China Biologic Reports Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017

BEIJING, Feb. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- China Biologic Products Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBPO, “China Biologic” or the “Company”), a leading fully integrated plasma-based biopharmaceutical company in China, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year of 2017.

Fourth Quarter 2017 Financial Highlights

• Total sales in the fourth quarter of 2017 increased by 12.2% in RMB terms and 16.1% in USD terms to $90.1 million from $77.6 million in the same quarter of 2016.
• Gross profit increased by 26.7% to $59.3 million from $46.8 million in the same quarter of 2016. Gross margin increased to 65.8% from 60.3% in the same quarter of 2016.
• Income from operations decreased by 15.5% to $19.6 million from $23.2 million in the same quarter of 2016. Operating margin decreased to 21.8% from 29.9% in the same quarter of 2016.
• Net loss attributable to the Company, factoring in one-time $40.3 million income tax charge, was $24.6 million compared to net income attributable to the Company of $19.4 million in the same quarter of 2016. Fully diluted loss per share was $0.86 compared to fully diluted earnings per share of $0.69 in the same quarter of 2016.
• Non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to the Company decreased by 6.8% in RMB terms and 3.7% in USD terms to $25.9 million from $26.9 million in the same quarter of 2016. Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share decreased to $0.90 from $0.95 in the same quarter of 2016.

Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Highlights

• Total sales in 2017 increased by 10.5% in RMB terms, or 8.6% in USD terms, to $370.4 million from $341.2 million in 2016.
• Gross profit increased by 12.8% to $244.9 million from $217.2 million in 2016. Gross margin increased to 66.1% in 2017 from 63.6% in 2016.
• Income from operations decreased by 5.6% to $135.9 million from $144.0 million in 2016. Operating margin decreased to 36.7% in 2017 from 42.1% in 2016.
• Net income attributable to the Company, factoring in one-time $40.3 million income tax charge, decreased by 35.2% to $67.9 million from $104.8 million in 2016. Fully diluted net income per share decreased to $2.38 from $3.74 in 2016.
• Non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to the Company increased by 13.7% in RMB terms, or 11.4% in USD terms, to $141.2 million from $126.8 million in 2016. Fully diluted non-GAAP adjusted net income per share increased to $4.95 from $4.52 in 2016.

Mr. David (Xiaoying) Gao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of China Biologic, commented, “We managed to meet our revised sales guidance while our profit fell below expectations due to a more-aggressive-than-expected implementation of certain government healthcare reform policies in late 2017. For example, to ensure immediate compliance with the strict policy of capping the revenue from drug sales to 30% of the total revenue of a hospital, many regional hospitals reduced purchases on certain high-unit-price plasma products, which reflected the collective efforts of regional government agencies to lower overall medical insurance spending. On the other hand, we are pleased with the performance of our placenta polypeptide product. Its sales revenue grew significantly in the fourth quarter of 2017, reflecting an increased proportion of higher-invoiced shipments due to the wider implementation of the two-invoice policy. To maintain our leading market position under the new regulations, we elevated our marketing and promotional activities, which incurred more selling expenses and impacted our profit margin.”

Mr. Gao continued, “Despite the challenging policy headwinds, we are pleased with our operational progress. We received the new Shandong facility’s final production certificate and began full operations at the new facility in late February. We received the operating permit and launched trial operations at our Ju County plasma collection station in Shandong Province in December 2017 and expect to complete construction of our Daming plasma collection station and Feicheng branch plasma collection facility in the first half of 2018. In addition, in February 2018, we received approval from Hainan Province to build a new plasma collection station in Wenchang City, and we expect to be able to obtain operating permit to begin commercial operations there before the end of 2018.

“Our product pipeline made great progress as well: our newly approved fibrinogen products have been commercially launched to the market, and we completed the clinical trial of Factor IX, for which we expect to obtain approval to commercially launch this product by the end of 2018. We closed our acquisition of 80% equity interest in TianXinFu in early 2018. Integration of its business is underway, and we plan to utilize its expertise to more deeply penetrate certain hospital surgical departments with certain high-end plasma products.”

“Looking forward to 2018, we will prioritize our focus on broadening sales channels and exploring new growth opportunities to offset potential deceleration of volume growth associated with ongoing healthcare reform. We remain committed to further investing in medical marketing to accelerate volume for newly launched products and in managing public tenders in various local markets to secure optimized pricing opportunities. Furthermore, we aim to further increase our profitability by accelerating the commercial launch time of our various pipeline products to solidify our leading market position. We remain optimistic about the development of China’s plasma industry over the long run as the opportunities for our business continue to grow while simultaneously meeting the needs of underserved patients across China,” concluded Mr. Gao.

