Pingtan Marine Enterprise Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2020

FUZHOU, China, May 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd. (Nasdaq: PME) ("Pingtan" or the "Company"), a global fishing company based in the People's Republic of China (PRC), today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

First Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights (Year-on-Year Comparisons)

    --  Revenue decreased by 6.1% to $17.3 million from $18.4 million.
    --  Gross profit increased by 41.0% to $5.8 million from $4.1 million.
    --  Net income was $8.42 million, compared to net loss of $1.97 million.
    --  Net income attributable to owners of the Company was $7.66 million, or
        $0.10 per basic and diluted share, compared to net loss attributable to
        owners of the Company of $1.89 million, or $0.02 per basic and diluted
        share.

Management Comments

Mr. Xinrong Zhuo, Chairman and CEO of the Company, commented, "In the first quarter of 2020, economic activities in China and many countries of the world were affected to a varied extent by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first quarter of 2020, Pingtan's sales volume was over 13 million kg, which shows a robust year-on-year growth, but our sales revenue was adversely affected by both the pandemic and the seafood market situation. On the one hand, there was a decrease in the demand from the catering industry in the first quarter due to the pandemic, which affects the price of seafood; on the other hand, the market supply of Indian Ocean squid, one of our key product types, was more than sufficient to meet the market demand, which led to a downward pricing trend for this product. However, the market activity in China is starting to recover from the pandemic, and we believe consumption of seafood will gradually return to normal levels. The evolving and uncertain environment related to COVID-19 worldwide, however, makes it difficult to accurately predict the future impact on our results. In light of the current developments, we expect demand will increase having a positive impact on our sales for the remainder of the year."

Factors Affecting Pingtan's Results of Operations

COVID-19 pandemic

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019, business activities in China have been seriously affected. In reaction to this pandemic, many provinces and municipalities in China activated the highest Level-I Response to the emergency public health incident in late January. Emergency quarantine measures and travel restrictions have had a significant impact on many sectors across China, which has also adversely affected our operations. To reduce the impact on the Company's production and operation, the Company implemented certain safety measures to allow its employees to gradually resume work in mid-February. For the employees who left Fuzhou during the Spring Festival holiday and could not return to Fuzhou as scheduled, or those who could only resume work after satisfying the 14-day quarantine requirement, the Company provided paid leave. Since resuming work in mid-February, the Company has been using a shift system and adopted additional health and safety procedures to protect its employees. With these measures, the Company was able to maintain its sales and operations from mid-February to mid-March. On March 23, 2020, the Company resumed normal operations.

The situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented economic uncertainty globally. However, the extent of the overall impact on the Company's financial conditions and results of operations is still highly uncertain and will depend on future developments, such as the ultimate duration and scope of the outbreak, its impact on our customers and exporters, how quickly normal economic conditions, operations, and the demand for our products can resume and whether the pandemic leads to recessionary conditions in China. Some of our customers are fish processing plants that exports processed fish products to foreign countries. These customers tended to reduce or postpone their purchases from us in the initial stage of the pandemic and have now started adjusting their business strategies in relation to exportation or domestic sale. Although the market activity in China is beginning to recover, the Company expects its full year 2020 results of operations to be adversely affected by the pandemic.

Indonesia's Moratorium on Fishing License Renewals

In early December 2014, the Indonesian government introduced a six-month moratorium on issuing new fishing licenses and renewals so that the country's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries ("MMAF") could combat illegal fishing and rectify ocean fishing order. In February 2015, the Company ceased all fishing operations in Indonesia. In November 2015, the Indonesian government announced that the moratorium had concluded, but the MMAF has neither implemented new fishing policies nor resumed the license renewal process. The Company has been paying close attention to any new trends in the MMAF's fishing policy and has been actively exploring new locations to deploy its vessels.

As of March 31, 2020, of the Company's 142 vessels, 69 were operating in international waters, 12 were operating in the Bay of Bengal in India, 13 were located in the PRC, 37 were located in the Arafura Sea in Indonesia, and the remaining 11 vessels were undergoing modification and rebuilding projects.

