China Jo-Jo Drugstores Reports Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

HANGZHOU, China, July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- China Jo-Jo Drugstores, Inc. (Nasdaq: CJJD) ("Jo-Jo Drugstores" or the "Company"), a leading online and offline retailer, wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical and other healthcare products and healthcare provider in China, today announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024.

Mr. Lei Liu, Chairman and CEO of Jo-Jo Drugstores, commented, "We are pleased to present our financial performance for fiscal year 2024, which reflects our commitment to maintaining a resilient business model in a dynamic market. We achieved a significant 42.1% revenue growth in our wholesale business, a result of our dedicated efforts in targeting wholesale buyers with competitively priced product offerings, and leveraging modern wholesale platforms to boost sales. We believe this strategy will benefit us for long-term and sustainable growth. Our dedication to high-quality services and products remains strong. By adopting agile product and pricing strategies, we have successfully navigated a competitive landscape in China's healthcare market. Looking ahead, we will keep strengthening our competitive advantages to differentiate our business and deliver outstanding results. We plan to actively seek as great growth potential opportunities as possible to strengthen our business, improve our customer experience, and expand our product portfolio to meet evolving customer needs. We will also continue to seize opportunities to facilitate market expansion and remain focused on gaining efficiencies and controlling costs to achieve the accelerated growth. We are deeply committed to contributing to China's healthcare market and communities we support, and we will continue to create greater value for our shareholders, ensuring that our contributions benefit all our shareholders."



     
              Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Highlights




                                                                   For the Year Ended March 31,


                 ($ millions, except per share data)     2024     2023                           % Change



     Revenue                                          154.54   148.81                              3.8 %



           Retail drugstores                           75.68    83.35                            (9.2) %



           Online pharmacy                             31.86    32.38                            (1.6) %



           Wholesale                                   47.00    33.08                             42.1 %



     Gross profit                                      31.11    34.28                            (9.3) %



     Gross margin                                     20.1 %  23.0 %                           (2.9)pp



     Loss from operations                             (3.53) (20.93)                            83.1 %



     Net loss                                         (4.23) (21.14)                            80.0 %



     Loss per share                                   (2.93) (41.46)                            92.9 %





     *Notes: pp represents percentage points

    --  Revenue increased by 3.8% to $154.54 million for the fiscal year ended
        March 31, 2024, from $148.81 million for the same period of last year.
    --  Gross profit was $31.11 million for the fiscal year ended March 31,
        2024, compared to $34.28 million for the same period of last year.
    --  Gross margin was 20.1% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024,
        compared to 23.0% for the same period of last year.
    --  Net loss was $4.23 million, or $2.93 per basic and diluted share, for
        the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to net loss of $21.14
        million, or $41.46 per basic and diluted share, for the same period of
        last year.

Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

Revenue

Revenue increased by $5.73 million, or 3.8%, to $154.54 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, from $148.81 million for the same period of last year.


                                                       
     
             For the Year Ended March 31,


                                                                  2024                                                          2023


                   ($ millions) Revenue       Cost of               Average                     Revenue         Cost of              Average
                                        Goods              Gross                                          Goods             Gross
                                                           Margin                                                          Margin


      Retail drugstores           75.68          53.06                 29.9 %                       83.35            56.55                32.2 %


      Online pharmacy             31.86          28.24                 11.3 %                       32.38            28.51                12.0 %



     Wholesale                   47.00          42.13                 10.4 %                       33.08            29.47                10.9 %


                   Total         154.54         123.43                 20.1 %                      148.81           114.53                23.0 %

Revenue from the retail drugstores business decreased by $7.67 million, or 9.2%, to $75.68 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, from $83.35 million for the same period of last year. After excluding the impact of exchange rate fluctuation, the actual retail drugstores sales decreased by 5.0%. The decrease in its retail drugstore sales is primarily due to local consumption cutback, extremely competitive market and the temporary surge of sale in the second half of fiscal 2023, which is nonrecurring and is due to Chinese government's sanction lift on COVID-19.

Revenue from the online pharmacy business decreased by $0.53 million, or 1.6%, to $31.86 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, from $32.38 million for the same period of last year. The decrease was primarily caused by a decrease in sales via e-commerce platforms such as JD and Pinduoduo. Because the online prices are transparent, to be competitive in online sales, the Company has to keep low prices. More competitors came into the online retail sales market. As the Company does not have dominating power such as lowest prices or exclusive products, it may not be able to improve its sales significantly in the near future.

