Fuwei Films Announces Fourth Quarter & Full Year 2008 Financial Results

* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.

Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:43pm EDT

Teleconference to be Held on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. EDT

BEIJING, March 30 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Fuwei Films (Holdings) Co.
Ltd. (Nasdaq: FFHL) ("Fuwei" or the "Company"), a manufacturer and distributor
of high-quality BOPET plastic films in China, today announced the financial
results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2008.
    Financial Results Highlights
    -- Revenues for 2008 were RMB 447.3 million (US$65.3 million), compared
       with RMB 449.4 million in 2007
    -- Net income for 2008 was RMB 18.2 million (US$2.6 million), compared
       with RMB 47.3 million in 2007
    -- Diluted EPS for 2008 was RMB 1.39 (US$0.20), compared with RMB 3.62 in
       2007
    -- Net cash from operations for 2008 was RMB 80.0 million (US$11.7
       million), compared with RMB 82.9 million in 2007
    -- Cash on hand at December 31, 2008 was RMB 15.8 million (US$2.3
million),
       compared with RMB 30.9 million as of December 31, 2007

    "While the global economic downturn negatively impacted our business in
the fourth quarter, we managed to maintain positive cash flow in the year
2008," said Mr. Xiaoan He, Chairman and CEO of Fuwei. "And with the recent
announcement of the initial verdict of the major shareholder case in China, we
believe that we can now better leverage our market-leading position to focus
on R&D, the expansion of the export market and the completion of our thick-
film product line while waiting for the world economy to stabilize and resume
growth."
    Fourth Quarter 2008 Results
    Revenues were RMB 98.6 million (US$14.4 million), compared with RMB 121.5
million in the fourth quarter of 2007.
    Sales of specialty films in the fourth quarter of 2008 were RMB 10.4
million (US$1.5 million), or 10.5% of total revenues, compared with RBM 42.5
million in the fourth quarter of 2007.
    The following is a breakdown of commodity and specialty film sales for the
three-month periods ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 (amounts in
thousands):


                                                Three-month period ended
                                            December          December
                                            31, 2008     % of 31, 2007   % of
                                           RMB     US$  Total      RMB  Total

    Printing film                        8,560   1,249   8.7%   23,492  19.3%
    Stamping film                       51,655   7,537  52.4%   19,078  15.7%
    Metallization film                   9,232   1,347   9.4%    8,724   7.2%
    Base film for other applications    18,811   2,745  19.1%   27,752  22.8%
    Specialty film                      10,368   1,513  10.5%   42,480  35.0%

    Total                               98,626  14,390   100%  121,527   100%


    Sales from overseas were RMB 9.8 million (US$1.4 million), or 9.9% of
total revenues, compared with RMB 23.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2007.
    The following is a breakdown of domestic versus overseas sales for the
three-month periods ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 (amounts in
thousands):


                                               Three-month period ended
                                           December          December
                                           31, 2008    % of  31, 2007   % of
                                          RMB     US$  Total      RMB  Total

    Sales in China                     88,848  12,963  90.1%   98,006  80.7%
    Sales in other countries            9,778   1,427   9.9%   23,521  19.4%

    Total                              98,626  14,390   100%  121,527   100%


    Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2008 was RMB 12.2 million (US$1.8
million), compared with RMB 19.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. Gross
margin was 12.4%, compared with 16.0% in the fourth quarter of 2007. The
decrease in gross profit and gross margin was primarily due to the decline in
sales price caused by the financial crisis while the cost of inventory was
higher.
    SG&A was RMB 17.2 million (US$2.5 million), compared with RMB 12.4 million
in the fourth quarter of 2007. The increase was mainly a result of increases
in the costs of professional service fees related to being a public company
and increased delivery fees caused by expanded sales quantity, and the
increased allowances for doubt account receivable and other receivables.
    Operating income was RMB 5.0 million (US$0.7 million), compared with RMB
6.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2007.
    Effective tax rate was 7.6%, compared with 2.1% in the fourth quarter of
2007.
    Net loss was RMB 6.5 million (US$0.9 million), compared with net income of
RMB 1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. Diluted net loss per share was
RMB 0.50(US$0.07), compared with diluted EPS of RMB 0.08 in the fourth
quarter of 2007.
    2008 Results
    Revenues were RMB 447.3 million (US$65.3 million), compared with RMB 449.4
million in 2007. The decline was largely attributable to decreased revenue
from specialty films. The decrease, in the first three quarters, was largely
attributable to the change in demand for luxurious packaging caused by the
change in regulations in the packaging design of tobaccos, which require a
large quantity of our Laser holographic base film and matter film, as well as
others. Moreover, the financial crisis, which began in the second half of
2008,
has caused a further decline in the demand for the specialty film.
    Sales of specialty films were RMB 107.4 million (US$15.7 million), or
24.0% of total revenues, compared with RMB 170.0 million in 2007.
    The following is a breakdown of commodity and specialty film sales for the
full-year periods ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 (amounts in
thousands):


                                                        Year Ended
                                            December          December
                                            31, 2008    % of  31, 2007   % of
                                           RMB     US$  Total      RMB  Total

    Printing film                       56,607   8,259  12.7%   83,453  18.6%
    Stamping film                      139,571  20,363  31.2%   94,366  21.0%
    Metallization film                  45,148   6,587  10.1%   30,668   6.8%
    Base film for other applications    98,526  14,375  22.0%   70,925  15.8%
    Specialty film                     107,404  15,670  24.0%  169,961  37.8%

    Total                              447,255  65,253   100%  449,373   100%


    Sales from overseas were RMB 58.4 million (US$8.5 million), or 13.1% of
total revenues.
    The following is a breakdown of domestic versus overseas sales for the
full-year periods ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 (amounts in
thousands):


                                                        Year Ended
                                            December          December
                                            31, 2008    % of  31, 2007   % of
                                           RMB     US$  Total      RMB  Total

    Sales in China                     388,823  56,728  86.9%  335,213  74.6%
    Sales in other countries            58,432   8,525  13.1%  114,160  25.4%

    Total                              447,255  65,253   100%  449,373   100%


    Gross profit was RMB 70.3 million (US$10.3 million), compared with RMB
99.8 million in 2007.
    Gross margin was 15.7%, compared with 22.2% in 2007. The decrease in gross
profit and margin was mainly due to the decline in sales quantity of specialty
films and a sharp decline in sale prices as a result of the global financial
crisis.
    SG&A was RMB 45.7 million (US$6.7 million), compared with RMB 35.6 million
in 2007. The increase was mainly a result of increases in the costs of
professional service fees related to being a public company and increased
delivery fees caused by expanded sales quantity, and the increased allowances
for doubt account receivable and other receivables.
    Operating income was RMB 24.6 million (US$3.6 million), compared with RMB
64.3 million in 2007.
    Effective tax rate was 14.0%, compared with 8.7% in 2007. The higher
effective tax rates were primarily attributable to the fact that our operating
subsidiary, Fuwei Films (Shandong) Co., Ltd. ("Fuwei Shandong"), was subject
to the 15.0% income tax rate in 2008 pursuant to the prevailing PRC Income Tax
Law, while such rate was 7.5% in 2007.
    Net income was RMB 18.2 million (US$2.7 million), compared with RMB 47.3
million in 2007.
    Diluted EPS was RMB 1.39(US$0.20), compared with RMB 3.62 in 2007.
    Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB 80.0 million (US$11.7
million), compared with RMB 82.9 million in 2007.
    Total shareholders' equity increased to RMB 530.6 million (US$77.4
million)
as of December 31, 2008.
    As of December 31, 2008, the Company had 13,062,500 basic and diluted
total common shares outstanding.
    Recent Events
    On March 10, 2009, the Company announced the initial verdict issued by the
Jinan Intermediate People's Court in the city of Jinan, Shandong Province,
concerning the Company's three major shareholders. Each of them was found
guilty of the crime of misappropriation of state-owned assets relating to the
tens of millions of RMBs' worth of assets. All of the personal property of the
three individuals will be confiscated. They own an aggregate of approximately
65% of the ordinary shares of the Company by their holdings of Apex Glory and
Easebright Investments. None of these individuals is currently involved in
Fuwei's day-to-day operations. They have challenged and already appealed the
verdict.
    On February 11, 2009, the Company announced that Fuwei Films Shandong, the
Company's wholly owned operating subsidiary, received the "High-and-New Tech
Enterprise" ("HNTE") designation from Shandong Province. As a new HNTE, Fuwei
Shandong is entitled to a preferred tax rate of 15%, retroactive as of January
1, 2008 until the expiration of the designation in 2011.
    On January 5, 2009, the Company announced that Fuwei Shandong received an
RMB 25 million (US$3.65 million) interest-free loan from the Weifang City Hi &
New Technology Project Industrial Development Fund ("IDF") to support the
Company's R&D activities. So far RMB 5 million (US$0.73 million) of the RMB 25
million (US$3.65 million) has been disbursed to Fuwei as an interest free
loan.
Fuwei will obtain the remaining RMB 20 million (US$2.92 million) according to
the usage stage plan of the fund. Fuwei will repay this RMB 5 million loan on
December 2011 when it expires.
    Late last year, the Company announced that it had received the final
results of the BOPET film-related anti-dumping investigation conducted by the
U.S. Department of Commerce. Fuwei received the lowest anti-dumping duty rate
of 3.49% among the five Chinese BOPET film manufacturers that received a duty.
The average rate for other Chinese companies has been assessed at 76.72% in
connection with this investigation.
    Conference Call Information
    The Company will host a teleconference on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at 8:00
a.m. EDT, or 8:00 p.m.Beijing time, to discuss the quarterly results. To
participate in the call, please dial +1-877-407-9205 in North America, or
+1-201-689-8054 internationally, approximately 10 minutes prior to the
scheduled start time. The call is being simultaneously Webcast and can be
accessed on the Fuwei's Website at http://www.fuweiholdings.com . Please visit
the Web site at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to register
for the Web cast and download any necessary audio software.
    A replay of the call can also be accessed via telephone by calling
+1-877-660-6853 in North America, or +1-201-612-7415 internationally, and
entering the following access codes:
    Account #:     286
    Conference ID: 318483
    A Web cast replay of the call will also be made and can be accessed on the
Fuwei's Website at http://www.fuweiholdings.com .
    About Fuwei Films
    Fuwei Films conducts its business through its wholly owned subsidiary,
Fuwei Films (Shandong) Co., Ltd. Fuwei develops, manufactures and distributes
high-quality plastic films using the biaxial oriented stretch technique,
otherwise known as BOPET film (biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate).
Fuwei's BOPET film is widely used to package food, medicine, cosmetics,
tobacco, and alcohol, as well as in the imaging, electronics, and magnetic
products industries.
    Safe Harbor
    This press release contains information that constitutes forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to risks. Risk
factors that could contribute to such differences include those matters more
fully disclosed in the Company's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission which, among other things, include both the short and
long-term effects of the global financial crisis on the Company and the BOPET
film industry; competition in the BOPET film industry; growth of, and risks
inherent in, the BOPET film industry in China; uncertainty as to future
profitability and our ability to obtain adequate financing for our planned
capital expenditure requirements; uncertainty as to our ability to
continuously develop new BOPET film products and keep up with changes in BOPET
film technology; risks associated with possible defects and errors in our
products; uncertainty as to our ability to protect and enforce our
intellectual property rights; uncertainty as to our ability to attract and
retain qualified executives and personnel; and uncertainty in acquiring raw
materials on time and on acceptable terms, particularly in view of the
volatility in the prices of petroleum products in recent years. The
forward-looking information provided herein represents the Company's estimates
as of the date of the press release, and subsequent events and developments
may cause the Company's estimates to change. The Company specifically
disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking information in the
future. Therefore, this forward-looking information should not be relied upon
as representing the Company's estimates of its future financial performance as
of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Actual results of
our operations may differ materially from information contained in the
forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors.
    For more information, please contact:

    In China:
    Fuwei Films (Holdings) Co. Ltd.
     Maggie Huang
     Investor Relations Manager
     Tel:   +86-10-8518-5620
     Email: fuweiIR@fuweifilms.com

    In the U.S.:
    Grayling
     Leslie Wolf-Creutzfeldt
     Investor Relations
     Tel:   +1-646-284-9472
     Email: lwolf-creutzfeldt@hfgcg.com

                           Financial Tables to Follow



                 FUWEI FILMS (HOLDINGS) CO. LTD and SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                         As of December 31, 2007 and 2008
            (amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
                                                2007              2008
                                                 RMB         RMB         US$
    Assets
    Current assets
    Cash                                      30,909      15,823       2,308
    Restricted cash                           64,909      10,411       1,519
    Accounts receivable, net                  58,195      38,579       5,628
    Inventories                               41,670      30,589       4,463
    Advance to suppliers                      13,538       6,846         999
    Prepayments and other receivables          2,622       1,857         271
    Total current assets                     211,842     104,105      15,188

    Property, plant and equipment, net       228,309     259,235      37,821
    Construction in progress                 265,253     319,408      46,600
    Lease prepayments                         22,290      22,507       3,284
    Advanced to suppliers - Long Term             --       4,308         629
    Intangible asset, net                         36          --          --
    Goodwill                                  10,276      10,276       1,499
    Deposit                                       --      17,613       2,570
    Deferred income tax assets                   969       2,452         358

    Total assets                             738,975     739,904     107,949

    Liabilities
    Current liabilities
    Short-term bank loans                    188,027     164,764      24,038
    Accounts payable                          19,609      23,301       3,399
    Advance from customers                    10,957       8,781       1,281
    Accrued expenses and other payables        7,587       7,460       1,089
    Deferred income tax liabilities              265          --          --
    Total current liabilities                226,445     204,305      29,807
    Long-term loan                                --       5,000         729

    Total liabilities                        226,445     209,305      30,537

    Shareholders' equity
    Ordinary shares of US$0.129752 par
     value; 20,000,000 shares authorized;
     and 13,062,500 issued and
     outstanding as of December 31, 2006
     and 2007, respectively                   13,323      13,323       1,944
    Additional paid-in capital               311,907     311,907      45,506
    Statutory reserve                         26,924      29,338       4,280
    Retained earnings                        159,228     174,970      25,527
    Accumulated other comprehensive
     income                                    1,148       1,061         155

    Total shareholders' equity               512,530     530,599      77,412
    Total liabilities and shareholders'
     equity                                  739,975     739,904     107,949




                 FUWEI FILMS (HOLDINGS) CO. LTD and SUBSIDIARIES
            CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
               For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008
             (amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

                                     2006        2007             2008
                                      RMB         RMB         RMB         US$

    Revenues, net                 436,884     449,373     447,255      65,253
    Cost of goods sold           (334,341)   (349,531)   (376,923)    (54,992)

    Gross profit                  102,543      99,842      70,332      10,261

    Operating expenses
     - Distribution expenses      (16,483)    (15,061)    (15,604)     (2,277)
     - Administrative expenses     (8,043)    (20,515)    (30,124)     (4,395)

    Total operating expenses      (24,526)    (35,576)    (45,728)     (6,672)

    Operating income               78,017      64,266      24,604       3,590

    Other income/(expense)
     - Interest income                 43         589         688         100
     - Interest expense           (12,884)    (13,233)     (3,995)       (583)
     - Sales of scrap materials     3,639
     - Others, net                   (393)        319        (174)        (25)

    Total other
     income/(expense)              (9,595)    (12,325)     (3,481)       (508)

    Income before income tax
     benefit/(expense)             68,422      51,941      21,123       3,082
    Income tax
     benefit/(expense)               (757)     (4,681)     (2,966)       (433)

    Net income                     67,665      47,260      18,157       2,649

    Other comprehensive income
     - Foreign currency
      translation adjustments          53        (637)        (87)        (13)

    Comprehensive income           67,718      46,623      18,070       2,636

    Earnings per share
     - Basic                        61.46        3.62        1.39        0.20
     - Diluted                      61.37        3.62        1.39        0.20

    Weighted average number of
     ordinary shares
     - Basic                    1,101,031  13,062,500  13,062,500  13,062,500
     - Diluted                  1,102,488  13,062,500  13,062,500  13,062,500




                 FUWEI FILMS (HOLDINGS) CO. LTD and SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
               For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008
                             (amounts in thousands)
                                             2006      2007         2008
                                              RMB       RMB      RMB      US$
    Cash flow from operating activities
    Net income                             67,665    47,260   18,157    2,649
    Adjustments to reconcile net income
     to net cash
    (used in)/provided by operating
     activities
     - Depreciation of property, plant
      and equipment                        23,425    23,217   25,168    3,672
     - Amortization of intangible assets       72        73      490       71
     - Lease prepayments charged to
      expense                                 724       741       --       --
     - Deferred income taxes                  757       152       --       --
     - Bad debt expense/(recovery)         (1,143)    1,772    4,818      703
     - Foreign currency exchange loss          53        --       --       --
    Changes in operating assets and
     liabilities

     - Accounts receivable                (28,258)   17,335   18,186    2,653
     - Inventories                          1,104   (19,659)  11,080    1,617
     - Advance to suppliers                    --              2,384      348
     - Prepaid expenses and other current
      assets                               (8,220)    6,698      220       32
     - Accounts payable                     2,196     6,824    3,691      539
     - Accrued expenses and other
      payables                                117    (1,557)  (2,163)    (316)
     - Advance from customers                  --        --   (2,176)    (317)
     - Tax payable                             --        --      172       25

    Net cash provided by operating
     activities                            58,492    82,856   80,027   11,675

    Cash flow from investing activities
    Purchases of property, plant and
     equipment                            (37,526)     (590) (56,093)  (8,184)
    Restricted cash related to trade
     finance                               (3,311)  (61,598)  54,498    7,951
    Payment of land use rights             (2,649) (184,600) (54,155)  (7,901)
    Deposits for purchase                      --        --  (21,000)  (3,064)
    Proceeds from sale of property,
     plant and equipment                        7        --       --       --

    Net cash used in investing
     activities                           (43,479) (246,787) (76,750) (11,198)

    Cash flow from financing activities
    Net proceeds from issuance of share
     capital                              235,867        --       --       --
    Principal payments of short-term
     bank loans                           (18,368)  (51,650) (23,262)  (3,394)
    Proceeds from short-term bank loans    10,000        --    5,000      729

    Net cash (used in)/provided by
     financing activities                (227,499)  (51,650) (18,262)  (2,664)

    Effect of foreign exchange rate
     changes                                   --    (3,448)    (104)     (15)

    Net increase/ (decrease) in cash      242,512  (219,029) (15,086)  (2,201)
    Cash
    At beginning of the year                7,427   249,939   30,909    4,509
    At end of the year                    249,939    30,909   15,823    2,308
    Supplemental disclosure of cash flow
     information
    Cash paid during the year for
     interest expense                      15,739    12,921   11,705    1,708
    Cash paid during the year for income
     tax paid                                  --        --    2,996      433


SOURCE  Fuwei Films (Holdings) Co. Ltd.

In China, Maggie Huang, Investor Relations Manager of Fuwei Films (Holdings)
Co. Ltd., +86-10-8518-5620, fuweiIR@fuweifilms.com or In the U.S., Leslie
Wolf-Creutzfeldt, Investor Relations of Grayling, +1-646-284-9472,
lwolf-creutzfeldt@hfgcg.com for Fuwei Films (Holdings) Co. Ltd./ /Web:
http://www.fuweiholdings.com
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