EX-99.1 2 v386725_ex99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

  

Exhibit 99.1 

 

 

General Steel Reports Second Quarter 2014 Financial Results

 

Quarterly Gross Margin Improves to a 36-Month High of 4.8%

Quarterly EBITDA Improves by $54.4 million Year-over-Year to $33.6 million

Quarterly Operating Cash Flows Improve by $121.4 million Year-over-Year to $56.1 million

Company Reiterates EPS Guidance of $0.08 to $0.12 for Second Half of 2014

 

BEIJING – August 14, 2014 – General Steel Holdings, Inc. (“General Steel” or the “Company”) (NYSE: GSI), a leading non-state-controlled steel producer in China, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2014.

 

Henry Yu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Steel commented, “We are very proud that our turn-around efforts are now driving measurable improvements to our financials, as gross margin expanded to a 36-month high and EBITDA substantially improved to a positive $33.6 million. These highlights reflect the success we have had over the past year in lowering our unit production cost and enhancing our operating efficiencies.”

 

“During the second quarter, industry fundamentals significantly improved, and we were able to hold firm on our pricing. We are seeing a better demand-and-supply balance, and it is increasingly more evident that the market dynamics and competitive landscape will substantially improve in the coming months.” Mr. Yu concluded.

 

John Chen, Chief Financial Officer of General Steel, commented, “This quarter we saw contributions to profitability from our two major initiatives. Our sourcing strategy lowered our raw material costs and, our upgraded production lines and technical improvements lowered our unit costs. We also turned around our operating cash flows to an inflow of $56.1 million, providing us with greater operating flexibility for the quarters ahead. Given our solid execution and the improved market fundamentals, we anticipate additional margin expansion and are confident that we will deliver on our target EPS range of 8 to 12 cents for the second half of 2014.”

 

Second Quarter 2014 Financial Information

 

·Sales volume decreased by 5.7% year-over-year to approximately 1.31 million metric tons, compared with 1.38 million metric tons in the second quarter of 2013.
·Sales totaled $588.0 million, compared with $653.7 million in the second quarter of 2013.
·Gross profit was $28.1 million on gross margin of 4.8%, compared with a gross loss of $(35.5) million in the second quarter of 2013.
·Operating income totaled $6.3 million, compared with an operating loss of $(46.9) million in the second quarter of 2013.
 
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·Net loss attributable to the Company reduced to approximately $(11.0) million, or $(0.20) per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $(39.8) million, or $(0.72) per diluted share in the second quarter of 2013.
·As of June 30, 2014, the Company had cash and restricted cash of $492.9 million.

 

First Six Months 2014 Financial Information

 

·Sales volume decreased by 2.4% year-over-year to approximately 2.62 million metric tons, compared with 2.69 million metric tons in the first six months of 2013.
·Sales were $1.2 billion, compared with $1.3 billion in the first six months of 2013.
·Gross profit was $5.5 million on gross margin of 0.5%, compared with a gross loss of $(31.5) million in the first six months of 2013.
·Operating loss was $(37.3) million, compared with an operating loss of $(15.0) million in the first six months of 2013.
·Net loss attributable to the Company was $(54.6) million, or $(0.98) per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $(36.7) million, or $(0.67) per diluted share in the first six months of 2013.

 

Second Quarter 2014 Financial and Operating Results

 

Total Sales

 

Total sales for the second quarter of 2014 decreased by 10.0% year-over-year to $588.0 million, compared with $653.7 million in the second quarter of 2013. The year-over-year sales decreases were due to decreases in both average selling price of rebar and sales volume.

 

·Total sales volume in the second quarter of 2014 was 1.31 million metric tons, a decrease of 5.7% compared with 1.38 million metric tons in the second quarter of 2013.
·The average selling price of rebar at Longmen Joint Venture in the second quarter of 2014 decreased to approximately $450.0 per metric ton, down by 6.8% from $482.7 per metric ton in the second quarter of 2013.