Revenue from the wholesale business increased by $13.93 million, or 42.1%, to $47.00 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, from $33.08 million for the same period of last year. In the year ended March 31, 2024, Online platforms such as Pharmacist Help, Yiyao Help and Yao Help have become popular ways to transact medical products by bulk. The platforms attract a plenty of buyers and sellers, so both parties have extended opportunities to expose themselves. The Company has spent significant efforts in exploring these buyers with certain products at reasonable prices as a result, the Company is able to attract more buyers and promote its sales. The Company believes that selling on the modern wholesale platform may be a new growth point. Therefore, the Company is actively looking for potential acquisition targets with trading platform to strengthen its wholesale business.

Gross profit and gross margin

Total cost of goods sold increased by $8.90 million, or 7.8%, to $123.43 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, from $114.53 million for the same period of last year. Gross profit decreased by $3.17 million, or 9.3%, to $31.11 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 from $34.28 million for the same period of last year. Overall gross margin decreased by 2.9 percentage points to 20.1% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, from 23.0% for the same period of last year, due to lower retail drugstores profit margins.

Gross margins for retail drugstores, online pharmacy and wholesale were 29.9%, 11.3%, and 10.4%, respectively, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to gross margins for retail drugstores, online pharmacy and wholesale of 32.2%, 12.0%, and 10.9%, respectively, for the same period of last year.

Loss from operations

Sales and marketing expenses decreased by $1.79 million, or 6.1%, to $27.39 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 from $29.18 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in selling expenses was primarily due to a decrease in expense related to Normal Nucleic Acid Testing ("NNAT") as it is no longer requested by local government and a decrease in fee charged by distribution channels resulting from the decrease in retail drugstores and online pharmacy sales.

General and administrative expenses decreased by $8.41 million, or 53.7%, to $7.26 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 from $15.67 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to the decrease in bad debt expense. Such expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 4.7% from 10.5% for the same period a year ago. In the year ended March 31, 2024, the Company recorded a reduction of $0.22 million in the allowance account for bad debts as compared to the increase of $7.58 million in the allowance account for bad debts in FY2023.

Loss from operations was $3.53 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to $20.93 million for the same period of last year. Operating margin was (2.3)% and (14.1)% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Net loss

Net loss was $4.23 million, or $2.93 per basic and diluted share for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to net loss of $21.14 million, or $41.46 per basic and diluted share for the same period of last year.

Financial Condition

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had cash of $20.15 million, compared to $18.81 million as of March 31, 2023. Net cash used in operating activities was $3.16 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to $3.28 million for the same period of last year. The change is primarily attributable to an increase in net income of $16.90 million, an increase in accounts receivable of $0.73 million, an increase in cash provided by accounts payable of $4.24 million and an increase in cash provided by other payables and accrued liabilities of $2.21 million, offset by a decrease in bad debt direct write-off and provision of $6.79 million, a decrease in inventories and biological assets of $1.18 million and a decrease in stock compensation of $10.36 million. Net cash used in investing activities was $2.04 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to $0.32 million for the same period of last year. The change is primarily attributable to investment in a joint venture and purchases of long-term assets. Net cash provided by financing activities was $8.00 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, compared to $2.37 million for the same period of last year. The change is primarily due to notes payable and proceeds from short-term bank loan.

About China Jo-Jo Drugstores, Inc.

China Jo-Jo Drugstores, Inc. ("Jo-Jo Drugstores" or the "Company"), is a leading online and offline retailer and wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical and other healthcare products and a provider of healthcare services in China. Jo-Jo Drugstores currently operates an online pharmacy and retail drugstores with licensed doctors on site for consultation, examination and treatment of common ailments at scheduled hours. It is also a wholesale distributor of products similar to those carried in its pharmacies. For more information about the Company, please visit http://jiuzhou360.com. The Company routinely posts important information on its website.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains information about the Company's view of its future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from historical results or those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with its ability to raise additional funding, its ability to maintain and grow its business, variability of operating results, its ability to maintain and enhance its brand, its development and introduction of new products and services, the successful integration of acquired companies, technologies and assets into its portfolio of products and services, marketing and other business development initiatives, competition in the industry, general government regulation, economic conditions, dependence on key personnel, the ability to attract, hire and retain personnel who possess the technical skills and experience necessary to meet the requirements of its clients, and its ability to protect its intellectual property. The Company's encourages you to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's annual reports and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information, please contact:

Company Contact:

Frank Zhao
Chief Financial Officer
+86-571-88077108
frank.zhao@jojodrugstores.com

Investor Relations Contact:

Tina Xiao
Ascent Investor Relations LLC
+1-646-932-7242
investors@ascent-ir.com


                                                                              
              CHINA JO-JO DRUGSTORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                                                             CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS




                                                                                                                                             March 31,          March 31,
                                                                                                                                                    2024                     2023



            
                ASSETS

    ---


            CURRENT ASSETS



               Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                              $
           20,149,806     $
              18,807,936



               Restricted cash                                                                                                                 12,724,365                 12,762,708



               Trade accounts receivables                                                                                                      15,824,103                 14,119,606



