Cogo Reports Unaudited Earnings for Second Quarter 2013

•   Cogo’s unaudited revenue in the second quarter ended June 30, 2013, was $184.9 million, down 4.1% from a year earlier, while net income for the same period was $1.7 million, down 6.2% from $1.8 million reported in the same period in 2012
•   Non-GAAP net income was $4.4 million down 14.4% from $5.2 million reported for the same period in 2012
•   Diluted Earnings per share (“EPS”) came to $0.05 and, on a non-GAAP basis, $0.13 a share
•   Cogo’s Audit Committee continues to review its Chairman and CEO’s proposed purchase of certain net assets

SHENZHEN, August 15, 2013—Cogo Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: COGO) (“Cogo” or the “Company”), one of the leading gateways for global semiconductor companies to access the industrial and technology markets in China, today announced unaudited financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2013.

Unaudited revenue in the second quarter was $184.9 million, down 4.1% year-over-year from $192.9 million in the second quarter of 2012.

Jeffrey Kang, CEO and Chairman of Cogo, commented, “The Audit Committee, comprising the three independent board members of Cogo, continues to make progress in the due diligence process on my proposal to purchase certain of Cogo’s net assets.”

Mr. Kang said: “If the transaction is approved, it is expected that Cogo would dispose most of its components business while all services and technical solutions businesses would become Cogo’s core business. The bulk of Cogo’s accounts receivable, inventories, accounts payable and bank loans would be sold to the buyer under the proposal. The disposal of the net assets in a cash transaction is expected to increase Cogo’s net cash position. The sale would allow the company to focus on developing a higher margin service and technical solution business, thus creating greater value for shareholders.”

Mr. Kang added, “Management believes that retaining the Company’s listing will provide greater return for its shareholders than privatization. While the proceeds could also fund the Company’s buyback program for investors who wish to sell their shares of the Company, it allows the Company to continue to leverage its listed status to develop higher margin business and venture to new business to generate greater value to shareholders.”

Financial Results
Cogo’s net income in the second quarter of 2013 was $1.7 million, down 6.2% from $1.8 million in the same period in 2012, with non-GAAP net income at $4.4 million down 14.4% from $5.2 million a year earlier. Diluted EPS was $0.05, unchanged from the second quarter of 2012, and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.13, down 7.1% from the second quarter of 2012.”

Key Financial Indicators
(all numbers in USD thousands, except share data)

 

Q2 2013(1)
(unaudited)

Q2 2011(1)(unaudited)

Percentage Change

Net Revenue

$184,928

$192,861

-4.1%

 
Cost of Sales

$172,762

$179,104

-3.5%

 
Gross Profit

$12,166

$13,757

-11.6%

 
Operating Expenses

$9,111

$9,923

-8.2%

 
Net Income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc.

$1,684(2)

$1,796

-6.2%

 
Diluted EPS attributable to Cogo Group, Inc.

  $0.05

  $0.05

0.0%

 
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS attributable to Cogo Group, Inc.

$0.13

$0.14

7.1%

 


(1)    The US dollar (“USD”) amounts are calculated based on the conversion rate of $1 to RMB6.1374 as of June 30, 2013 and $1 to RMB6.353 as of June 30, 2012.
(2)    Included in the Q2 2013 net income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc. was $1.9 million of share-based compensation expenses recognized in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation and $0.9 million of amortization of intangible assets and related deferred taxation. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc. was $4.4 million.

Revenue Review
Revenue for the second quarter was $184.9 million, a decrease of 4.1% from $192.9 million in the same period in 2012. The revenue breakdown includes: $69.1 million, or 37.4% of total sales for digital media (including the mobile handset business), down 5.2% year-over-year; $79.8 million or 43.2% of total sales for telecommunications equipment, representing a 5.7% decrease year-over-year; and $35.2 million or 19.0% of total sales relating to industrial business, down 0.6% year-over-year. The Company recorded $0.8 million or 0.4% of total sales from the service business in the second quarter of 2013, increased 100% from $0.4 million recorded in the first quarter of 2013.

