Benda Pharmaceutical Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2007 Financial Results

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Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:01pm EDT

HUBEI PROVINCE, China, March 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Benda
Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BPMA), a China-based pharmaceutical
company producing both Gendicine(R), a commercialized gene therapy medicine
for the treatment of cancer, and traditional Chinese and conventional
medicines, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal
year ended December 31, 2007.  The Company plans to file its Annual Report
with the SEC today.
    Full Year Ended December 31, 2007
    Revenue in the fiscal year 2007 increased 66% to $26.4 million from $15.9
million in 2006.  Revenue performance reflects increased sales from Benda's
subsidiaries, Benda Ebei and Jiangling Benda, and approximately $5.8 million
in revenue from Gendicine since Benda's acquisition of SiBiono in April 2007.
    Gross profit during this period increased 97% to $12.5 million from $6.3
million in 2006.  Gross margin increased 770 basis points to 47.3% from 39.6%
in the same period of 2006, reflecting the higher margin revenue contribution
from Gendicine sales.
    The Company's general and administrative expenses in 2007 were $13.9
million compared to $2.5 million in 2006.  The $11.4 million increase in 2007
was driven by $9.4 million in non-recurring costs, including $8.4 million in
non-cash stock compensation expense for consulting services related to the
acquisition of SiBiono and a $1.0 million cash penalty recorded in 2007
because of the late submission of the effective registration statement.  For
additional information regarding these items, please refer to the Company's
Annual Report.  Excluding these non-recurring expenses, operating income for
the year 2007 would have been $5.8 million, up 92% from $3.0 million in 2006.
    In 2007, Benda recognized $2.9 million in interest expense, related to the
Company's convertible note issued in March 2007.
Mr. Charles Wan, Chief Executive Officer of Benda Pharmaceutical,
commented, "We realized significant costs in 2007, some of which we consider
to be non-recurring in nature, and we are disappointed that these costs offset
the progress we made during the year.  We are also working diligently to meet
the filing requirements of our previous financing."
    Net loss in fiscal year 2007 was $7.8 million, or $0.06 per diluted share,
compared with net income of $2.3 million, or $0.03 per diluted share in 2006.
During the year over year period, the diluted weighted average of shares
outstanding increased 70% to 127.5 million from 74.9 million.  Excluding the
stock compensation expense and penalty payment, net income for the year 2007
would have been $1.5 million, or $0.01 per diluted share.
    Three Months Ended December 31, 2007
    Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2007 increased 197% to $10.6 million from
$3.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, reflecting increased sales from
subsidiaries Benda Ebei and Jiangling Benda, as well as $2.5 million from
SiBiono's flagship product, Gendicine.
    Gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2007 increased 441% to $4.8 million
from $0.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.  Gross margin was 45.3%,
compared with 24.4% in the same period of 2006, reflecting the higher margin
revenue contribution from Gendicine sales.
Mr. Wan continued, "We are pleased with the increase in sales from Benda
Ebei in the fourth quarter, as well as with Gendicine's revenue performance,
which was encouraging throughout the year.  We are particularly pleased that
Gendicine, which generates higher gross margins than our traditional products,
can potentially help us increase profitability over the long term.  We believe
the market opportunity for Gendicine is extremely compelling.  When we
acquired SiBiono in April of 2007, only 1,869 vials of Gendicine had been sold
in the first three months of the year.  We ended 2007 with sales of more than
21,000 vials, generating approximately $5.8 million in revenue and
significantly enhancing our gross margin performance."
    Operating income in the fourth quarter 2007 was $2.1 million, compared
with an operating loss of $0.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Operating expenses in the fourth quarter were approximately $2.7 million,
compared with $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.  Approximately $0.6
million of the operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2007 reflect the
penalty and non-cash expense mentioned above.  The remaining increase in
operating expenses reflects additional sales and marketing expenditure to
drive potential Gendicine sales.
    In the fourth quarter of 2007, Benda realized interest expense of $1.2
million, related to the Company's convertible note issued in March 2007.
    Net loss in the fourth quarter of 2007 was $0.3 million, roughly breakeven
on a diluted share basis, compared to net loss of $0.7 million, or a loss of
$0.01 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2006.  During the year over
year period, the diluted weighted average of shares outstanding increased 70%
to 127.5 million from 74.9 million.  Excluding the stock compensation expense
and penalty payment, net income in the fourth quarter 2007 would have been
approximately $0.4 million, or breakeven on a diluted share basis.
    Balance Sheet
    As of December 31, 2007, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $1.3
million, trade receivables of $10.5 million, and total inventories of $2.0
million.
    Business Update
    -- Gendicine sales:  Benda Pharmaceutical sold approximately 21,000 vials
       of Gendicine during the nine months in which it owned SiBiono in 2007,
       generating approximately $5.8 million in revenue.
    -- Yidu Benda plant update:  Yidu Benda's plant was temporarily closed in
       January 2007 in order to bring its waste water treatment system into
       compliance with new local environmental regulation.   The waste water
       system passed the government's equipment verification tests in October
       2007.  However, before resuming operations, Yidu Benda must conduct
       further testing with relevant government authorities and, at this time,
       management cannot estimate the exact timing of the process.
    -- Jiangling Benda plant update:  The upgrade process of Jiangling Benda
       has been completed and is now waiting for a GMP Certificate from
       China's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA). However, due to the
       overhaul and restructuring of the SFDA, Benda management cannot
       estimate the exact timing for obtaining a GMP certificate.
    -- Intellectual property:  SiBiono, a subsidiary of Benda Pharmaceutical,
       recently entrusted Grandall Legal Group Shenzhen Law Firm to issue a
       legal letter to Zhaohui Peng, one of the shareholders of SiBiono and
       the inventor of Gendicine, to request that Peng transfer all existing
       title of patents to SiBiono.  SiBiono has received two of the six
       outstanding patents, and is currently in negotiations with Peng
       regarding the remaining patent transfers.