 

Gross Profit/Loss

 

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2014 was $28.1 million, or 4.8% of total sales, as compared with a gross loss of $(35.5) million, or (5.4%) of total sales in the second quarter of 2013. The 1,020 basis points improvement in gross margin during the quarter was mainly attributable to decreased unit costs of rebar manufactured.

 

Operating Expenses and Operating Income/Loss

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2014 were $18.8 million, a decrease of 9.6% from $20.8 million in the second quarter of 2013. Driven by effective headcount expense control, general and administrative expenses decreased to $9.1 million in the second quarter of 2014, compared with $11.6 million in the second quarter of 2013. Selling expenses was $9.7 million in the second quarter of 2014, slighted increased from $9.3 million in the same period of 2013. The increase in selling expenses was mainly due to the increase in freight expenses as a result of the PRC government’s policy to increase freight train fees in early 2014.

 

 
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Other operating loss from change in the fair value of profit sharing liability during the second quarter of 2014 was $(2.9) million, compared with a gain of $9.5 million recognized in the same period of last year. The loss recognized from change in the fair value of profit sharing liability was primarily due to the amortization of the present value discount.

 

Correspondingly, income from operations for the second quarter of 2014 was $6.3 million, an improvement of $53.2 million compared with loss from operations of $(46.9) million for the second quarter of 2013.

 

Finance Expense

 

Finance and interest expense in the second quarter of 2014 was $26.6 million, of which, $5.7 million was the non-cash interest expense on capital lease as compared with $5.1 million in the same period of 2013, and $20.9 million was the interest expense on bank loans and discounted note receivables as compared with $16.1 million in the same period of 2013. The increase in finance and interest expenses was mainly a result of higher finance costs charged by banks and more of the early redemption on note receivables.

 

Net Loss and Net Loss per Share

 

Net loss attributable to General Steel for the second quarter of 2014 narrowed $(11.0) million, or $(0.20) per diluted share, based on 55.8 million weighted average shares outstanding. This compares to a net loss of $(39.8) million, or $(0.72) per diluted share, based on 55.0 million weighted average shares outstanding in the second quarter of 2013.

 

First Six Months 2014 Financial and Operating Results

 

Total Sales

 

Total sales for the first six months of 2014 decreased by 9.4% year-over-year to $1.2 billion, compared with $1.3 billion in the first six months of 2013. The year-over-year sales decreases were due to decreases in both average selling price of rebar and sales volume.

 

·Total sales volume in the first six months of 2014 was 2.62 million metric tons, a decrease of 2.4% compared with 2.69 million metric tons in the first six months of 2013.
·The average selling price of rebar at Longmen Joint Venture in the first six months of 2014 decreased to approximately $450.4 per metric ton, down by 9.6% from $498.4 per metric ton in the first six months of 2013.

 

Gross Profit/Loss

 

Gross profit for the first six months of 2014 was $5.5 million, or 0.5% of total sales, as compared with a gross loss of $(31.5) million, or (2.4%) of total sales in the first six months of 2013.

 

 
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Operating Expenses and Operating Loss

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first six months of 2014 were $39.9 million, slightly increased from $39.8 million in the first six months of 2013. General and administrative expenses were $21.9 million, compared with $22.5 million in the same period of 2013. Selling expenses increased by 4.1% to $18.0 million, compared to $17.3 million in the same period of 2013.

 

Other operating loss from change in the fair value of profit sharing liability during the first six months of 2014 was $(3.0) million, compared with a gain of $56.3 million in the same period of last year.

 

Correspondingly, loss from operations for the first six months of 2014 was $(37.3) million, compared with loss from operations of $(15.0) million for the first six months of 2013.

 

Finance Expense

 

Finance and interest expense in the first six months of 2014 was $55.3 million, of which, $10.7 million was the non-cash interest expense on capital lease as compared with $10.2 million in the same period of 2013, and $44.6 million was the interest expense on bank loans and discounted note receivables as compared with $35.9 million in the first six months of 2013.

