China Cord Blood Corporation Reports Financial Results for the Third Quarter and First Nine Months of Fiscal 2015

HONG KONG, Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- China Cord Blood Corporation (NYSE: CO) ("CCBC" or the "Company"), China's leading provider of cord blood collection, laboratory testing, hematopoietic stem cell processing and stem cell storage services, today announced its preliminary unaudited financial results for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2015 ended December 31, 2014.

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2015 Highlights

• Revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 increased by 10.7% to RMB166.7 million ($26.9 million) from RMB150.6 million in the prior year period.
• New subscribers and accumulated subscriber base were 17,622 and 425,377, respectively.
• Gross profit increased by 5.7% to RMB130.6 million ($21.1 million) from RMB123.6 million in the prior year period, despite higher raw material costs and depreciation expense.
• Gross margin was 78.4%, compared to 82.0% in the prior year period.
• Operating income increased to RMB67.8 million ($10.9 million) from RMB65.7 million in the prior year period, despite higher depreciation expense as a result of the completion of the new facilities and the first time recognition of share-based compensation expense related to the restricted share units ("RSUs") granted.
• Operating income before depreciation and amortization and share-based compensation expenses was RMB83.2 million ($13.4 million), up 9.9% year-over-year.^[1]
• Interest expense was RMB25.8 million ($4.2 million), compared to RMB21.9 million in the prior year period due to the absence of interest expense capitalization.
• Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders was RMB33.4 million ($5.4 million), compared to RMB34.6 million in the prior year period.
• Operating cash flow for the quarter was RMB152.7 million ($24.6 million) after taking into account the interest payment made to the Company's convertible note holder.

First Nine Months of Fiscal 2015 Highlights

• Revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 increased by 12.2% to RMB472.1 million ($76.1 million) from RMB420.9 million in the prior year period.
• New subscribers reached 48,754 and the accumulated subscriber base expanded to 425,377.
• Gross profit increased by 9.9% to RMB376.0 million ($60.6 million) from RMB342.1 million in the prior year period.
• Operating income increased by 10.5% to RMB185.5 million ($29.9 million) from RMB167.9 million in the prior year period.
• Operating income before depreciation and amortization and share-based compensation expenses was RMB225.6 million ($36.4 million), up 15.6% year-over-year.^[1]
• Interest expense was RMB75.9 million ($12.2 million), compared to RMB53.1 million in the prior year period due to the absence of interest expense capitalization.
• Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders was RMB90.4 million ($14.6 million), compared to RMB92.4 million in the prior year period.
• Operating cash flow for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 increased by 12.5% to RMB448.4 million ($72.3 million) from RMB398.6 million in the prior year period.

"We recorded solid performance in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 with more than 17,600 new subscribers, representing strong year-on-year growth and a quarter-on-quarter improvement," stated Ms. Ting Zheng, Chief Executive Officer of China Cord Blood Corporation. "Our new subscriber growth in the December quarter reflects our recent increase in strategic marketing efforts in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. With the Company's cumulative subscriber base exceeding 425,000, we have further solidified our position as one of the largest cord blood banks on a global scale."

Ms. Zheng further commented, "In the near term, we continue to explore new promotion platforms while strengthening our existing marketing channels in order to deepen our market penetration in both Beijing and Guangdong, as well as gradually enrolling new hospitals in Zhejiang. We recently announced our new MOU with Cord Blood Registry in the US. This partnership will further our mission to deliver premium quality precautionary healthcare services to families as we continue to support patients and clients both domestically and abroad."

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2015 Financial Results

REVENUES. Revenues increased by 10.7% to RMB166.7 million ($26.9 million) in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 from RMB150.6 million in the prior year period. The increases in processing revenues and recurring storage revenues were mainly driven by the solid year-over-year growth of new subscribers and the Company's enlarged total subscriber base.

The Company's accumulated subscriber base expanded to 425,377 by the end of December 2014, resulting in a 20.6% increase in storage fee revenues to RMB52.1 million ($8.4 million) in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 from RMB43.2 million in the prior year period. As a percentage of total revenues, storage fees accounted for 31.2%, compared to 28.7% in the prior year period.

Revenues generated from processing fees in the third quarter were RMB114.6 million ($18.5 million), up 6.7% from RMB107.4 million in the prior year period. This growth was driven by the 17,622 new subscribers recorded in the December quarter, which represented an 8.0% increase year-on-year and a 13.1% increase sequentially. Revenues generated from processing fees accounted for 68.8% of total revenues, compared to 71.3% in the prior year period.