    Financial Guidance
    While the Company remains confident in its ability to pursue opportunities
in China's healthcare market, the Company is withdrawing any previously stated
financial projections at this time.  The Company is diligently working to meet
the previously announced terms of its March 2007 financing, which included
receiving effective status for its registration statement.
    The Company's operating priorities include the roll out of Gendicine to
new hospitals and clinics in 2008.  These operating priorities also include
ultimately utilizing additional capacity at Jiangling Benda and Yidu Benda,
although these facilities require either GMP approval or re-examination by
government authorities, the time frame of which relies entirely on the
relevant government authorities and not on Benda Pharmaceutical.
    About Benda Pharmaceutical, Inc.
    Benda Pharmaceutical, Inc. ( http://www.bendapharma.com ), a China-based
pharmaceutical company, produces traditional Chinese and conventional
medicines, as well as Gendicine(R), a commercialized gene therapy medicine for
the treatment of cancer.
    Safe Harbor Statement
    The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements.
These statements relate to future events or to our future financial
performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or
achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of
activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-
looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and
likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance
or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with
respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks,
uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of
operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly
update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update
the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in
these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in
the future. The safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 protects companies from liability for
their forward-looking statements if they comply with the requirements of the
Act.


                       BENDA PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME


                                            Year Ended December 31,
                                                2007         2006
                                             (Audited)    (Audited)

    Revenues                               $26,384,608  $15,932,075
    Other Sales                                    --         2,937
    Cost of goods sold                     (13,913,034)  (9,594,852)
    Gross profit                            12,471,574    6,340,160
    Selling expenses                        (1,581,655)    (599,571)
    General and administrative expenses
    Amortization of intangible assets         (141,681)     (96,615)
    Amortization of debt issue costs          (201,255)          --
    Depreciation                              (333,964)    (132,747)
    Bad debts                                 (287,482)    (364,064)
    Director remuneration                      (94,247)          --
    Penalty to investors                    (1,022,275)          --
    Finder fee                                (293,751)          --
    Cash bonus                                      --           --
    Consulting and professional fees        (8,353,615)    (326,403)
    Other general and administrative
     expenses                               (3,173,307)  (1,533,775)
    Total general and administrative
     expenses                              (13,901,577)  (2,453,604)
    Gains / (losses) on disposals of fixed
     assets                                    (30,027)    (249,381)
    Research and development expenses         (553,962)     (30,821)
    Total operating expenses               (16,067,221)  (3,333,377)
    Operating income / (loss)               (3,595,647)   3,006,783
    Interest income / (expense)             (3,389,676)    (108,811)
    Other income (expenses)                     55,964     (281,190)
    Government subsidies / grants            2,276,574           --
    Income / (loss) before minority
     interest and income taxes              (4,652,785)   2,616,782
    Income taxes                              (965,183)           0
    Minority interest                       (2,211,627)    (298,024)
    Net income / (loss)                    $(7,829,595)  $2,318,758
    Earnings / (loss) per share - basic         $(0.08)       $0.03
    Weighted average shares outstanding -
     basic                                  98,181,685   73,414,057
    Earnings / (loss) per share - diluted       $(0.06)       $0.03
    Weighted average shares outstanding -
     diluted                               127,534,003   74,864,283


                                          Quarter Ended December 31,
                                              2007         2006
                                           (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)

    Revenues                               $10,588,313   $3,566,652
    Other Sales                                     --        2,937
    Cost of goods sold                      (5,807,182)  (2,686,448)
    Gross profit                             4,781,131      883,141
    Selling expenses                          (906,642)    (177,925)
    General and administrative expenses
    Amortization of intangible assets          201,906       97,412
    Amortization of debt issue costs           (66,602)          --
    Depreciation                                 4,018      291,236
    Bad debts                                  214,791       53,759
    Director remuneration                      (35,288)          --
    Penalty to investors                      (482,275)          --
    Finder fee                                  (2,627)          --
    Cash bonus                                 173,400           --
    Consulting and professional fees          (131,431)    (326,403)
    Other general and administrative
     expenses                               (1,421,548)  (1,142,143)
    Total general and administrative
     expenses                               (1,545,656)  (1,026,139)
    Gains / (losses) on disposals of fixed
     assets                                    (21,629)      (1,172)
    Research and development expenses         (243,878)       2,317
    Total operating expenses                (2,717,805)  (1,202,919)
    Operating income / (loss)                2,063,326     (319,778)
    Interest income / (expense)             (1,181,798)       9,863
    Other income (expenses)                    (57,400)    (279,756)
    Government subsidies / grants              585,600           --
    Income / (loss) before minority
     interest and income taxes               1,409,728     (589,671)
    Income taxes                              (965,183)           0
    Minority interest                         (702,063)     (76,321)
    Net income / (loss)                      $(257,518)   $(665,992)
    Earnings / (loss) per share - basic         $(0.00)      $(0.01)
    Weighted average shares outstanding -
     basic                                  98,181,685   73,414,057
    Earnings / (loss) per share - diluted       $(0.00)      $(0.01)
    Weighted average shares outstanding -
     diluted                               127,534,003   74,864,283



                          BENDA PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET


                                            December 31,    December 31,
                                               2007            2006
    Assets
    Current Assets
    Cash and cash equivalents                 $1,266,240      $1,676,119
    Trade receivables, net                    10,472,233       6,193,585
    Other receivables                            453,595          99,733
    Refundable purchase price paid             1,200,000       5,367,801
    Inventories                                1,952,348         701,339
    Prepaid expenses and deposits                933,299         372,548
            Total current assets              16,277,715      14,411,124
    Due from related parties                   2,630,019       1,976,815
    Property and equipments, net              26,275,871      13,673,067
    Intangible assets, net                     6,359,000       1,501,483
    Goodwill                                   7,395,752              --
    Restricted cash                            3,957,624              --
    Other assets                               1,710,972              --
    Debt issue costs                             327,945              --
                    Total Assets             $64,934,898     $31,562,489
    Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity
    Current Liabilities
    Bank indebtedness                           $874,490             $--
    Bank loans payable (current portion)       2,867,004         256,492
    Long-term debt payable (current
     portion)                                  1,787,239              --
    Accounts payable and accrued
     liabilities                               4,665,984       1,823,030
    Commercial notes payable                   5,118,758              --
    Taxes payable                              1,279,385         226,931
    Acquisition price payable                  1,333,246              --
    Wages payable                                664,786         145,903
    Deferred revenues                                 --           1,732
            Total current liabilities         18,590,892       2,454,088
    Long-term debt payable (long term
     portion)                                    425,001              --
    Long-term convertible promissory
     notes                                     2,875,075              --
    Due to related parties (Long-term)         3,193,618       3,034,365
                    Total liabilities         25,084,586       5,488,453
    Commitments and contingencies                     --              --
    Minority interest                          5,453,622       2,154,356
    Redeemable common stock, 2,049,560
     shares at $3.6 per share                  7,376,366              --
    Shareholders' Equity
    Preferred stock, $0.001 par value;
     5,000,000 shares authorized;
     None issued and outstanding                     --              --
    Common stock, $0.001 par value;
     150,000,000 shares authorized;
     100,170,071 shares issued and
     outstanding as of 12/31/2007;
     96,258,411 shares issued and
     outstanding as of 12/31/2006                100,170          96,258
    Additional paid in capital                21,547,929      13,099,424
    Retained earnings (unrestricted)            (833,090)      7,437,663
    Statutory surplus reserve fund             2,310,681       1,869,523
    Accumulative other comprehensive
     income                                    3,390,774       1,090,408
    Shares issuable for acquisition and
     services                                    503,860         326,403
                    Total Shareholders'
                     Equity                   27,020,324      23,919,680
    Total Liabilities & Shareholders'
     Equity                                  $64,934,898     $31,562,489


SOURCE  Benda Pharmaceutical, Inc.

In the U.S.: Ashley Ammon MacFarlane and Christine Duan, +1-203-682-8200, or
in Asia: Xuyang Zhang at +86-10-8523-3087, all of Integrated Corporate
Relations, Inc. Investor Relations, for Benda Pharmaceutical, Inc.
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