Cost of sales, which includes the aggregate purchase of components from suppliers and the direct cost of services, was $172.8 million, down 3.5% from $179.1 million in the second quarter of 2012. Gross profit for the second quarter was $12.2 million, down 11.6% from $13.8 million in the second quarter of last year. The gross margin for the second quarter of 2013 was 6.6%, down from 7.1% a year earlier.

Operating expenses, including selling, general and administrative, and research and development expenses, totaled $9.1 million, down 8.2% from $9.9 million in the second quarter of 2012.

Income from operations was $3.1 million, down 20.3% from $3.8 million in the same period of 2012. The operating margin was 1.7%, down from 2.0% in the second quarter of 2012. Excluding the effects of share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets and related deferred taxation, operating margin would have been 3.2% for the second quarter of 2013, compared to 3.8% in the second quarter of 2012. The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2013 was 12.0%, up from 10.8% a year earlier.

Cogo’s net income for the second quarter of 2013 was $1.7 million, with diluted EPS of $0.05 on a GAAP basis, compared to net income of $1.8 million and diluted EPS $0.05, in the second quarter of 2012. Included in the second quarter of 2013 were $1.9 million for share-based compensation expenses and $0.9 million for amortization of intangible assets and related deferred taxation. Excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets and related deferred taxation, the non-GAAP net income would have been $4.4 million, or Non-GAAP Diluted EPS of $0.13. The weighted average number of shares used in the calculation of diluted EPS was 33.1 million compared to 36.4 million in the second quarter of 2012.

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, the Company reported revenue of $369.5 million, up 2.4% from $360.7 million in the first-half year of 2012. Gross profit was $24.3 million, down 3.2% from $25.1 million in the first-half year of 2012. The gross margin was 6.6%, compared to 7.0% in the same period last year. Net operating expenses were $18.1 million, down 4.7% from $19.0 million in the first half of 2012. Income from operations was $6.2 million, down 1.6% from the $6.1 million reported a year earlier. The non-GAAP operating margin, excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets, was 3.3%, compared to 3.6% in the same period last year, as a result of a lower gross margin. The Company had an effective tax rate of 11.4% compared to 11.9% during the same period last year. Non-controlling interests’ share of income was $1.9 million, up from $1.7 million in the first-half of 2012. Cogo’s net income for the half-year period was up 3.3% at $3.1 million from the same period last year.

Balance Sheets and Cash Flows
Total cash, including pledged bank deposits, was $140.8 million at the end of the second quarter, down from $141.5 million as of December 31, 2012. Bank borrowings decreased to $90.1 million as of June 30, 2013, from $98.6 million at the end of 2012. The Company has a current ratio of 2.6 to 1 and has operating cash outflow of $6.8 million during the second quarter of 2013.

Inventories decreased from $82.9 million as of December 31, 2012, to $67.2 million as of June 30, 2013. Inventory turnover days numbered 35 days in the second quarter of 2013 down from 41 days in the fourth quarter of 2012. Accounts receivable increased from $113.2 million as of December 31, 2012, to $170.6 million as of June 30, 2013, and the Days Sales Outstanding increased from 52 days in the fourth quarter of 2012 to 84 days. Accounts payable increased from $16.5 million at the end of 2012 to $23.2 million as of June 30, 2013, and Days Payable Outstanding increased from 8 days to 12 days. Cogo’s cash conversion cycle increased from 85 days in the fourth quarter of 2012 to 107 days in the second quarter of 2013.