GROSS PROFIT. Gross profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 amounted to RMB130.6 million ($21.1 million), a 5.7% increase from RMB123.6 million in the prior year period. The increase in revenue was partially offset by higher depreciation expense and raw material costs. Gross margin was 78.4%, compared to 82.0% in the prior year period.

OPERATING INCOME. Operating income for the third quarter increased at a slower pace to RMB67.8 million ($10.9 million) from RMB65.7 million in the prior year period, as a result of higher depreciation expense and the recognition of share-based compensation expense. Operating margin was 40.7%, compared to 43.7% in the prior year period. Depreciation and amortization expenses for the third quarter were RMB12.9 million ($2.1 million), compared to RMB9.9 million in the prior year period. Share-based compensation expense related to the Company's RSUs which were granted in December 2014 pursuant to the Company's RSU Scheme amounted to RMB2.5 million ($0.4 million) for the December quarter, whereas no such expense was incurred in the prior year period. Operating income before depreciation and amortization and share-based compensation expenses totaled RMB83.2 million ($13.4 million), up 9.9% compared to the prior year period.^[4]

Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses, which have been stable in recent quarters, were RMB2.4 million ($0.4 million).

Sales and Marketing Expenses. Sales and marketing expenses for the third quarter amounted to RMB30.3 million ($4.9 million), compared to RMB28.2 million in the prior year period. The increase in sales and marketing expenses reflected the Company's effort to attract new subscribers and increased advertising and promotion activities. As a percentage of revenue, sales and marketing expenses were 18.2%, as compared to 18.7% in the prior year period.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses for the third quarter were RMB30.1 million ($4.9 million), compared to RMB27.2 million in the prior year period. Increased depreciation expense and the recognition of share-based compensation expense contributed to the increase. As a percentage of revenue, general and administrative expenses were 18.1%, similar to the prior year period.

OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSES.

Interest Expense. Interest expense was mainly related to the Company's outstanding convertible notes. In the December quarter, the Company incurred interest expense of RMB25.8 million ($4.2 million), without any capitalization. For the prior year period, interest expense was RMB21.9 million as RMB3.6 million of interest expense was capitalized in relation to the construction of new facilities.

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS. Due to higher interest expense, which offset the increase in operating income, income before income tax for the third quarter decreased year-over-year to RMB47.1 million ($7.6 million) from RMB49.2 million. Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 amounted to RMB33.4 million ($5.4 million), compared to RMB34.6 million in the prior year period. Net margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 was 20.0%.

EARNINGS PER SHARE. The terms of the convertible notes held by KKR, CGL and Magnum provide each party with the ability to participate in any Excess Cash Dividend^[5]. Therefore, the calculation of basic and diluted EPS has taken into consideration the effect of such participating rights, which was RMB0.05 ($0.01) per share. Basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 were RMB0.41 ($0.07).^[6]

LIQUIDITY. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB2,295.6 million ($370.0 million), compared to RMB1,882.9 million as of March 31, 2014. The Company had total debt of RMB868.0 million ($139.9 million) as of December 31, 2014. Operating cash flow for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 amounted to RMB152.7 million ($24.6 million) after taking into account the interest payment made to the Company's convertible note holder.

First Nine Months of Fiscal 2015 Financial Results

For the first nine months of fiscal year 2015, total revenues increased by 12.2% to RMB472.1 million ($76.1 million) from RMB420.9 million in the prior year period. The increase was largely attributable to the steady growth of new subscribers and the Company's expanded subscriber base, which reached 425,377 at the end of December 2014. Revenues from processing fees and storage fees grew by 8.4% and 21.4% year-over-year, respectively. Gross profit increased by 9.9% to RMB376.0 million ($60.6 million) from RMB342.1 million in the prior year period. Operating income increased by 10.5% to RMB185.5 million ($29.9 million) from RMB167.9 million in the prior year period. Operating income before depreciation and amortization and share-based compensation expenses totaled RMB225.6 million ($36.4 million), an increase of 15.6% over the prior year period.⁷ Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders amounted to RMB90.4 million ($14.6 million). Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to ordinary shares were RMB1.13 ($0.18). Net cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 was RMB448.4 million ($72.3 million).

