TAIPEI, Taiwan, Dec. 31, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Asia Pacific Wire & Cable Corporation Limited (Nasdaq: APWC ) ("APWC" or the "Company"), a leading manufacturer of wire and cable products for the telecommunications and electric-power industries in the Asia-Pacific region, today announced the Company's financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Unless otherwise indicated all dates are reported in US dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of the event or result reported.
| First Nine Months 2014 Financial Results (Ended September 30, 2014) | |||
| First 9 Months 2014 | First 9 Months 2013 | CHANGE | |
| Revenues | $338.7 million | $336.4 million | +0.7% |
| Gross Profit | $28.9 million | $35.3 million | -19.1% |
| Net Income | $0.3 million | $3.9 million | -93.2% |
| EPS (1) | $0.02 | $0.28 | |
| (1) Earnings per share are based on 13.8 million shares in Q3 2013 and Q3 2014 | |||
Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were $338.7 million, up from $336.4 million in the prior year, primarily attributable to a 7.6% rise in sales in the Company's Rest of the World Region (ROW Region) an increased sales volumes in SDI, and a 1.7% increase in sales in the North Asia Region from manufactured products. APWC's ROW Region includes Singapore, Australia and the other markets where APWC has operations or sales outside of the Thailand Region and North Asia Region. The North Asia Region includes China and Hong Kong, and the Thailand Region contains the operations and sales inside Thailand.
Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 declined by 19.1% to $28.9 million from $35.3 million in the same period last year. Gross margin was down by 18.5%, falling from 10.5% in the first nine months of 2013 to 8.5% this year. In the Thailand Region, gross margin fell following a decline in higher margin Thai government projects due to the political unrest since Q4 2013. The ROW Region also experienced declining sales prices and an increase in manufacturing overhead.
Selling, general and administrative expenses of $20.6 million were reported for the first nine months of 2014, compared to $22.6 million booked a year ago. Operating income was $6.3 million, compared to $12.4 million in the comparable nine month period last year. The Company booked a one-time $2.1 million non-cash impairment charge for trade receivables in 2014. Operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 would have been $8.4 million excluding the non-cash impairment charge.
Net income attributable to APWC shareholders was $0.3 million for the nine months of 2014, compared to $3.9 million in 2013. Net income per share was $0.02 for the year to date, while net income of $0.28 per share was reported for the comparable period a year ago. The weighted average number of shares outstanding was 13.8 million for the first nine months of each of 2014 and 2013.
APWC reported $81.3 million in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2014, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $62.5 million on December 31, 2013. Most of the cash is held by operating subsidiaries and, in certain instances, subject to limitations on distribution to APWC.
Current assets totaled $338.4 million on September 30, 2014 compared to $302.2 million as of December 31, 2013. Working capital was $175.8 million as of September 30, 2014. Short term bank loans were reported at $67.1 million on the same date, up from $41.8 million at the end of the 2013. The Company had no long-term debt outstanding on September 30, 2014. Shareholder's equity attributable to APWC was $157.6 million as of September 30, 2014, compared to $157.2 million on December 31, 2013.
Over the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company used $1.6 million in cash from operating activities, compared to a $18.7 million cash inflow in the comparable nine months of 2013. Capital expenditures totaled $4.1 million in the third quarter of 2014, compared to $7.2 million in the comparable period last year.
Business Update
The Company is pleased to announce that the ROW region was awarded a public sector contract in Q3 2014 of approximately US$58 million. APWC expects to initiate delivery in January 2015 and complete the contract by Q3 2016.
The business in the Thailand region has been affected by the political unrest since Q4 2013. The coup in May 2014 has arguably improved the political stability in the country, which might accelerate economic recovery in 2015. However, Thailand's political future is still unknown and will continue to affect the Company's business in the region.
The Company's Ningbo subsidiary has been awarded the ISO/TS16949 certification, which regulates the design, development and production of automotive-related products. The subsidiary is also in the midst of applying for the China Compulsory Certification, which is required for many of the Company's products to meet the requirement of its domestic customers in China.
About Asia Pacific Wire & Cable Corporation
Asia Pacific Wire & Cable Corporation is principally engaged in the manufacture and distribution of telecommunications (copper and fiber optic) and power cable and enameled wire products in the Asia Pacific region, primarily in Thailand, China, Singapore and Australia. The Company manufactures and distributes its own wire and cable products and also distributes wire and cable products ("Distributed Products") manufactured by its principal shareholder, Pacific Electric Wire & Cable Company, a Taiwanese company ("PEWC"). The Company also provides project engineering services in the supply, delivery and installation ("SDI") of power cables to certain of its customers. For more information on the Company, visit http://www.apwcc.com . Information on the Company's Web site or any other Web site does not constitute a portion of this release.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the Company, its business, and its subsidiary companies. These forward looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes", "expects" or similar expressions. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website ( www.sec.gov ). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or to persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors other than as required under the securities laws. The Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.