Total equity was $261.3 million as of June 30, 2013, an increase of 2.4% from $255.3 million as of December 31, 2012. During the second quarter of 2013, the Company repurchased approximately 2.2 million ordinary shares at an average price of $1.98 per share and a total cost of more than $4.3 million pursuant to the current stock repurchase program. Cogo has repurchased almost 6.4 million shares since September 24, 2012. Under the current repurchase program, and there are approximately 3.6 million shares left out of the 10 million shares authorized for the program. Cogo continues to view share buybacks as a strategic use of cash.

Cogo 2013 Q2 Earnings Results Conference Call
Date/ Time:
August 15, 2013 (Thursday) @ 8:00 PM (ET)

Conference Call: 
Toll-Free   1-877-941-4774
Toll/International   +1-480-629-9760

Webcast/ Audio Recording: 

http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=105721

Replay (from 8/15/2013 at 11:00 pm to 8/17/2013 at 11:59 pm ET): 
US/ Canada Toll-Free: 1-877-870-5176 (Passcode: 4635093)
International: +1-858-384-5517 (Passcode: 4635093)

About Cogo Group, Inc.:
Cogo Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: COGO) is the leading gateway for global semiconductor companies to access the rapidly growing Industrial and Technology sectors in China. Through its unique business-to-business services platform, Cogo designs customized embedded solutions using technology from suppliers including Broadcom, Xilinx, Atmel and others for a customer base of over 2,100 Chinese OEMs/ODMs. Cogo’s customer list includes approximately 100 blue-chip companies, including ZTE, BYD and NARI, as well as nearly 2,000 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The Company serves a broad list of rapidly growing end-markets in China, including 3G Smartphones, Tablets, Automotives, High-Speed Railway, Smart Meter/Smart Grid, Healthcare and High Definition Television “HDTV.”


For further information:
Investor Relations
www.cogo.com.cn/investorinfo.html
communications@cogo.com.cn
H.K.:     +852 2730 1518
U.S.:     +1 (646) 291 8998
Fax:     +86 755 2674 3522

Safe Harbor Statement:
This press release includes certain statements that are not descriptions of historical facts, but are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements may include statements about our proposed discussions related to our business or growth strategy such as growth in digital media, telecommunications and industrial applications businesses, as well as our potential acquisitions which are subject to change. Such information is based upon expectations of our management that were reasonable when made, but may prove to be incorrect. All such assumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies beyond our control and upon assumptions with respect to future business decisions, which are subject to change. For further descriptions of other risks and uncertainties, see our most recent Annual Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form 20-F, and our subsequent SEC filings. Copies of filings made with the SEC are available through the SEC’s electronic data gathering analysis retrieval system (EDGAR) at
www.sec.gov.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
To supplement Cogo’s unaudited consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, Cogo uses the following measures defined as Non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: 1) Non-GAAP net income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc. which is net income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc. excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets and related deferred taxation, and 2) Non-GAAP diluted EPS attributable to Cogo Group, Inc., which is diluted EPS excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets and related deferred taxation. The presentation of these Non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these Non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned “Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures” set forth at the end of this release.

Cogo believes that these Non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets and related deferred taxation that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. Cogo believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these Non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These Non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management’s internal comparisons to Cogo’s historical performance and liquidity. Cogo computes its Non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter.

Cogo believes these Non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using Non-GAAP net income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc., Non-GAAP diluted Earnings Per Share attributable to Cogo Group, Inc., Non-GAAP income from operations and Non-GAAP operating margin is that these Non-GAAP measures exclude share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets and related deferred taxation that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a recurring expense in our business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each Non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables have more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to Non-GAAP financial measures.