               Inventories                                                                                                                     16,248,373                 15,309,100



               Other receivables, net                                                                                                           2,938,049                  2,725,015



               Advances to suppliers                                                                                                              914,776                    142,417



               Due from related parties                                                                                                           313,346



               Other current assets                                                                                                               569,544                    616,008



                  Total current assets                                                                                                         69,682,362                 64,482,790





            OTHER ASSETS



                Property and equipment, net                                                                                                     4,906,589                  5,100,264



                Long-term investment                                                                                                            1,195,261                  1,772,072



                Farmland assets                                                                                                                   634,153                    666,721



                Long-term deposits                                                                                                              1,119,006                  1,038,125



                Other noncurrent assets                                                                                                           682,437                    790,056



                Operating lease right-of-use assets                                                                                            13,827,360                 13,924,826



                Intangible assets, net                                                                                                          3,009,922                  3,195,748



                   Total other assets                                                                                                          25,374,728                 26,487,812



                      Total assets                                                                                                    $
           95,057,090     $
              90,970,602





            
                LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    ---


            CURRENT LIABILITIES



               Short-term loan payable                                                                                                   $
           276,997 
     $



               Accounts payable                                                                                                                31,630,131                 26,990,250



               Notes payable                                                                                                                   31,676,335                 29,255,776



               Other payables                                                                                                                   2,493,482                  1,314,919



               Due to related parties                                                                                                           1,833,509                    683,560



               Customer deposits                                                                                                                  518,241                    695,931



               Taxes payable                                                                                                                      682,239                  1,706,909



                Accrued liabilities                                                                                                               386,395                    756,516



                Current portion of operating lease liabilities                                                                                  4,862,766                  5,131,373



                    Total current liabilities                                                                                                  74,360,095                 66,535,234



                Long-term operating lease liabilities                                                                                           6,403,858                  7,768,216



                    Total liabilities                                                                                                          80,763,953                 74,303,450





            COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES





            SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY



              Ordinary shares; $0.24 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 1,743,362 and                                                      418,407                    284,367
        1,184,861 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and 2023,
        respectively



              Preferred shares; $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; nil issued and
        outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and 2023



              Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                       86,413,978                 83,958,418



              Statutory reserves                                                                                                                1,309,109                  1,309,109



              Accumulated deficit                                                                                                            (73,507,246)              (69,273,018)



              Accumulated other comprehensive income                                                                                            1,005,762                  1,735,135



                 Total shareholders' equity attributed to China Jo-Jo                                                                          15,640,010                 18,014,011



                 Noncontrolling interests                                                                                                     (1,346,873)               (1,346,859)



                 Total shareholders' equity                                                                                                    14,293,137                 16,667,152



                    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                                                                        $
           95,057,090     $
              90,970,602


                                                                 
              CHINA JO-JO DRUGSTORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS




                                                                                                                                             
      For the years ended
                                                                                                                                               March 31,


                                                                                                                                       2024                      2023             2022



             REVENUES, NET                                                                                                 $
        154,541,077     $
              148,811,976 $
         164,392,555





             COST OF GOODS SOLD                                                                                                  123,432,529                 114,531,512        127,873,515





             GROSS PROFIT                                                                                                         31,108,548                  34,280,464         36,519,040





             SELLING EXPENSES                                                                                                     27,385,587                  29,177,163         30,876,959



             GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES                                                                                   7,257,524                  15,668,684          8,187,176



             STOCK BASED COMPENSATION                                                                                                                        10,360,000



             IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS                                                                                                                                      148,795



             TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES                                                                                             34,643,111                  55,205,847         39,212,930





             LOSS FROM OPERATIONS                                                                                                (3,534,563)               (20,925,383)       (2,693,890)





             OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):



             INTEREST INCOME                                                                                                         516,637                     883,908            401,921



             INTEREST EXPENSE                                                                                                       (13,604)                   (65,854)         (262,218)



             INVESTMENT LOSS                                                                                                     (1,607,537)                (2,316,994)



             OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)                                                                                                 467,687                   1,680,087            455,547





             LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES                                                                                            (4,171,380)               (20,744,236)       (2,098,640)





             PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES                                                                                               62,862                     394,541          1,099,726





             NET LOSS                                                                                                            (4,234,242)               (21,138,777)       (3,198,366)





             LESS: NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING                                                                              (14)                      (252)           (6,247)
      INTEREST





             NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHINA JO-JO DRUGSTORES,                                                                    (4,234,228)               (21,138,525)       (3,192,119)
      INC.





             OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS



             FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION ADJUSTMENTS                                                                              (729,373)                (2,617,857)         1,534,807





             COMPREHENSIVE LOSS                                                                                                  (4,963,615)               (23,756,634)       (1,663,559)





             WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES:



                    Basic                                                                                                          1,444,263                     509,828            173,966



                    Diluted                                                                                                        1,444,263                     509,828            173,966





             LOSS PER SHARE:



                    Basic                                                                                                     $
          (2.93)        $
              (41.46)    $
         (18.35)



                    Diluted                                                                                                   $
          (2.93)        $
              (41.46)    $
         (18.35)


                                                                                        
       CHINA JO-JO DRUGSTORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                                                          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS




                                                                                                                                                                 
      For the years ended
                                                                                                                                                                   March 31,


                                                                                                                                                           2024                       2023                      2022



                CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:



             Net loss                                                                                                                        $
          (4,234,242)    $
              (21,138,777)      $
            (3,198,366)



             Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
      activities:



                Depreciation and amortization                                                                                                            790,449                      718,002                   1,256,491



                   Bad debt direct write-off and provision and reversal                                                                                (249,257)                   7,579,886                     939,720



                   Amortization of right-of-use assets                                                                                                 4,594,172



                   Loss from disposal of property and equipment                                                                                          107,251



                   Impairment of long lived assets                                                                                                                                                              148,795



                   Share-based compensation                                                                                                                                       10,360,000



                   Investment loss                                                                                                                     1,607,537                    2,316,994



                   Change in operating assets and liabilities:



                   Accounts receivable                                                                                                               (1,804,440)                 (2,531,755)                (2,657,283)



                   Notes receivable                                                                                                                       19,943                     (20,861)                     40,260



                   Inventories and biological assets                                                                                                 (1,699,621)                   (522,550)                  1,523,098



                   Other receivables                                                                                                                   (672,830)                   (958,671)                (1,927,692)



                   Advances to suppliers                                                                                                               (839,221)                     201,984                   (171,783)



                   Long term deposit                                                                                                                   (132,568)                     589,653                   (159,508)



                   Other current assets                                                                                                                   19,076                      331,426                     376,134



                   Other noncurrent assets                                                                                                                69,539                     (30,483)                     62,394



                   Amount due from related parties                                                                                                     (317,828)



                   Accounts payable                                                                                                                    6,002,186                    1,765,488                 (3,558,050)



                   Other payables and accrued liabilities                                                                                                868,975                  (1,341,447)                     99,132



                   Customer deposits                                                                                                                   (144,761)                 (1,035,456)                    678,601



                   Taxes payable                                                                                                                       (948,277)                     433,054                   1,162,084



                   Operating lease liabilities                                                                                                       (6,191,522)



             Net cash used in operating activities                                                                                                   (3,155,439)                 (3,283,513)                (5,385,973)





             CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:



                   Acquisition of equipment and building                                                                                               (330,677)                   (118,272)                   (89,960)



                   Investment in a joint venture                                                                                                     (1,116,212)                     (4,379)



                   Purchases of intangible assets                                                                                                       (66,973)                    (12,774)                    (7,012)



                   Additions to leasehold improvements                                                                                                 (525,988)                   (180,672)                  (209,166)



             Net cash used in investing activities                                                                                                   (2,039,850)                   (316,097)                  (306,138)





             CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:



                   Proceeds from short-term bank loan                                                                                                  1,116,212



                   Repayment of short-term bank loan                                                                                                   (837,159)                                              (779,059)



                   Repayment of third parties loan                                                                                                                               (1,811,558)                (2,613,965)



                   Proceeds from notes payable                                                                                                        56,875,403                   57,965,013                  65,370,181



                   Repayment of notes payable                                                                                                       (52,997,171)                (60,273,598)               (57,829,269)



                   Proceeds from issuance of shares and warrants in private placements                                                                 2,589,600                    7,325,000



                   Proceeds from other payable-related parties                                                                                         1,257,406                       43,785                     689,010



                   Repayment of other payable-related parties                                                                                                                      (882,486)



             Net cash provided by financing activities                                                                                                 8,004,291                    2,366,156                   4,836,898





             EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE ON CASH                                                                                                         (1,505,475)                 (2,535,479)                  1,522,146





             INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND                                                                                                 1,303,527                  (3,768,933)                    666,933
      RESTRICTED CASH



             CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH,                                                                                           31,570,644                   35,339,577                  34,672,644
       beginning of year



             CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, end                                                                               $
          32,874,171       $
              31,570,644        $
            35,339,577
       of year





             SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW
       INFORMATION:



                    Cash paid for income taxes                                                                                                   $
          149,023           $
              63,668           $
              3,955



                    Cash paid for interest                                                                                                                13,604                       64,943                     262,218





                    NON-CASH ACTIVITIES?



                    Cashless exercise of warrants                                                                                        
     $                             $
              135,118  
     $

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SOURCE China Jo-Jo Drugstores, Inc.