China BCT Pharmacy reports 5.2% increase in first-quarter 2010 revenue

China BCT Pharmacy Group, Inc., (OTC Bulletin Board: CNBI), ("China BCT" or the "Company"), a leading pharmaceutical distributor, retail pharmacy, and manufacturer of pharmaceutical products in Guangxi Province, China, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

First Quarter 2010 Highlights -- Revenue increased 5.2% to $34.0 million year over year -- Gross profit was up slightly year over year to $8.9 million -- Operating income decreased 11.5% to $6.2 million year over year -- GAAP net income was $4.2 million in the 2010 first quarter as compared to $5.0 million in the year ago quarter -- Excluding the non-cash, non-operating charge related to change in the fair value of warrant liabilities, non-GAAP adjusted net income was $4.5 million

"While we grew sales by leveraging our strong relationships with suppliers and customers, a shift in product mix and significant investments in staffing and marketing negatively affected our profit in the first quarter," commented Mr. Hui Tian Tang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of China BCT Pharmacy Group, Inc. "We expect that these strategic investments in our business will return substantial gains over time. As the Chinese government's health care reforms expand, we are already seeing a growing number of our medi-care pharmacy customers receiving state health insurance coverage. Further, our recent acquisition of 48 retail pharmacy stores in Guangxi Province has further expanded our retail footprint to strengthen our leadership in the region and create new growth drivers in the coming quarters."

First Quarter 2010 Results

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2010, revenue increased 5.2% to $34.0 million, as compared to $32.3 million in the same quarter of 2009. The increase in revenue was primarily driven by a 29.0% increase in retail pharmacy sales, reflecting increased marketing campaigns that boosted existing store sales and contribution from new stores which opened in the second half of 2009. Pharmaceutical distribution revenues fell slightly to $23.2 million year-over-year, with a 24.3% growth in hospital sales offset by lower distributor sales. Lower distribution sales primarily reflect a shift in the Company's focus to sell directly to hospitals and the timing of orders from distributors in the first quarter of 2010. In future quarters, the Company anticipates accelerating revenue growth in the distribution segment to be driven by increased contribution from direct sales to hospitals and the consolidation of the recently acquired 48 retail pharmacy stores.

In terms of revenue mix, wholesale distribution accounted for 68.2% of the total, while the retail pharmacy and manufacturing pharmacy contributed 26.1% and 5.7%, respectively, as compared to 72.6% from pharmaceutical distribution, 21.3% from retail pharmacy and 6.1% from manufacturing pharmacy for the first quarter of 2009.

Gross profit was $8.9 million, compared to $8.8 million for the same period of 2009. Gross margin fell to 26.0%, as compared to 27.4% in the comparable period last year. Lower gross margin in the first quarter of 2010 mainly reflected a change in the Company's distribution portfolio that included a more diversified product mix, which is expected to drive sales volume and gross profit dollar growth over time.

Operating expenses increased by 43.9% to $2.7 million, as compared to $1.9 million in the same period last year. Administrative expenses increased 64.9% to $1.6 million, as compared to $1.0 million in the same period of 2009, primarily due to an increase in staff compensation, including year-end bonuses, and rental expenditures. Administrative costs are expected to decline during the remainder of 2010. Selling expenses rose 19.5% to $1,026,519, compared to $858,686 in the same period of 2009, due to increased marketing activities to expand and gain additional market opportunities.

Operating income declined 11.5% to $6.2 million, or 18.2% of revenue, from $7.0 million, or 21.6% of revenue, in the first quarter of 2009.

GAAP net income fell to $4.2 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, as compared to $5.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2009. Adjusted net income, excluding the $0.3 million non-cash expense related to change in the fair value of warrant liabilities, was $4.5 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. There were no comparable adjustments to net income in the first quarter of 2009.

Financial Condition

As of March 31, 2010, BCT had $13.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and $35.0 million in working capital and a current ratio of 1.9:1x. Long-term bank debt was $3.6 million. Shareholders' equity was $58.1 million on March 31, 2010, up from $53.4 million at the end of 2009.

The Company generated $3.9 million in cash from operating activities for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, an increase compared to cash used in operating activities of $4.1 million in the same period in 2009. The increase in cash flow from operating activities primarily reflected decrease in trade receivables and increase in accounts payable and better cash management. Inventory level increased quarter-over-quarter as the Company anticipated accelerating revenue growth in future quarters.

Recent Events

In May 2010, China BCT announced that it acquired 48 retail pharmacy stores in two separate transactions. First, the Company acquired 30 retail pharmacy stores from a retail pharmacy operator in Liuzhou City for $2.4 million in cash from Wubaitang, a local pharmaceutical company with pharmaceutical wholesale and retail divisions, in March 2010. Management expects these newly acquired stores to contribute approximately $3.7 million to the Company's revenue in 2010. Subsequently, in April 2010, the Company acquired an 18-store retail pharmacy chain in Zhaoping County, the administrative region of Hezhou City, for $1.3 million in cash from Zhaoping Laobaixing Pharmacy Retail Limited, a local retail pharmaceutical chain store enterprise. The Company estimates that these 18 stores will contribute approximately $1.8 million to annual sales after they become operational.

Business Outlook

"Following our successful bidding for distribution rights in Guangxi province over the past year, we expect sales under these contracts to become an increasingly larger share of our overall revenues," commented Mr. Tang. "While we continue to pursue an organic growth strategy for our distribution segment, we are also aggressively expanding our retail pharmacy presence throughout Guangxi Province through acquisitions. With the addition of the 48 new stores, we are on track to achieve our target of adding a total of 160 pharmacy stores by the end of 2010 to our growing retail chain in Guangxi Province. We expect to be successful once again in renewing existing and winning new contracts as part of the 2010 centralized tendering under the New Rural Corporative Health Insurance Plan and anticipate significant new business opportunities to drive China BCT's growth."