First Quarter 2020 Selected Financial Highlights


                     ($ in                         Three Months
                      millions,                     ended March 31,
                      except
                      shares and
                      per share

                                 data)

    ---

                                        2020    2019





        Revenue                        $17.3   $18.4


        Cost of
         Revenue                       $11.6   $14.3


        Gross Profit                    $5.8    $4.1


        Gross Margin                   33.2%  22.1%


        Net Income
         (Loss)                        $8.42 $(1.97)


        Basic and
         Diluted
         Weighted
         Average
         Shares                         79.1    79.1


        EPS (in $)                     $0.10 $(0.02)

Balance Sheet Highlights


                       ($ in                      12
       /31/201
                        millions,                     9
                        except
                        for book
                        value
                        per
                        share)    3/31/20
         20

    ---



        Cash and
         Cash
         Equivalents                        $32.8          $10.1


        Total
         Current
         Assets                            $159.5          $64.3


        Total
         Assets                            $478.6         $404.1


        Total
         Current
         Liabilities                       $161.0          $88.8


        Long-
         term
         bank
         loans,
         non-
         current
         portion                           $155.7         $160.2


        Total
         Liabilities                       $316.7         $249.1


         Shareholders'
         Equity                            $161.8         $155.1


        Total
         Liabilities
         and
         Shareholders'
         Equity                            $478.6         $404.1


        Book
         Value
         Per
         Share
         (in $)                             $2.05          $1.96

Consolidated Financial and Operating Review

Revenue

Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $17.3 million, a decrease of $1.1 million, or 6.1%, from $18.4 million for the same period in 2019. Sales volume increased by 54.9% to 13.5 million KG in the three months ended March 31, 2020 from 8.7 million KG in the same period of 2019. Sales volumes increased by a larger percentage while revenue decreased slightly for the first quarter of 2020. The decrease in revenue was primarily attributable to the different sales mix, impact of market situation and the 39.3% decrease in average unit sale price during the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Gross Margin

The Company's gross margin was 33.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to 22.1% in the prior year period. The increase in gross margin was primarily attributable to a drop of unit production cost by 48.0% for the first quarter of 2020, as compared to the same period in the prior year. In the first quarter 2019, we deployed new fishing vessels to sea, which drove up the refueling cost and other related costs of revenue, but no revenue was generated because the vessels were not yet in operation during that time.

Selling Expenses

For the three months ended March 31, 2020, selling expenses were $0.9 million compared to $0.7 million in the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to the $0.79 million increase in storage fees and a $0.16 million increase in shipping and handling fees as a result of renting larger warehouses and an increased number of fish inventory delivered to the warehouses, partially offset by the decrease in insurance fees and customs clearance charge.

General & Administrative Expenses

For the three months ended March 31, 2020, general and administrative expenses were $2.0 million, compared to $4.8 million in the prior year period. The decrease was primarily due to the $510,728 decrease in the depreciation of non-operating vessels, or 41.8%, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019, as well as no impairment of assets for the first quarter in 2020, compared to a $2.2 million impairment loss that was recorded in the prior year period.

Net Income (Loss)

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $8.42 million, compared to net loss of $1.97 million in the same period of 2019, an increase of 527.6%.

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Owners of the Company

Net income attributable to owners of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $7.66 million, or $0.10 per basic and diluted share, compared to net loss attributable to owners of the Company of $1.89 million, or $0.02 per basic and diluted share, in the same period of 2019.

Conference Call Details

Pingtan will discuss the financial results for the first quarter of 2020 during a conference call on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 - 8:00 a.m. ET.

The dial-in numbers are:

Live Participant Dial-in (Toll Free): +1 (877) 407-0310
Live Participant Dial-in (International): +1 (201) 493-6786

To listen to the live webcast, please go to http://www.ptmarine.com and click on the conference call link at the top of the page, or go to: https://78449.themediaframe.com/dataconf/productusers/pme/mediaframe/38112/indexl.html. This webcast will be archived and accessible through the Company's website for approximately 30 days following the call.

About Pingtan

Pingtan is a global fishing company engaging in ocean fishing through its subsidiary, Fujian Provincial Pingtan County Ocean Fishing Group Co., Ltd., or Pingtan Fishing.

Business Risks and Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as "estimate," "project," "forecast," "plan," "believe," "may," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "planned," "potential," "can," "expectation" and similar expressions, or the negative of those expressions, may identify forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of our management, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known by us. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in or anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Risks include anticipated growth and growth strategies; need for additional capital and the availability of financing; locating or re-locating vessels, in foreign waters and related license requirements; our ability to successfully manage relationships with customers, distributors and other important relationships; actions taken by government regulators, such as the Indonesian moratorium; technological changes; competition; demand for our products and services; the deterioration of general economic conditions, whether internationally, nationally or in the local markets in which we operate; the impact of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the Company's financial condition, business operations and liquidity; the impact of COVID-19 on our customers and distributors; legislative or regulatory changes that may adversely affect our business; operational, mechanical, climatic or other unanticipated issues that adversely affect the production capacity of the Company's fishing vessels and their ability to generate expected annual revenue and net income; and other risk factors contained in Pingtan's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including Pingtan'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. Pingtan undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

CONTACT:

LiMing Yung (Michael)
Chief Financial Officer
Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd.
Tel: +86 591 87271753
michaelyung@ptmarine.net

