Kingold Jewelry Reports 2013 Third Quarter Financial Results

WUHAN, China, Nov. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Kingold Jewelry, Inc. ("Kingold" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: KGJI), one of China's leading manufacturers and designers of high quality 24-karat gold jewelry, ornaments and investment-oriented products, today announced financial results for its third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2013.

2013 Third Quarter Financial and Operating Highlights (Comparisons are to 2012 Third Quarter):

• Net sales increased 28.6% to $283.9 million compared to $220.8 million, largely as a result of increased production.
• Processed 13 metric tons [one metric ton = 35,274 ounces] of 24-karat gold products compared to 9.5 metric tons.
• Gross profit increased to $18.1 million from to $12.7 million, and gross margin was 6.4% compared to 5.7%, due to increased production as a result of greater access to gold through the Company's gold leasing transactions.
• Net income attributable to common shareholders increased 31.4% to $11.0 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, from $8.4 million, or $0.15 per diluted share.
• Cash flow from operations of $6.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013
• Book value per diluted share of $3.18 at September 30, 2013 compared to $2.97 at December 31, 2012.
• Kingold expects to process between 50-55 metric tons of 24-karat gold products in 2013.  The Company processed 36.8 metric tons during the first nine months of 2013.
• Management to travel to the United States for meetings in New York and Boston during the week of November 18 - 22 (details below).

Management Comments

Mr. Zhihong Jia, Chairman and CEO of Kingold, stated, "We have begun to realize the benefit of the gold leasing transactions entered into this year.  As a result of increased access to gold, we have greater flexibility to expand our production capacity at favorable times in the market cycle.  This has allowed Kingold to achieve higher margins, increase its cash flow from operations, and better manage its operations during the period.  Throughout the first nine months of 2013, there has been considerable pressure on global gold pricing.  While this has created challenges for Kingold and a number of gold manufacturers, we feel this presents a potential long-term opportunity to win market share from some of our less capitalized competitors.  We believe the third quarter's strong sales and margin expansion despite this pressure on pricing demonstrates our ability to execute throughout varying market cycles.  We are revising our 2013 sales volume guidance to provide for a tighter range of between 50-55 metric tons in 2013 and as a result expect to produce strong fourth quarter year-over-year improvements in production."

Chairman Jia continued, "Subsequent to the quarter, we reached a milestone agreement that we feel is key for Kingold's long-term growth.  We entered into an acquisition agreement to acquire 66,666 square meters (717,587 square feet) of industrial land for use in the development of Wuhan Kingold Jewelry International Industry Park. This is expected to be a major commercial complex where businesses in the jewelry industry and consumers can come together, with manufacturing, wholesale, and retail shopping.  We plan to move part of our production facility to this industrial park, which will provide Kingold with greater flexibility to expand production levels.  We are very excited about this project and look forward to updating investors on our progress."

Update on Gold Lease Transactions 

On October 24, 2013, the Company announced an increase in the credit line established under its previously disclosed gold leasing agreement with China Construction Bank's Wuhan Jiang'An branch ("CCB"), dated December 20, 2012, whose term was extended until July 22, 2014 (the "Gold Leasing Agreement"). Kingold's total credit line under the Gold Leasing Agreement with CCB is now RMB400 million (approximately US$65.4 million), an increase of RMB150 million from the original credit line of RMB250 million.

During the first nine months of 2013, the Company signed a new gold leasing agreement with the Wuhan branch of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Ltd. ("SPD Bank") (under its previously disclosed framework agreement) and entered into a new similar gold leasing arrangement with the Wuhan branch of CITIC Bank Corporation Limited ("CITIC Bank").  The Company leased the gold as a way to fuel its growth and will return the same amount of gold to CCB, SPD Bank, and CITIC Bank at the end of the respective lease agreements.

Development of Wuhan Kingold Jewelry Industrial Park

On October 23, 2013, subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company entered into an acquisition agreement to acquire from Wuhan Huayuan Science and Technology Development Limited Company the operating rights for 66,666 square meters (717,587 square feet) of industrial land for use in the development of Wuhan Kingold Jewelry International Industry Park in the Jiangan district, Wuhan (the "Park"), for approximately RMB1.0 billion (approximately USD$164 million at current exchange rates) .

The Company expects construction of the Park to be completed by mid-2015.  The construction of the Park is anticipated to be an integral part of the Company's long-term growth strategy as the Company expects that it will create a major hub for the jewelry industry in the central region of China.  Kingold intends to update investors as the project progresses.

Operational Review

In the third quarter of 2013, Kingold processed a total of 13.0 metric tons of 24-karat gold products compared to 9.5 metric tons processed in the prior year period.  The Company's net sales consisted primarily of sales of branded products to wholesale and retail customers, as well as fees generated from customized production (as detailed in the table below).  Of the 13.0 metric tons processed during the period, Kingold's branded production accounted for 7.2 metric tons (55.2%) and customized production accounted for 5.8 metric tons (44.8%).  In the third quarter of 2012, Kingold processed a total of 9.5 metric tons of gold, of which branded production accounted for 4.6 metric tons (48.6%) and customized production accounted for 4.9 metric tons (51.4%).

In the first nine months of 2013, the Company processed a total of 36.8 metric tons of gold, of which branded production accounted for 20.3 metric tons (55.2%) and the customized production accounted for 16.5 metric tons (44.8%).  In the first nine months of 2012, Kingold processed a total of 30.2 metric tons of gold, of which branded production accounted for 14.7 metric tons (48.8%) and customized production accounted for 15.5 metric tons (51.2%).

2013 Third Quarter Financial Review

• Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2013 was $283.9 million, an increase of $63.1 million, or 28.6%, from $220.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  The increase in net sales was primarily driven by increased production of $98.1 million, offset by approximately $40.1 million due to the decrease in the price of gold, with the remaining increase due to the translation gain from RMB into USD.
• Gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2013 was $18.1 million, an increase of $5.5 million, or 43.2%, from $12.7 million for the same period in 2012.  Gross margin for the three months ended September 30, 2013 was 6.4% compared to 5.7% for the same period in 2012.  The increase in gross profit and gross margin was primarily due to increased production and higher processing fees for customized production in the three months ended September 30, 2013.
• Net income attributable to Kingold shareholders for the third quarter of 2013 increased 31.4% to $11.0 million, or $0.17 per diluted share based on 64.5 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding, from $8.4 million, or $0.15 per diluted share based on 54.2 million diluted shares outstanding, in the prior year period.

Fiscal 2013 Nine Month Financial Review

• Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $872.3 million, an increase of $158.0 million, or 22.1%, from $714.3 million in prior year period.  The increase in net sales was primarily driven by increased production, offset by approximately $86.7 million due to the decrease in the in the price of gold, with the remaining increase due to gains from exchange rate fluctuations.
• Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $35.6 million, compared to $39.2 million in the prior year period.  The Company's gross margin for the nine months ended June 30, 2013 was 4.1% compared to 5.5% for the prior year period. The primary reason for the decrease in gross margin was that the unit processing fee for branded production was higher in the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
• Net income attributable to Kingold shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $20.4 million, or $0.32 per diluted share based on 63.3 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding, compared to net income of $25.3 million, or $0.47 per diluted share based on 54.2 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding, in the prior year period.  

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

Outlook for 2013

Kingold revised its 2013 guidance, and believes that the Company will process between 50 metric tons and 55 metric tons of gold products in 2013.  This guidance is based solely on current projected, organic growth, and would represent a 32.3% to 45.5% increase from the 37.8 metric tons processed in 2012.

Upcoming Investor Meetings

As previously announced, the Company's management team will be hosting investor meetings and conducting media appearances throughout the week of November 18^th in New York and Boston.  The Company's management team will present an overview of Kingold's operations, including a discussion of its strategy and recent activities.  

Conference Call Details

Kingold also announced that it will discuss financial results in a conference call on Friday, November 15, 2013, at 8:30 AM ET.

The dial-in numbers are:

Live Participant Dial In (Toll Free):        877-407-9038
Live Participant Dial In (International):         201-493-6742

The conference call will also be webcast live.  To listen to the call, please go to the Investor Relations section of Kingold's website at www.kingoldjewelry.com, or click on the following link:  http://kingoldjewelry.equisolvewebcast.com/q3-2013.  The Company will have an accompanying slide presentation available in PDF format on its homepage prior to the conference call.

About Kingold Jewelry, Inc.:

Kingold Jewelry, Inc. (NASDAQ: KGJI), centrally located in Wuhan City, was founded in 2002 and today is one of China's leading designers and manufacturers of 24-karat gold jewelry, ornaments and investment-oriented products.  The Company sells both directly to retailers as well as through major distributors across China.  Kingold has received numerous industry awards and has been a member of the Shanghai Gold Exchange since 2003.  For more information, please visit www.kingoldjewelry.com.

Business Risks and Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  These include statements regarding the amount of gold to be processed in 2013, Kingold's ability to withstand global gold pricing pressure and to win market share from its competitors that are less capitalized than Kingold, Kingold's anticipated fourth quarter and 2013 production results, Kingold's plans for the construction and completion of the Wuhan Kingold Jewelry International Industry Park (the "Park") to serve as a major commercial complex, and Kingold's plan to move part of its production facility to the Park and the greater production levels such move will provide.  Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.  In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in Kingold's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including Kingold's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made.  Kingold undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

SOURCE Kingold Jewelry, Inc.