Fourth Quarter 2017 Financial Performance

Total sales in the fourth quarter of 2017 increased by 12.2% in RMB terms, or 16.1% in USD terms, to $90.1 million from $77.6 million in the same quarter of 2016. The increase was primarily attributable to the increase in the sales of placenta polypeptide products and certain immunoglobulin products, which was partly offset by the decrease in the sales of human albumin products.

Cost of sales remained stable at $30.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the same quarter of 2016. As a percentage of total sales, cost of sales decreased to 34.2% from 39.7% in the same quarter of 2016. The decrease in cost of sales as a percentage of total sales was mainly due to the higher sales price of placenta polypeptide following the wider implementation of the two-invoice policy and a greater proportion of sales derived from hyper-immune products with a higher profit margin.

Gross profit increased by 26.7% to $59.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 from $46.8 million in the same quarter of 2016.

Gross margin was 65.8% and 60.3% in the fourth quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Total operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2017 increased by $16.1 million, or 68.2%, to $39.7 million from $23.6 million in the same quarter of 2016. This increase mainly consisted of an increase of $12.7 million in selling expenses. More than half of the increase in selling expenses was related to the sales of placenta polypeptide products and the remaining was related to the sales of plasma products. For placenta polypeptide products and certain hyper-immune products, as certain previous multiple layers of distribution channels were disqualified due to the two-invoice regulation, we implemented new sales strategies including using an internal sales force or engaging third party contract service organizations to promote our placenta polypeptide products. For other plasma products, in order to solidify our competitiveness within distribution channel customers, we incurred more promotion and marketing costs. As a percentage of total sales, total operating expenses increased to 44.1% in the fourth quarter of 2017 from 30.4% in the same quarter of 2016.

Income from operations for the fourth quarter of 2017 decreased by 15.5% to $19.6 million from $23.2 million in the same period of 2016.

Operating margin decreased to 21.8% in the fourth quarter of 2017 from 29.9% in the same quarter of 2016.

Income tax expense was $44.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $4.3 million in the same period of 2016. Income tax expense includes a one-time charge of $40.3 million, which represents management’s estimate of the amount of U.S. corporate income tax based on the deemed repatriation to the United States of the Company’s accumulated earnings mandated by the new U.S. income tax law that went into effect on December 22, 2017 (the “U.S. Tax Reform”). Excluding the one-time charge, non-GAAP income tax expense for the fourth quarter was $4.4 million. The one-time charge for deemed repatriation will be payable by the Company over an eight-year period commencing in April 2018. The actual impact of the U.S. Tax Reform on the Company may differ from management’s estimates, and management may update its judgments based on its review of future regulations or guidance issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and specific actions the Company may take in the future.

Net loss attributable to the Company, factoring in the one-time $40.3 million income tax charge, was $24.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to net income attributable to the Company of $19.4 million in the same quarter of 2016.

Diluted net loss per share was $0.86 in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to diluted net income per share of $0.69 in the same quarter of 2016.

Non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to the Company decreased by 6.8% in RMB terms, or 3.7% in USD terms, to $25.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 from $26.9 million in the same quarter of 2016.

Non-GAAP net margin decreased to 28.7% in the fourth quarter of 2017 from 34.7% in the same quarter of 2016.

Non-GAAP adjusted net income per diluted share decreased to $0.90 in the fourth quarter of 2017 from $0.95 in the same quarter of 2016.

Non-GAAP adjusted net income and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2017 exclude $8.3 million in non-cash employee share-based compensation expenses, $40.3 million in one-time income tax expense as a result of the U.S. Tax Reform, and $1.9 million in one-time expenses related to our change of domicile and acquisition of TianXinFu.

Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Performance

Total sales in 2017 increased by 10.5% in RMB terms and 8.6% in USD terms to $370.4 million from $341.2 million in 2016. The increase was primarily attributable to the increase in the sales of placenta polypeptide and certain immunoglobulin products.

During 2017, human albumin and IVIG products remained the Company’s two largest sales contributors, and revenue contribution from the Company’s other products continued to grow. As a percentage of total sales, sales from human albumin and IVIG products decreased to 35.8% and 31.7%, respectively, in 2017 compared to 39.2% and 34.6% in 2016.

The sales volume of human albumin products increased by 3.5% while sales volume of IVIG remained stable for 2017 as a combined result of enhanced production volumes in Guizhou Taibang and reduced production volume in Shandong Taibang in connection with the old facility’s production suspension.