Tables Attached

COGO GROUP, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

 

June 30, 2013

   

December 31,
2012

   

 

USD’000

   

RMB’000

   

RMB’000

 
Assets    

     

     

   
Current assets:    

     

     

   
Cash    

30,169

     

185,159

     

324,839

   
Pledged bank deposits    

110,648

     

679,091

     

556,941

   
Accounts receivable, net    

170,592

     

1,046,993

     

704,968

   
Bills receivable    

4,064

     

24,943

     

27,945

   
Amount due from related party    

     

     

35,743

   
Inventories    

67,230

     

412,616

     

516,372

   
Income taxes receivable    

581

     

3,566

     

2,098

   
Prepaid expenses and other receivables    

7,883

     

48,384

     

56,266

   
Total current assets    

391,167

     

2,400,752

     

2,225,172

   
Property and equipment, net    

4,504

     

27,645

     

17,515

   
Intangible assets, net    

18,927

     

116,162

     

128,810

   
Other assets    

6

     

35

     

261

   
Total Assets    

414,604

     

2,544,594

     

2,371,758

   
Liabilities and equity    

     

     

   
Current liabilities:    

     

     

   
Accounts payable    

23,249

     

142,690

     

102,878

   
Bank borrowings    

90,074

     

552,823

     

614,045

   
Income taxes payable    

1,105

     

6,781

     

7,155

   
Amount due to related party    

27,966

     

171,638

     

   
Accrued expenses and other liabilities    

7,799

     

47,865

     

35,734

   
Total current liabilities    

150,193

     

921,797

     

759,812

   
Deferred tax liabilities    

3,123

     

19,167

     

21,254

   
Total liabilities    

153,316

     

940,964

     

781,066

   
Equity    

     

     

   
Common stock:    

     

         
Par value: USD0.01
Authorized: 200,000,000 Shares
Issued: 44,579,871 shares in 2013, 43,423,556 shares in 2012
Outstanding: 29,518,358 shares in 2013, 31,110,922 shares in 2012
   

567

     

3,481

     

3,409

   
Additional paid in capital    

240,163

     

1,473,976

     

1,448,396

   
Retained earnings    

98,331

     

603,498

     

584,364

   
Accumulated other comprehensive loss    

(21,441

)    

(131,594

)    

(122,513

)  
     

317,620

     

1,949,361

     

1,913,656

   
Less cost of common stock in treasury, 15,061,513 shares in 2013 and 12,312,634 shares in 2012    

(65,755

)    

(403,566

)    

(369,217

)  
Total Cogo Group, Inc. equity    

251,865

     

1,545,795

     

1,544,439

   
Noncontrolling interests    

9,423

     

57,835

     

46,253

   
Total equity    

261,288

     

1,603,630

     

1,590,692

   
Total liabilities and equity    

414,604

     

2,544,594

     

2,371,758

   

COGO GROUP, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands, except share data)

   

Three months ended June 30,

 
   

2013

   

2013

   

2012

 
   

USD’000

   

RMB’000

   

RMB’000

 
   

   

   

 
Net Revenue    

184,928

     

1,134,978

     

1,225,247

 
Cost of sales    

(172,762

)    

(1,060,311

)    

(1,137,850

)
Gross profit    

12,166

     

74,667

     

87,397

 
     

     

     

 
Selling, general and administrative expenses    

(6,765

)    

(41,521

)    

(39,023

)
Research and development expenses    

(3,100

)    

(19,023

)    

(24,009

)
Other operating income (expense)    

754

     

4,630

     

(12

)
Income from operations    

3,055

     

18,753

     

24,353

 
Interest expense    

(753

)    

(4,621

)    

(6,741

)
Interest income    

511

     

3,135

     

3,608

 
Earnings before income taxes    

2,813

     

17,267

     

21,220

 
Income tax expense    

(337

)    

(2,067

)    

(2,286

)
Net income    

2,476

     

15,200

     

18,934

 
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests    

(792

)    

(4,858

)    

(7,528

)
Net income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc.    

1,684

     

10,342

     

11,406

 
     

     

     

 
Earnings per share attributable to Cogo Group, Inc.    