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, February 26, 2015 to discuss its financial performance and give a brief overview of the Company's recent developments, followed by a question and answer session. Interested parties can access the audio webcast through the Company's IR website at http://ir.chinacordbloodcorp.com. A replay of the webcast will be accessible two hours after the conference call and available for three weeks at the same URL above. Listeners can also access the call by dialing 1-631-514-2526 or 1-855-298-3404 for US callers, or +852-5808-3202 for Hong Kong callers, access code: 3388198.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

GAAP results for the three months and nine months ended December 31, 2014 include non-cash items related to the depreciation and amortization and share-based compensation expenses. To supplement the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements presented on a U.S. GAAP basis, the Company has provided adjusted financial information excluding the impact of these items in this press release. The non-GAAP financial measure represents non-GAAP operating income. Such adjustment is a departure of U.S. GAAP; however, the Company's management believes that these adjusted measures provide investors with a better understanding of how the results relate to the Company's historical performance. Also, management uses non-GAAP operating income as a measurement tool for evaluating actual operating performance compared to budget and prior periods. These adjusted measures should not be considered an alternative to operating income, or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These measures are not necessarily comparable to a similarly titled measure of another company. A reconciliation of the adjustments to U.S. GAAP results appears in exhibit 3 accompanying this press release. This additional adjusted information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for U.S. GAAP financials. The adjusted financial information that the Company provides also may differ from the adjusted information provided by other companies.

About China Cord Blood Corporation

China Cord Blood Corporation is the first and largest umbilical cord blood banking operator in China in terms of geographical coverage and the only cord blood banking operator with multiple licenses. Under current PRC government regulations, only one licensed cord blood banking operator is permitted to operate in each licensed region and only seven licenses have been authorized as of today. China Cord Blood Corporation provides cord blood collection, laboratory testing, hematopoietic stem cell processing and stem cell storage services. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.chinacordbloodcorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements relate to future events or the Company's future financial performance. The Company has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including "anticipates", "believes", "expects", "can", "continue", "could", "estimates", "intends", "may", "plans", "potential", "predict", "should" or "will" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions, uncertainties and other factors may cause the Company's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The information in this press release is not intended to project future performance of the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company does not guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company expectations are as of the date this press release is issued, and the Company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date this press release is issued to conform these statements to actual results, unless required by law.

The forward-looking statements included in this press release are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company's businesses and business environments. These statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results of the Company's operations may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors some of which include, among other things: continued compliance with government regulations regarding cord blood banking in the People's Republic of China, or PRC and any other jurisdiction in which the Company conducts its operations; changing legislation or regulatory environments (including revisions to China's One Child Policy) in the PRC and any other jurisdiction in which the Company conducts its operations; the acceptance by subscribers of the Company's different pricing and payment options and reaction to the introduction of the Company's premium-quality pricing strategy; demographic trends in the regions of the PRC in which the Company is the exclusive licensed cord blood banking operator; labor and personnel relations; the existence of a significant shareholder able to influence and direct the corporate policies of the Company; credit risks affecting the Company's revenue and profitability; changes in the healthcare industry, including those which may result in the use of stem cell therapies becoming redundant or obsolete; the Company's ability to effectively manage its growth, including implementing effective controls and procedures and attracting and retaining key management and personnel; changing interpretations of generally accepted accounting principles; the availability of capital resources, including in the form of capital markets financing opportunities, in light of industry developments affecting issuers that have pursued a "reverse merger" with an operating company based in China, as well as general economic conditions; compliance with restrictive debt covenants under our senior convertible notes; and other relevant risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States.

This announcement contains translations of certain Renminbi amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of readers. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars as of and for the periods ending December 31, 2014 were made at the noon buying rate of RMB6.2046 to $1.00 on December 31, 2014 in the City of New York for cable transfers in Renminbi per U.S. dollar as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. China Cord Blood Corporation makes no representation that the Renminbi or U.S. dollar amounts referred to in this press release could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars or Renminbi, at any particular rate or at all.

For more information, please contact:

China Cord Blood Corporation
Investor Relations Department
Tel: (+852) 3605-8180
Email: [email protected]

ICR, Inc.
William Zima
Tel: (+86) 10-6583-7511
U.S. Tel: (646) 405-5185
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE China Cord Blood Corporation