 

Net Loss and Net Loss per Share

 

Net loss attributable to General Steel for the first six months of 2014 was $(54.6) million, or $(0.98) per diluted share, based on 55.8 million weighted average shares outstanding. This compares to a net loss of $(36.7) million, or $(0.67) per diluted share, based on 54.9 million weighted average shares outstanding in the first six months of 2013.

 

Balance Sheet

 

As of June 30, 2014, the Company had cash and restricted cash of approximately $492.9 million, compared to $431.3 million as of December 31, 2013. The Company had an inventory balance of $209.0 million as of June 30, 2014, compared to $212.9 million as of December 31, 2013.

  

Business Outlook

 

For the six months ending December 31, 2014, the Company reiterates that it currently projects:

 

·Sales to range from $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion, on sales volume of approximately 3 million metric tons;
·Net income attributable to the Company to range from $4.5 million to $6.5 million; and
·EPS attributable to the Company to range from $0.08 to $0.12.

 

 
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Conference Call and Webcast:

 

General Steel will hold a corresponding conference call and live webcast at 8:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, August 14, 2014 (which corresponds to 8:00 p.m. Beijing/Hong Kong Time on Thursday, August 14, 2014) to discuss the results and answer questions from investors. Listeners may access the call by dialing:

 

US Toll Free: 1-866-250-8117
International Toll: 1-412-317-6011
China Toll: 400-120-3170
China Toll Free: 800-870-0210
Conference ID: 83542725

 

The call will also be available as a live, listen-only Webcast under the "Events and Presentations" page on the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's Website at http://www.corpasia.net/us/GSI/irwebsite/index.php?mod=event. Following the live Webcast, an online archive of the Webcast will be available for 90 days.

 

About General Steel Holdings, Inc.

 

 

General Steel Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Beijing, China, produces a variety of steel products including rebar, high-speed wire and spiral-weld pipe. The Company has operations in China’s Shaanxi and Guangdong provinces, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Tianjin municipality, with seven million metric tons of crude steel production capacity under management. For more information, please visit www.gshi-steel.com.

 

To be added to the General Steel email list to receive Company news, or to request a hard copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, please send your request to generalsteel@asiabridgegroup.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations or beliefs about future events and financial, political and social trends and assumptions it has made based on information currently available to it. The Company cannot assure that any expectations, forecasts or assumptions made by management in preparing these forward-looking statements will prove accurate, or that any projections will be realized. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of inaccurate assumptions or a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties are set forth in the Company's filings under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere, and include: (a) those risks and uncertainties related to general economic conditions in China, including regulatory factors that may affect such economic conditions; (b) whether the Company is able to manage its planned growth efficiently and operate profitable operations, including whether its management will be able to identify, hire, train, retain, motivate and manage required personnel or that management will be able to successfully manage and exploit existing and potential market opportunities; (c) whether the Company is able to generate sufficient revenues or obtain financing to sustain and grow its operations; (d) whether the Company is able to successfully fulfill our primary requirements for cash; and (e) other risks, including those disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.  Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.

 

 
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Contact Us

 

General Steel Holdings, Inc.

Joyce Sung

Tel: +1-347-534-1435

Email: joyce.sung@gshi-steel.com

 

Asia Bridge Capital Limited

Carene Toh

Tel: +1-888-957-3362

Email: generalsteel@asiabridgegroup.com

 

 
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  GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

  (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)

 

   June 30,   December 31, 
   2014   2013 
ASSETS          
CURRENT ASSETS:          
Cash  $44,749   $31,967 
Restricted cash   448,106    399,333 
Notes receivable   36,948    60,054 
Restricted notes receivable   106,873    395,589 
Loans receivable - related parties   4,540    4,540 
Accounts receivable, net   5,277    4,078 
Accounts receivable - related parties   5,788    2,942 
Other receivables, net   54,804    54,716 
Other receivables - related parties   57,983    54,106 
Inventories   208,971    212,921 
Advances on inventory purchase   58,503    44,897 
Advances on inventory purchase - related parties   119,279    83,003 
Prepaid expense and other   3,322    1,388 
Prepaid taxes   12,489    28,407 
Short-term investment   2,763    2,783 
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS   1,170,395    1,380,724 
           
