarter. On a non-GAAP basis, profit from operations before taxation for the current quarter was RMB15.1 million or US$2.3 million, which excludes the non-cash fair value loss on impairment of non-current assets for the fourth quarter of 2015. This compares to RMB10.1 million or US$1.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, which will reflect the key deduction of expenses due to the provision for settlement of litigation of RMB5.3 million or US$0.9 million. Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2015 was RMB411.3 million or US$4.8 million as compared to a net profit of RMB4.8 million US$0.8…

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Your first question comes from the line of Howard Flinker.

Howard Flinker

Analyst

I have three questions. One, it appears you're collecting some accounts receivables, is that correct?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Yes, we are collecting some account receivable.

Howard Flinker

Analyst

And are you having trouble collecting some others or are they're just paying more slowly?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

They are paying more slowly.

Howard Flinker

Analyst

Do you have orders for the new glazed brick tile and how much approximately?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Yes, we do. But at this moment it's not very much. It's about few million RMB for the next three months.

Howard Flinker

Analyst

And finally, I think at Jiangxi, has the provisional government issued rules to force companies to convert from coal to natural gas or not yet?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Not yet.

Howard Flinker

Analyst

But it's coming? Is it not?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

The rumor there, we will have the new rules, but we do not have such order from the government yet.

Howard Flinker

Analyst

Business conditions are tough, but considering how tough it is, you guys performed pretty well. It's hard to say that when results appear on the surface to be so negative, but under the surface, you're exhibiting real discipline, I have to commend you for that. That's all. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of [ph] James Dunning.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

I have a corporate finance question. The underwriting that the company engaged in earlier in the year, I would like an explanation of why? By reading the prospectus, revenue you generated from that underwriting, a little less than a US$1 million was usurped by the expense, which was greater than the revenue as disclosed in your prospectus. In addition, the shareholders had significant dilution, that's tough. Can you give us a explanation of why the company engaged in such a draconian underwriting?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

First of all, during the beginning of the year, we facing a very difficult time to transfer the money outside China. And also, we in China have a lot of pressure bidding, for the challenging economy in China. And in order to further develop ourselves and pay orders, distinct fee, et cetera, we decided to have a small fund raising.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

But Edmund, the expense of the underwriting was greater than the revenue you took in, so how did that paid for any bills or any of those issues -- the cost of the underwriting?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

The underwriting fees is only 8%, as disclosed on the prospectus.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

The cost of the underwriting, as you described in the prospectus was US$928,000. The revenue was US$927,000. That's zero proceeds to the company, plus the dilution. I don't understand what the economic -- why Mr. Wong or the Board was approved a zero net transaction and heavy dilution to all the shareholders.

Edmund Hen

Analyst

I think we only issued about a few percent of the outstanding shares.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Edmund, you issued warrants that were extremely dilutive, five year warrants and one year warrants.

Edmund Hen

Analyst

But it is not exercised yet.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

But I don't understand the cash proceeds of the underwriting. The expenses were greater than the revenue, so the three reasons you gave for raising the money were used up in the cost of the underwriting and you got no net proceeds, I don't understand?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

We have only disclosed on the prospectus. There is use of proceed for purpose of the fund. I think you can further refer to the prospectus for this metric.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Well, you described the use of proceeds, but the expenses of the deal were greater than the proceeds. So there maybe an intent of use the proceeds, but the expenses of deal, it is zero effectively?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Again, the expenses of the deal is only around 8% for the commission and some extra for the legal expenses.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

That's not what it says in the prospectus. The prospectus says that the expenses were US$928,000. I don't remember exactly what the number was, but it was greater than the revenue by a small amount, in your own disclosure. So the net proceeds was effectively zero. And if you got money offshore, I don't know how you did it, because you spent -- you may have got money offshore, but the expenses to the offshore underwriters and [indiscernible], et cetera, was greater than the revenue or the proceeds. Well that's one question. The other is more of a market question. What's happening to the competition as the real estate market is tightened? And I don't understand, if you were such a dominant producer and high-quality producer at a good price, why you're not crushing the competition who has less advantage than you do. You're an outstanding organization, and I would think this would be a great time to take market share from people who can't sustain the downturn? Do you care to comment to that?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

In China, the situation is very different. And whole economy, not only the property market is very challenging now. And at this situation, it is very difficult to make a decision to step further, let's say, acquire a new business to have more market share. We have to be conservative and see what happen in the current situation. Even until now, we still see the economic situation in 2016 is very challenging, so we would like to be conservative at this moment.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from the line of [ph] Mariko Jordan.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

I was a little confused on the net income for the year 2015. What exactly was the net income for the year?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

It's about more than RMB1,000 million.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

How much in the U.S. dollars?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

It is approximately US$160 million.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

US$150?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

US$160.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

The net income has been [multiple speakers].