The average price for human albumin products decreased by 2.5% in RMB terms and 4.3% in USD terms in 2017 mainly due to the combined effect of both a decrease in prices charged to certain distributors, which reflected intensified market competition, and a lower sales proportion from the higher-unit-price dosages compared to 2016. The average price for IVIG products increased by 1.3% in RMB terms and decreased by 0.8% in USD terms, mainly due to an increase in price we charged the Company’s major distributors.

Revenue from other immunoglobulin products increased by 24.9% in 2017 compared to 2016, reaching 13.5% of total sales as compared to 11.8% of total sales in 2016, mainly due to the increase in both average sales price and sales volume of human rabies immunoglobulin products.

Revenue from other plasma products, including human coagulation factor VIII and human prothrombin complex concentrate, increased by 22.0% in 2017 compared to 2016, representing 5.7% of total sales as compared to 5.0% of total sales in 2016. This growth reflects the Company’s ongoing medical marketing activities.

Revenue from placenta polypeptide products increased by 52.8% in 2017 compared to 2016, reaching 13.3% of total sales, mainly attributable to a higher unit selling price following the wider implementation of the two-invoice policy across China in 2017 as well as an increase of 7.3% in sales volume.

Cost of sales was $125.5 million in 2017 compared to $124.0 million in 2016. As a percentage of total sales, cost of sales decreased to 33.9% from 36.4% in 2016 mainly due to the higher sales price of placenta polypeptide following the wider implementation of the two-invoice policy and a greater proportion of sales derived from certain hyper-immune and coagulation products with a higher profit margin.

Gross profit increased by 12.8% to $244.9 million in 2017 from $217.2 million in 2016.

Gross margin was 66.1% and 63.6% in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Total operating expenses in 2017 increased by 48.9% to $109.0 million from $73.2 million in 2016 mainly due to the increase of selling expenses as well as the increase of general and administrative expenses. As a percentage of total sales, total operating expenses increased to 29.4% in 2017 from 21.5% in 2016.

Selling expenses in 2017 increased by $23.1 million to $34.8 million from $11.7 million in 2016. More than half of the increase was related to the sales of placenta polypeptide products with the remainder related to the sales of plasma products. For placenta polypeptide products and certain hyper-immune products, as certain previous multiple layers of distribution channels were disqualified due to the two-invoice regulation, the Company implemented new sales strategies including using an internal sales force or engaging third party contract service organizations to promote its placenta polypeptide products. For other plasma products, in order to solidify its competitiveness within distribution channel customers, the Company incurred additional promotion and marketing costs. As a percentage of total sales, selling expenses accounted for 9.4% in 2017 compared to 3.4% in 2016.

General and administrative expenses in 2017 increased by 24.2% to $67.7 million compared to $54.5 million in 2016. As a percentage of total sales, general and administrative expenses were 18.3% and 16.0% in 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in general and administrative expenses was mainly due to the increase of share-based compensation expenses of $9.5 million and $1.9 million in one-time expenses related to the Company’s change of domicile and acquisition of TianXinFu. Excluding the impact of share-based compensation expenses and the one-time expenses related to the Company’s change of domicile and acquisition of TianXinFu, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses would have been 8.6% and 8.8% of total sales in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Research and development expenses in 2017 decreased by 7.1% to $6.5 million from $7.0 million in 2016. As a percentage of total sales, research and development expenses decreased to 1.7% in 2017 from 2.1% in 2016. During 2017 and 2016, the Company received government grants totaling $0.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively, and recognized them as a reduction of research and development expenses. Excluding this impact, non-GAAP research and development expenses decreased by $0.9 million in 2017 from 2016, and these non-GAAP expenses as a percentage of total sales decreased from 2.3% to 1.9%.

Income from operations in 2017 decreased by 5.6% to $135.9 million from $144.0 million in 2016.

Operating margin was 36.7% in 2017 as compared to 42.1% in 2016.

Income tax expense in 2017 was $64.2 million compared to $25.1 million in 2016. Income tax expense includes a one-time charge of $40.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, which represents management’s estimate of the amount of U.S. corporate income tax based on the deemed repatriation to the United States of the Company’s accumulated earnings mandated by the U.S. Tax Reform. Excluding the one-time charge, non-GAAP income tax expense for 2017 was $23.9 million, and the non-GAAP effective income tax rate remained at 16.3% in 2017 as in 2016.

Net income attributable to the Company, factoring in the one-time $40.3 million income tax charge, was $67.9 million in 2017 compared to $104.8 million in 2016. Diluted earnings per share for 2017 was $2.38 compared to $3.74 for 2016.