| ASIA PACIFIC WIRE & CABLE CORPORATION LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||
| (Unaudited) | ||
| (Amounts in thousands of US Dollars, except share data) | ||
| For the nine-months | ||
| ended Sep 30, (Unaudited) | ||
| 2014 | 2013 | |
| Sales of goods / services | $ 338,872 | $ 336,377 |
| Cost of sales | (309,926) | (301,116) |
| Gross profit | 28,946 | 35,261 |
| Other operating income | 154 | 0 |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | (20,600) | (22,570) |
| Other operating expenses | (2,179) | (254) |
| Operating profit | 6,321 | 12,436 |
| Finance costs | (1,212) | (1,485) |
| Finance income | 850 | 1,001 |
| Share of loss of associates | (415) | (109) |
| (Loss)/Gain on disposal of investment - held for sale | (178) | 232 |
| Exchange gain/(loss) | 778 | (1,029) |
| Other income | 781 | 1,219 |
| Other expense | (92) | 0 |
| Profit before tax | 6,833 | 12,265 |
| Income taxes expense | (3,954) | (4,081) |
| Profit for the year | $ 2,879 | $ 8,184 |
| Attributable to: | ||
| Equity holders of the parent | 265 | 3,895 |
| Non-controlling interests | 2,614 | 4,289 |
| Basic and diluted earnings per share | $ 0.02 | $ 0.28 |
| Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 13,819,669 | 13,820,984 |
| ASIA PACIFIC WIRE & CABLE CORPORATION LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||
| (Unaudited) | ||
| (Amounts in thousands of US Dollars, except share data) | ||
| For the nine-months | ||
| ended Sep 30, (Unaudited) | ||
| 2014 | 2013 | |
| Net income | $ 2,879 | $ 8,184 |
| Other comprehensive income | ||
| Other comprehensive income to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods: | ||
| Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations, net of tax of $0 | 721 | (7,195) |
| Net gain on available-for-sale financial assets | 0 | 172 |
| Other comprehensive income not to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods: | ||
| Defined benefit pension plan, net of tax | (1) | 108 |
| Other comprehensive income (loss) for the period, net of tax | 720 | (6,915) |
| Total comprehensive income for the period, net of tax | 3,599 | 1,269 |
| Attributable to: | ||
| Equity holders of the parent | 4,207 | 3,557 |
| Non-controlling interests | (608) | (2,287) |
| $ 3,599 | $ 1,269 | |
| ASIA PACIFIC WIRE & CABLE CORPORATION LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | ||
| (In thousands of US Dollars, except share data) | ||
| As of Sep 30, 2014, (Unaudited) | As of December 31, 2013 | |
| ASSETS | ||
| Current assets: | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ 81,265 | $ 62,509 |
| Trade receivables | 94,274 | 122,893 |
| Other receivables | 13,887 | 11,139 |
| Due from related parties | 32,359 | 3,842 |
| Inventories | 111,702 | 98,194 |
| Prepayments | 1,579 | 1,559 |
| Other current assets | 3,304 | 2,113 |
| 338,370 | 302,249 | |
| Non-current assets | ||
| Other non-current financial assets - available for sale | 3,630 | 3,189 |
| Other non-current financial assets - held to maturity | 342 | 335 |
| Property, plant and equipment | 48,627 | 48,709 |
| Prepaid land lease payments | 1,883 | 1,939 |
| Investment properties | 748 | 746 |
| Intangible assets | 91 | 104 |
| Investments in associates | 2,521 | 2,937 |
| Other non-current assets | 80 | 449 |
| Deferred tax assets | 3,761 | 3,978 |
| 61,683 | 62,386 | |
| Total assets | $ 400,053 | $ 364,635 |
| ASIA PACIFIC WIRE & CABLE CORPORATION LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | ||
| (In thousands of US Dollars, except share data) | ||
| As of Sep 30, 2014, (Unaudited) | As of December 31, 2013 | |
| Current liabilities: | ||
| Interest-bearing loans and borrowings | $ 67,100 | $ 41,789 |
| Trade and other payables | 37,451 | 41,369 |
| Due to related parties | 25,791 | 11,126 |
| Due to immediate holding company | 1,537 | 1,732 |
| Accruals | 11,038 | 13,336 |
| Income tax payable | 9,024 | 9,874 |
| Employee benefit liability | 119 | 419 |
| Financial lease liabilities | 27 | 37 |
| Onerous contracts provisions | 101 | 125 |
| Dividend payable | 435 | 348 |
| Other current liabilities | 9,937 | 7,617 |
| 162,560 | 127,772 | |
| Non-current liabilities | ||
| Employee benefit liability | 5,964 | 5,455 |
| Financial lease liabilities | 26 | 28 |
| Provisions for employee benefit | 604 | 577 |
| Deferred tax liabilities | 3,070 | 2,676 |
| 9,664 | 8,736 | |
| Total liabilities | 172,224 | 136,508 |
| Equity | ||
| Issued capital | 138 | 138 |
| Additional paid-in capital | 110,608 | 110,608 |
| Treasury shares | (38) | (38) |
| Retained earnings | 52,031 | 51,766 |
| Other components of equity | (5,181) | (5,226) |
| Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent | 157,558 | 157,248 |
| Non-controlling interests | 70,271 | 70,879 |
| Total equity | 227,829 | 228,127 |
| Total liabilities and equity | $ 400,053 | $ 364,635 |
| ASIA PACIFIC WIRE & CABLE CORPORATION LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||
| (Unaudited) | ||
| (In thousands of U.S. Dollars) | ||
| For the nine-months | ||
| ended Sep 30, (Unaudited) | ||
| 2014 | 2013 | |
| Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities | $ (1,621) | $ 18,712 |
| Net cash (used in) investing activities | (4,049) | (3,319) |
| Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities | 24,691 | (18,036) |
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (265) | (3,140) |
| Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 18,756 | (5,783) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 62,509 | 72,816 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ 81,265 | $ 67,033 |
Company Contact: Asia Pacific Wire & Cable Corporation Limited Mr. Ivan Hsia, CFO Phone: +886-2-2712-2558 ext. 27 E-mail: Investor Relations Contact: MZ North America Ted Haberfield President Tel: +1-760-755-2716 Email: Web: www.mzgroup.us