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Let me check. For the full year, the net revenue is US$160.4 in 2015.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

What was the net income? What do you have after the expenses and everything? In the unaudited report is says negative US$53 million, but if you exclude the loss from your write down, it should be about US$13 million net profit, is that right or wrong?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Well, we have probably the net profit -- on GAAP basis, the net profit for fiscal year 2015 was RMB59.2 million or US$9.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

What's your cash and bank balance for the year 2015?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

We have a positive cash flow in 2015.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

What's the number exactly?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

You mean the bank balance at yearend?

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Well, how much cash do you have available right now, so to speak?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

At the end of 2015, December 31, we have RMB0.5 million.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

How much in U.S. dollars?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

It's about US$0.08 million.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

So about US$1 million?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

No. It's one-tenth of the US$1 million, US$0.1 million.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

US$1.1 million?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

US$0.08 million.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

How much money did the company spend on research and development in 2015?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

We normally spent 3% of our revenue, which is about RMB5 million.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Have you guys considered developing a product line or investing in a business that can help protect you from the fluctuations on the housing market in China?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

There's a potential, but now we are to be conservative. We want to wait and see the market situation before to decide any important investments.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

What are some investment ideas that the company has come up with to help expand the business?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Excuse me?

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

What are some investment ideas that the company has come up with to help expand the business?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

At this moment, we are expanding our marketing and pricing strategy to see the business trend and help the company in growth of the revenue.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

What areas or ventures relating to your business have you explored that your competitors have not explored yet?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

I think now the most important is the management in terms of the quality and marketing strategy that we need to explore more in depth compared to our competitors.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

I think you're misunderstanding my questions. What I'm trying to reach around to is that the company vulnerable to the fluctuations at the housing market, and I think it would benefit the owners of the company. For example, us, the shareholders and yourself, if the company wisely invest in low-cost producing businesses, per se, that are efficiently servicing for the lucrative markets. So there are other investment opportunities for you guys to put your money into, I think that would be a prudent idea because of the vulnerability you have just being in one market. Do you understand?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Sorry, I didn't quite get your all questions on this?

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

For the past years, the housing market in China has been rocky, right?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Yes.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

So you're susceptible to their vulnerability. What I'm saying is that I think it would benefit the owners of the company if the company wisely invest in low-cost producing businesses, that are efficiently servicing important lucrative market, other businesses outside of your business, so that you could -- that your money is not just in one place.

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Yes. We also consider your suggestion to further look at other potential growth business. But at this moment, I think we need to develop a team to explore all this area before we have a serious investment.

Operator

Operator

There is a follow up question from the line of Howard Flinker.

Howard Flinker

Analyst

From the offering, did you pay the listing fees, Edmund?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Did we pay the listing fee?

Howard Flinker

Analyst

Yes. And were there any other foreign fees that you had to pay?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Yes, a portion of our expenses was paid to the listing fee.

Howard Flinker

Analyst

Anything else?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

And also we have paid some overseas fees on the market research and some fees to buy some material from the overseas.

Howard Flinker

Analyst

The reason I am asking is that I think there were lawyers confused total expenses with underwriting expenses, and it made it look as is if your underwriting expenses were greater than the revenue from the stock offering. And it would appear on the surface that you had no net revenue from the underwriting whereas in fact it did, because you paid the listing fees and you paid other marketing expenses. You may want to check that and clear it up.

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Yes, this is the truth. You are correct.

Operator

Operator

There is a follow-up question from the line of [ph] Mariko Jordan.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

I also had a question, about what were you guys going to do to bring the stock price up? Have you considered repurchasing?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

You gave a very good suggestion and this has to be very serious consideration from the Board and we will announce to the public, if we have any idea to do with the stock pricing.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Well, I think now would be a good time. The stock is selling well below its intrinsic value and the stock is continuing to sell at a bargain price. If you do decide to repurchase, the purchase will increase the percentage of the listing shareholders ownership, and that purchase might interest other investors to take stake in the company thus improve the potential or borrowing power and could increase the company's potential to raise money.

Edmund Hen

Analyst

Yes, understood. And thank you for your suggestion on this matter.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

And this is my last question. How many institutional investors do you have compared to individual investors?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

We have quiet a number of institutional investors from our shareholder list.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

How many individual investors do you know?

Edmund Hen

Analyst

I think it's more than 2,000, it's around 2,000 investors.

Operator

Operator

We have no further questions at this time. End of Q&A

David Rudnick

Analyst

Thank you, Lea. On behalf of the entire China Ceramics' management team, we want to thank all of you for your interest and participation on this call. This concludes China Ceramics' fourth quarter and fiscal year ended 2015 earnings call. Thank you all very much.

Operator

Operator

You may now disconnect.