Maggie Li
Investor Relations Manager
Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd.
Tel: +86 591 8727 1753
mli@ptmarine.net

INVESTOR RELATIONS
PureRock Communications Limited
PTmarine@pure-rock.com


                   
              
                PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

      
              
                UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

                                  
              
                (IN U.S. DOLLARS)


                                                                          For the Three Months Ended
                                                                             March 31,



                                                                  2020                                 2019

                                                                                                       ---




      REVENUE                                                           $
              17,307,000              $
            18,424,209





      COST OF REVENUE                                                             11,554,443                        14,343,558






      GROSS PROFIT                                                                 5,752,557                         4,080,651






      OPERATING EXPENSES:



      Selling                                                                        901,651                           709,929



      General and administrative                                                   1,270,143                         3,595,390


       General and administrative -depreciation                                       711,433                         1,222,161



      Subsidy                                                                    (7,773,993)






      Total Operating (Income) Expenses                                          (4,890,766)                        5,527,480






      INCOME (LOSS) PROFIT FROM OPERATIONS                                        10,643,323                       (1,446,829)






      OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):



      Interest income                                                              1,200,126                             2,516



      Interest expense                                                           (2,898,896)                        (529,165)


       Foreign currency transaction (loss) gain                                     (366,409)                           90,084



      Loss on equity method investment                                             (125,528)                        (110,616)



      Other (expense) income                                                        (35,540)                           25,671





      Total Other Expense Income, net                                            (2,226,247)                        (521,510)






      INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES                                            8,417,076                       (1,968,339)





      INCOME TAXES






      NET INCOME (LOSS)                                                  $
              8,417,076             $
            (1,968,339)

                                                                                                                             ===



       LESS: NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE NON-
        CONTROLLING INTEREST                                                          752,386                          (81,100)





       NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO
        OWNERS OF THE COMPANY                                             $
              7,664,690             $
            (1,887,239)

                                                                                                                             ===




      COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:



      NET INCOME (LOSS)                                                            8,417,076                       (1,968,339)



      OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) GAIN


       Unrealized foreign currency translation (loss)
        gain                                                                      (1,688,439)                        2,899,349




      COMPREHENSIVE INCOME                                               $
              6,728,637                 $
            931,010

                                                                                                                             ---

          LESS: COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE
           NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST                                                   617,214                           124,977


       COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO
        OWNERS OF THE COMPANY                                             $
              6,111,423                 $
            806,033

                                                                                                                             ===



       NET INCOME (LOSS) PER ORDINARY SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE
        TO OWNERS OF THE COMPANY



      Basic and diluted                                                       $
              0.10                  $
            (0.02)

                                                                                                                             ===



       WEIGHTED AVERAGE ORDINARY SHARES OUTSTANDING:



      Basic and diluted                                                           79,055,053                        79,055,053




                                  
              
                PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                            
              
                CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                 
              
                (IN U.S. DOLLARS)


                                                                            March 31,                            December 31,


                                                                                  2020                                    2019

                                                                                                                          ---

                                                                           (Unaudited)


                                
              ASSETS



       CURRENT ASSETS:



       Cash and cash equivalents                                                         $
              32,763,999                       $
           10,092,205



       Restricted cash                                                                              6,218,903


        Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
         accounts                                                                                   10,234,384                                 9,273,446



       Due from related parties                                                                    58,470,920                                12,477,777



       Inventories, net of reserve for inventories                                                 50,761,587                                30,527,752



       Prepaid expenses                                                                               962,879                                 1,354,129



       Other receivables                                                                               46,099                                   613,384






       Total Current Assets                                                                       159,458,771                                64,338,693






       OTHER ASSETS:



       Cost method investment                                                                       2,963,967                                 3,010,235



       Equity method investment                                                                    27,370,624                                27,923,464



       Prepayment for long-term assets                                                             32,816,080                                49,040,338



       Right-of-use asset                                                                             346,531                                   438,254



       Property, plant and equipment, net                                                         255,596,955                               259,377,729






       Total Other Assets                                                                         319,094,157                               339,790,020






       Total Assets                                                                     $
              478,552,928                      $
           404,128,713

                                                                                                                                                      ===



      
             LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY





       CURRENT LIABILITIES:



       Accounts payable                                                                   $
              3,064,252                        $
           7,951,766



       Accounts payable - related parties                                                           1,643,360                                 1,707,217



       Short-term bank loans                                                                       90,612,694                                10,034,116



       Long-term bank loans - current portion                                                      55,539,089                                57,122,789



       Accrued liabilities and other payables                                                       9,837,231                                11,428,018



       Lease liability- current liability                                                             315,939                                   375,922



       Due to related parties                                                                          18,354                                   168,328






       Total Current Liabilities                                                                  161,030,919                                88,788,156