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net   1,253,351    1,271,907 
           
OTHER ASSETS:          
Advances on equipment purchase   92,133    6,409 
Investment in unconsolidated entities   16,710    16,943 
Long-term deferred expense   552    668 
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization   23,333    23,707 
TOTAL OTHER ASSETS   132,728    47,727 
           
TOTAL ASSETS  $2,556,474   $2,700,358 
           
LIABILITIES AND DEFICIENCY          
           
CURRENT LIABILITIES:          
Short term notes payable  $875,479   $1,017,830 
Accounts payable   418,468    434,979 
Accounts payable - related parties   262,103    235,692 
Short term loans - bank   201,673    301,917 
Short term loans - others   64,395    62,067 
Short term loans - related parties   153,996    126,693 
Current maturities of long-term loans - related party   62,374    53,013 
Other payables and accrued liabilities   48,343    45,653 
Other payable - related parties   98,209    94,079 
Customer deposits   136,288    87,860 
Customer deposits - related parties   142,888    64,881 
Deposit due to sales representatives   21,435    24,343 
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties   1,658    1,997 
Taxes payable   4,181    4,628 
Deferred lease income, current   2,171    2,187 
Capital lease obligations, current   6,443    4,321 
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES   2,500,104    2,562,140 
           
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:          
Long-term loans - related party   9,750    19,644 
Deferred lease income, noncurrent   73,620    75,257 
Capital lease obligations, noncurrent   384,830    375,019 
Profit sharing liability at fair value   164,067    162,295 
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES   632,267    632,215 
TOTAL LIABILITIES   3,132,371    3,194,355 
           
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES          
           
DEFICIENCY:          
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 3,092,899 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013   3    3 
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 58,314,688 and 58,234,688 shares issued, 55,842,382 and 55,762,382 shares outstanding as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively   58    58 
Treasury stock, at cost, 2,472,306 shares as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013   (4,199)   (4,199)
Paid-in-capital   107,097    106,878 
Statutory reserves   6,408    6,243 
Accumulated deficits   (469,381)   (414,798)
Accumulated other comprehensive income   3,016    729 
TOTAL GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC. DEFICIENCY   (356,998)   (305,086)
           
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS   (218,899)   (188,911)
TOTAL DEFICIENCY   (575,897)   (493,997)
           
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND DEFICIENCY  $2,556,474   $2,700,358 
 
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GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2014 AND 2013

(UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except per share data) 

 

   Three months ended June 30,   Six months ended June 30, 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
                 
SALES  $508,637   $517,350   $1,020,642   $1,019,781 
                     
SALES - RELATED PARTIES   79,376    136,301    161,582    285,161 
TOTAL SALES   588,013    653,651    1,182,224    1,304,942 
                     
COST OF GOODS SOLD   482,011    540,271    1,012,755    1,038,897 
                     
COST OF GOODS SOLD - RELATED PARTIES   77,908    148,916    163,936    297,514 
TOTAL COST OF GOODS SOLD   559,919    689,187    1,176,691    1,336,411 
                     
GROSS PROFIT (LOSS)   28,094    (35,536)   5,533    (31,469)
                     
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES   (18,849)   (20,848)   (39,902)   (39,803)
CHANGE IN FAIR VALUE OF PROFIT SHARING LIABILITY   (2,920)   9,494    (2,969)   56,273 
                     
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS   6,325    (46,890)   (37,338)   (14,999)
                     
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)                    
Interest income   4,066    3,383    7,258    5,882 
Finance/interest expense   (26,619)   (21,216)   (55,314)   (46,073)
Gain (loss) on disposal of equipment and intangible assets   (142)   (235)   (96)   96 
Income from equity investments   54    132    67    90 
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)   (963)   98    (1,817)   126 
Lease income   542    539    1,088    1,071 
Other non-operating income (expense), net   302    521    126    790 
Other expense, net   (22,760)   (16,778)   (48,688)   (38,078)
                     
LOSS BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES AND NONCONTROLLING INTEREST   (16,435)   (63,668)   (86,026)   (53,077)
                     
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES                    
Current   107    105    112    176 
Deferred   -    -    -    - 
Provision for income taxes   107    105    112    176 
                     
NET LOSS   (16,542)   (63,773)   (86,138)   (53,253)
                     
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   (5,523)   (23,955)   (31,555)   (16,538)
                     
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC.  $(11,019)  $(39,818)  $(54,583)  $(36,715)
                     
NET LOSS  $(16,542)  $(63,773)  $(86,138)  $(53,253)
                     
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS                    
Foreign currency translation adjustments   (929)   (7,210)   3,741    (9,736)
                     
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS   (17,471)   (70,983)   (82,397)   (62,989)
                     
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   (5,875)   (26,745)   (30,101)   (20,290)
                     
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC.  $(11,596)  $(44,238)  $(52,296)  $(42,699)
                     
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES                    
Basic and Diluted   55,842    54,980    55,828    54,893 
                     
LOSS PER SHARE                    
Basic and Diluted  $(0.20)  $(0.72)  $(0.98)  $(0.67)
 
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GENERAL STEEL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)

 

   For the
Six months ended June 30,
 
   2014   2013 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:          
Net (loss) income  $(86,138)  $(53,253)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:          
Depreciation, amortization and depletion   47,788    43,067 
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities - warrants   -    (1)
Change in fair value of profit sharing liability   2,969    (56,273)
(Gain) loss on disposal of equipment and intangible assets   96    (96)
Provision for doubtful accounts   (250)   (169)
Reservation of mine maintenance fee   278    215 
Stock issued for services and compensation   219    480 
Amortization of deferred financing cost on capital lease   9,253    10,217 
Income from equity investments   (67)   (90)
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss   1,817    (126)
Deferred lease income   (1,088)   (1,071)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities          
Notes receivable   45,931    (64,424)
Accounts receivable   (1,008)   (33,951)
Accounts receivable - related parties   (2,875)   8,969 
Other receivables   (307)   (857)
Other receivables - related parties   (4,275)   10,275 
Inventories   1,286    38,014 
Advances on inventory purchases   (13,968)   23,215 
Advances on inventory purchases - related parties   (36,971)   (48,019)
Prepaid expense and other   (1,947)   (1,115)
Long-term deferred expense   111    317 
Prepaid taxes   15,747    2,742 
Accounts payable   (18,050)   43,122 
Accounts payable - related parties   28,204    55,227 
Other payables and accrued liabilities   2,637    5,002 
Other payables - related parties   4,824    (16,987)
Customer deposits   49,187    (6,103)
Customer deposits - related parties   78,667    (14,502)
Taxes payable   (413)   (6,639)
Other noncurrent liabilities   -    1,378 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   121,657    (61,436)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Restricted cash   (51,820)   (49,988)
Cash proceeds from short term investment   -    80 
Cash proceeds from sales of equipment and intangible assets   24    16 
Equipment purchase and intangible assets   (112,713)   (52,350)
Net cash used in investing activities   (164,509)   (102,242)
           
CASH FLOWS FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Restricted notes receivable   286,485    244,940 
Borrowings on short term notes payable   900,202    812,577 
Payments on short term notes payable   (1,035,408)   (1,001,301)
Borrowings on short term loans - bank   185,023    141,484 
Payments on short term loans - bank   (285,100)   (83,433)
Borrowings on short term loan - others   19,949    47,903 
Payments on short term loans - others   (25,417)   (47,055)
Borrowings on short term loan - related parties   32,576    213,576 
Payments on short term loans - related parties   (19,233)   (124,059)
Deposits due to sales representatives   (2,736)   (3,734)
Deposit due to sales representatives - related parties   (326)   529 
Payments on long-term loans - related party   -    (17,544)
Net cash provided by financing activities   56,015    183,883 
EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGE IN CASH   (381)   1,199 
INCREASE IN CASH   12,782    21,404 
CASH, beginning of period   31,967    46,467 
CASH, end of period  $44,749   $67,871