     

     

 
Basic    

0.05

     

0.31

     

0.31

 
Diluted    

0.05

     

0.31

     

0.31

 
     

     

     

 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding    

     

     

 
Basic    

     

33,002,573

     

36,379,789

 
Diluted    

     

33,111,295

     

36,379,789

 
     

     

     

 
Comprehensive income:    

     

     

 
Net income    

2,476

     

15,200

     

18,934

 
Other comprehensive income, net of nil tax    

     

     

 
Foreign currency translation adjustments    

(1,227

)    

(7,528

)    

2,624

 
Total comprehensive income    

1,249

     

7,672

     

21,558

 
     

     

     

 
Less comprehensive income, net of nil tax, attributable to  Noncontrolling interests    

(742

)    

(4,556

)    

(6,783

)
Comprehensive income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc.    

507

     

3,116

     

14,775

 

COGO GROUP, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands, except share data)

   

Six months ended June 30,

 
   

2013

   

2013

   

2012

 
   

USD’000

   

RMB’000

   

RMB’000

 
   

   

   

 
Net Revenue    

369,507

     

2,267,815

     

2,291,688

 
Cost of sales    

(345,182

)    

(2,118,517

)    

(2,131,953

)
Gross profit    

24,325

     

149,298

     

159,735

 
     

     

       
Selling, general and administrative expenses    

(12,914

)    

(79,254

)    

(74,823

)
Research and development expenses    

(6,530

)    

(40,078

)    

(47,898

)
Other operating income    

1,303

     

7,998

     

1,729

 
Income from operations    

6,184

     

37,964

     

38,743

 
Interest expense    

(1,433

)    

(8,795

)    

(12,110

)
Interest income    

946

     

5,803

     

7,627

 
Earnings before income taxes    

5,697

     

34,972

     

34,260

 
Income tax expense    

(647

)    

(3,969

)    

(4,082

)
Net income    

5,050

     

31,003

     

30,178

 
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests    

(1,934

)    

(11,869

)    

(10,836

)
Net income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc.    

3,116

     

19,134

     

19,342

 
     

     

       
Earnings per share attributable to Cogo Group, Inc.    

     

       
Basic    

0.09

     

0.57

     

0.53

 
Diluted    

0.09

     

0.57

     

0.53

 
     

     

       
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding    

     

       
Basic    

     

33,557,265

     

36,201,755

 
Diluted    

     

33,762,091

     

36,201,755

 
     

     

       
Comprehensive income:    

     

       
Net income    

5,050

     

31,003

     

30,178

 
Other comprehensive income, net of nil tax    

     

       
Foreign currency translation adjustments    

(1,526

)    

(9,368

)    

2,926

 
Total comprehensive income    

3,524

     

21,635

     

33,104

 
     

     

       
Less comprehensive income, net of nil tax, attributable to  Noncontrolling interests    

(1,887

)    

(11,582

)    

(10,835

)
Comprehensive income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc.    

1,637

     

10,053

     

22,269

 

COGO GROUP, INC.

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO THE MOST COMPARABLE GAAP MEASURES

     

Three Months ended June,

     

2013

 

2012

     

$’000

 

$’000

Net Income  

  GAAP net income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc.  

1,684

 

1,796

  Share-based compensation expenses  

1,903

2,569

  Amortization of intangible assets and related deferred taxation  

  860

  831

  Non-GAAP net income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc.  

4,447

 

5,196

   

Income from operations  

  GAAP income from operations  

3,055

 

3,834

  Share-based compensation expenses  

1,903

2,569

  Amortization of intangible assets  

1,030

   995

  Non-GAAP income from operation  

5,988

 

7,398

     

Operating Margin  

  GAAP operating margin  

1.7%

2.0%

  Non-GAAP operating margin  

3.2%

3.8%

     

Earnings per share  

$

 

$

  GAAP net income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc. per common share-Diluted  

0.05

0.05

  Non-GAAP net income attributable to Cogo Group, Inc. per common share-Diluted  

0.13

0.14

     

     

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding  

  Basic  

33,002,573

36,379,789

  Diluted  

33,111,295

36,379,789