       OTHER LIABILITIES:



       Lease liability                                                                                                        32,203



       Long-term bank loans - non-current portion                                                 155,715,516                               160,230,498






       Total Liabilities                                                                          316,746,435                               249,050,857






       COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES





       SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:



       Equity attributable to owners of the company:


        Ordinary shares ($0.001 par value; 125,000,000 shares
         authorized; 79,055,053 shares issued and outstanding at
         March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019)                                                          79,055                                    79,055



       Additional paid-in capital                                                                  81,682,599                                81,682,599



       Retained earnings                                                                           61,951,144                                54,286,454



       Statutory reserve                                                                           15,748,751                                15,748,751



       Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                      (17,634,175)                             (16,080,908)



        Total equity attributable to owners of the company                                         141,827,374                               135,715,951



       Non-controlling interest                                                                    19,979,119                                19,361,905






       Total Shareholders' Equity                                                                 161,806,493                               155,077,856





        Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity                                       $
              478,552,928                      $
           404,128,713

                                                                                                                                                      ===




               
              
                PINGTAN MARINE ENTERPRISE LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

               
              
                UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                              
              
                (IN U.S. DOLLARS)


                                                       
              For the Three Months Ended
                                                                      March 31,



                                                           2020                              2019

                                                                                             ---




     CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:



     Net income (loss)                                            $
              8,417,076                        $
           (1,968,339)


      Adjustments to reconcile net income from
       operations to net cash provided by
       operating activities:



     Depreciation                                                           3,378,428                                   2,740,118


      Increase in allowance for doubtful
       accounts                                                                107,542


      Increase (decrease) in reserve for
       inventories                                                           (266,298)                                    213,454


      Loss on equity method investment                                         125,528                                     110,616


      Impairment loss of fishing vessels                                                             2,229,502


      Changes in operating assets and
       liabilities:



     Accounts receivable                                                  (1,227,791)                                  (814,569)



     Inventories                                                         (20,751,500)                                (4,498,954)



     Prepaid expenses                                                         376,068                                     391,018



     Other receivables                                                        566,339                                     592,037



     Accounts payable                                                     (4,837,739)                                  5,444,714


      Accounts payable -related parties                                       (38,188)                                  (318,642)



     Advance from customers                                                 (821,178)                                     96,342


      Accrued liabilities and other payables                                 (615,618)                                    950,819


      Accrued liabilities and other payables -
       related party                                                                                   (1,290)



     Due from related parties                                             (1,165,502)




     Due to related parties                                                 (332,844)                                  5,223,359





      NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING
       ACTIVITIES                                                         (17,085,677)                                 10,390,185





      CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:


      Purchase of property, plant and equipment                            (8,709,670)                               (21,353,232)


      Proceeds from government subsidies for
       fishing vessels construction                                         21,051,727                                   2,159,246


      Deposit for purchase of land use right                                                       (4,357,621)




      NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING
       ACTIVITIES                                                           12,342,057                                (23,551,607)





      CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:


      Proceeds from short-term bank loans                                   81,960,166


      Proceeds from long-term bank loans                                     8,161,628                                  83,002,312


      Repayments of long-term bank loans                                  (10,961,456)                                  (926,365)



     Advances from related parties                                                                  5,534,231



     Advance to related party-HL                                         (45,721,566)





      NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES                             33,438,772                                  87,610,178





      EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE ON CASH, CASH
       EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH                                         195,545                                     477,710





      NET INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS
       AND RESTRICTED CASH                                                  28,890,697                                  74,926,466




      CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED
       CASH -beginning of period                                            10,092,205                                   1,966,855





      CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND
       RESTRICTED CASH -end of
       period                                                     $
              38,982,902                         $
           76,893,321

                                                                                                                                ===



      SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW
       INFORMATION:



     Cash paid for:



     Interest                                                     $
              3,059,072                          $
           1,286,302

                                                                                                                                ===


     Income taxes                                 
              $                                   
              $                    -





      RECONCILIATION TO AMOUNTS ON CONSOLIDATED
       BALANCE SHEETS:



     Cash and cash equivalents                                             32,763,999                                  76,893,321



     Restricted cash                                                        6,218,903



      TOTAL CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS
       AND RESTRICTED CASH                                        $
              38,982,902                         $
           76,893,321




      NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING
       ACTIVITIES:


      Acquisition of property and
       equipment by decreasing
       prepayment for long-term
       assets                                                     $
              15,705,688           
              $


      Property and equipment
       acquired on credit as payable               
              $                                                 $
           10,111,168

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pingtan-marine-enterprise-reports-financial-results-for-the-first-quarter-ended-march-31-2020-301057053.html

SOURCE Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd.