Highway Holdings Reports Fiscal 2021 Third Quarter and Nine-Month Results

Highway Holdings Limited (Nasdaq:HIHO) today reported results for its fiscal third quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2020, reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its customers and supply chain.

Net sales for the fiscal 2021 third quarter were $2.5 million compared with $3.6 million a year ago. For the same period, net income was $84,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared with $318,000, or $0.08 per diluted share, in the same quarter a year earlier.

For the nine months, net sales were $7.3 million compared with $9.6 million a year ago. For the same period, the company reported net income of $90,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared with a net income of $123,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, a year earlier.

“Results for the quarter were impacted by the ongoing global effects of COVID-19. In addition, trade-related issues involving China, the United States and Australia may have impacted the supply of components and raw materials for the whole industry and also the requirements for the company’s regular business. These factors also delayed the start of manufacturing activities for new business from existing and new customers. Certain other projects have also been delayed due to COVID-related travel restrictions that prevented the company’s engineers traveling from China to Myanmar to setup new production lines,” said Roland Kohl, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Highway Holdings.

“Notwithstanding the current political unrest in Myanmar, the company’s Yangon factory has been able, to date, to continue to operate, manufacture and ship products to our customers; and there have been no delays in receiving raw materials due to this situation,” Kohl said.

Kohl noted the company’s financial results benefitted from the reversal of prior-year tax provisions, as well as government subsidies from China and Hong Kong reduced rental and electricity charges in China.

Gross margin as a percentage of sales for the three months ended December 31, 2020 increased to 34.0 percent from 33.7 percent a year earlier, and gross margin as a percentage of sales for the nine months increased to 31.7 percent from 29.0 percent last year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased for the quarter by $26,000 and by $524,000 for the nine-month period on a year-over-year basis – benefitting from streamlining of operations, government subsidies for employees and reduced electricity charges.

Net income for the fiscal third quarter reflects a currency exchange loss of $22,000 compared with a currency exchange gain of $17,000 a year ago. The company reported a $60,000 currency exchange loss for the fiscal 2021 nine months compared with a $112,000 currency exchange gain a year earlier. The currency exchange losses in the current year were mainly due to the strengthening of the RMB. The company does not engage in currency exchange rate hedging, and the fluctuations in the exchange rate of the RMB and Kyat are expected to affect the company’s future results.

Kohl noted the company’s balance sheet remains strong, despite a decrease in cash. The company’s total cash position at December 31, 2020 was approximately $7.5 million, or approximately $2.00 per diluted share, compared with $8.8 million at March 31, 2020. Cash utilization reflects an increase in pre-payments and a reduction of accounts payable, both of which were made to secure delivery of production material. The present shortage of raw materials may remain for the foreseeable future, with the sharp increase in prices caused by the interruption of the supply chain affecting the company’s current production – including the production of the Playmaji gaming console manufacturing order, as previously announced, which was delayed due to these factors.

The company’s current ratio was 2.9:1 at December 31, 2020, and the company's total cash exceeded all current and long-term liabilities combined by $2 million.

About Highway Holdings

Highway Holdings is an international manufacturer of a wide variety of high-quality parts and products for blue chip equipment manufacturers based primarily in Germany. Highway Holdings’ administrative office is located in Hong Kong and its manufacturing facilities are located in Yangon, Myanmar and Shenzhen, China.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, political and technological factors affecting the company's revenues, operations, markets, products and prices, the impact of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors discussed in the company’s various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, the company’s annual reports on Form 20-F.

(Financial Tables Follow)

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