Non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to the Company increased by 13.7% in RMB terms and 11.4% in USD terms to $141.2 million in 2017 from $126.8 million in 2016.

Non-GAAP net margin increased to 38.1% from 37.2% in 2016.

Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per diluted share increased to $4.95 in 2017 from $4.52 in 2016.

Non-GAAP adjusted net income and diluted earnings per share for 2017 exclude $31.1 million in non-cash employee share-based compensation expenses, $40.3 million in one-time income tax expense as a result of the U.S. Tax Reform, and $1.9 million in one-time expenses related to the Company’s change of domicile and acquisition of TianXinFu.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $219.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, primarily consisting of cash on hand, demand deposits, and certificates of deposit with an initial term of three months or less.

Net cash provided by operating activities for 2017 was $102.2 million as compared to $123.3 million for 2016. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to an increase in accounts receivable and inventories, which was partially offset by an increase in other payables and accrued liabilities during 2017.

Accounts receivable increased by $39.9 million during 2017 as compared to $11.0 million in 2016. The accounts receivable turnover days for plasma products increased to 58 days during 2017 from 41 days in 2016, reflecting longer credit terms to hospitals as a result of the nationwide implementation of healthcare reform measures and intensified competition in the distribution channel.

Inventories increased by $42.1 million in 2017 as compared to $40.1 million in 2016. This increase was due to an increase of raw materials during the production suspension at our old Shandong facility, and the increase of work-in-process and finished goods reflecting the weaker market demand due to more aggressive-than-expected implementation of certain government healthcare reform policies.

Net cash used in investing activities for 2017 was $60.9 million as compared to $52.5 million for 2016. In 2017, the Company paid $38.3 million for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, and land use rights and we also made time deposit of $22.7 million. In 2016, the Company paid $51.0 million for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and land use rights and provided loans of $12.3 million to Xinjiang Deyuan, which was partially offset by a $10.3 million refund of deposits on land use rights from the local government.

Net cash used in financing activities for 2017 was $18.3 million as compared to $22.1 million for 2016. Net cash used in financing activities in 2017 mainly consisted of a dividend payment of $18.8 million made by the Company’s subsidiary to the noncontrolling interest shareholder, which was partially offset by proceeds of $0.9 million from stock options exercised. Net cash used in financing activities in 2016 mainly consisted of a payment of $58.1 million to former minority shareholders of Guizhou Taibang in connection with their capital withdrawal from Guizhou Taibang and a dividend of $7.9 million paid to the minority shareholder by Shandong Taibang. These were partially offset by the maturity of a $37.8 million time deposit as a security for a bank loan, which was fully repaid in June 2015, and the proceeds of $3.6 million from stock options exercised.

Financial Outlook

For the full year of 2018, the Company expects total sales to grow 18% to 20% in RMB terms and non-GAAP adjusted net income to grow 16% to 18% in RMB terms over 2017 financial results. These projections factor in the estimated 2018 financial results of TianXinFu in which the Company acquired 80% interests at the beginning of 2018. Excluding the TianXinFu contribution, estimated sales for 2018 are expected to grow 6% to 8% in RMB terms and non-GAAP adjusted net income is expected to grow 3% to 4% in RMB terms over 2017 financial results. The 2018 non-GAAP adjusted net income projection excludes non-cash employee share-based compensation expenses and non-cash intangible assets amortization expense associated with the TianXinFu acquisition.

This guidance does not factor in any potential foreign currency translation impact. Having previously adopted an exchange rate of approximately RMB6.76 = $1.00 based on weighted average quarterly exchange rates in 2017 in translating 2017 financial results, the Company expects that the total sales and non-GAAP adjusted net income in USD terms in 2018 could be affected by the foreign currency translation impact.

This guidance excludes potential acquisitions, and necessarily assumes no significant adverse product price changes during 2018. This forecast reflects the Company’s current and preliminary views, which are subject to change.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call at 7:30 am Eastern Time on March 1, 2018, which is 8:30 pm Beijing Time on March 1, 2018, to discuss its fourth quarter and fiscal 2017 results and answer questions from investors. Listeners may access the call by dialing:

 US: 1 888 346 8982 International: 1 412 902 4272 Hong Kong: 800 905 945 China: 400 120 1203 

A telephone replay will be available one hour after the conclusion of the conference all through March 8, 2018. The dial-in details are:

 US: 1 877 344 7529 International: 1 412 317 0088 Passcode: 10117579 

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available through the Company’s investor relations website at http://chinabiologic.investorroom.com.